Have you received your 87-page “Information for Voters” booklet in the mail yet to help you decide how you’ll vote during the Nov. 3 midterm elections yet?
Authored by Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Francis Galvin, the booklet has details of proposed laws voters will decide on, related to single-family housing, recreational marijuana, firearm laws, and other state administration laws.
Historically, voters in the state vote on about 2-4 questions, but there will be 9 on this year’s ballot, meaning the information booklet –– which includes the legislative texts of all the proposed laws –– is longer than normal this year.
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Don’t have time to read it all? Here’s a quick explainer on what each of the ballot questions entails.
Question 1: Public records law
This question asks voters whether they are in favor of expanding the state’s public records law to include the legislature and the governor’s office. At present, the law only includes state agencies and local cities and towns.
A “yes” vote on this question would change the public records law, and a “no” vote would mean no changes to the public records law.
There are no arguments against this proposal in the booklet.
Question 2: Collective bargaining for CPCS employees
This proposed law seeks to unionize employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services. These include public defenders, both private and state-appointed, that provide representation to people who cannot afford their own attorneys in civil or criminal cases.
A “yes” vote would give these employees collective bargaining rights and a “no” vote would make no changes to their work situations.
Question 3: Primary elections and eliminating party-based primaries
Currently, Massachusetts operates party-based primaries, where voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote in their respective primaries. Independents, too, can vote in a primary of their choosing since Massachusetts has a semi-closed primary system. However, the new system proposed in the ballot question aims to eliminate party-based primaries and proposes that all candidates, irrespective of their parties, be listed on the same ballot.
The two candidates with the most votes will then be on the ballot for the general election, even if they are from the same party.
A “yes” vote would be in favor of bringing in this new system and a “no” vote would keep the existing primary system in place.
The argument against this top-two system in the information booklet says that it will favor wealthy candidates and shut out independent or third-party candidates.
Question 4: Election Day Registration
This proposed law will allow eligible individuals to register to vote on Election Day. In Massachusetts, the latest that voters can register or change their registration is 10 days before election day. All other states in New England including Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine already permit same-day registration.
The argument in favor of this law aims to include more eligible voters in the election process by making it accessible, and the argument against alleges it will lead to higher chances of fraud.
A “yes” vote would allow same-day registration, while a “no” vote would keep the system the same.
Question 5: State revenue limits and refunds for taxpayers
This law aims to set a limit to the amount of revenue the state can collect in a given year. This amount will be based on the previous year’s net revenue, adjusted for changes in average growth of salaries and wages in the state for the next three years. Proponents of the law say that it will lead to more accountability and transparency in the state’s budget system, ensuring no wasteful spending is done.
The argument against this legislation claims it will lead to layoffs in the state’s teaching force, fire fighters and other emergency services as well as cutbacks in the rainy day fund.
A “yes” vote would put the revenue limits into effect, while a “no” vote will keep the system the dame.
Question 6: Natural resource conservation fund
This law proposes using some state taxes collected on the sale of sporting goods and recreational vehicles and diverting them to a fund created for natural resource conservation.
There are no arguments against this law in the booklet.
A “yes” vote would divert the funding to the natural resource conservation fund.
Question 7: Single family homes
This law aims to legalize starter homes, or single family homes and standardizing the limit of the lot size they are constructed in to at least 5,000 square feet, or 0.1 acres. Proponents of the law say the yes vote will make more affordable housing options available for young families and seniors during a time when the state and country at large deals with a housing crisis.
The argument against this states that local municipalities should be able to set these limits instead of a one-size fits all rule for the state.
A “yes” vote would standardize lot size, while a “no” vote will leave the state’s policies unchanged.
Question 8: Prohibiting retail sale of recreational marijuana
This question would backtrack on Massachusetts’s recent trend of increasingly legalizing marijuana by instead repealing provisions in the current law that allow for the drug to be sold commercially in the state.
This law will reduce the limit of recreational marijuana adults can possess in the state to 1 ounce, with penalties and seizures associated with higher amounts. Higher restrictions and penalties will apply to minors below the age of 18.
A “yes” vote would prohibit the sale of recreational marijuana. A “no” vote will keep existing laws in place.
Question 9: Firearms restrictions
This referendum is on the 2024 gun reform law known as Chapter 135 that changed gun laws in Massachusetts.
A “yes” vote would keep the law, while a “no” vote would repeal it.
The last page of the Information for Voters booklet also has a checklist or a cheat sheet where you can enter your answers in advance and refer to this page when you’re casting your ballot so you don’t forget your responses.
USA Today Network reporting contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Don’t want to read MA’s 87-page voter guide? Here’s a quick guide to ballot questions
