Ballot Question Positions

Vote YES on Question 1

This would make the legislature and governor’s office subject to public records law. This would make our state’s government more transparent, opening politicians’ dealings to public scrutiny. Massachusetts cities and towns and most state legislatures and governors are already subject to public records law.

Vote YES on Question 2

Public defenders who are employees of the state’s Committee for Public Counsel Services are currently barred from collective bargaining. A Yes vote on 2 would give these workers the right to form a union and negotiate better working conditions.

Vote NO on Question 3

Proponents of Question 3 say all party or ‘jungle’ primaries will make our state more democratic and boost third party candidates, however in states where this system is in effect (California, for example) we find that progressives and leftists are locked out of the electoral process. Most of the left’s recent success has been through running in the Democratic primary. Competing with centrists in an electorate including Republicans makes it much harder to win and the larger electorate makes it much more expensive for working class candidates to run. It’s no wonder why billionaires have been bankrolling Yes on 3.

Vote YES on Question 4

Massachusetts and Rhode Island are the only two states in New England who do not already have same day voter registration. Two of the left’s key voting blocs, young people and tenants who move frequently have the most to gain from voting Yes on 4 for same day voter registration.

Vote NO on Question 5

Question 5 would cap growth in state revenue year by year and force the state to return that money to taxpayers. This in effect is a tax cut for the rich that would undo the progress made by Fair Share and result in service cuts for working class communities.

No Stance on Question 6

Vote YES on Question 7

This would bring down the minimum lot size to build a home in many cities and towns. This means it would be easier to build higher density neighborhoods and more affordable homes in towns that have strict zoning laws meant to keep neighborhoods exclusive to the rich.

Vote NO on Question 8

Question 8 aims to roll back the legalization of marijuana. Recriminalizing marijuana would cost us billions in tax revenue, tens of thousands of jobs, and would bring us back to War on Drugs era policies that harm black, brown, and working class communities the most.

Vote YES on Question 9

A Yes vote on 9 would keep in place our existing gun control laws that makes our state one of the lowest in the nation in gun violence. The No campaign is bankrolled by the gun lobby who profit off of gun violence in working class communities.