2026 Ballot Questions: A Primer
For all statewide questions (Questions 1-9), full summaries were written by the State Attorney General and the statements describing the effect of a "yes" or "no" vote were written jointly by the State Attorney General and the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Content about Question 10, which will appear on ballots in Needham, was crafted by the Needham Public Schools and the Town of Needham. The material below is excerpted or paraphrased from these sources.
Question 1: Expanding the Public Records Law
Question 2: Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees
Question 3: State Primary Elections
Question 4: Election Day Registration
Question 5: State Revenue Limit and Rebate
Question 6: Natural Resource Conservation Fund
Question 7: Single Family Homes
Question 8: Prohibit Retail Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana
Question 1: Expanding the Public Records Law
Summary:
This proposed law would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This proposed law would exempt documents related to the development of public policy and communications between legislators and their constituents, if those communications are reasonably related to a constituent’s request for assistance in obtaining government-provided benefits or services or interacting with a government agency.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
A NO vote would make no change to the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
Question 2: Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees
Summary:
This proposed law would specify that employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (“CPCS”) are permitted to engage in collective bargaining with their employer. It would also require CPCS, after executing a collective bargaining agreement, to request the appropriation necessary to fund such agreement from the Governor.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would specify that Committee for Public Counsel Services employees may form a union to collectively bargain with their employer.
A NO vote would make no change to the law governing labor relations for Committee for Public Counsel Service employees.
Question 3: State Primary Elections
Summary:
This proposed law would eliminate political party primaries for state elections and instead establish a system where there would be a single, all-party primary in which all candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, would be listed on one ballot, and voters could vote for any candidate on the ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary would advance to the general election ballot.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would eliminate separate party primaries for state elections and require a single primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot, voters could vote for any candidate, and the top two candidates would advance to the general election.
A NO vote would make no change to the laws governing primary elections.
Question 4: Election Day Registration
Summary:
This proposed law would permit eligible individuals to register to vote or update their voter registration address on Election Day. An individual who is eligible to vote could register to vote on Election Day by going to the polling place in the precinct where they live during voting hours and presenting proof of residency and signing a written oath.
Individuals who register to vote on Election Day would be registered to vote in future elections as well as in the election taking place that day.
Individuals who are already registered to vote would not be able to change their political party affiliation on Election Day.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would permit eligible citizens to register to vote or to update their voter registration address at their polling place on Election Day.
A NO vote would make no change to the laws governing voter registration.
Question 5: State Revenue Limit and Rebate
Summary:
This proposed law would change the limit on how much revenue the state can collect in a given year. The proposal would limit state revenue in a given year to the net amount of state revenue from the year before, increased by a rate equal to the average growth of wages and salaries in Massachusetts over the most recent three years. If revenue collected by the state in a given year exceeds the limit, the excess amount would be refunded to taxpayers the following year. The proposed law would include all revenue from the surtax on incomes over $1 million when calculating the revenue limit and when determining whether state revenue exceeds the limit.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would change the limit on state revenue collection, tying it to prior year collections plus average wage and salary growth, and provide for a rebate of revenue exceeding that limit.
A NO vote would make no change in the law relative to state revenue collection.
Question 6: Natural Resource Conservation Fund
Summary:
This proposed law would establish a Nature for All Fund that, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, would receive 50% of state taxes collected from the sale and use of sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses for the first year of its operation. After July 1, 2028, the Nature for All Fund would begin receiving, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, 100% of state taxes collected on the sale and use of sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would create a fund that could be utilized for natural resource conservation that would receive some state taxes collected on the sale and use of sporting goods and recreational vehicles, and the use of golf courses.
A NO vote would not create this natural resource conservation fund or change how sales and use taxes are spent.
Question 7: Single Family Homes
Summary:
This proposed law would allow single-family homes to be built in a residentially zoned area as long as the land on which it is to be constructed is at least 5,000 square feet, has at least 50 feet of land bordering the street, road, or public way that it faces, and has access to public sewer and water services.
The proposed law would allow cities and towns to reasonably regulate certain aspects of those single-family homes, including their height, distance from neighboring buildings, open space, parking requirements, and whether they can be rented out on a short-term basis. The proposed law would also allow the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to issue guidance or regulations to administer the proposed law.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would allow single-family homes to be built on lots of 5,000 square feet or more in residential areas, subject to reasonable local regulation of certain aspects of those homes.
A NO vote would make no change to the law relative to building single-family homes.
Question 8: Prohibit Retail Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana
Summary:
The proposed law would change the type and amount of marijuana that may legally be possessed in Massachusetts by repealing the laws that legalize, regulate, and tax the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana in Massachusetts. The proposed law would also permit persons 21 years of age and older to possess 1 ounce or less of marijuana including no more than 5 grams in the form of concentrate, and to gift or transfer to another person 21 years of age and older 1 ounce or less of marijuana including no more than 5 grams in the form of concentrate. The proposed law would also impose a civil penalty of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana for the possession of marijuana between the weight of 1 and 2 ounces.
For persons 21 years of age and younger, the proposed law would make the possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana a civil infraction subject to a $100 fine, forfeiture of the marijuana, completion of a drug awareness program and community service, and notification to their parents or legal guardian of the offense and penalties.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would prohibit the legalization, regulation, and taxation of the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana, and change the penalties for possession of marijuana.
A NO vote would make no change to the law relative to marijuana.
Question 9: Referendum on Existing Firearms Regulation Law
Summary:
The existing law, enacted in 2024, made a number of changes to Massachusetts laws governing firearms, including those described below.
The law adds school administrators and licensed healthcare providers as parties permitted to ask a court to issue an Extreme Risk Protection Order – requiring an individual to surrender or relinquish their firearm licenses, permits, and firearms - if an individual is a present danger to self or others. The law also provides that, when issuing an Harassment Prevention Order, a court may also order the surrender of firearms licenses, permits, and firearms.
The law imposes penalties for possessing, creating, and transferring untraceable “ghost gun” firearms and requires all firearms except antiques and relics, including unfinished frames and receivers that can be readily made into a finished product, to have serial numbers. The law includes privately-made guns like 3D-printed guns within the provisions governing untraceable “ghost gun” firearms.
The law changes firearms licensing requirements to: (1) allow local licensing authorities to request prior license and permit information from the state, as well as access petitions for involuntary mental health commitments denied by a court in addition to prior involuntary commitments, as a part of their review of applications for licenses to carry firearms, firearm ID cards, and licenses to sell firearms; (2) require an individual to be 21 years of age to own semiautomatic rifles or shotguns; (3) add the possibility of incarceration of up to six months for a second offense of failing to report a firearm loss or theft; and (4) enable 12-15 year olds to apply for a self-defense spray permit with parental permission, and 15 to 18 year olds to apply independently.
The law allows local firearm licensing authorities to transfer the responsibility to inspect firearm dealers to the State Police. The law requires local licensing authorities to attend statewide training regarding those inspections. It requires dealers to confiscate expired or suspended licenses and report them to the state and to local licensing authorities.
The law changes the definition of “machine gun” to include bump stocks, trigger cranks, Glock switches and auto sears among the devices whose possession and use are subject to penalties. It expands the definition of “silencer” to include the parts used to construct a silencer.
The law clarifies how to determine whether a firearm is an assault-style weapon and the circumstances under which a person may continue to possess assault-style weapons and large capacity feeding devices they already own.
The law requires the state Firearm Control Advisory Board and the state Secretary of Public Safety and Security to review and update the rosters of prohibited assault-style firearms, approved firearms, and approved firearms sold for target shooting.
The law clarifies requirements relating to the carry and transport of firearms in motor vehicles and ATVs. It prohibits the carrying of firearms in government buildings, polling locations, and schools, with certain exceptions.
The law expands data compilation and reporting requirements to and from the state, and creates a publicly-accessible dashboard of anonymized aggregate firearm data, along with a commission to study that data.
The law requires the State Police to provide training and a test for new applicants for licenses to carry or Firearm ID cards.
The law establishes two special legislative commissions – one to examine funding for violence prevention services, and one to study emerging firearms technology.
The law criminalizes discharging a firearm and striking a building in use.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would keep in place the existing law, which increases the regulation of firearms, including ghost guns, machine guns, and assault-style weapons.
A NO vote would repeal this law.
Question 10 (Needham Only): Pollard Middle School Project
Summary:
The Town of Needham is designing a new Pollard Middle School to meet the educational needs of our 1300+ middle school students in grades 6-8. The Town has been accepted into the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program, which provides significant reimbursements to towns to help reduce school building costs. By partnering with the MSBA, Needham is eligible for up to $80.6 million in reimbursement, almost 25% of the total project cost of $325.4 million. The MSBA funding is only available now, with the current design and proposal. The goals of the project are threefold:
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Address aging infrastructure in need of repair or replacement. The existing Pollard building is over 65 years old; it does not meet modern building, energy, and fire codes and is not ADA compliant. The HVAC, electrical, security and plumbing systems need replacement, along with the roof, windows, railings, ramps, and elevators. A sprinkler system is also needed.
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Provide the space needed for middle school programming. Both High Rock and Pollard lacks sufficient space. Most of the classrooms are undersized, as well as common areas such as the libraries, gyms, cafeterias, and performance spaces. Neither building has adequate space for special education, school counseling, and nursing services.
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Reunite grades 6-8 on a single campus. Relocating 6th grade to High Rock was a temporary solution to overcrowding at Pollard. A reunited school will reduce transitions between schools, expand curriculum offerings for students, and provide the opportunity to develop skills and maturity as modeled by older peers. It will also provide more opportunity for coordination and collaboration of grade 6-8 staff.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would approve the debt exclusion necessary to fund this project and allow Needham to take advantage of the authorized MSBA funding.
A NO vote would not fund this project and prohibit Needham from using the MSBA funding.
Additional information is available via Needham Public Schools and the Town of Needham, including a household-specific cost calculator.