The Right Way

Monday, October 19, 2026

Massachusetts State Ballot Questions

Massachusetts voters will decide on nine ballot questions during the upcoming midterm elections.

The questions cover topics such as public records, election laws, state revenue, and housing.

Proposals also include changes to collective bargaining rights, marijuana sales, and firearm restrictions.

Question 9 outlined in this post

Question 9: Firearms restrictions

A "yes" vote would uphold Chapter 135 (House Bill 4885), which enacted several changes to the state's firearm regulations:

developing an electronic registration system to track firearm ownership;

prohibiting assault-style firearms (as defined in law);

requiring safety certificates to obtain firearm permits;

mandating serial numbers for firearms;

allowing school administrators and licensed healthcare providers to request that a court issue an Extreme Risk Protection Order; and
permitting courts to order firearm surrender when issuing Harassment Prevention Orders.

A "no" vote would repeal House Bill 4885, which enacted several changes to the state's firearm regulations.

J.J. Sefton's Morning Report

J.J. Sefton
AoSHQ The Morning Report
October 19, 2026

Massachusetts State Ballot Questions

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.

Boston Exemption: Boston is exempt because it is governed by its own unique municipal zoning rules and does not fall under Chapter 40A (the state Zoning Act that Question 7 amends).
Minimum Lot Size: The measure requires municipalities to allow single-family homes on residentially zoned lots that are at least 5,000 square feet.
Street Frontage & Utilities: Affected lots must have at least 50 feet of frontage on a street or public way and direct access to public water and sewer services (it does not apply to properties using private wells or septic tanks).
Local Controls Retained: Cities and towns still keep the authority to regulate non-lot-size aspects such as building height, setbacks, bulk, parking requirements, open space, and short-term rental restrictions.
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.

Kruiser's Morning Brief

"The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly."

Stephen Kruiser
The Morning Briefing
October 19, 2026
The Burqafication of France Is Nearly Complete

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Intellectual Froglegs

with Joe Dan Gorman

UNOFFICIAL MAGA 2026 ELECTION GUIDE

Massachusetts State Ballot Questions

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 same.

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.

However, from Tufts University’s non-partisan Center for State Policy Analysis:

Question 6 doesn’t raise new money. It earmarks existing sales tax dollars from sporting goods stores, recreational vehicle dealers, and golf courses.

The earmark is relatively small, at roughly $65 million, compared with the roughly $400 million the state currently spends each year on recreation and conservation.

Nothing in the measure requires lawmakers to increase spending on conservation or recreation by the earmarked amount. They could use the money for existing programs or divert it to unrelated uses.

Reaching the state’s climate goals may require more conservation spending, and the dedicated fund could enable that.

This one just seems like a convenient place to secure your slush funds with little or no oversight, if that's what you're after.

Good Morning

Enjoy your Sunday

St. Matthew's Chapel, Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

photo by Gal Steinberg

Massachusetts State Ballot Questions

Question 1: Public records law. This is one they've used to delay the the legislative audit for the last 2 years

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.

to be continued after I get some coffee