Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin

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Ballot Measures by Type of Question

1919

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Rearrangement of Constitution (similar to constitutional amendment)				Interest and dividends on saving deposits in banks

1920

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Definition beer, cider, et al as nonintoxicating

1922

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Roll calls in General Court on adoption of emergency preamble				Tort liability of certain voluntary associations Censorship of motion pictures Prohibition (“Baby Volstead” Act) Lawyer only to be District Attorneys

1924

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Qualifications of voters for certain state offices Enabling women to hold any state, county or municipal office			Daylight savings	Prohibition to manufacture or transport certain beverages (“Baby Volstead” Act) Excise tax on gas and other fuel Regulation of foreign banking	Child labor

1926

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Establishing town governments which provide town meetings		Modifying veterans’ preference law

1928

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Authorizing certain Sunday sporting events

1930

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Apportionment of senatorial, representative and councillor districts		Repeal Prohibition Regulation of trapping

1932

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Legalizing practice of chiropractics Regulating nominating procedures			Fixing the commencement of terms of president and vice president

1934

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
				Regulation of trapping

1936

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
No statewide ballot measures.

1938

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
	Providing biennial sessions of the General Court and a biennial budget	Free public taxicab stands in cities and towns

1940

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
No statewide ballot measures.

1942

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Revision of birth control law

1944

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Fair, concise summary of each ballot question sent to voters instead of description of each question (“Information for Voters”) Pardoning of felonious offenses Restoring annual sessions of General Court and annual budget Absentee voting because of physical disability				Authorizing certain games of chance to be conducted by certain nonprofit organizations

1946

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Pensions paid by Commonwealth to citizens 65 years of age or older in need of relief or support Labor unions must file with the commissioner of labor and industries

1948

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
“The right of free speech shall not be abridged.” Use of certain revenues for highway purposes only Election of certain constitutional offices in case of failures to elect them or death prior to assuming office		Birth control advertising Membership or nonmembership in labor organization as it relates to retaining or obtaining employment Elections of officers of labor organizations must be held annually Calling of strike by labor organization dependent on majority vote of members			No person shall be elected president more than twice.

1950

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Gubernatorial succession prior to inauguration Changes in number of voters’ signatures required for petitions and changes in legislative procedures relating to such petitions		Payments to blind persons 63 years of age and older Creation of Massachusetts commission to conduct monthly lottery Commissioner of insurance establishing classification of risks re: motor vehicle liability policies or bonds

1952

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
No statewide ballot measures.

1954

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
No statewide ballot measures.

1956

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
No statewide ballot measures.

1958

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Former public employees refunding portions of pensions depending upon yearly earnings

1960

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
No statewide ballot measures.

1962

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Graduated income tax				Increasing the compensation and allowances of state legislators

1964

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Four year term for constitutional officers Filling of vacant offices in event of enemy attack Credit of Commonwealth given, loaned or pledged by 2/3 vote of each branch of legislature Governor and Executive Council require opinions of justices of Supreme Judicial Court on questions of law		Eliminating statutory authority of the Governor’s Council		Increasing the compensation and allowances of state legislators

1966

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Governor and lieutenant governor run as a team Reorganization of executive department Providing for municipal industrial development Home rule for cities/towns			Temporary tax and establishing the local aid fund	Sales tax referendum

1968

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Extends to 10 days time in which governor may act upon legislation Graduated income tax Determining gubernatorial disability Alcoholic beverage question was on the ballot in every city and town		Calling of a constitutional convention (SJC ruled constitutional convention could not be called by initiative petition for a law.)	Shall Massachusetts retain capital punishment?

1970

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Classification of real property according to its use Reducing residency requirement for voting Reducing the voting age to 19 Redivision of representative and senatorial districts			United States action in Vietnam (multiple choice question)

1972

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Taxation of agricultural and horticultural land Reducing the voting age to 18 Removing the prohibition against paupers voting Student loans from the Commonwealth Establishing the right of the people to a clean environment Graduated income tax based on federal income tax Retirement of judges at age 70			Lower drinking age Prayer in schools

1974

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Recess by General Court House membership cut from 240 to 160 Grants in aid to higher education	Highway tax use for mass transit	Establishing an independent Corrupt Practices Commission	Health plan

1976

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Equal rights Graduated income tax rates Absentee voting for religious reasons		Mass. power authority Ban on handguns (Legislative substitute question disallowed by SJC) Control bottles and cans Uniform electric rates	Construction of an oil refinery and deep water port Sunday closing laws

1978

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Classification amendment State budget deadline “Information for Voters” to each residence Residence standards for state census Charter commission deadline Student assignments in public schools Taxation of land used for recreation or left in a natural state

1980

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Prohibit discrimination against handicapped persons Would restrict state authority to place certain costs on cities and towns Would change legislative voting procedure for emergency laws		Limiting state and local taxes Prop 2 1/2 Increase state share of education costs		Would increase salaries of certain state officials

1982

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
State aid to nonpublic school students and certain institutions Death penalty		Restricting low level radioactive waste disposal in nuclear power plant construction		Regulating bottles and cans

1984

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
No statewide ballot measures.

1986

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Allow legislature to prohibit or regulate abortions Allow public funds for private schools and students		Repeal the surtax Would require DEQE to identify hazardous waste sites Mail in voter registration	Urges Congress to enact a national health care program Urges president and Congress to adopt a national acid rain program	Existing law required the use of seat belts

1988

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Repeal the prevailing wage Regulate treatment of farm animals Stop electric power plants that produce nuclear waste materials		Would repeal law that authorized a pay raise for legislators and constitutional officers

1990

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Repeal state census		Limit state use of consultants Changes income tax rate; regulates state agencies’ fees Changes law governing establishment of political parties and nomination of candidates Regulates local aid fund	Free and equal radio and television time for candidates

1992

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Create Health Protection Fund for education regarding the use of tobacco Make certain corporate tax information is made available to the public All packaging to be recycled or recyclable Tax on hazardous materials

1994

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
	Graduated income tax	Regulating spending on ballot question campaigns Term limits Opening of retail stores on Sunday morning and certain holidays Personal income tax changes State Highway Fund changes Prohibiting rent control		Seat belt law Changing the law regarding student fees

1996

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Changing the trapping and hunting laws

1998

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Setting compensation for state legislators		Public campaign financing Tax rate on interest and dividend income		Electric utility industry restructuring

2000

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
Earlier Redistricting for State Legislators and Governor’s Councillors Voting By Incarcerated Felons		Dog Racing Income Tax Rate Reduction Health Insurance and Health Care Tax Credit for Tolls and Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes Tax Deduction for Charitable Contributions Drug-Dependency Treatment and Drug-Crime Fines and Forfeitures

2002

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Eliminating State Personal Income Tax English Language Education in Public Schools	Taxpayer Funding for Political Campaigns

2004

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
No statewide ballot measures.

2006

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Sale of Wine by Food Stores Nomination of Candidates for Public Office Family Child Care Providers

2008

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		State Personal Income Tax Possession of Marijuana Dog Racing

2010

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Sales Tax on Alcoholic Beverages Comprehensive Permits for Low-or-Moderate-Income Housing Sales and Use Tax Rates

2012

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Availability of Motor Vehicle Repair Information Prescribing Medication to End Life Medical Use of Marijuana

2014

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing Expanding the Beverage Container Deposit Law Expanding Prohibitions on Gaming Earned Sick Time for Employees

2016

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Expanding Slot-Machine Gaming Charter School Expansion Expanding Prohibitions on Gaming Legalization, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana

2018

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Patient-to-Nurse Limits Commission on Limiting Election Spending and Corporate Rights		Transgender Anti-Discrimination

2020

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		Motor Vehicle Mechanical Data Ranked-Choice Voting

2022

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
	Additional Tax on Income Over One Million	Regulation of Dental Insurance Expanded Availability of Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages		Eligibility for Driver’s Licenses

2024

Legislative Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Constitutional Amendment	Initiative Petition for a Law	Legislative Advisory Question	Referendum Petition on an Existing Law	U.S. Constitutional Amendment (Advisory)
		State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers

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