Five ballot questions are on the ballot for this year’s November election. The questions are as follows:
- Question 1: State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature
- Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement
- Question 3: Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers
- Question 4: Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances
- Question 5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers
Review the LWVMA statement on the November 2024 ballot questions HERE.
Recordings from forums held by local leagues on the ballot questions:
- Understanding the November Ballot Questions: Evan Horowitz, Executive Director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University, joined the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle to discuss the five ballot questions that will appear on Massachusetts’s November 5 general election ballot. He and his team published the Voters’ Guide to the 2024 Massachusetts Ballot Questions, a non-partisan research report, and he guided the audience through a lively exploration of the pros and cons of each ballot question. The discussion was moderated by Diane Proctor, LWVCC Board member. Watch the Recording.
- On Tuesday, October 8 LWVMA held an educational forum on Ballot Question #1: State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature. We explored the constitutionality of the proposed audit. The focus of our discussion was: Is the proposed audit constitutional? Why or why not? Our featured speakers were General Counsel and Deputy Auditor for the Commonwealth, Michael K. Leung-Tat and Central Connecticut State University Political Science Professor Jerold Duquette. Watch the Recording.
- On Wednesday, October 9, LWV Needham held a forum on Ballot Question #5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers. Watch the October 9 forum on the Needham Channel website.
Read below for a quick summary of each of the ballot questions (from The Boston Globe) and additional resources.
Secretary of the Commonwealth, William F. Galvin, has certified five ballot questions to appear on the November 5, 2024 State Election ballot. In order to place a question on the November ballot, campaigns needed to file petitions containing at least 12,429 certified voter signatures with the State’s Elections Division by July 3. This was the second filing for these petitions, with last year’s initial filing requiring at least 74,574 certified signatures. the order of the questions have been asigned by the Secretary of State.
Information booklets about the ballot questions, as well as vote by mail information, have been mailed out by the Secretary of State.
Ballot Questions
Question 1: State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature
This proposal would give the state auditor authority to audit the Legislature. The measure has faced stiff opposition from lawmakers who say it would violate the constitutional separation of powers and that auditor Diana DiZoglio has a “clear prejudice.” DiZoglio is a former lawmaker who campaigned on investigating the Legislature’s.
Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement
Students would no longer be required to pass MCAS tests in mathematics, English, and science and technology to receive a high school diploma. The measure has been pushed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, but legislative leaders and Governor Maura Healey have come out against it.
Question 3: Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers
This initiative would allow ride-share drivers to form unions and collectively bargain with Uber, Lyft, and similar companies. A coalition backed by ride-share companies had pushed a proposal to classify drivers as independent contractors, but the companies reached a settlement with the state in June that would grant employment benefits and rights for drivers while requiring the companies to pay $175 million in penalties and back pay.
Question 4: Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances
This measure would legalize the possession and supervised use of natural psychedelics, including psilocybin mushrooms.
Question 5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers
This proposal would gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped workers over five years, matching the state’s standard minimum wage in 2029. This measure has faced pushback by the head of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.
Additional Resources
Tuft’s University Tisch College’s Voter’s Guide to 2024 Massachusetts’s Ballot Questions.
Boston Globe September 9, 2024 Article: Voters will decide five ballot questions in November. Here’s a look at who is spending big for and against them.