Status of 2026 Ballot Questions
There could be twelve ballot questions on the fall 2026 ballot. Here is the process. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-initiative-petition-process As of April 1, 2026, eleven of the questions are before the legislature. A special committee, the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions, has been set up to hear testimony in support of- and in opposition to – each question. Each petition is addressed as its own piece of legislation. You can follow the special committee’s work and its hearing schedule here.
If the Committee decides not to pass any of these questions before the first Wednesday in May (May 6th), the ballot question campaigns will be required to gather an additional 12,429 signatures and file them for certification with local election officials 14 days before the first Wednesday in July and then with the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the first Wednesday in July. If enough signatures are filed and certified, the measures will be on our ballots in the fall.
I am most concerned and opposed to the referendum which proposes to reduce the state personal income tax rate from 5% to 4%. If passed, this referendum is projected to create an immediate $5.1 billion loss in state revenue requiring brutal budget cuts to state services and programs writ large, including education, health care, roads and bridges, public health programs.
The timeframe for ballot questions in Massachusetts are as follows:
- August 6, 2025: Last day to submit petitions signed by 10 original signers to the Attorney General.
- September 3, 2025: First day to file petitions certified by the Attorney General with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to request blank petition forms (petitions are provided within 14 days of request
- November 19, 2025: Last day to submit signed petitions to local registrars of voters for certification.
- December 3, 2025: Last day to file certified petitions with the Secretary
- January 7, 2026: First legislative day of the year – successful petitions transmitted to House Clerk
- May 5, 2026: Last day for Legislature to act on petition.
- May 6, 2026: First day petitioners may request additional petitions from the Secretary.
- June 2, 2026: Deadline for petitioners to file an amended petition with the Secretary, with a certificate from the Attorney General that the amendment does not materially change the substance of the measure.
- June 17, 2026: Last day to file petitions with local registrars for certification.
- July 1, 2026: Last day to file certified petitions with the Secretary (first day is June 3, 2026).
- November 3, 2026: Election Day