2018 Massachusetts ballot measures explained

Three ballot measures were certified for the November 6, 2018, general election in the state of Massachusetts.[1]

The Constitution of Massachusetts can be amended through initiative, and state statutes can be proposed through initiative. The first and second certified measures, "Nurse-Patient Assignment Limits" and "Advisory Commission for Amendments to the U.S. Constitution Regarding Corporate Personhood and Political Spending", were both initiated state statutes. The third measure, "Gender Identity and Anti-Discrimination", was a veto referendum.

In Massachusetts, after the state determines which measure(s) will appear on the ballot, an official name is assigned to each question. The Secretary of the Commonwealth has discretion over the ordering of questions on the ballot.

Measures on the ballot

No.TypeInitiative TitleSubjectDescription[2] ResultRef.
1ISSNurse-Patient Assignment LimitsHealthcareEstablishes a limit on how many patients a nurse can be assigned in various healthcare settingsRejected
70.4%–29.6%		[3] [4]
2ISSAdvisory Commission for Amendments to the U.S. Constitution Regarding Corporate Personhood and Political SpendingDefinition of a corporation and federal constitutional issuesCreates a panel of citizens to propose amendments to the US Constitution about campaign finance and corporate personhoodApproved
71.4%–28.6%		[5]
3 VR LGBT Issues Referendum on a 2016 law prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity (a 'yes' vote would preserve the law, a 'no' vote would repeal it)Approved
67.8%–32.2%		[6] [7]
VR = veto referendum
ISS = initiated state statute
Vote percentages as of November 8, with 100% reporting

Endorsements

Question 1

On October 23, 2018, The Boston Globe editorial board endorsed a 'no' vote on Question 1, saying the nursing staff ratio is wrong for Massachusetts.[8] On October 26, the Boston Herald also advocated for a 'no' vote.[9] Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker said he would vote 'no',[10] while Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh said he would vote 'yes'.[11] A "yes" vote was also advocated by United States Senator for Vermont Bernie Sanders.[12]

Question 3

A 'yes' vote on Question 3 has been "wholeheartedly" endorsed by The Boston Globe in an October 17, 2018, editorial.[13] Actress and LGBT advocate Laverne Cox also advocated for a 'yes' vote.[14]

Measures not on the ballot

Removed question

A measure titled "Income Tax for Education and Transportation Amendment", which sought to create a four percent tax on incomes that exceed $1 million, to be used for education and transportation purposes, was removed after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in June 2018 that the measure had been incorrectly certified by the Massachusetts Attorney General.[15]

Other potential questions

Several additional measures received a required number of signatures by December 6, 2017,[2] but ultimately were not added to the ballot:

A new law enacting a majority of content from these three measures was signed into law in late June by Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker. Hourly minimum wage will be increased from $11 to $15 by 2023, workers will have paid medical leave of 12 to 20 weeks (depending on circumstance), and there will be an annual August sales tax holiday; the state sales tax was not decreased. Initiative organizers agreed to withdraw the associated ballot initiatives.[16]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018 Ballot Questions . sec.state.ma.us . . October 21, 2018.
  2. Web site: Massachusetts 2018 ballot measures. July 13, 2018. Ballotpedia. July 16, 2018.
  3. News: Voters reject Question 1, which would have mandated nurse staffing levels . Priyanka . Dayal McCluskey . . limited . November 6, 2018 . November 6, 2018.
  4. Web site: Election results 2018 - Mass. Race - the Boston Globe.
  5. Web site: Election results 2018 - Mass. Race - the Boston Globe.
  6. News: Massachusetts Election Results . . November 6, 2018 . November 6, 2018.
  7. Web site: Election results 2018 - Mass. Race - the Boston Globe.
  8. News: Editorial . Board . Editorial board endorsement: Vote 'no' on Question 1. The nurse staffing ratio is wrong for Mass. . . 2018-10-22 . 2018-10-23 . limited.
  9. News: Vote no on Question 1: Don't handcuff nurses . . October 26, 2018 . October 26, 2018.
  10. News: Baker To Vote 'No' On Ballot Question 1 Nurse Staffing Mandates . . . October 11, 2018 . October 26, 2018.
  11. News: Walsh To Vote 'Yes' On Ballot Question 1 Nurse Staffing Mandates . . . October 15, 2018 . October 26, 2018.
  12. Web site: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses nurse staffing ballot question . Schoenberg . Shira . 29 October 2018 . MassLive. 29 October 2018.
  13. News: Stand up for equality: Vote Yes on 3 . 18 October 2018 . The Boston Globe . 18 October 2018 . limited.
  14. News: Laverne Cox Urges Mass. To Vote Yes On Question 3, To Send Message To Nation . Katie . Lannan . . October 25, 2018 . October 26, 2018.
  15. News: 'Millionaire's Tax' Won't Be On The State Ballot, Mass. SJC Rules . Steve . Brown . . June 18, 2018 . June 18, 2018.
  16. News: "Grand bargain" keeps voters from deciding ballot questions . . . July 1, 2018 . July 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180702035427/http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2018/07/grand_bargain_keeps_voters_from_deciding_ballot_questions . July 2, 2018 . dead .

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