2026 Quincy Voter Guide

Sources: https://ma.omniballot.us/sites/25/vg/app/vig/voter-guide/info

https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_2026_ballot_measures

Question 1

Question 1 would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

This proposed law would exempt documents related to the development of public policy and communications between legislators and their constituents, if those communications are reasonably related to a constituent's request for assistance in obtaining government-provided benefits or services or interacting with a government agency.

• A "yes" vote would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

• A "no" vote would make no change to the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

Question 2

Question 2 would specify that employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services ("CPCS") are permitted to engage in collective bargaining with their employer. It would also require CPCS, after executing a collective bargaining agreement, to request the appropriation necessary to fund such agreement from the Governor.

• A "yes" vote would specify that Committee for Public Counsel Services employees may form a union to collectively bargain with their employer.

• A "no" vote would make no change to the law governing labor relations for Committee for Public Counsel Service employees.

Question 3

Question 3 would eliminate political party primaries for state elections and instead establish a system where there would be a single, all-party primary in which all candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, would be listed on one ballot, and voters could vote for any candidate on the ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary would advance to the general election ballot.

• A "yes" vote would eliminate separate party primaries for state elections and require a single primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot, voters could vote for any candidate, and the top two candidates would advance to the general election.

• A "no" vote would make no change to the laws governing primary elections.

Question 4

Question 4 would permit eligible individuals to register to vote or update their voter registration address on Election Day.

• A "yes" vote would permit eligible citizens to register to vote or to update their voter registration address at their polling place on Election Day.

• A "no" vote would make no change to the laws governing voter registration.

Question 5

Question 5 would change the limit on how much revenue the state can collect in a given year. The proposal would limit state revenue in a given year to the net amount of state revenue from the year before, increased by a rate equal to the average growth of wages and salaries in Massachusetts over the most recent three years.

If revenue collected by the state in a given year exceeds the limit, the excess amount would be refunded to taxpayers the following year. The proposed law would include all revenue from the surtax on incomes over $1 million when calculating the revenue limit and when determining whether state revenue exceeds the limit.

• A "yes" vote would change the limit on state revenue collection, tying it to prior year collections plus average wage and salary growth, and provide for a rebate of revenue exceeding that limit.

• A "no" vote would make no change in the law relative to state revenue collection.

Question 6

Question 6 would establish a Nature for All Fund that, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, would receive 50% of state taxes collected from the sale and use of sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses for the first year of its operation.

After July 1, 2028, the Nature for All Fund would begin receiving, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, 100% of state taxes collected on the sale and use of sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses

• A "yes" vote would create a fund that could be utilized for natural resource conservation that would receive some state taxes collected on the sale and use of sporting goods and recreational vehicles, and the use of golf courses.

• A "no" vote would not create this natural resource conservation fund or change how sales and use taxes are spent.

Question 7

Question 7 would allow single-family homes to be built in a residentially zoned area as long as the land on which it is to be constructed is at least 5,000 square feet, has at least 50 feet of land bordering the street, road, or public way that it faces, and has access to public sewer and water services.

• A "yes" vote would allow single-family homes to be built on lots of 5,000 square feet or more in residential areas, subject to reasonable local regulation of certain aspects of those homes.

• A "no" vote would make no change to the law relative to building single-family homes.

Question 8

Question 8 would repeal laws that allow the sale, use, and possession of marijuana for recreational use. It would repeal laws allowing for the regulation of recreational marijuana, the state marijuana tax, and the potential for local option marijuana taxes. It would also repeal laws that permit the cultivation of marijuana in a personal residence.

• A "yes" vote would prohibit the legalization, regulation, and taxation of the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana, and change the penalties for possession of marijuana.

• A "no" vote would make no change to the law relative to marijuana.

Question 9

Question 9, if passed, would uphold House Bill 4885 (H.4885), also known as Acts of 2024 Chapter 135, An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws. This law enacted several changes to the state's firearm regulations, including:

-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

-permitting courts to order firearm surrender when issuing Harassment Prevention Orders

• A "yes" vote would keep in place the law, which increases the regulation of firearms, including ghost guns, machine guns, and assault-style weapons.

• A "no" vote would repeal this law.

Learn more about MA Ballot Measures and read arguments for and against