MA Ballot GuidePlain facts. Your decisions.

Massachusetts Ballot Questions 2026, Explained

Nine questions. Your answers. One card to take with you.

Massachusetts hasn't had this many ballot questions since 1994.

Start with Question 1All 9 at a glance

Yes, the state mailed you a red book. I read the whole thing. This is it in plain English, plus who's funding each side and a cheat sheet you can take to the polls. Read the red book

A ballot card showing how someone is voting on the Massachusetts ballot questions, with a colored Yes, No, or Deciding tag beside each question
Sample This is what you end up with: your answers on a card you can save to your phone or print and bring with you. Save or print your card →
UpdatedWho’s paying?Who’s paying? New filings are in. See what moved on all nine.NewSee how you stand with the partiesWhat color are your picks?
New filings October 27, 2026 5 days to vote$4.1 million newly reported in one weekIn the last 18 days before an election, any contribution of $500 or more has to be reported within 72 hours, so new money shows up in the filings now. That is six committees in the week to October 26, and one of them registered only days ago, against Question 8.See who's paying on all nine

Prefer video?

Each question explained in about a minute. They don't tell you how to vote.

Watch the explainer videos

Start anywhere. Your answers save as you go.

  1. Expanding the Public Records Law
    Government transparency
  2. Union Rights for Public Defenders
    Labor
  3. State Primary Elections
    Elections
  4. Election Day Registration
    Elections
  5. State Revenue Limit & Rebate
    Taxes
  6. Natural Resource Conservation Fund
    Environment
  7. Single-Family Homes on Smaller Lots
    Housing
  8. Ban on Retail Marijuana Sales
    Cannabis
  9. Firearms Law Referendum
    Public safety

See your ballot cardEvery answer you've made, in ballot order, ready to save or print. Watch how it works (under a minute)

Your city or town's actual ballot may also include local questions not covered here.

Election dayTuesday, November 3, 2026Polls 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your polling placePolls have closed.
RegistrationClosed Oct. 24Check your registration
Early votingThrough Friday, October 30Closed Oct. 30

What's on the Massachusetts ballot on November 3

There are nine statewide questions this year, on everything from public records and public defender unions to primaries, taxes, housing, marijuana sales and firearms law. Each one gets its own page: what a Yes vote does, what a No vote does, who's for it, who's against it, and who's paying for each side.

I don't tell you how to vote. Mark your picks as you read and they turn into a one-page ballot card you can save to your phone or print for the booth. The how-to-vote page has every deadline, and the party positions page shows where the Democratic and Republican parties land.

Updated October 28, 2026: see what changed →