User:Lovelyfurball/Draft/2026 Massachusetts ballot measures
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Several [[Referendum|ballot measures]] may be on the ballot during the [[2026 Massachusetts elections]]. 11 measures were certified in January 2026. The Massachusetts legislature has until May 2026 to either implement the proposals, reach a compromise with organizers, or do nothing, allowing organizers to gather more signatures to officially place the measures on the ballot.{{Cite news |last=Cristantiello |first=Ross |date=January 13, 2026 |title=From rent control to recreational pot, these 11 questions could be coming to Mass. ballots this fall |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2026/01/13/massachusetts-ballot-questions-2026/ |access-date=April 23, 2026 |work=[[Boston.com]]}}
In [[Massachusetts]], a constitutional amendment or proposed law can be placed on the ballot by popular petition. If a petition collects 74,574 signatures, it will be considered by the [[Massachusetts General Court|General Court]]. If the General Court does not pass the proposal, the petitioners can have their proposal placed on the ballot at the next general election if they collect 12,429 more signatures.{{Cite web |title=The initiative petition process |url=https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-initiative-petition-process |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916072852/https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-initiative-petition-process |archive-date=September 16, 2025 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=Mass.gov}} In addition, a law passed by the General Court can be put to a veto referendum, in which the law must be passed by popular vote.{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2023 |title=MASSACHUSETTS |url=https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/directdemocracy50-state/2023/massachusetts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909065826/https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/directdemocracy50-state/2023/massachusetts/ |archive-date=September 9, 2025 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=State Democracy Research Initiative |language=en-US}} One veto referendum will be on the ballot in 2026.
In [[Massachusetts]], a constitutional amendment or proposed law can be placed on the ballot by popular petition. If a petition collects 74,574 signatures, it will be considered by the [[Massachusetts General Court|General Court]]. If the General Court does not pass the proposal, the petitioners can have their proposal placed on the ballot at the next general election if they collect 12,429 more signatures.{{Cite web |title=The initiative petition process |url=https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-initiative-petition-process |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916072852/https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-initiative-petition-process |archive-date=September 16, 2025 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=Mass.gov}} In addition, a law passed by the General Court can be put to a veto referendum, in which the law must be passed by popular vote.{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2023 |title=MASSACHUSETTS |url=https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/directdemocracy50-state/2023/massachusetts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909065826/https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/directdemocracy50-state/2023/massachusetts/ |archive-date=September 9, 2025 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=State Democracy Research Initiative |language=en-US}} One veto referendum will be on the ballot in 2026.
