Press Release: 9/9/2026

Clear, thorough, nonpartisan analyses of all nine Massachusetts ballot questions










































Your guides to the 2026 ballot questions





















 






 

























FOR RELEASE: Sep 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m. ET

CONTACT: Robin Smyton, Assistant Director, Media Relations

robin.smyton@tufts.edu | 617-627-5392



Nine new ballot question guides released today by the Center for State Policy Analysis (cSPA) at Tufts University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life explain what each of the Massachusetts ballot questions would do—and what's at stake for voters.



"Having to vote on nine different ballot questions is a serious challenge for Massachusetts voters," said Evan Horowitz, executive director of cSPA. "These guides provide the information people will need to weigh their options and make sound decisions."



All nine guides are available on our ballot questions landing page. They include:




  • Question 1: Applying public records law to the Legislature and Governor's office

  • Question 2: Union rights for the state's public defenders

  • Question 3: Replacing party primaries with a single all-party primary

  • Question 4: Should voters be allowed to register on election day? 

  • Question 5: Making automatic tax refunds more frequent and less predictable

  • Question 6: An earmark for conservation and recreation 

  • Question 7: Overriding local zoning to increase home construction

  • Question 8: Rolling back marijuana legalization 

  • Question 9: Keep or repeal the 2024 gun control law



VISIT THE BALLOT QUESTIONS LANDING PAGE



Each guide is extensively researched and independently reviewed before publication. Led by Horowitz, cSPA's work on this year's questions was supported by a tremendous team of researchers and staff, including Ishmam Khan, Zoe Tsai, Maler Suresh, Leah Munoz, Mathew Long, and Simon Honig.



cSPA provides expert, nonpartisan analysis of legislative proposals and ballot questions in Massachusetts. It is based at Tufts University and supported by Tisch College along with a diverse group of funding sources from across the political spectrum.