Four ballot measures were on the ballot during the 2022 Massachusetts elections which were held on November 8, 2022. In addition to the 4 which were certified, 24 measures failed to meet the requirements to be on the ballot.
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 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. 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. In 2022, 1 constitutional amendment, 2 proposed laws, and 1 veto referendum were placed on the ballot.
Measures on the ballot
QuestionStatus1Legislative Constitutional Amendment for an Additional Tax on Income Over One MillionApproved2Initiative Petition for a Law concerning the Regulation of Dental InsuranceApproved3Initiative Petition for a Law creating Expanded Availability of Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic BeveragesRejected4Referendum on an Existing Law on Eligibility for Driver's LicensesApproved
Question 1
Question 1, sometimes called the "Millionaires Tax" and the "Fair Share Amendment" by its supporters, was a proposal to amend the state constitution to create a new 4% tax on income for people earning more than $1,000,000 annually, with the new revenue to go towards infrastructure and education. It would be a constitutional amendment rather than a law, making it difficult to change in the future. This proposal passed.
Results
Question 2 Question 2 was a proposal to require dental insurance companies to spend 83% of their revenues from insurance premiums on patient care. This proposal passed.
Polling Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorYes (for the proposed law)No (against the proposed law)UndecidedUMass Amherst/WCVBOctober 20–26, 2022700 (RV)± 4.3%68%20%12%UMass LowellOctober 18–25, 20221000 (LV)± 4.1%63%21%16%
Results
Question 3 Question 3 was a proposal to change the laws regarding liquor licensing. It would have allowed stores to sell alcohol in more locations, while making it more difficult for them to obtain liquor licenses and increasing penalties for violations of liquor laws by stores. This proposal failed.
Polling Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorYes (for the amendment)No (against the amendment)UndecidedUMass Amherst/WCVBOctober 20–26, 2022700 (RV)± 4.3%39%38%23%UMass LowellOctober 18–25, 20221000 (LV)± 4.1%45%40%15%
Results
Question 4 Question 4 was a veto referendum on a law passed by the Massachusetts legislature which allowed undocumented immigrants to hold driver's licenses. Republican Governor Baker vetoed the law, but his veto was then overridden by the legislature. The Republican Party campaigned to put the law to a veto referendum, and it was placed on the ballot. The measure passed, meaning the law was not overturned.
Polling Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorYes (uphold the law)No (overturn the law)OtherUndecidedUMass Amherst/WCVBOctober 20–26, 2022700 (RV)± 4.3%51%39%–10%UMass LowellOctober 18–25, 20221000 (LV)± 4.1%53%39%–9%Suffolk University/Boston Globe/NBC10 Boston/TelemundoOctober 13–16, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%56.4%39.2%0.2%4.2%MassINCOctober 5–14, 2022987 (LV)± 3.2%49%37%–14%Suffolk University/Boston Globe/NBC10 Boston/TelemundoSeptember 10–13, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%49.2%38.4%1.0%11.4%
Results
Notes
References