MASSACHUSETTS — Eight initiative petitions are likely to appear on the November 2026 ballot in Massachusetts after the state legislature declined to approve any of them last month. Ballot committees must gather additional signatures in June 2026 for these initiatives to qualify for the ballot.

In February 2026, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka criticized the ballot measure process. Mariano described the process as "fraught with peril." The legislative committee responsible for voting on potential initiatives held a series of hearings in March 2026.

Representative Mark Sylvia said he believes the Legislature's decision not to approve the questions was based on their substance, rather than a general disapproval of the initiative process. Sylvia said the ballot measure process is "important." He said, "(The Legislative review educates) the public about what a ballot question does and doesn't do, and also identifies for the Legislature where there may be an opportunity to enact a potential ballot initiative that would be really beneficial."

Massachusetts only permits indirect initiatives, a process that begins with 10 petitioners submitting a proposed law or amendment to the attorney general for approval. To certify an initiative, petitioners must collect signatures equal to 3% of the total votes cast for governor in the most recent election. For the November 2026 election, this amounts to 74,574 signatures. If the Legislature does not pass an indirect initiative, petitioners must collect additional signatures equal to 0.5% of the gubernatorial votes, which is 12,429 signatures for the upcoming election.

Why It Matters

The legislative decision not to act on the eight initiative petitions means voters will likely directly consider these measures in November 2026, following a recent Supreme Judicial Court decision that removed a state income tax reduction proposal from the ballot. The ballot initiative process provides a mechanism for citizens to enact laws directly. Previously, Massachusetts voters legalized marijuana through an initiative in 2016 and created a millionaire tax in 2022. Nationally, 23 states utilize some form of initiative process, with examples including Oregon's 1912 initiative granting women the right to vote and California's 1996 initiative banning affirmative action. More recently, Maine voters legalized same-sex marriage in 2012 via a ballot measure.

The ballot initiative process has a lengthy history in other states. From 1904 to 2024, California had 396 initiatives, with a 35% approval rate. Oregon saw 379 initiatives during the same period, with 36% approved. Colorado had 259 initiatives, North Dakota had 202, and Washington had 192 initiatives.