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Staff Reports | CommonWealth Beacon
Get ready for a long ballot.
The Massachusetts House, Senate, and governor are responsible for the vast majority of what becomes law in the Commonwealth, but they’re not the only ones with that power.
Individuals can also propose changes to state law or the state Constitution, and if supporters manage to navigate a thicket of procedural hurdles and win support from a majority of voters, their measure becomes law, just the same as anything that followed the more traditional path through Beacon Hill.
This election season, frustrated advocates and influential groups turned to the process with gusto. Nine statewide ballot questions will go before voters in November, tying a record last set in 1994. The measures in the mix range across a host of weighty topics, from tax rebates to recreational marijuana to elections administration.
Here’s the comprehensive guide:
