09/06/2026
https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/09/05/new-study-calls-for-revamp-of-states-restrictive-ballot-initiative-process/
Massachusetts makes it very difficult to get an initiative petition on the ballot compared to other states. The reason is obvious, Beacon Hill politicians don't want to relinquish any of their power to voters, so they try to shoot down ballot questions before we can even vote on them, and ignore them when we do.
Where the hell is our audit?
From the article: “Massachusetts and Ohio are the only states where an initiative can face multiple rounds of signature gathering. The Commonwealth’s first signature-gathering period lasts just 64 days, while 10 states give campaigns a year or longer. Of the 44 Massachusetts petitions that initially advanced in the 2026 cycle, only 11 survived the initial signature-gathering stage,” the study says.
It found that Massachusetts is already one of the most restrictive states in the country when it comes to its ballot initiative systems. Proposed measures face constitutional and legislative review, subject-matter restrictions, and multiple rounds of signature gathering before reaching voters.
As Massachusetts voters wait to decide on nine ballot questions in the November general election, a new study by the Pioneer Institute is calling for a revamp to the ballot initiative process.
