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Ballot question

Question 1: public records law for the Legislature and Governor (initiative)

On the ballot in
Massachusetts
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 6, 2026? This proposed law would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This proposed law would exempt documents related to the development of public policy and communications between legislators and their constituents, if those communications are reasonably related to a constituent’s request for assistance in obtaining government-provided benefits or services or interacting with a government agency.

A “Yes” vote means

A YES VOTE would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

A “No” vote means

A NO VOTE would make no change to the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

Official plain English statement

What your vote will do (written by the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Commonwealth): A YES VOTE would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. A NO VOTE would make no change to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. Statement of fiscal consequences (written by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance): The proposed law has no discernible material fiscal consequences for state and municipal government finances.

Question 1 – Law Proposed by Initiative Petition. Full text, arguments and legislative votes: the Information for Voters booklet.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.