Massachusetts voters approve three ballot questions and strike down two

By Madison Lucchesi

Last Tuesday, Massachusetts voters voted to support Questions 1 through 3 and struck down Questions 4 and 5. 

Massachusetts voters approved auditing the State Legislature, removing the MCAS graduation requirement, and allowing rideshare app drivers to unionize. The defeated initiatives were the legalization of psychedelic mushrooms and increasing the tipped wage to $15 per hour. 

Question 1 – Approved

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio led the initiative to allow the state to audit the legislature. Seventy-two percent of voters supported the measure. 

With Question 1’s approval, she said, “The people of Massachusetts want the equity, transparency and accountability that a legislative audit would bring.”

Those opposed to auditing the legislature include, Democratic Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano, who released a statement after the approval. Both politicians plan to find “how to best respect the Question 1 election results in a manner that aligns with the fundamental principles of the Massachusetts Constitution, including separation of powers.”

Question 2 – Approved

Question 2 passed with 59% of the vote and eliminated the MCAS graduation requirement for public high school students. Without the test, students must pass the requirements set forth by their school district to graduate, such as community service or minimum grade point average. 

The 1993 Education Reform Act established the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). Students were required to pass a math, English and science and technology test to receive a high school diploma. 

The Yes on 2 campaign cited inequity and teaching to the test as the two largest reasons to support the elimination of the requirement. Students from wealthier backgrounds may have access to private tutors to assist them in passing the test, while other students do not have access to private assistance. Students who do not pass the exam are often students who struggle with standardized testing, have learning disabilities, or are nonnative English speakers. 

Supporters of voting no on question two considered the elimination of the requirement a way to lower graduation standards and grant diplomas to students who aren’t ready to graduate. 

Although it is no longer a requirement, students will still take the test for state benchmark analysis. 

Question 3 – Approved

Fifty-four percent of voters supported allowing Uber and Lyft drivers unionizing, but drivers are not required to unionize. 

The initiative grants the state the authority to approve contracts negotiated between unions and individual companies. This will create a hearing process for unfair work practices raised against a union or company. 

Question 4 – Defeated

Voters defeated the initiative to allow MA residents over 21 to grow and use psychedelic plants for medicinal purposes. With 57% of voters selecting no, Massachusetts will not become the third state to legalize psychedelics. 

Critics of the initiative shared concern of psychedelics entering the black market and being consumed by at-risk populations. Supporters hope that Massachusetts will one day revisit and ultimately pass this bill. 

Question 5 – Defeated

The minimum wage for tipped workers will not gradually increase as 64% of voters did not approve this measure. 

The tipped minimum wage will remain $6.75 instead of increasing to the state minimum wage of $15 per hour. 

Supporters believed workers should make a living wage that is not contingent on tips, while critics raised concerns about a potential increase in restaurant prices and businesses closing due to those increases.