Our Thoughts on the 2026 Ballot Questions

Over the previous member meeting, we reviewed nine ballot questions Massachusetts voters can decide on on Tuesday, November 3rd. To make it easier for you to find them, we uploaded each question in its own video and wrapped them in a playlist for easy navigation. We hope you find them helpful in deciding how you will vote.

Question 1: Public Records Requirements for Legislature and Governor’s Office Initiative

A Yes vote would make records held by the state legislature and the governor’s office public records.

A No vote would leave the law unchanged.

The Pirate Party supports making all government records public records unless there is a compelling personal privacy reason for not doing so.

Question 2: Permit Collective Bargaining for Committee for Public Counsel Services Employees Initiative

A Yes vote would permit employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) to participate in collective bargaining practices.

A No vote would leave the law unchanged.

Question 3: Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative

A Yes vote would create all party primaries and select the top two candidates from the primary to go on to the general election. Primaries generally occur in September, when voter interest is low. It is not Instant Runoff/Ranked Choice Voting since candidates are not ranked such that votes for an eliminated candidate are not allocated to their next choice.

A No vote would leave the law unchanged.

The Pirate Party advocates for Instant Runoff/Ranked Choice Voting and introducing Proportional Representation to the Massachusetts legislature so that voters have more parties that actually advocate for their interests.

Question 4: Permit Same-Day Voter Registration Initiative

A Yes vote would allow same-day voting registration.

A No vote would leave the law unchanged.

The Pirate Party advocates for same-day registration.

Question 5: Change State Tax Revenue Limit Initiative

A Yes vote would change the method of calculating the state’s tax revenue to include the Millionaire Tax and reduce the rate of growth of state tax revenue potentially leading to cuts in programs at the state and local level. It would return more tax revenue back to tax filers. Funds redistributed would be returned based on income tax filings. Since sales taxes, which affect poor people more, are not used as a basis for redistributing funds, wealthier tax filers would receive a much larger share of the redistributing funds.

A No vote would leave the law unchanged.

Question 6: Establish the Nature for All Fund Initiative

A Yes vote establishes the Nature for All Fund and fund it from sales tax revenue.

A No vote would leave the law unchanged.

Question 7: Limit on Required Lot Size for Single-Family Homes Initiative

A Yes vote would reduce municipalities lot size requirements in areas that have public water and sewer access.

A No vote would leave the law unchanged.

Question 8: Eliminate Recreational Marijuana Sales and Allow Limited Possession Initiative

A Yes vote would repeal parts of the Cannabis legalization voters passed in 2016 and the legislature rewrote. It would recriminalize sale of Cannabis.

A No vote would leave Cannabis legal and regulated in Massachusetts.

The Pirate Party opposes prohibition and supported the legalization of Cannabis.

Question 9: Firearm Regulations Referendum

This question is a referendum.

A Yes vote would maintain the firearms regulations the legislature and governor.

A No vote would repeal them.