When you open your ballot this year, the candidates are only part of the story. Every voter in Massachusetts will also see nine binding statewide ballot questions on the Nov. 3, 2026 State Election ballot. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office says that with so many questions, ballots in most communities are expected to run two to three pages.
That is a lot to read in a voting booth. This guide walks through each question using the official ballot language, so you can read it at home first, talk it over with family, and walk in ready. Mass Halal does not endorse a side on any question. Our goal is simply that every Muslim voter in Massachusetts knows what they are being asked.
First, the dates that matter this week
According to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's official Information for Voters guide:
- Saturday, Oct. 24: The deadline to register to vote in this election. If you have moved since you last voted, this is also the time to update your address. You can check or update your registration at VoteInMA.com.
- Oct. 17 to Oct. 30: Early voting in person. Hours and locations are set by each city and town, so check your local clerk's page.
- Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day. Polling places across Massachusetts are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you plan to vote after work on a weekday, remember that Maghrib comes early in late October and early November. Many families find it easiest to vote early on a weekend, or to go in the morning after Fajr once polls open.
How a ballot question works
Questions 1 through 8 are proposed laws that reached the ballot by citizen petition because the Legislature did not vote on them before May 6, 2026. Question 9 is different: it is a referendum on a law the Legislature already passed in 2024. A yes vote on Question 9 keeps that law; a no vote repeals it.
For each question, the official ballot includes a summary and two short statements: what a YES vote would do and what a NO vote would do. Below we have put those statements in plain words.
The nine statewide questions
Question 1: Expanding the Public Records Law. A yes vote would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the state's Public Records Law. The proposal exempts documents about developing public policy and certain communications between legislators and constituents seeking help. A no vote makes no change.
Question 2: Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees. The Committee for Public Counsel Services is the state agency that provides public defenders. A yes vote would specify that CPCS employees may form a union and bargain collectively with their employer, and would require CPCS to request funding for any agreement from the Governor. A no vote makes no change.
Question 3: State Primary Elections. A yes vote would replace separate party primaries for state elections with a single primary where all candidates appear on one ballot, any voter can choose any candidate, and the top two advance to November. Governor and lieutenant governor candidates would run jointly in the primary. A no vote keeps the current primary system.
Question 4: Election Day Registration. A yes vote would let eligible citizens register or update their address at their polling place on Election Day, with proof of residency and a signed oath. This change would take effect Jan. 1, 2028, so it would not apply to this year's election. A no vote makes no change.
Question 5: State Revenue Limit and Rebate. A yes vote would cap state revenue each year at the prior year's net revenue plus the average growth in Massachusetts wages and salaries over the last three years. Any amount above the cap would be refunded to taxpayers the following year, and revenue from the surtax on incomes over $1 million would count toward the limit. It would take effect July 1, 2027. A no vote makes no change.
Question 6: Nature for All Fund. A yes vote would create a fund for natural resource conservation, such as protecting drinking water, rivers, farms and forests, and creating or improving parks and trails. Subject to legislative appropriation, it would receive a share of state sales taxes on sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses, rising to 100 percent of those taxes after July 1, 2028. A 15-member board would set spending rules. A no vote makes no change.
Question 7: Single-Family Homes. A yes vote would allow a single-family home to be built in any residentially zoned area on a lot of at least 5,000 square feet with at least 50 feet of street frontage and access to public water and sewer. Cities and towns could still reasonably regulate things like height, setbacks, open space, parking and short-term rentals. A no vote makes no change.
Question 8: Recreational Marijuana Sales. A yes vote would repeal the laws that legalize, regulate and tax retail sales of recreational marijuana, and change possession penalties. Adults 21 and older could still possess up to 1 ounce. Licensed recreational businesses could apply to become medical marijuana dispensaries. It would take effect Jan. 1, 2028. A no vote makes no change.
Question 9: Firearms Regulation. This asks whether to keep the 2024 law An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws. Among other things, that law added penalties for untraceable "ghost guns," requires serial numbers on firearms, raised the age to own semiautomatic rifles or shotguns to 21, and prohibits carrying firearms in government buildings, polling locations and schools, with certain exceptions. A yes vote keeps the law; a no vote repeals it.
There may be a Question 10 on your ballot
Some legislative districts also have non-binding public policy questions, usually listed as Question 10 or later. These ask whether your state representative should be instructed to support certain legislation, and they do not change any law. The Secretary's office lists which districts have them, so if you see an extra question, you can look it up before you vote.
Faith, family and making up your mind
Several of these questions touch on things many Muslim families care about, from housing costs to public safety to how our elections work. Faith can shape how you weigh them, and people in our community will reach different conclusions. Read the official arguments for and against, which appear in the state's Information for Voters booklet, talk it over at home, and ask your imam if you would like a religious perspective.
Most of all, do not leave the questions blank because the ballot is long. A few minutes of reading at home this week can make your vote count on every page.
Where to get help
Your city or town clerk handles registration, early voting locations and mail ballots. VoteInMA.com lets you check your registration and find your polling place. You can also call the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Elections Division at 1-800-392-6090.