Information gathered from Massachusetts Information For Voters 2024 Ballot Questions –
Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Francis Galvin
Submitted by Desiree Leader | Staff Writer and Summarized by Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief
QUESTION 1
State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature
Question 1 asks voters if the state auditor should be allowed to investigate and review some activities of the state legislature, the branch that drafts, debates, and passes laws
What a YES vote means:
Nothing would change immediately, but it would allow the state auditor to test new investigative powers over the legislature. Lawmakers could potentially resist or overturn this authority.
What a NO vote means:
No change would be made to the law.
QUESTION 2
Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement
Question 2 proposes to remove the requirement for Massachusetts students to pass the MCAS tests to graduate.
What a YES vote means:
The requirement that a student must pass the MCAS in order to graduate would be eliminated. Instead, students would need to complete certified coursework that shows they meet district standards.
What a NO vote means:
No change would be made to the law. The MCAS would remain a requirement.
QUESTION 3
Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers
Question 3 proposes to allow transportation network drivers (such as Lyft, Uber) to form unions to negotiate wages, benefits, and work conditions with their companies.
What a YES vote means:
Transportation network and rideshare drivers would be allowed to form unions to negotiate wages, benefits, and work conditions with companies.
What a NO vote means:
No change would be made to the law, keeping the current system, where drivers don’t have this collective option.
QUESTION 4
Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Pshychedelic Substances
Question 4 proposes to allow adults 21 and older to grow, possess, and use certain natural psychedelics, like psilocybin mushrooms, in supervised settings with trained facilitators. While retail sales would remain banned, licensed facilities would follow regulations for facilitation.
What a YES vote means:
It means supporting the use of these substances under supervision, allowing home cultivation, and establishing a commission to regulate their use.
What a NO vote means:
The laws pertaining to these substances remain the same and these activities are not permitted.
QUESTION 5
Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers
Question 5 would gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers to match the state minimum wage over five years.
What a YES vote means:
It supports this increase, then allowing employers to pool tips for all workers, including non-tipped employees, and requiring them to pay any shortfalls in wages until the tipped wage equals the full minimum wage.
What a NO vote means:
The current laws on tip pooling and minimum wages for tipped workers will remain unchanged.
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