Massachusetts 2012 ballot measures

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Three statewide ballot questions were approved for the 2012 ballot in the state of Massachusetts.

• 23 initiatives were approved for circulation by the Massachusetts Attorney General.
• Some measures were filed more than once.
• All measures were filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General.
• All measures were indirect initiated state statutes.

Signature validation

• Four measures' signatures were filed by the initial November 23 and December 7, 2011 deadlines, therefore only those four were still eligible to make the ballot.
• The four initiatives were filed with the Massachusetts Legislature by Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin as signatures were verified before the start of the 2012 legislative session.
• If the general assembly does not choose to make a proposal a law in a given year, supporters must then gather additional signatures to obtain ballot access. Those signatures must be obtained from about 1/2 of 1% of voters who voted in the last governor election and supporters must submit them to local clerks.
• Validated signatures needed to be turned in by the first Wednesday of July to the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office. Since the deadline fell on a national holiday, July 4, that deadline was July 3.
• Three initiative efforts turned in signatures that day and were subsequently placed on the ballot.

On the ballot

The following measures were on the 2012 ballot:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
IndISS	Question 1	Business	Deals with vehicle owner and business protections in the state.	a
IndISS	Question 2	Assisted death	Would establish an "Act Relative to Death with Dignity."	d
IndISS	Question 3	Marijuana	Would allow for the use of medical marijuana in the state.	a

Not on the ballot

See also: Proposed ballot measures that were not on a ballot

The following are measures that did not make the ballot or were not approved for circulation.

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
IndISS	Abuse Prevention Repeal	Admin. of gov't.	Would repeal a law passed in the state dealing with Abuse Prevention
IndISS	Voter Identification Initiative	Elections	Would require identification from residents before voting.
IndISS	Permits and Regional Planning Initiative	Housing	Amending a certain housing law in the state.
IndISS	Casino Gaming Initiative	Gambling	Create casino establishments in three locations in the state.
IndISS	Electricity Contracts Initiative	Business regulation	Relative to Electricity Contracts in the state.
IndISS	Public Duties Initiative	Government accountability	"An Initiative Petition for a Law Relative to M.G.L. 209A."
IndISS	Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Rating Initiative	Business regulation	Deals with insurance ratings in the state.
IndISS	Auto Sale Cancellation Initiative	Business regulation	Deals with the right for the cancellation of an auto sale in the state.
IndISS	Health Cost Referendum	Healthcare	Allow local governments to structure health care benefits.
IndISS	Charitable Solicitation Regulation Initiative (4)	Business regulation	Change the "do not call" list law to regulate certain charitable solicitations.
IndISS	Water Sewage Rates Initiative	Environment	Limit the amount by which water and sewer rates may be raised.
IndISS	9/11 Investigation Commission Initiative	Admin. of gov't.	Establish a law that would create a Citizens’ 9/11 Investigation Commission.
IndISS	Whale Fishing Act	Animal rights	Would create a "safe whale fishing" act.
IndISS	Recyclable Bottle Expansion	Environment	Expand the recyclable bottle law.
IndISS	Healthcare Initiative	Healthcare	Would repeal a health care law.
IndISS	Food Store Wine Selling Initiative	Alcohol	Would allow for the sale of wine in food stores.
IndISS	Limited Beer and Wine Licenses Initiative	Alcohol	Would limit beer and wine licenses in the state.
IndISS	License and Registration Initiative	Admin. of gov't.	"An Initiative Petition for a Law Relative to M.G.L. 90, Section 22."
IndISS	Secret Recording Law Initiative	Law enforcement	Create exception to law banning secret recording of oral/wire communication.
IndISS	Public Schools Initiative	Education	Relating to public school improvements.

Local ballot measures

See also: Local ballot measure elections in 2012

No local measures have been identified for 2012. Read about local happenings here.

See also

• 2012 ballot measures
• List of Massachusetts ballot measures
• Laws governing the initiative process in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts Legislature

External links

• Massachusetts Secretary of State petition filings and status