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Gloucester, Massachusetts, Proportional Representation Measure (December 1949)
| Gloucester Proportional Representation Measure | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Local elections and campaigns and Local electoral systems |
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| Status |
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| Type Referral |
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Gloucester Proportional Representation Measure was on the ballot as a referral in Gloucester on December 6, 1949. Voters approved the ballot measure. In 1951, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the ballot measure was invalid due to preemption legislation passed in 1949.
A "yes" vote supported adopting a Plan E form of municipal government and a system of proportional representation for electing the Gloucester Council. |
A "no" vote opposed adopting a Plan E form of municipal government and a system of proportional representation for electing the Gloucester Council. |
Aftermath
In August 1949, the Massachusetts General Court passed legislation to prohibit towns and cities from adopting proportional representation systems. The legislation exempted towns and cities where proportional representation was enacted in previous years. Voters in Gloucester adopted proportional representation after the legislation was passed. In June 1951, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck down the ballot measure as violating state law. The Supreme Judicial Court also concluded that proportional representation, which was mentioned in the ballot question, was not severable and the entire ballot measure was void.[1]
Election results
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Gloucester Proportional Representation Measure |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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5,454 | 70.27% | ||
| No | 2,307 | 29.73% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Proportional Representation Measure was as follows:
| “ | Shall Sections 93 through 116 of Chapter 43 of the General Laws providing for a new form of government to be established in the City of Gloucester, known as Plan E, being a form of city government and legislative body to be known as the City Council composed of seven or nine members, one of whom shall be elected as Mayor by and from such members and shall be the official head of the city and an administrative officer called the City Manager; the members of the City Council and the elective members of the School Committee to be elected at large by proportional representation; be adopted? | ” |
Path to the ballot
The Gloucester City Council referred the measure to the ballot.
See also
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Footnotes
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