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Massachusetts Question 1, Equal Rights Regardless of Sex, Race, or Creed Amendment (1976)

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Massachusetts Question 1

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Election date

November 2, 1976

Topic
Constitutional rights and Race and ethnicity issues
Status

ApprovedApproved

Type
Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Origin

State legislature



Massachusetts Question 1 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Massachusetts on November 2, 1976. It was approved.

A “yes” vote supported prohibiting the denial or abridgment of rights on the basis of sex, race, color, creed or national origin.

A “no” vote opposed prohibiting the denial or abridgment of rights on the basis of sex, race, color, creed or national origin.


Election results

Massachusetts Question 1

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

1,445,066 60.44%
No 945,789 39.56%
Results are officially certified.
Source


Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:

Do you approve of the adoption of an amendment to the Constitution summarized below, which was approved by the General Court in joint sessions of the House of Representatives and Senate on August 15, 1973, by a vote of 261-0, and on May 14, 1975, by a vote of 217-55?

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

The proposed amendment would provide that equality under the law may not be denied or abridged on the basis of sex, race, color, creed or national origin. This amendment adds one sentence to Article I of Part the First of the Constitution which now contains a general statement of individual rights, including the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty and the right to acquire and protect property.

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.


Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Massachusetts Constitution

A simple majority vote is required during two successive joint legislative sessions for the Massachusetts State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the joint session of the state legislature, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also


External links

Footnotes