Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Massachusetts Question 2, Graduated Income Tax Rate Amendment (1976)
| Massachusetts Question 2 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Election date |
|
| Topic Income taxes |
|
| Status |
|
| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 2 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Massachusetts on November 2, 1976. It was defeated.
A “yes” vote supported allowing for a graduated income tax rate. |
A “no” vote opposed allowing for a graduated income tax rate. |
Election results
|
Massachusetts Question 2 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 645,483 | 26.53% | ||
|
|
1,787,302 | 73.47% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 2 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 199-66, and on May 7, 1975, by a vote of 228-41? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | The proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to substitute for the present system of flat or uniform personal income tax rates a system of rates graduated according to the total amount of income received. The Legislature would also be authorized to provide for reasonable exemptions, deductions, credits, and abatements and could base Massachusetts income tax provisions on provisions of Federal income tax law. | ” |
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
 |
State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
