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Massachusetts Question 2, Incarcerated Felon Voting Amendment (2000)
| Massachusetts Question 2 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Voting rights for persons with criminal convictions |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 2 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Massachusetts on November 7, 2000. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported prohibiting those incarcerated for a felony from voting for certain offices while incarcerated. |
A “no” vote opposed prohibiting those incarcerated for a felony from voting for certain offices while incarcerated. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 2 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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1,648,447 | 64.01% | ||
| No | 926,737 | 35.99% | ||
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 two houses on July 29, 1998 (yeas 155 - nays 34); and again on June 28, 2000 (yeas 144 - nays 45)? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | This proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit persons who are incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction from voting in elections for governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state representative. The amendment would also result in such persons being ineligible to vote for governors councillor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, state attorney general, or United States senator or representative in Congress. | ” |
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
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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