Massachusetts Question 5, Permission to Non-Profits to Conduct Games of Chance Referendum (1944)
| Massachusetts Question 5 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Gambling policy |
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| Status |
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| Type Veto referendum |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 5 was on the ballot as a veto referendum in Massachusetts on November 7, 1944. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported permitting non-profit organizations to conduct games of chance. |
A “no” vote opposed permitting non-profit organizations to conduct games of chance. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 5 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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738,387 | 67.72% | ||
| No | 351,918 | 32.28% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 5 was as follows:
| “ | Shall a law described as follows:-This law amends chapter 271 of the General Laws by striking out section 22A, as previously amended, and inserting in place thereof a new section 22A, which provides that conducting or promoting a game of whist or bridge in connection with which prizes are offered to be won by chance, or allowing such a game to be conducted or promoted, shall not authorize the prosecution, arrest or conviction of any person for such acts under chapter 271 of the General Laws which deals with crimes against public policy, if the entire proceeds of the charges for admission to such game are donated solely to charitable, civic, educational, fraternal or religious purposes. This new section does not contain, as did the section now stricken out, provisions authorizing the licensing and conducting of the game of beano,-be approved? | ” |
Path to the ballot
Before 1952, citizen-initiated ballot measures in Massachusetts required a fixed number of signatures. In 1950, voters approved a constitutional amendment changing this to a percentage-based system, tying the number of required signatures to ballots cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. Before 1952, the signature requirement for veto referendums was 15,000 for general legislation and 10,000 for emergency legislation.
See also
External links
- William Francis Galvin Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Statewide Ballot Measures: 1919-Present"
- The North Adams Transcript, "Notice of State Election," October 30, 1944
Footnotes
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