Massachusetts Public Duties Initiative (2012)

Not on Ballot
This measure was not put on an election ballot

The Massachusetts Public Duties Initiative did not make the November 6, 2012 general election ballot in the state of Massachusetts as an initiated state statute. The measure was filed by John Toby Knudsen and was assigned the initiative number 11-30 (dead link). The proposal was described as a "petition for a law relative to M.G.L. 209A."

Path to the ballot

The measure did not make the ballot because it was found to be unacceptable by the Massachusetts Attorney General, preventing supporters of the measure to begin the process of circulation.

Each of the ten original signers of the proposed measure were required to obtained certificates of voter registration from the board of registrars or election commission in the city or town where they were registered to vote. The certificate of voter registration then had to be signed by at least three registrars. These certificates and the original petition were required to be submitted to the attorney general.

Had the petition been found acceptable, the attorney general would have prepared a summary and returned it, along with the petition, to the petitioners, who then would have been required to file the petition and summary with the Massachusetts Secretary of State.

However, the measure was found to be unacceptable by the attorney general, and therefore did not begin circulation for the ballot. The Attorney General stated that the measure impermissibly related to powers of courts.

See also

• Massachusetts 2012 ballot measures
• 2012 ballot measures
• List of Massachusetts ballot measures
• Laws governing the initiative process in Massachusetts