Massachusetts Question 3, Vacancy Procedures for Certain Executive Offices Amendment (1948)
| Massachusetts Question 3 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic State executive branch structure and State executive elections |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 3 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Massachusetts on November 2, 1948. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported amending the constitution to change how vacancies in the offices of secretary, treasurer, receiver general, auditor, and attorney general are filled, allowing the legislature to choose from the people at large by joint ballot, or, if not in session, for the governor to appoint with executive council approval. |
A “no” vote opposed amending the constitution to change how vacancies in the offices of secretary, treasurer, receiver general, auditor, and attorney general are filled, allowing the legislature to choose from the people at large by joint ballot, or, if not in session, for the governor to appoint with executive council approval. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 3 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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1,207,103 | 80.91% | ||
| No | 284,813 | 19.09% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 3 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 a joint session of the two branches held June 6, 1946, received 243 votes in the affirmative and 0 in the negative, and in a joint session of the two branches held June 3, 1948, received 231 votes in the affirmative and 9 in the negative? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | This is an amendment of Article XVII of the Amendments to the Constitution. It provides that in case of a failure to elect the secretary, treasurer and receiver general, auditor or attorney general of the Commonwealth, or in case of the death of a person elected to any of such offices between the day of election and the third Wednesday of the following January, such an officer shall be chosen by a joint ballot of the senators and representatives from the people at large, instead of from the two persons who had the highest number of votes at the election as is now required. It also provides that if there is a vacancy in any of such offices during a session of the Legislature the vacancy shall be filled in like manner by choice from the people at large, but if the vacancy occurs at any other time it shall be filled by appointment by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Council. | ” |
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
- William Francis Galvin Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Statewide Ballot Measures: 1919-Present"
- Athol Daily News, "LEGAL NOTICE," October 25, 1948
Footnotes
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