Massachusetts Question 5, Military Action in Vietnam Advisory Question (1970)
Massachusetts Question 5, the Military Action in Vietnam Advisory Question, was on the ballot as an advisory question in Massachusetts on November 3, 1970. A majority of voters selected "Withdraw on a planned schedule."
| A vote for option A supported "win a military victory" regarding the "future course of action by the United States in Vietnam. |
| A vote for option B supported "withdraw our armed forces in accordance with a planned schedule" from Vietnam. |
| A vote for option C supported "withdraw all our armed forces immediately" from Vietnam. |
Election results
| Massachusetts Question 5 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Win a military victory | 231,012 | 14.46% | ||
 Withdraw on a planned schedule | 838,469 | 52.49% | ||
| Withdraw immediately | 527,899 | 33.05% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 5 was as follows:
| “ | MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION. Which one of the following do you prefer with reference to the future course of action by the United States in Vietnam? To vote on this question mark a cross X in the square at the right of the subdivision you prefer. DO NOT VOTE FOR MORE THAN ONE. A. Win a military victory.□ B. Withdraw our armed forces in accordance with a planned schedule. □ C. Withdraw all our armed forces immeidately. □ | ” |
Path to the ballot
A simple majority vote of a resolve is required during one legislative session of the Massachusetts State Legislature to place an advisory question on the ballot. That amounts to 81 votes in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Massachusetts State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Advisory questions 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"
- The Boston Globe, "CITY OF BOSTON STATE ELECTION," October 23, 1970
Footnotes
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