Massachusetts Question 6, Mail-In Voting Process Initiative (1986)
| Massachusetts Question 6 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Absentee and mail voting |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 6 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Massachusetts on November 4, 1986. It was defeated.
A “yes” vote supported establishing a mail-in voting process for all qualified voters. |
A “no” vote opposed establishing a mail-in voting process for all qualified voters. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 6 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 603,370 | 38.44% | ||
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966,229 | 61.56% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 6 was as follows:
| “ | Do you approve of a law summarized below, which was disapproved by the House of Representatives on May 6, 1986, by a vote of 56 - 93, and on which no vote was taken by the Senate before May 7, 1986? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ |
The proposed law would provide a system of voter registration by mail applicable to all qualified voters and would eliminate statutory provisions permitting certain persons to vote only for presidential electors. Under this proposed law, the State Secretary would be required to prepare blank forms for affidavits of registration, The Secretary and local boards of registrars would be required to make such forms available to any person eligible to vote in whatever quantity the person requests and to transmit such forms, upon written request, to any person claiming to be qualified to vote, Registrars would also be required to make these forms available at all post offices and at other places within their municipalities, The Secretary would be required to establish a reasonable fee for providing more than 50 forms and to prepare instructions to accompany the forms. A person seeking to register to vote would be required to complete the affidavit of registration and sign it under oath in the presence of a witness who is at least eighteen years old, The witness would be required to certify that the affidavit was signed in his presence and to date the affidavit. A completed affidavit of registration could be either delivered or mailed to the appropriate registrar's office, If, from the facts set forth in the affidavit, it appears that the person is qualified to vote, the registrars would be required to add the person's name to the list of registered voters and to so notify the person by first-class, non-forwardable mail, unless the person's name already appears on the local list of residents at the same address, The cost of mailing such notices would be assumed by the Commonwealth, subject to appropriation, If in any year the General Court fails to appropriate funds for that purpose, such notices would not have to be sent, If such a notice is returned undelivered, the city or town clerk would be required to instruct election officials to challenge the person's right to vote at the next election in which he attempts to vote. The proposed law would also impose criminal penalties of imprisonment for up to two years or a fine up to $2,000 for knowingly or willfully making a false affidavit, taking a false oath, or signing a false certificate relative to the qualifications or registration of any person to vote. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute is equal to 3% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Massachusetts also has a distribution requirement that requires no more than 25% of the certified signatures on any petition can come from a single county.
The state Legislature has until the first Wednesday of May in the election year to pass the statute. If the legislature does not pass the proposed statute, proponents must collect a second round of signatures equal to 0.5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. The Legislature also has the power to place an alternative measure alongside the proposed statute via a simple majority vote of the state legislature.
A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. However, the number of affirmative votes cast for the measure must be greater than 30% of the votes cast in the election.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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