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Massachusetts Require Voter Photo ID Initiative (2026)
| Massachusetts Require Voter Photo ID Initiative | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Voter ID policy |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Not on the ballot
The Massachusetts Require Voter Photo ID Initiative is not on the ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute on November 3, 2026.
The ballot initiative would have required voters to present identification, containing a photograph, at a polling place before being provided a ballot. If a voter fails to present identification, they would need to complete and sign an affidavit attesting to their identity and address before casting a provisional ballot. Voters completing a mail in ballot or an early ballot would need to include a photocopy of their photo ID with their ballot submission.[1]
Text of measure
Full text
Two versions of this initiative were created and submitted to the Attorney General:
Path to the ballot
Process in Massachusetts
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.
The requirements to get an initiated state statute certified for the 2026 ballot:
- Signatures (first round): 74,574
- Signatures (second round): 12,429
- Deadline (first round): The deadline to submit the first round of signatures to the secretary of state was December 3, 2025.
- Deadline (second round): The deadline to submit the second round of signatures is July 8, 2026.
Stages of this initiative
The following is the timeline of the initiative:[2]
- August 5, 2025: The Massachusetts Attorney General announced that the initiative had been filed.
- September 3, 2025: The Massachusetts Attorney General announced that the initiative had been cleared and that supporters could begin gathering signatures for the initiative. Both versions of the initiative were approved to begin gathering signatures separately.
- December 3, 2025: As of this date, the submission deadline, the campaign had not submitted signatures in support of the measure.[3] As such, it will not be placed on the 2026 ballot.
External links
See also
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Footnotes
- ↑ Ballot Initiatives Submitted for the 2026 Biennial Statewide Election (proposed laws) and 2028 Biennial Statewide Election (proposed constitutional amendments), "Initiative Petition for a Law to Require Voter Identification in Massachusetts," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ Mass.gov, "Ballot Initiatives Submitted for the 2026 Biennial Statewide Election (proposed laws) and 2028 Biennial Statewide Election (proposed constitutional amendments)," accessed August 6, 2025
- ↑ WBUR, "Massachusetts could see a record number of ballot questions in 2026. Here's a preview," accessed December 4, 2025
