Many of the poll questions on the Massachusetts poll this November appear to be headed for voter approval at this level, based on a brand new UMass Amherst/WCVB ballot, with solely the legalization of psychedelics remaining a tossup.
“With only a few weeks to go until Election Day, voters in the Commonwealth are poised to make significant legislative changes through the ballot process,” mentioned UMass political science professor and ballot director Tatishe Nteta, citing excessive help for questions.
Of the 5 poll questions, the ballot acknowledged, the vast majority of respondents supported permitting the state auditor to audit the state legislature, Query 1; nixing the MCAS commencement requirement, Query 2; permitting drivers for firms like Lyft and Uber the suitable to unionize, Query 3; and elevating the minimal wage for tipped employees, Query 5.
Query 4, which might legalize pure psychedelic substances for development, possession and use by individuals over age 21, was a a lot nearer race, with a good 43% in favor and opposed.
The ballot surveyed 700 Massachusetts voters from Oct. 3 to 10.
Voters confirmed probably the most help for auditing the Legislature, based on the ballot, with 63% in favor and 11% opposed.
“But voters are likely in store for a disappointment,” ballot co-director and UMass political science professor Raymond La Raja mentioned. “The measure appears to be a violation of the state constitution according to the Attorney General and may be invalidated by the Massachusetts courts.”
Query 2 confirmed sturdy help within the UMass ballot, with 53% in favor and 36% opposed. The outcomes additionally reported one other win for the Massachusetts Academics Affiliation, the poll initiative’s largest backer, with extra voters recognizing the union’s help of the query.
Fewer voters had been capable of determine the place of Gov. Maura Healey, the state secretary of training, or Massachusetts AFL-CIO, who all oppose the query.
“I think the best way to keep us at the top and to keep us directly going where we need to go — albeit conceding we need to make improvements, always needing to approve — is for us to maintain this statewide standard, which is currently on the ballot on Question 2,” Healey mentioned, talking at a press occasion the place she, AG Andrea Campbell and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll spoke in opposition to the initiative on Wednesday. “And that is why I’m voting no on Question 2.”
Healey and the state leaders argued the query would depart the state’s over 300 faculty districts with totally different requirements for commencement.
Requested if she regretted not campaigning in opposition to the initiative earlier, in gentle of the query’s sturdy help, the governor acknowledged there may be nonetheless time earlier than the election and voters at the moment are studying concerning the poll initiatives.
Healey was additionally requested concerning the state’s plan if the measure ought to go and mentioned she stays dedicated to holding excessive requirements however didn’t give specifics.
In response to the governor, MTA management mentioned they had been “disappointed” the governor “has chosen to side with the few corporate donors opposing Question 2 and against Massachusetts educators, parents and students.”
The UMass ballot additionally confirmed 58% approval and 27% opposition to permitting drivers to unionize and even stronger help, 61% approval and 27% opposition, for elevating tipped employees’ minimal wage. Help for each questions was particularly sturdy with voters beneath 30 years previous.
Help for the poll initiative course of was excessive, 76% approval to 4% disapproval, the ballot states, “in what could be read as a stunning rebuke of the work of the state Legislature and Gov. Maura Healey.”
“In a year in which both the Legislature and Gov. Healey came under fire for the lack of movement on housing, immigration and climate change, future elections may feature a growth in the use of the ballot process to help solve problems that the state’s elected officials are not interested or inclined to tackle,” Nteta mentioned.
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