MA Elections 2026: Voters Weigh In On Future Of Pot Sales, Gun Control, Elections

Massachusetts voters faced a long list of citizen ballot initiatives this year, with voters asked to weigh in on the future of recreational marijuana sales, primaries and voter registration, state-mandated minimum lot sizes for housing development and gun control, among other initiatives.

State polls are now closed and results are forthcoming on the record-tying nine ballot questions.

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While the Supreme Judicial Court struck down initiatives involving rent control and reducing the state income tax from the ballot, several contested questions remained, including Question 8, which would roll back the 2016 voter approval of recreational marijuana shops across the state.

Question 1 would make records held by the state legislature and governor's office public records.

Question 2 would permit public defenders to participate in collective bargaining.

Question 3 would eliminate party-exclusive primaries and would create a system where the top two finishers in an all-party primary advance to the general election.

Question 4 would allow for same-day voter registration, eliminating the current 10-day deadline before an election to register to vote.

Question 5 would change the amount of revenue the state could collect in a given year and issue automatic refunds to residents when the collection exceeded that limit.

Question 6 would create a Nature For All Fund through existing sales taxes on sporting goods.

Question 7 would require cities and towns to allow single-family home development on any street-facing lot with at least 5,000 square feet of space, overriding many local zoning ordinances.

Question 9 would retain stricter gun control regulations adopted in 2024 that include the prohibition of ghost guns and a wider authority to seize guns from those accused of domestic violence and other crimes, as well as from those determined to be a threat to themselves or others.

Check back with Patch throughout the night for updated results on the ballot questions and other state races.