10.2 Lever 2:
Initiative Petition in the State Government
You may have seen people collecting signatures to support their petition. Have you ever wondered how they would use those signatures? Massachusetts is one of the 26 states that allow initiative petitions, also known as ballot measures or ballot propositions, that amends state statute.
You may have seen people collecting signatures to support their petition. Have you ever wondered how they would use those signatures? Massachusetts is one of the 26 states that allow initiative petitions, also known as ballot measures or ballot propositions, that amends state statute.
This video is about a California initiative petition but could help you understand the Massachusetts initiative petitions, too.
Initiative petitions first must be prepared by the petitioner, signed by at least 10 registered voters, and submitted to the Attorney General’s Office by the first Wednesday in August.
Initiative petitions first must be prepared by the petitioner, signed by at least 10 registered voters, and submitted to the Attorney General’s Office by the first Wednesday in August.
Note: If you are out of voting age, you still can be a petitioner. You can work on a petition and gathering support from registered voters.
Note: If you are out of voting age, you still can be a petitioner. You can work on a petition and gathering support from registered voters.
Generally, initiative petitions are filed in odd-numbered years to appear on the ballot at the next statewide biennial election (held in even-numbered years).
Generally, initiative petitions are filed in odd-numbered years to appear on the ballot at the next statewide biennial election (held in even-numbered years).
Petitioners must collect 80,239 signatures for their petition and file collected signatures with local election officials for certification 14 days before the first Wednesday in December. Signed petitions must then be filed with the Secretary of State’s Office by the first Wednesday in December.
Petitioners must collect 80,239 signatures for their petition and file collected signatures with local election officials for certification 14 days before the first Wednesday in December. Signed petitions must then be filed with the Secretary of State’s Office by the first Wednesday in December.
Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-initiative-petition-process#submitting-referendum-petitions
