Question 3 - Law Proposed by Initiative Petition

Ballot Icon Ballot Measure

FAILED

Result Icon Result

CONSERVATIVE

BALLOT LANGUAGE

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 6, 2026? 

This proposed law would eliminate political party primaries for state elections and instead establish a system where there would be a single, all-party primary in which all candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, would be listed on one ballot, and voters could vote for any candidate on the ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary would advance to the general election ballot. This proposed law would require candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to run and be listed jointly on the ballot in the primary. This proposed law would provide political party status to any group whose candidates for any statewide office received at least 3% of the ballots cast in the state primary. 

A YES VOTE would eliminate separate party primaries for state elections and require a single primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot, voters could vote for any candidate, and the top two candidates would advance to the general election. 

A NO VOTE would make no change to the laws governing primary elections. 

WHAT IT MEANS

Yes

A “Yes” vote would amend Massachusetts Statute to eliminate political party primaries and establish a single, all-party primary where all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, are listed on the ballot, and the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election.

No

A “No” vote would keep current Massachusetts Statute which establishes political party primaries where the candidate from each party who receives the most votes advances to the general election. 

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST

Yes

"All-party primaries increase competition, choice, accountability, and make every elected official earn support from all voters — not just party insiders. Your vote should never be taken for granted.

Millions of Massachusetts votes are cast in races already decided in low-turnout primaries.

The result: no competition and the least productive legislature in the country – and no solutions to the problems we’re facing right now on affordability, healthcare, housing, transportation, and more.

All-party primaries put every qualified candidate on a single ballot open to all voters — no more candidates blocked at party conventions before voters get a say. Every incumbent has to earn reelection by appealing to YOU, not just to party insiders.

Candidates have to appeal to the majority of voters in their district to win, not just to political insiders.

States with all-party primaries elect younger, more diverse leaders. Massachusetts officials rarely face real competition and often stay in office for decades.

67% of Massachusetts voters are independent, yet today’s system forces them to pick a party just to vote in the primaries. All-party primaries change that." - Coalition for Healthy Democracy  

No

"Vote No on Jungle Primaries. 

Don’t let billionaires buy our elections.

A tiny group of wealthy donors, most of them private-equity executives are funding this initiative. The elections under this system will give more power to big money. When a few millionaires and billionaires pay to rewrite the rules of an election, the rest of us should ask why. 

Under this system, November elections can come down to two candidates from the same party — and everyone else is locked off the final ballot, including all third party and independent candidates. That is less choice for voters, not more. 

This is a national playbook that has been run in other states and failed in 2024. Massachusetts is being used as the next test case. Voters in 2024 rejected it, and Massachusetts voters will do the same.

Independent and minor-party candidates often reach voters in the general election, when turnout is highest. Top-Two voting can eliminate them in a low-turnout primary, before most people are even watching. That narrows the field exactly when it should be widest.

There is no credible report or study that indicates that Top-Two or All-Party Primary elections increase turnout, with reports showing a potential correlative but not causal effect. In California’s first two elections after implementation, primary turnout actually decreased to historic lows. In fact, there is some evidence that turnout in general elections can decrease when the only two candidates running come from the same party." - Voter Rights MA  

ENDORSEMENTS

Yes

Joe Kennedy III (Liberal)

Veterans for All Voters (Liberal)

Seth Moulton (Liberal)

Jake Auchincloss (Liberal)

Diana DiZoglio (Liberal)

No

Edward Markey (Liberal)

SEIU Local 32BJ Service Employees International Union (Liberal)

American Federation of Teachers AFT Massachusetts (Liberal)

Progressive Massachusetts (Liberal)

SEIU District 1199 New England Healthcare Service Employees International Union (Liberal)

FINANCIAL BACKING

The following information provides insight into the money being spent to pass or defeat the ballot measure.

Yes

MASSACHUSETTS QUESTION 3, TOP-TWO PRIMARY ELECTIONS INITIATIVE (2026)

This question is on the ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute on November 3, 2026. As of October 6, 2026 the committees formed to support Massachusetts Question 3, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2026) are:

COALITION FOR HEALTHY DEMOCRACY 2026

Selected contributions to: "Coalition for Healthy Democracy 2026" include:

  • David Randolph Peeler
  • Andrew Balson
  • Joshua Bekenstein
  • Mark E. Nunnelly
  • Dwight Poler
  • John Connaughton
  • Brian J. Conway
  • J.M. Forbes & Co. LLP
  • Paul Sagan
  • Robert Waldron

No

MASSACHUSETTS QUESTION 3, TOP-TWO PRIMARY ELECTIONS INITIATIVE (2026)

This question is on the ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute on November 3, 2026. As of October 6, 2026, the committees formed to oppose Massachusetts Question 3, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2026) are:

VOTER RIGHTS MA

Selected contributions to: "Voter Rights MA" include:

  • SEIU
  • MA Democratic State Committee
  • AFT Massachusetts Solidarity
  • Progressive Massachusetts
  • Julian Andre Cyr Committee
  • David Narkewicz
  • Jordan Berg Powers
  • Matthew Robitaille

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS AGAINST REACTIONARY ROLLBACKS

Selected contributions to: "Democratic Socialists Against Reactionary Rollbacks" include:

  • James Del Bonis

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