Tuesday, November 3 is Massachusetts' statewide election, and voters face an unusually long ballot this year: two cards across three pages, covering 14 elected positions and nine statewide questions - the most ballot questions in the state's history, after the Legislature declined to act on any of them and let all nine go directly to voters.

Below are summaries of each of the nine questions. For a deeper review, the Center for State Policy Analysis (cSPA) at Tufts University and the Massachusetts League of Women Voters (LWV) both publish nonpartisan research on every question; find cSPA's analysis at tinyurl.com/mrmrdvat and LWV's at tinyurl.com/bdz568we.

Question 1 (expand public records law to cover the Legislature and Governor) would extend the state's public records law to cover the Governor's office and the Legislature, which currently claim exemptions. Supporters, including a committee organized by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, say Massachusetts is one of only two states with this gap. No formal opposition campaign filed an argument; the Legislature's review committee noted that the bill's privacy exemptions are too narrow and could raise constitutional separation-of-powers concerns.

Question 2 (allow public defenders to unionize) would let public defenders employed by the Committee for Public Counsel Services unionize and bargain collectively, a right most other state-connected employees already have. Supporters say it simply extends that same choice. No formal opposition campaign filed an argument; the Legislature's review committee warned it could disrupt CPCS's management structure and its ability to respond to shifting caseloads.

Question 3 (replace party primaries with a top-two primary) would end party primaries in favor of one combined primary open to all candidates, sending the top two vote-getters to the general election regardless of party. Supporters say it would increase competition in a state where many legislative races go uncontested. Opponents say similar systems elsewhere have favored wealthy, self-funded candidates and shut out third-party and independent contenders.

Question 4 (allow Election Day voter registration) would let eligible voters register or update their address at the polls on Election Day, backed by proof of residency and a sworn oath with felony penalties for false statements. Supporters note Massachusetts is the only New England state without this option, that 23 other states already allow it, and that the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts has pushed for it for more than a decade. Opponents say it removes the advance-review period that currently catches registration errors before a ballot is cast.

Question 5 (adopt a stricter state revenue cap and rebates) would tighten the formula limiting annual state revenue growth and require rebates to taxpayers when collections exceed that limit. Supporters say it creates fiscal guardrails and returns excess money to taxpayers. Opponents warn it would reduce money available for local aid, schools, and the state's reserve fund.

Question 6 (create a dedicated conservation fund) would dedicate existing state sales tax revenue on sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses to a new fund for land and water conservation, rising to 100% of that tax by 2028. Supporters, led by Mass Audubon and dozens of local conservation groups, say it redirects an existing tax rather than creating a new one. No formal opposition campaign filed an argument; the Legislature's review committee noted the fund would still require annual legislative appropriation and could divert money from other existing programs.

Question 7 (allow smaller-lot single-family homes) would require towns to allow single-family homes on lots as small as 5,000 square feet where public water and sewer service exists, though towns could still regulate height, setbacks, and short-term rentals. Supporters say large minimum lot sizes have driven up housing costs and pushed young families and seniors out of the state; the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts also urges a yes vote. Opponents, led by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, say it overrides local planning judgment on traffic, schools, and infrastructure.

Question 8 (repeal recreational marijuana retail sales) would repeal the law that legalized retail sales of recreational marijuana, while keeping the medical marijuana program and personal possession legal. Supporters cite public-health and impaired-driving concerns tied to commercial marijuana products. Opponents say repeal would push sales into an unregulated market and eliminate licensed jobs and tax revenue the state currently collects.

Question 9 (retain expanded firearm regulations) asks voters to keep or repeal the 2024 law which expanded firearm regulations, including a ban on untraceable "ghost guns," new registration and serial-number requirements, and a higher minimum age for owning semiautomatic rifles and shotguns. A yes vote keeps the law, a no vote repeals it. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, point to the state's firearm death rate, which is lower than the national average. Opponents call the law costly and difficult for local police departments to implement.