Question 3 is on the Massachusetts ballot on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Below is the official language voters will see. It is reproduced word for word from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Information for Voters guide.

The question on your ballot

“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?”

Summary

As required by law, the summary was written by the State Attorney General.

“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.”

What your vote will do

As required by law, these statements were written jointly by the State Attorney General and the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

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.

Cost to taxpayers

As required by law, the statement of fiscal consequences was written by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance: “The proposed law has no discernible material fiscal consequences for state and municipal government finances”

Read the full text

The proposed law is titled “An Act to implement all-party state primaries.” It amends Chapters 50, 53 and 54 of the General Laws and takes effect January 1, 2028.

Want it in plain English?

See What Question 3 Does or the FAQ.

Vote Yes on Question 3 on November 3.

This is Initiative Petition 25-12, “Initiative Petition for a Law to Implement All-Party State Primaries” (House No. 5003).