To our Massachusetts family,
In preparation for the midterm election on November 8, we have prepared the following state voter guide to help you navigate and prepare for Election Day: where to vote; how to vote; and what’s on your ballot. We hope you find this guide helpful!
Please use this guide and share it with people who need it. An educated voter is a smart voter! Vote Smart!
Election Guide 2022:
Massachusetts
Voter Registration Information:
Need to get registered, request an absentee ballot, or find your local polling place? All of that information and more can be found here: https://justfacts.votesmart.org/elections/voter-registration/MA
Need to contact your local election office for questions about your registration, ballot, polling place, or any other elections question? Find all their contact information here: https://justfacts.votesmart.org/elections/offices/MA
Elections/Candidates:
Congressional Elections: Nine seats for the U.S. House of Representatives and zero seats for the U.S. Senate are up for election this year. See all the candidates running in these elections here:
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/election/2022/C/MA/2022-congressional?stageId=G
Notable races include:
Dean Martilli and Richard Neal are both running for district 1 of the U.S. House of Representatives;
Jim McGovern and Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette are both running for district 2 of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Gubernatorial Elections: Geoff Diehl, Maura Healey, and Kevin Reed are running for governor this year. See the full list of candidates running here:
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/election/2022/G/MA/2022-gubernatorial?stageId=G
State Legislature Elections: 160 seats for the Massachusetts House of Representatives and 40 seats for the Massachusetts Senate are up for election this year. See all the candidates running in these elections here:
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/election/2022/L/MA/2022-state-legislative?stageId=G
Statewide Elections: Offices for Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Treasurer and Receiver General are up for election this year. See all the candidates running in these elections here:
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/election/2022/S/MA/2022-statewide?stageId=G
Ballot Measures:
Here are the statewide ballot measures appearing on your November ballot:
Massachusetts Income Tax for Education and Transportation Amendment: Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution to provide resources for education and transportation through an additional tax on incomes in excess of one million dollars.
Massachusetts Changes to Alcohol Retail Licensing Initiative: This proposed law would increase the statewide limits on the combined number of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption (including licenses for 'all alcoholic beverages' and for 'wines and malt beverages') that any one retailer could own or control: from 9 to 12 licenses in 2023; to 15 licenses in 2027; and to 18 licenses in 2031. Beginning in 2023, the proposed law would set a maximum number of 'all alcoholic beverages' licenses that any one retailer could own or control at 7 licenses unless a retailer currently holds more than 7 such licenses. The proposed law would require retailers to conduct the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption through face-to-face transactions and would prohibit automated or self-checkout sales of alcoholic beverages by such retailers. The proposed law would alter the calculation of the fine that the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission may accept in lieu of suspending any license issued under the State Liquor Control Act. The proposed law would modify the formula for calculating such fee from being based on the gross profits on the sale of alcoholic beverages to being based on the gross profits on all retail sales. The proposed law would also add out-of-state motor vehicle licenses to the list of the forms of identification that any holder of a license issued under the State Liquor Control Act, or their agent or employee, may choose to reasonably rely on for proof of a person's identity and age.
Massachusetts Medical Loss Ratios for Dental Insurance Plans Initiative: This proposed law would direct the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Insurance to approve or disapprove the rates of dental benefit plans and would require that a dental insurance carrier meet an annual aggregate medical loss ratio for its covered dental benefit plans of 83 percent. The medical loss ratio would measure the amount of premium dollars a dental insurance carrier spends on its members dental expenses and quality improvements, as opposed to administrative expenses. If a carrier's annual aggregate medical loss ratio is less than 83 percent, the carrier would be required to refund the excess premiums to its covered individuals and groups. The proposed law would allow the Commissioner to waive or adjust the refunds only if it is determined that issuing refunds would result in financial impairment for the carrier. The proposed law would apply to dental benefit plans regardless of whether they are issued directly by a carrier, through the connector, or through an intermediary. The proposed law would not apply to dental benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed to a self-insured group or where the carrier is acting as a third-party administrator. The proposed law would require the carriers offering dental benefit plans to submit information about their current and projected medical loss ratio, administrative expenses, and other financial information to the Commissioner. Each carrier would be required to submit an annual comprehensive financial statement to the Division of Insurance, itemized by market group size and line of business. A carrier that also provides administrative services to one or more self-insured groups would also be required to file an appendix to their annual financial statement with information about its self-insured business. The proposed law would impose a late penalty on a carrier that does not file its annual report on or before April 1. The Division would be required to make the submitted data public, to issue an annual summary to certain legislative committees, and to exchange the data with the Health Policy Commission. The Commissioner would be required to adopt standards requiring the registration of persons or entities not otherwise licensed or registered by the Commissioner and criteria for the standardized reporting and uniform allocation methodologies among carriers. The proposed law would allow the Commissioner to approve dental benefit policies for the purpose of being offered to individuals or groups. The Commissioner would be required to adopt regulations to determine eligibility criteria. The proposed law would require carriers to file group product base rates and any changes to group rating factors that are to be effective on January 1 of each year on or before July 1 of the preceding year. The Commissioner would be required to disapprove any proposed changes to base rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unreasonable in relation to the benefits charged. The Commissioner would also be required to disapprove any change to group rating factors that is discriminatory or not actuarially sound. The proposed law sets forth criteria that, if met, would require the Commissioner to presumptively disapprove a carriers rate, including if the aggregate medical loss ratio for all dental benefit plans offered by a carrier is less than 83 percent. The proposed law would establish procedures to be followed if a proposed rate is presumptively disapproved or if the Commissioner disapproves a rate. The proposed law would require the Division to hold a hearing if a carrier reports a risk-based capital ratio on a combined entity basis that exceeds 700 percent in its annual report. The proposed law would require the Commissioner to promulgate regulations consistent with its provisions by October 1, 2023. The proposed law would apply to all dental benefit plans issued, made effective, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024.
Massachusetts Question 4, Remove Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status for Driver's License Applications Referendum: Question 4 is a veto referendum on House Bill 4805 (H 4805), which would prohibit registrars from inquiring about an applicants citizenship or immigration status when applying for driver's licenses and motor vehicle registrations. It would also authorize registrars to accept certain documents to verify the identity and date of birth of an applicant. H 4805 would require one of the documents to be either a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired Consular Identification document. The bill would require the second document to be a valid unexpired drivers license from any U.S. state or territory, an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, a valid unexpired foreign national identification card, a valid unexpired foreign driver's license; or a marriage certificate or divorce decree issued by any state or territory of the United States.
See the full list of all 2022 national statewide ballot measures here: https://justfacts.votesmart.org/elections/ballot-measures/2022
Happy Election Season!
The Vote Smart Team