2024 Amherst Where and How to Vote Guide
Ballot Questions for November Election The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts is “taking no position” on Ballot Questions 1-5 for the November 5, 2024 election.
2024 BALLOT QUESTIONS
The questions on the November ballot will appear as follows:
Question 1: State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature
Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement
Question 3: Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers
Question 4: Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances
Question 5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers.
How Does The Board Decide?
The LWVMA Board votes to support, oppose, or take no position on specific ballot questions based on positions or goals previously researched and adopted by the League, which are described in Impact on Issues (LWVUS) or Where We Stand (LWVMA).
Question 1: State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature
Ballot
Question 1 would give explicit authority to the State Auditor to audit the Legislature.
Transparency is a key tenet of the League. The League has worked for the public’s right to know and for broad public participation in government as a necessary component of decision-making at all levels of government since its founding. LWVMA believes in an effective state government with a strong executive branch with lines of authority and responsibility clearly defined. It also believes in a strong and highly visible legislative branch that maintains its traditional role as a democratic forum.
However, LWVMA takes no position on Ballot Question 1 because existing law does not authorize it and it may be unconstitutional. The proposed “audit” is defined to include “information regarding active and pending legislation, the process for appointing committees, the adoption and suspension of legislative rules and policies and procedures of the Legislature.” In a letter from the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) dated November 3, 2023, citing the Massachusetts Constitution and Massachusetts General Laws, she concluded that the State Auditor does not currently have the authority to audit the legislature without the Legislature’s consent. (see page 2, emphasis added)
Additionally, the proposed audit may violate the separation of powers doctrine. Citing the relevant statute, the AGO letter states “Section 12 directs the State Auditor to audit the “accounts, programs, activities and functions … of all departments, offices, commissions, institutions and activities of the commonwealth …” (emphasis added). “The key question is whether the Legislature is a ‘department’ as that term is used in Section 12.10. Applying well-established rules for interpreting statutes, we conclude that it is not.” (see pages 3 & 4)
The AGO letter further states “An unqualified auditing power sufficient to audit the Legislature over its objection would be difficult to reconcile with the powers vested exclusively in the Legislature by various parts of Chapter 1 of Part II of the Massachusetts Constitution, and protected from encroachment by Articles 21 and 30 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights.” (see page 16)
Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement
Ballot Question 2 would eliminate the requirement that a student pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests in order to receive a high school diploma.
The League believes the state Board of Education should set minimum educational standards for local public school systems with reasonable criteria for implementation and it should also provide services to assist local schools and to motivate them to improve the quality of education.
LWVMA believes members would need to reach consensus on an alternative to MCAS before deciding to support or oppose this ballot measure and therefore takes no position on this question.
Question 3: Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers
Ballot
Question 3 would provide transportation network drivers with the right to form unions. The League has no positions on this topic, so LWVMA takes no position on this question.
Question 4: Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances
Ballot Question 4 would allow people aged 21 and older to possess and use certain natural psychedelic substances within specific parameters. The League has no positions on this topic, so LWVMA takes no position on this question.
Question 5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers
Ballot
Question 5 would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker to 100% of the state minimum wage over five years.
While the LWVUS Meeting Basic Human Needs position includes support for a living wage, it also states, “Specific issues in relation to a living wage and income levels should be decided by Leagues working in their communities.” LWVMA believes members would need to study and reach consensus on this issue and therefore takes no position on this Ballot Question.
In September, the Secretary of State’s website will have more details about the ballot questions.
Voter Information
State Election: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
More information and deadlines can be found on the Town of Amherst Elections web page.
2024 Candidates for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Information for Voters (in large print, English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese)
Student Voting FAQs
Precinct locator and hours by street address for Amherst residents.
From the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Elections Division. Voting locations for all Massachusetts residents.
Vote from home! Vote by mail. You must apply every year!
Amherst College Voter Registration Page (good info for out-of-state student voters).
Be a poll worker!
Please contact assistant town clerk Amber Martin to find out how you can work the polls!
Search the encyclopedia of American politics at Ballotpedia.
Contains nearly 1,300 terms and phrases used in the administration of elections in the United States, in 20 different languages.
Stan Rosenberg discusses the down-ballot statewide offices: Governor's Council, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Secretary of State and Attorney General. Co-sponsored by the LWV of Amherst and the Northampton Area LWV on October 20, 2022. Watch here.
What's on the Presidential Primary ballot in March?
Presidential Primary Information from Sec of Commonwealth Website
The 2024 Massachusetts Presidential Primaries will be held on March 5, 2024. In addition to candidates for President of the United States, the ballots will also include the party offices of state committee and ward or town committee.
State Committee (Man and Woman) Each party’s state committee is allowed to elect one man and one woman from each of the Commonwealth’s 40 state senate districts. Members of the state committee work to:
• Promote the aims of the party
• Work in cooperation with the national party committee and with ward and town committees
• Organize and work for the nomination and election of party candidates
Ward or Town Committee In Massachusetts, ward and town committees are the building blocks of political parties. In towns, party town committees are elected town-wide. In cities, party committees are elected by voters in each ward.
Ward and town committees range in size from 3-35 elected members. Their duties include:
• Representing their party at the local and neighborhood level; and
• Promoting the objectives of the party; and
• Working for the nomination and election of party candidates
View Sample Presidential Ballots (or WhereDoIVoteMA.com)
How to Vote in the Primary
Compiled and generously shared by Karen Price, LWV Needham, Feb 12, 2024
Turn Up For: One Person, One Vote
This spring the League launched One Person, One Vote, our long-term campaign to build the movement to end the Electoral College. Together, we will move our nation beyond the archaic Electoral College and toward true representation. Hear from a panel of experts on why the Electoral College has existed for so long and how we will dismantle this system and build a democracy powered by the people, for the people, ALL the people.
Coming Events: See our full calendar on our Home page.
LWVA Voter Services
Voter Service is fundamental to the League's mission. It includes:
–Civic education throughout the year
–Voter registration at school and town events and other public occasions.
–A guide to Running for Elective Office in Amherst
–Candidate forums
–Election guides
–They Represent You, contact information for state and local officials (below)
LWV Fact Checking 2024 Election News
The LWV Andover/North is pleased to share the link to their recent presentation on tools to use to fact checking election news and advertising. Mary Robb, a social studies teacher at Andover High School, has been teaching a media literacy class for over 20 years. She distilled her semester curriculum into an hour. Members of your League can learn practical tips for how to fact-checking news and images, how to spot your bias and that of reporters, how to misinformation and disinformation, and, in genrral, how to be more informed as we make our own decisions and head to the polls. This non-partisan event was hosted by Andover's Memorial Hall Library and filmed by Andover TV. It is great for adults as well as teens. With four elections coming up this year, please watch and share. It is relevant for anyone voting in Massachusettes and across the country!
Play verifyit!
DO YOU KNOW ENOUGH CIVICS TO PASS THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST?
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO REGISTER/PRE-REGISTER TO VOTE AND VOTE IN YOUR STATE?
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT DISINFORMATION ONLINE?
CREATED BY LWV OF ALAMEDA
Important Candidate Questions
1. What measures do you support to improve and secure elections and voting access in our state?
2. What will you do to support a vibrant economy and increase job opportunities for your constituents?
3. What is your stance on access to abortions?
4. What, if any, steps, should be taken to curb gun violence in our country?
5. What, if any, actions would you take to address the threats facing the United States due to climate change?
6. What steps will you take to create an accessible path to citizenship?
7. What, if anything, should our state do over the long term to ensure quality health care at an affordable cost for all?
8. What policies will you pursue to promote social and racial justice in our state?
9. Why are you the best candidate for this position?
9. Why are you the best candidate for this position?
No Time to Fail
Election workers are ground zero for democracy.
Amidst an onslaught of attacks from a sitting President and the deadly threat of a global pandemic, local election administrators work around the clock to secure the vote for their community. Rhode Island’s election teams take center stage in this unprecedented voting adventure.
Everyone needs to watch this film!