9 questions, 1 ballot: Mass. faces major decisions on Election Day. What 'yes' and 'no' votes mean

Back at 7:43, besides voting for Senate and statewide offices like Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Massachusetts voters will have a total of nine ballot questions to consider. The questions relate to public records, to changing how we elect candidates in the state, to repealing the legalization of recreational marijuana, among other issues. Joining us this morning to talk about these initiatives, Jim Sturgis, the Executive Director of the Pioneer Institute. Jim, good to see you this morning. Nine ballot questions here, right? That's the most... Allowed by state law, it is a record, making the ballot two pages this year. Does this seem a little excessive? You know, Gene, good morning, and to everybody, it's a beautiful day, so get out and vote. Makes a difference. It is a high number. I think, Gene, here's the thing. We've seen this before. In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, we saw nine ballot initiatives several times. Over the last few decades, it's been a little better, and I think it's probably because the economy was working better. People are frustrated. The Secretary of State is absolutely right. They're frustrated with issues around accountability. I think the state auditor has made her case. On auditing the legislature, and there's a lot of support for that sort of thinking. So I think the public records. The question probably does quite well. And there's a lot about affordability, whether it's taxes or it is the cost of gas, electricity, housing. I'm sorry. People are frustrated. It's in the polling everywhere. We can't go through all nine here, Jim, obviously. Let's talk about a few of them. You mentioned the public records law, and a yes vote makes most records held by the legislature and the governor public. Massachusetts is the only state that doesn't have this in place. But as we've seen with the audit, if it passes, it doesn't necessarily mean the legislature will comply. Absolutely right, but it's not a reason, in my mind, not to express that because the more this piles up, the more frustration people will have, the more they'll push for change. We can't just say we can't do anything because of the fact that the legislature may not act on it. That's just, I think as voters, we have to be responsible. Two questions there on elections. Question three, changing primaries, a yes vote, meaning the top two vote getters would meet in the primary regardless of affiliation with party. And then question four, same-day voter registration. These would be significant if they happen to pass. I think same day voter registration is actually probably the more important of the two. If you look at the record in California and Washington, which have the top two primary, the open primary, question three system already in place, it hasn't had that much of an effect. People are very hopeful it will lead to change, so people should read that one closely. And finally, Jim, let's touch on question eight, repealing the legal use of recreational marijuana. Ten years ago, voters approved this with 54 percent support. Have things, pardon the pun, gone to pot that much over the past ten years? Were residents, did they want to reverse course now? Look, I think that one is really up in the air. The polling on it doesn't look as strong as I think proponents of changing things would like. But there is frustration. We see that also in the polling. The people are frustrated with the potency of the marijuana that's being sold and also just having it everywhere present as you walk down the street. So there is some frustration there. We will see later on today. All right, we have a breakdown of all the ballot questions at our website, boston25news.com. Jim Sturges from the Pioneer Institute. Jim, appreciate your time this morning. Good to talk to you. Thank you. Take care. All right.