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Massachusetts Reforms Ballot Question Process | New Bedford News
Massachusetts lawmakers are racing to overhaul how citizens can push laws via ballot questions, with new bills tightening disclosure rules and signature-gathering requirements—aiming to rein in citizen-led initiatives that frustrate legislators. With nine record-setting petitions headed to the November ballot, the state’s election chief calls them a “safety valve for democracy,” while critics like the Pioneer Institute warn reforms could stifle civic power, urging instead earlier judicial review and more time to gather signatures. The process, dating back to 1917 and approved by voters nearly…
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