Would replace party primaries for state offices with a single all-party primary; the top two finishers would advance. Governor and lieutenant governor would run jointly in the primary. Groups whose statewide candidates get at least 3% of primary ballots would gain party status.
Law proposed by initiative petition
A YES vote
Would eliminate separate party primaries for state elections and require a single primary in which the top two candidates advance.
A NO vote
Would make no change to the laws governing primary elections.
Wording follows the Secretary of the Commonwealth's official ballot summary. The full text, and the arguments for and against written by each side, are in the state's 2026 Information for Voters guide. The Boston Report does not take positions on ballot questions.
Our coverage of Question 3
Verified against official source Last verified Oct. 17, 2026.
Sources
- Secretary of the Commonwealth: 2026 State Election Ballot Questions (retrieved Oct. 17, 2026)
- Secretary of the Commonwealth: 2026 Information for Voters (retrieved Oct. 17, 2026)