The Massachusetts Forward Party is organizing a signature drive in support of a proposed ballot initiative that would replace the state’s partisan primaries with a single all-party primary, from which the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election. The party has also endorsed a second measure targeting legislative stipends.
In an email to supporters this week, party Chair Spencer Morin Reynolds said both initiatives present themselves as an opportunity for the party to advance meaningful electoral reform, noting the efforts are in “crunch time” with organizers looking to collect around 100,000 signatures over the next few months. “Both of these initiatives are GOOD for Massachusetts,” Reynolds wrote. “And we’re going to do something about it.”
Reynolds said the party is partnering with the Coalition for a Healthy Democracy, the organization responsible for putting forward the All Party Primary initiative, which in turn is hosting a day of action focused on canvassing for the measure. The event will take place on the afternoon of October 4 in Brighton, with additional registration details available online. As part of it, coalition will provide training to attendees, who will then head out to collect signatures across Boston.
The proposed ballot initiative would eliminate separate partisan primaries and instead create a single all-party primary in which all candidates for an office appear on the same ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes would advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. A second approved version of the measure would also update related provisions of state election law, including rules for party recognition, tying them to earning 3% of the vote during each state primary.
The Massachusetts Forward Party also endorsed a second, separate initiative that would reform lawmaker stipends. That proposal would revise how stipends are calculated and distributed in the state Legislature, establishing fixed percentages of base salary for various leadership and committee roles. It would also define eligibility for multiple stipends and set terms for their payment, aiming to reduce the discretionary power currently held by state legislative leaders.
Both initiatives are still in the early stages of qualification, with petitioners having until December 3 to collect signatures equal to 3% of the total votes cast in the 2022 gubernatorial election. The state Legislature will then have the option to adopt the initiative into law. In the event no action is taken, a second round of signatures equal to 0.5% of the same is needed to place the question on the ballot and will be due July 7, 2026.
This is not good at all. Top Two Primary has been horrible for minor party and independent candidates in California and Washington.
George: Thanks for pointing that out. That was a mislink on my part from bouncing between too many tabs. The initiative had three versions, with only the initial submission failing certification. The other two, 25-12 and 25-13, have both been approved by Campbell’s office. The two versions are largely the same, though the summary of 25-12 specifically addresses political party status, while 25-13’s does not.
The Office of teh Attorney General has already found https://www.mass.gov/doc/declination-letter-for-25-11-initiative-petition-for-a-law-to-implement-all-party-state-primaries-version-a/download that the proposed initiative cannot be certified, because it does not allow write-in votes in the General Election.
An interesting press inquiry to Anne Sterman would ask how the initiative would affect independent and political designation candidates.
Top Two systems largely eliminate the possibility of independent or alternative party candidates getting on the general election ballot. If people have been interested in the Forward Party because it looks like an alternative party project, they should reconsider their support in light of support for a top two election system.