2020 Massachusetts elections

{{Short description|none}} {{Use mdy dates | date=July 2020}} {{use American English|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox election |election_name = 2020 Massachusetts general election |type = parliamentary |country = Massachusetts |previous_election = 2018 Massachusetts general election |previous_year = 2018 |next_election = 2022 Massachusetts elections |next_year = 2022 |election_date = November 3, 2020 |seats_for_election = Part of the<br>[[2020 United States elections]] }} {{ElectionsMA}}

The '''2020 Massachusetts general election''' was held on November 3, 2020, throughout [[Massachusetts]]. [[Partisan primary|Primary election]]s were held on September 1, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2020-Primary-and-Election-Schedule-Legal-Sized.pdf |title=2020 Massachusetts State Primary and State Election Schedule |publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division |via=MA.us |date=April 17, 2020 |access-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711091306/https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2020-Primary-and-Election-Schedule-Legal-Sized.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mass. 2020 Primary: What To Know About Voting By Mail Or At The Polls|url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/07/24/2020-covid-mail-early-in-person-voting-guide|access-date=2020-08-03|website=www.wbur.org|language=en}}</ref>

At the federal level, all nine seats in the [[United States House of Representatives]] were up for election. Also contested was the [[United States Senate]] seat held by [[Ed Markey]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/21/metro/meet-ed-markey-joe-kennedy-now-more-aware/ |title=Meet Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy, now more woke |first=Victoria |last=McGrane |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |url-access=limited |date=June 21, 2020 |access-date=July 2, 2020}}</ref>

At the state level, all seats in the [[2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature|Massachusetts General Court]] (state legislature) were up for election.

To [[Postal voting in the United States|vote by mail]], registered Massachusetts voters had to request a ballot by October 30, 2020.<ref>{{citation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006054200/https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-vote-by-mail-state-deadlines-usps/ |url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-vote-by-mail-state-deadlines-usps/ |archive-date=October 6, 2020 |date= August 27, 2020 |title=How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts |author= Lily Hay Newman |work=[[Wired.com|Wired]] }}</ref> As of early October, some 504,043 voters had requested mail ballots.<ref>{{citation |title=2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics |work=U.S. Elections Project |author= [[Michael P. McDonald]] |url=https://electproject.github.io/Early-Vote-2020G/index.html |quote=Detailed state statistics |access-date=October 10, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/10/09/mail-in-ballots-continue-to-be-popular-across-massachusetts/ |title=Mail-In Ballots Continue To Be Popular Across Massachusetts |publisher=[[Cbslocal.com]] |date=October 9, 2020 }}</ref>

==Federal offices== [[File:2020 Cambridge Massachusetts October.png|thumb|left|[[Early voting#United States|Early voting]] polling place in [[Middlesex County, Massachusetts]], October 2020]]

===U.S. president=== {{main|2020 United States presidential election in Massachusetts}}

{{see also|2020 Massachusetts Democratic presidential primary|2020 Massachusetts Republican presidential primary}}

=== U.S. Senate === {{main|2 = 2020 United States Senate election in Massachusetts}}

=== U.S. House === {{Main|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts}}

==State offices== === General Court === {{main|2020 Massachusetts Senate election|2020 Massachusetts House of Representatives election}} All seats in the state legislature, the [[Massachusetts General Court|General Court]], were up for election.

== Ballot measures == {{Main|2020 Massachusetts ballot measures}} Two [[ballot measure]]s appeared on the 2020 ballot. [[Massachusetts Right to Repair Initiative (2020)|Question 1]], which passed, was concerned with access to an automobile's mechanical data. It would force all automakers starting with model year 2022 to release all relevant mechanical data for any automobile sold in the state. [[Massachusetts Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative|Question 2]], which did not pass, would have established a [[Ranked voting|ranked choice voting]] system for most state and federal primaries and general elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Auto Repair, Ranked-Choice Voting Questions Cleared for November Ballot|url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/07/14/right-to-repair-ranked-choice-massachusetts-ballot-questions|access-date=2020-08-13|website=www.wbur.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-14|title=Two ballot questions approved for fall elections in Massachusetts|url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/massachusetts/two-ballot-questions-approved-for-fall-elections-in-massachusetts/|access-date=2020-08-13|website=WWLP|language=en-US}}</ref>

As of April 2020, four measures (19-06, 19-10, 19-11, and 19-14) had achieved the required number of initial signatures and were pending in the [[Massachusetts General Court]]. The measures could be passed by the legislature before May 5, 2020, or if that failed to happen, petitioners were required to collect an additional 13,347 signatures in support of each measure to be placed on the ballot. Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and the effects of [[social distancing]] on in-person signature collection, a lawsuit to allow for [[electronic signature]]s in support of ballot initiatives was raised with the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mass. High Court Rules For Plaintiff Signature Collectors In Ballot Access Case|url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/04/17/sjc-rules-signature-collection-ballot-case|access-date=2020-04-28|website=www.wbur.org|language=en}}</ref> In late April, a court judgement to allow for electronic signatures was agreed to by [[Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth]] [[William F. Galvin]] and supporters of the four measures.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lisinski|first=Chris|date=April 30, 2020|title=Accord clears way for e-signatures on ballot questions|website=[[WWLP]]|url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/accord-clears-way-for-e-signatures-on-ballot-questions/|access-date=July 2, 2020}}</ref> In early July, supporters of two of the four measures (19-06 and 19-10) announced that they had submitted a sufficient number of signatures to qualify for the ballot. Galvin certified both measures to appear on the 2020 ballot.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Auto Repair, Ranked-Choice Voting Questions Cleared for November Ballot|url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/07/14/right-to-repair-ranked-choice-massachusetts-ballot-questions|access-date=2020-08-01|website=www.wbur.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-14|title=Two ballot questions approved for fall elections in Massachusetts|url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/massachusetts/two-ballot-questions-approved-for-fall-elections-in-massachusetts/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=WWLP|language=en-US}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ ! rowspan="3" |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} ! rowspan="3" |Result ! rowspan="3" |Description ! colspan="2" |Yes ! colspan="2" |No ! rowspan="3" |{{Abbr|Cit.|Citation(s)}} |- ! colspan="2" | ! colspan="2" | |- !Votes !% !Votes !% |- | rowspan="2" | [[Massachusetts Right to Repair Initiative (2020)|'''1''']] | rowspan="2" style="background: #47729E; color: white;" |Yes |This proposed law would require that motor vehicle owners and independent repair facilities be provided with expanded access to mechanical data related to vehicle maintenance and repair. | rowspan="2" |'''2,599,182''' | rowspan="2" |'''75.0%''' | rowspan="2" |867,674 | rowspan="2" |25.0% | rowspan="2" |'''<ref>*{{citation |last=Borchers |first=Callum |title=A 'Right To Repair' Sequel: Mass. Ballot Question 1, Explained |date=September 14, 2020 |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/09/14/2020-ballot-question-1-right-to-repair-explainer |work=[[Wbur.org]]}} (includes video)</ref>'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=PD43+ >> 2020 - Statewide - Question 1 |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/ballot_questions/view/7343/ |access-date=September 18, 2025 |website=electionstats.state.ma.us}}</ref> |- |{{flatlist| *[https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/08/07/19-06.pdf Full text of measure] * [https://www.massrighttorepair.org/ Website Link]}} |- | rowspan="2" | [[Massachusetts Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative|'''2''']] | rowspan="2" style="background: #8B8B54; color: white;" |No |Enacts [[Instant-runoff voting|Ranked-choice voting]] for state and federal elections other than president. | rowspan="2" |1,549,919 | rowspan="2" |45.2% | rowspan="2" |'''1,877,447''' | rowspan="2" |'''54.8%''' | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=PD43+ >> 2020 - Statewide - Question 2 |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/ballot_questions/view/7344/ |access-date=September 18, 2025 |website=electionstats.state.ma.us}}</ref> |- |{{flatlist| *[https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/08/07/19-10.pdf Full text of measure] * [https://voterchoice2020.org/ Website link]}} |}Several measures were not certified to circulate because they went against Massachusetts law on ballot measures. Others were cleared for circulation but did not collect enough initial signatures for the December 4, 2019 deadline.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Current petitions filed|url=https://www.mass.gov/info-details/current-petitions-filed|access-date=2020-04-28|website=Mass.gov|language=en}}</ref>

Despite reaching a sufficient number of signatures in the first round, supporters of two measures (19-11 and 19-14) failed to collect the necessary number of signatures in the second round. By early July both initiatives had "effectively dropped their 2020 efforts".<ref name="NikJuly2">{{cite news|last=DeCosta-Klipa|first=Nik|date=July 2, 2020|title=Two proposed Massachusetts ballot questions bite the dust amid pandemic|website=[[Boston.com]]|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/07/02/massachusetts-ballot-questions-2020-dropped-amid-pandemic/|access-date=July 2, 2020}}</ref>

== See also == * [[Political parties and political designations in Massachusetts]] **[[Massachusetts Democratic Party]] ** [[Massachusetts Republican Party]] ** [[Green-Rainbow Party|Green Rainbow Party]] ** [[Libertarian Party of Massachusetts|Massachusetts Libertarian Party]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * {{citation |title=Incumbents to cruise, again, in coming election |quote=Two-thirds of lawmakers face no challengers at all |work= [[Commonwealthmagazine.org]] |url= https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/incumbents-to-rule-again-in-coming-election/ |date=June 6, 2020 |author=Chris Lisinski }} * {{citation |url=https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/baker-tied-pac-spending-on-democrats/article_26b9c63b-6db5-564f-a36e-7e075c5b4b79.html |work= [[Salemnews.com]] |title=Baker-tied PAC spending on Democrats |author= Christian M. Wade |date=August 29, 2020 }} * {{citation |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/29/metro/primary-challengers-newcomers-looking-ticket-beacon-hill-tuesday/ |work=Boston Globe |title=Primary challengers, newcomers looking for ticket to Beacon Hill on Tuesday |author= Stephanie Ebbert |date= August 29, 2020 }} * {{citation |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/02/metro/sen-welch-rep-nangle-lose-state-legislative-seats |title=Sen. Welch, Rep. Nangle lose state legislative seats |quote= Challengers defeated incumbents in key Democratic primaries, reshaping Beacon Hill |author1= Katie Lannan |author2= Chris Lisinski |date= September 2, 2020 |work=Boston Globe }} * {{citation |url= https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/01/metro/candidates-around-state-aim-build-more-diverse-beacon-hill/ |title=Candidates around the state aim to build a more diverse Legislature |author=John Hilliard |date= September 2, 2020 |work=Boston Globe }} * {{citation |title='I Am Very Concerned About November': Galvin Says Help Needed To Handle Presidential Election Turnout |url= https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/09/02/massachusetts-primary-galvin-november-election-voting-concerns/ |work=[[Cbslocal.com]] |date= September 2, 2020 }} * {{citation |title=A smooth Massachusetts election could also be a cautionary tale |author1=Nick Corasaniti |author2=[[Stephanie Saul]] |date=September 3, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/us/elections/a-smooth-massachusetts-election-could-also-be-a-cautionary-tale.html |work=New York Times }} * {{citation |title= Your Guide To Voting In The 2020 Election, From Mail-In Ballots To Hitting The Polls |work= WBUR News |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/09/22/massachusetts-how-to-vote-by-mail-polls-explainer |date= September 22, 2020 |author1=Lisa Creamer |author2=Wilder Fleming }} * {{citation |title= Massachusetts rejected nearly 18,000 primary ballots amid surge of mail-in voting |work= Bostonglobe.com |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/29/metro/massachusetts-rejected-nearly-18000-primary-ballots-amid-surge-mail-in-voting/ |date= September 29, 2020 |author=Matt Stout }} * {{citation |title=Under new law, even death can't stop some Massachusetts voters this election |author=Matt Stout |date=October 4, 2020 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/04/metro/under-new-law-even-death-cant-stop-some-massachusetts-voters-this-election/ |work=Bostonglobe.com }} * {{citation |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/05/metro/more-than-16-million-people-have-requested-mail-in-ballots-state-is-hopeful-theyll-arrive-this-week/ |work=Bostonglobe.com |title=More than 1.6 million people have requested mail-in ballots. Mass. is 'hopeful' they'll arrive this week |date= October 5, 2020 }} * {{citation |title=Hundreds of Mass. voters, or more, received mail-in ballots with the wrong deadlines |author= Matt Stout |date= October 8, 2020 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/08/metro/voters-least-half-dozen-massachusetts-towns-were-sent-mail-in-ballots-with-wrong-deadlines/ |work=Bostonglobe.com }}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [[Ballotpedia]]. [https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_elections,_2020 Massachusetts elections, 2020]. * {{citation |publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele20/state_primary-democratic20.htm |work=2020 State Primary Candidates |title=Democratic Candidates for Nomination }} * {{citation |publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele20/state_primary-republican20.htm |work=2020 State Primary Candidates |title=Republican Candidates for Nomination }} * {{citation |url=https://mwpc.org/mwpc-political-action-committee-2020-endorsed-candidates |title=Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus Political Action Committee Endorsed Candidates |quote=2020 |work= Mwpc.org }} * {{citation |url=http://onyourballot.vote411.org/race-index.do?c=21249209 |work=VOTE411 Voter Guide: Races |title=Massachusetts |publisher= E.thePeople |location=Washington DC }} * {{citation |author= Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association |work=Voting & Elections Toolkits |url= https://godort.libguides.com/votingtoolkit/massachusetts |title= Massachusetts }} * {{cite web |title= League of Women Voters of Massachusetts |url= https://www.lwv.org/local-leagues/find-local-league }} (state affiliate of the U.S. [[League of Women Voters]]) * {{citation |title=State Elections Legislation Database |quote= State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020 |url= https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/elections-legislation-database.aspx |publisher=[[National Conference of State Legislatures]] |work=Ncsl.org |location=Washington, D.C. }}

{{Massachusetts elections}} {{Massachusetts government}} {{2020 United States elections}}

[[Category:2020 Massachusetts elections| ]] [[Category:2020 elections in the United States by state|Massachusetts]]