Voter guide 2024: Electing a president and so much more

Voters across western Massachusetts will cast ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 5 for president, Congress, the state Legislature and five statewide ballot questions.

Below, you can find the candidates' biographies, read their policy proposals, discover who is funding the campaigns, dig deep into the arguments for and against each ballot question — and even check if you’re registered to vote.

What questions do you have?

• Have Your Say: What questions and comments do you have about the 2024 elections?
• Da tu opinión: ¿Qué preguntas y comentarios tienes sobre las elecciones de 2024?

Are you registered to vote?

Voters have until Oct. 26 — that's 10 days before the election — to register to vote or to change their existing registration. You can check your registration status on the Massachusetts secretary of state's website.

On the federal level, Massachusetts voters are casting ballots for president and U.S. senator this cycle, and both members of the U.S. House who represent parts of western Massachusetts face challenges from independent candidates.

• Western Mass. residents travel to battleground states to get out the vote for Democrats
• Unprecedented: Stories from the 2024 DNC
• Red in a Blue State: Stories from the 2024 RNC
• Western Mass. leaders, voters react to Tim Walz joining Harris on Democratic ticket
• In western Mass., Harris raises about $1.5M at first fundraiser of her presidential campaign
• Some older western Mass. residents reflect on Biden's choice to suspend his campaign
• 'An opportunity to reinvigorate': Mass. Democratic Party chair talks process for replacing Biden
• Western Mass. Democrats react to Biden withdrawal, show support for Kamala Harris nomination
• As Biden drops out, Massachusetts Democrats thank him for his service
• 'I am disgusted and horrified': Mass. leaders react as details emerge of shooting at Trump rally
• In Massachusetts politics, overwhelmingly positive reaction to Trump's felony convictions

• Warren and Deaton spar over immigration, foreign policy in contentious Senate debate
• Warren and Deaton to meet in Springfield Thursday for their only western Mass. debate
• Massachusetts voters have two chances to hear from U.S. Senate candidates this week

File photos / Jose Luis Magana and Charles Krupa

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AP

• Rep. Neal's opponent calls for ethics investigation after Politico report on Neal's son
• Democrat Neal faces independent Milleron in House race

• Independent up against McGovern acknowledges beating Dem would be 'really, really, really tough'

A large majority of state legislators from western Massachusetts are running unopposed in the general election. There are just a few contested elections for state Senate and House.

Robin Lubbock

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WBUR

• Candidate for state Senate doesn't live in western Mass. district he seeks to represent

• Democrat and independent face off in race for state representative in southern Berkshires
• Outgoing Rep. 'Smitty' Pignatelli reflects on 22 years in office
• Results: Gomez, Williams survive primary challenges, while Davis tops field in southern Berkshires
• Candidates in southern Berkshire state House primary look for new ways to address rural challenges

• Whipps, Raymond square off again in 2nd Franklin House District

Massachusetts Legislature / Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School District

• GOP Rep. Pease faces Democrat Matthews-Kane in Mass. House race for much of Westfield, Southampton

Facebook photos

Massachusetts voters have decisions to make on five statewide ballot questions this year. If passed, these proposals would become state law. As always, the state Legislature could modify the law.

Question 1: State Auditor’s authority to audit the Legislature

Language on ballot:

• A YES VOTE would specify that the State Auditor has the authority to audit the Legislature.
• A NO VOTE would make no change in the law relative to the State Auditor’s authority.

More reading:

• Ballot Question 1: A close look at the proposal to audit the Massachusetts Legislature
• Pregunta 1 de la Papeleta: Una mirada a la propuesta de auditar a la Legislatura de Massachusetts
• Are Mass. legislative leaders leaving the door open to ignoring the will of the voters?
• DiZoglio begins 141-mile walk to promote ballot question on Legislature audit
• Secretary of the Commonwealth's information packet
• Research from the Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis
• Who is funding the campaign or the opposition? (OCPF)

Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as high school graduation requirement

Language on ballot:

• A YES VOTE would eliminate the requirement that students pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) in order to graduate high school but still require students to complete coursework that meets state standards.
• A NO VOTE would make no change in the law relative to the requirement that a student pass the MCAS in order to graduate high school.

More reading:

• Ballot Question 2: Digging into the proposal to disconnect MCAS from high school graduation
• Pregunta 2: Un análisis de la propuesta para eliminar el MCAS como requisito para graduación
• What happens next if Massachusetts voters toss the MCAS graduation requirement?
• Big money recently donated for and against Mass. ballot question on student testing
• Senate Education Committee chair will push MassCore as alternative to MCAS grad requirement
• Western Mass. mayors consider ballot question debating MCAS requirement for graduation
• Secretary of the Commonwealth's information packet
• Research from the Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis
• Who is funding the campaign or the opposition? (OCPF)

Question 3: Unionization for transportation network drivers

Language on ballot:

• A YES VOTE would provide transportation network drivers the option to form unions to collectively bargain with transportation network companies regarding wages, benefits, and terms and conditions of work.
• A NO VOTE would make no change in the law relative to the ability of transportation network drivers to form unions.

More reading:

• Ballot Question 3: Examining a potential pathway for Uber and Lyft drivers to form unions
• Pregunta 3 de la Papeleta: Examinar una vía para que conductores de Uber, Lyft formen sindicatos
• Massachusetts settlement dictates wages, benefits for app-based drivers
• Secretary of the Commonwealth's information packet
• Research from the Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis
• Who is funding the campaign or the opposition? (OCPF)

Question 4: Limited legalization and regulation of certain natural psychedelic substances

Language on ballot:

• A YES VOTE would allow persons over age 21 to use certain natural psychedelic substances under licensed supervision and to grow and possess limited quantities of those substances in their home, and would create a commission to regulate those substances.
• A NO VOTE would make no change in the law regarding natural psychedelic substances.

More reading:

• Ballot Question 4: Should psychedelics be legalized — and is this the right way?
• Pregunta 4 de la Papeleta: ¿Deberían legalizar los psicodélicos, y es esta la manera correcta?
• Psychedelics ballot question campaigns heat up ahead of November
• Poll finds 4 of 5 ballot questions have strong support, with psychedelics proposal a tossup
• Secretary of the Commonwealth's information packet
• Research from the Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis
• Who is funding the campaign or the opposition? (OCPF)

Question 5: Minimum wage for tipped workers

Language on ballot:

• A YES VOTE would increase the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker to the full state minimum wage implemented over five years, at which point employers could pool all tips and distribute them to all non-management workers.
• A NO VOTE would make no change in the law governing tip pooling or the minimum wage for tipped workers.

More reading:

• Ballot Question 5: Adding up the arguments for and against the proposed boost to tipped-worker wages
• Pregunta 5: Análisis de la propuesta de aumentar el salario a trabajadores que reciben propinas
• Tipped wage measure divides hospitality industry in Massachusetts
• Secretary of the Commonwealth's information packet
• Research from the Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis
• Who is funding the campaign or the opposition? (OCPF)