Massachusetts 2021 local ballot measures

Ballotpedia covered three local ballot measures in Massachusetts for voters in Boston on November 2, 2021. Boston voters approved Questions 1 and 3 and defeated Question 2.

Massachusetts Local Ballot Measures
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Massachusetts ballot measures
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2021 ballot measures
State measures
Local measures

In 2021, Ballotpedia covered local measures that appeared on the ballot for voters within the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. and all state capitals, including those outside of the top 100 largest cities. Ballotpedia covered a selection of notable police-related and election-related measures outside of the top 100 largest cities. Ballotpedia also covered all local measures in California and all statewide ballot measures. Click here to see the scope of Ballotpedia local ballot measure coverage by year.

November 2

Boston voters decided three local ballot measures on November 2, 2021.

Suffolk County

See also: Suffolk County, Massachusetts ballot measures

• Boston, Massachusetts, Question 1, Budget Approval Process Charter Amendment (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported granting the city council the authority to amend a budget proposed by the mayor and to override the mayor's budgetary amendments or vetoes and establishing an office of participatory budgeting by 2024.

A "no" vote opposed this measure granting the city council the authority to amend a budget proposed by the mayor and to override the mayor's budgetary amendments or vetoes and establishing an office of participatory budgeting by 2024.

• Boston, Massachusetts, Question 2, Electric Substation Location Advisory Question (November 2021):  ✖

A "yes" vote supported advising the city to build a high voltage electric substation at 400 Condor Street in East Boston.

A "no" vote opposed advising the city to build a high voltage electric substation at 400 Condor Street in East Boston.

• Boston, Massachusetts, Question 3, Elected School Committee Advisory Question (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported advising the city to return the city's appointed school committee to an elected system.

A "no" vote opposed advising the city to return the city's school committee to an elected system, thereby maintaining the mayor appointed system that has been in place since 1992.

Additional elections

See also: Massachusetts elections, 2021

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Massachusetts

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Massachusetts.

How to cast a vote in Massachusetts

Poll times In Massachusetts, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. However, municipalities may open their polls as early as 5:45 a.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Registration requirements Check your voter registration status here. To vote in Massachusetts, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day. The deadline for registration is 10 days prior to the election. A voter can register online, by mail, or in person at any registration office or the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A form of identification is required to register. The following are acceptable forms of identification: Valid driver's license State-issued identification card Current utility bill Bank statement Paystub Government-issued check Any other government document displaying the voter's name and address Automatic registration Massachusetts automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, division of medical assistance, health insurance connector authority, and other agencies that collect what state law defines as reliable citizenship information. Online registration See also: Online voter registration Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration. Residency requirements To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. Verification of citizenship See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States Massachusetts does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, the penalty for an illegal registration is a "fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years or both." All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. As of January 2025, six states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registration The Elections and Voting page, run by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirements Massachusetts does not require voters to present identification (ID) while voting, in most cases. However, voters will be asked to show ID in the following circumstances: “ You are voting for the first time in Massachusetts in a federal election; You are an inactive voter; You are casting a provisional or challenged ballot; The poll worker has a reasonable suspicion that leads them to request identification. ” The following list of accepted ID was current as of August 2024: A driver's license A state ID card A recent utility bill A rent receipt or lease. A copy of a voter registration affidavit A letter from a school dormitory or housing office Any other printed identification which contains your name and address Click here for the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information. “ Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. Examples of acceptable identification include: a driver's license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter's name and address. ”

See also

• Local ballot measure elections in 2021
• City budget on the ballot