Massachusetts Secretary of State Warns of Rising Election Costs Due to Ballot Questions

Galvin says 12 potential ballot questions could increase ballot printing and information booklet costs by 50% and 100% respectively.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin testified that the state's fiscal year 2027 budget allocation of $30.6 million for the elections division is not enough to cover the rising costs associated with the 12 potential ballot questions still in the running for the November 2026 ballot. Galvin predicts ballot printing costs will increase by 50% and the legally-mandated voter information booklets will be 100 pages each, too thick to staple together.

Why it matters

Ballot initiatives can be an important part of the democratic process, but the rising costs associated with them can place a significant burden on taxpayers. Galvin's testimony highlights the need to find a balance between allowing citizens to directly vote on issues and managing the associated election administration expenses.

The details

Galvin says he'd need an additional $15-16 million to fund early voting due to the large number of ballot questions. He also noted that in his nearly 50 years in Massachusetts state government, the most questions he has ever seen on a ballot was eight in 2002, far fewer than the 12 currently pending.

  • The Governor's fiscal year 2027 budget allocates $30.6 million to the elections division.
  • The potential ballot questions are currently pending in front of the legislature. If they choose to pass any initiatives, they will no longer be put on the ballot.
  • If the legislature votes the issues down or takes no action before the first Wednesday in May, the questions will need to pass another round of signature certification before being placed on the ballot.

The players

William Galvin

The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who has served in state government for nearly 50 years.

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What they’re saying

“I think there is a sincere, good faith effort…to deal with this, but I'm not certain it's going to be very workable.”

— William Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth (wwlp.com)

“The likelihood of those being resolved by you does not seem particularly great. You could make me very happy at the point and tell me you can resolve all these things and I won't have this problem, but I don't think you can.”

— William Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth (wwlp.com)

What’s next

The legislature has until the first Wednesday in May to vote on the potential ballot questions. If they take no action, the questions will need to pass another round of signature certification before being placed on the November 2026 ballot.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing financial burden that ballot initiatives can place on state and local governments, underscoring the need for policymakers to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of allowing citizens to directly vote on issues. As the number of ballot questions continues to rise, election officials like Galvin will face increasing challenges in administering elections in a cost-effective manner.