Our vision is for all people within our region to have access to what they need to lead healthy lives.

Learn about the ballot questions In addition to voting for elected officials, this fall Massachusetts voters are being asked to vote “yes” or “no” on a whopping nine ballot questions . In past years, there were just three or four, so we want you to be prepared for what will be a multi-page ballot. Key Sources of Information MA Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Elections Division - You should have recently received a red “ Information for Voters ” booklet in the mail, but if not, there are hard copies available at most public libraries and it’s also available online . In addition to the exact wording of the nine questions, this booklet contains arguments for and against each one, plus the full text of the proposed or existing laws. CommonWealth Beacon (CWB) - WB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news source focused on Massachusetts policy, politics and civic life. It just released Election 2026: MA Ballot Questions Explained , which includes what supporters and opponents are saying about each ballot question, along with historical context and links to their earlier articles on the topic. Tufts University’s Center for State Policy Analysis - Tufts’ CSPA recently released its Voters Guide to 2026 MA Ballot Questions . It provides summaries (~400 words) and longer reports (3-5 pages) for each question. Make a Plan to Vote In the coming weeks, you will undoubtedly see multitudes of lawn signs and receive postcards, emails, and phone calls about individual questions. We hope these resources help you learn about the ballot questions and that you VOTE THIS FALL! Register to Vote by Oct 24, Update Address, Name, or Party Check Your Voter Registration Status Where do I vote? Vote in-person Early voting: Oct 17-30 (times & locations vary by city/town; details available by Oct 9 Election Day: Nov 3, 2026, 7am-8pm Vote by mail (Deadline to request to vote by mail is Oct 27, 2026). Vote Yes on #7 and #9 PHIWM is taking a position on two questions most directly associated with our work to advance health equity in Western MA. We encourage you to vote YES on #7 (Legalize starter homes) and YES on #9 (Keep our gun safety laws). Vote Yes on 7 to Legalize Starter Homes In Western MA, the cost of safe, quality housing continues to climb, and the goal of home ownership is out of reach for more and more people. For this reason, PHIWM endorses ballot question #7 to help make it possible for to build smaller, more affordable homes on smaller, more affordable lots. Passing this ballot question would allow single-family homes to be built in residentially zoned area if the lot has: at least 5,000 square feet (about the size of an NBA basketball court); at least 50 feet of land bordering the street, and access to public sewer and water services.  By contrast, many municipalities currently require lots to be 2x, 4x, even 10x larger than 5,000 square feet to build one home. Legalizing starter homes in Massachusetts will result in smaller homes, more affordable homes, and more homes in general. Learn more about question #7 . Vote Yes on 9 For a Safer Massachusetts In 2024, Massachusetts passed its strongest gun safety law in a decade, cracking down on ghost guns and modernizing safety regulations. Now the gun lobby wants to overturn that law with a repeal referendum on the November 2026 ballot. While the death rate by firearms in MA is lower than most states , there is still too much violence and too many suicides due to easy access to guns. PHIWM endorses ballot question #9 so that we can keep the strong gun laws that Massachusetts voters want to save lives. Learn more about question #9 .

Beyonca Twiggs is a Project Coordinator at the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Read her reflection below about engaging in equity work and showing up even when it is hard. Showing Up When It's Hard There are days when the work feels heavy. Not just the tasks or the meetings, but the weight of what we’re trying to change. Systems that were never built for everyone. Patterns that repeat across generations. Stories that aren’t told, because they’ve been ignored for so long. On those days, I remind myself why I’m here. I didn’t get into this work because I had all the answers. I got into it because I kept seeing the same harm, the same gaps, the same silence, especially around race and health. And I wanted to be part of interrupting that silence. I’ve learned that equity work isn’t about checking boxes or writing the right statement. It’s about being willing to stay in the room when things are uncomfortable. It’s about asking, “Who’s not here?” and meaning it. It’s about choosing to be accountable, not just when someone is watching, but especially when no one is. It means listening even when the truth stings. It means making space for stories that challenge how we see the world and how we see ourselves. Sometimes, it’s slow. Sometimes, it’s painful. But every time we choose to show up differently— more aware, more honest, more intentional—something shifts. And over time, those shifts start to matter. I’ve also learned that change doesn’t always look like a policy passed or a report released. Sometimes, it looks like someone feeling seen for the first time. Sometimes, it’s a door that wasn’t open before. Sometimes, it’s just staying committed when it would be easier to walk away. I am doing this work because I believe in the possibility of something better, and not just in theory, but in practice. In neighborhoods. In classrooms. In clinics. In the everyday places where people deserve to be safe, to be well, and to be valued. This isn’t just professional for me. It’s personal. Because the stakes are real. Because our communities deserve more than survival. They deserve care. They deserve joy. They deserve justice. So no, I don’t have all the answers. But I’m here. I’m learning. I’m listening. And I’m staying. Because the work is worth it. And so are the people we do it for. If you’re looking for ways to deepen your understanding, continue learning, or spend more time with the stories and voices that shape this work, I encourage you to explore the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide . It offers tools, reflections, and local resources to support ongoing growth.