YES: Therapeutic access • NO: Safety & regulation risks

Question 5 Wages

Phasing Out Tipped Wage

Gradually raises restaurant tipped sub-minimum wage ($6.75/hr) to full minimum wage ($15/hr) over 5 years and allows tip pooling.

YES: Base wage equity • NO: Restaurant operating costs

Question 6 Employment

Independent Contractor Status

Classifies app-based drivers as independent contractors while mandating guaranteed pay (120% min wage for engaged time) and benefits.

YES: Schedule flexibility • NO: Excludes statutory benefits

See Ballot Questions Guide Page 2 for full legal summaries and donor coalitions. Civic Dossier Reference

Ballot Menu • Set 3

Environment, Voting & Energy

Questions 7 – 9

Question 7 Environment

Updating the 5¢ Bottle Bill

Expands the 5-cent container deposit statute to non-carbonated beverages (bottled water, iced teas, sports drinks, canned coffee).

YES: Litter reduction • NO: Grocery checkout costs

Question 8 Elections

Ranked-Choice Voting

Implements instant-runoff ranked ballots for Massachusetts statewide offices and state legislative seats so winners require a majority.

YES: Majority consensus • NO: Ballot complexity / costs

Question 9 Clean Energy

Gas Utility Infrastructure Transition

Prohibits gas utilities from charging consumers for fossil pipeline expansions and accelerates municipal heat-pump conversions.

YES: Decarbonization • NO: Grid reliability / retrofits

See Ballot Questions Guide Page 3 for full legal summaries and donor coalitions. Civic Dossier Reference

The Problem

The Voter Information Abyss

Dense Legal Prose

The official "Red Book" summaries run thousands of words in statutory language that causes confusion and fatigue.

Voters feel overwhelmed

Ballot Roll-Off

Up to 20% of voters vote for high-profile candidate races, but leave ballot questions blank because they are unsure.

Wasted democratic voice

Misleading Ads

Multi-million dollar Super PAC campaigns flood TV and social media with fear tactics, hyperbole, and half-truths.

Voters lack neutral truth

Your Civic Purpose: Act as trusted civic translators to give your neighbors clear, verified facts.

Editorial Ethics

The Nonpartisan Mandate

The Fair Ballot Standard

“If a voter watching your video can guess your personal vote,
the video does not meet journalistic standard.”

Equal Clock

Equal airtime and equivalent visual weight dedicated to both YES and NO arguments (+/- 5 seconds).

Neutral Tone

Eliminate editorial adjectives. Never say “disastrous,” “sensible,” or “obviously flawed.”

Best Evidence

Present the steel-man case for both sides: their strongest substantive evidence and coalition backers.

Rule: Report the policy trade-offs, never tell voters what to choose. Civic Journalism Core Principle

Video Blueprint

5-Block Video Architecture

Total Runtime: 2:00 – 3:00

0:00 – 0:35

1. Hook & Problem

What current MA law exists? Why did citizen petitioners place this question on the ballot?

0:35 – 1:05

2. Policy Mechanism

What changes legally? Use simple analogies, animated diagrams, or flowcharts.

1:05 – 1:45

3. The Case for YES

Enacts proposed law. Proponent arguments, equity/safety data, and supporting coalition donors.

1:45 – 2:25

4. The Case for NO

Maintains status quo. Opponent arguments, economic/regulatory concerns, and opposing coalitions.

2:25 – 3:00

5. Fiscal & Next Steps

State budget note, tax/spending projections, and where voters find verified ballot info.

Tip: Rehearse with a stopwatch! Target pacing is ~130 words per minute. Standard AV Pacing

Production Quality

Visual & Accessibility Standards

Burned-In Captions

All videos must have synchronized open captions with 100% correct spelling of civic and legal terms.

Universal Accessibility

Clean Voiceover

Record in a quiet space with an external mic. Music bed must stay at -22dB under vocal narration.

Broadcast Audio

Dynamic Graphics

No endless slides of text. Use comparison charts, lower-third titles, callout boxes, and verified quotes.

Engaging Visuals

Always cite on-screen: “Source: MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance (OCPF)” Mandatory Citation Rule

Collaboration

Newsroom Team Roles

4 Specialist Roles

1

Civic Policy Lead

Analyzes the official legal text and state fiscal notes. Audits donor filings and campaign finance coalitions on OCPF.

2

Lead Scriptwriter

Writes the timed two-column audio-visual script. Translates dense policy into clear, conversational plain English.

3

Motion & Video Editor

Designs infographics, creates lower-third titles, edits timeline cuts, and burns in synchronized captions.

4

Nonpartisan Auditor

Times arguments to ensure parity, reviews adjectives for bias, and verifies that every stat cites a primary source.

Each team member signs off on the final cut before public release. Shared Collective Responsibility

Get Started

Project Milestones & Launch

Oct 02

Step 1

Policy Brief & Source Dossier

Oct 09

Step 2

Full AV Script & Timed Storyboard

Oct 16

Step 3

Rough Cut Nonpartisan Peer Audit

Oct 23

Step 4

Final Cut & Voter Showcase

Today's Immediate Mission:

Form newsroom teams of 4, assign roles, and draw your statewide ballot question.

Let's Inform Massachusetts!

Massachusetts Senior Civics Curriculum • Unit 3 Ballot Explainer Project Page 1 of 3

MA

Statewide Ballot Dossier • Fall Election

Massachusetts Ballot Questions Menu

Part 2: Questions 4 – 6

Question 4

Legalization & Regulation of Natural Psychedelics

Public Health

Summary: Decriminalizes personal adult use/growing of natural psychedelic substances (psilocybin, DMT, mescaline) and creates a state regulatory commission to license supervised therapy facilities.

What a "YES" Vote Means:

Allows adults 21+ to possess/grow limited quantities of natural psychedelics and access licensed therapeutic treatment settings.

What a "NO" Vote Means:

Maintains existing criminal and civil penalties prohibiting natural psychedelic substances under Massachusetts law.

Key Backers: Massachusetts for Mental Health Options, Veteran Advocates Key Opponents: Coalition for Safe Communities, MA Psychiatric Society

Question 5

Phase-Out of Sub-Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers

Wages & Employment

Summary: Gradually increases the minimum wage for tipped workers ($6.75/hr) over five years until it equals the full state minimum wage ($15.00/hr), while permitting tip-pooling among non-management restaurant staff.

What a "YES" Vote Means:

Employers must directly pay tipped staff full minimum wage regardless of tips earned; tips remain additional or pooled among staff.

What a "NO" Vote Means:

Maintains the current tipped sub-minimum wage system where employers make up the difference if tips fall below $15/hr.

Key Backers: One Fair Wage, Service Worker Equity Groups Key Opponents: Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Restaurant Owner Coalitions

Question 6

Independent Contractor Status for App-Based Drivers

Gig Economy Classification

Summary: Formally defines app-based rideshare and delivery drivers as independent contractors under state wage laws, while establishing guaranteed earnings (120% of minimum wage for engaged time) and portable healthcare benefits.

What a "YES" Vote Means:

Locks in independent contractor status to protect driver schedule flexibility while establishing minimum wage floors during active rides.

What a "NO" Vote Means:

Subjects app platforms to Massachusetts' strict three-part employee test, potentially classifying drivers as statutory employees.

Key Backers: MA Coalition for Independent Work, App Platform Companies Key Opponents: MA AFL-CIO, Labor Attorneys, Driver Rights Advocates

Massachusetts Senior Civics Curriculum • Unit 3 Ballot Explainer Project Page 2 of 3

MA

Statewide Ballot Dossier • Fall Election

Massachusetts Ballot Questions Menu

Part 3: Questions 7 – 9

Question 7

Modernization of the Massachusetts Bottle Deposit Law

Environment & Waste

Summary: Expands the 1982 5-cent bottle deposit statute to include non-carbonated containers (bottled water, iced teas, sports drinks, canned cold coffee) and adjusts redemption handling fees.

What a "YES" Vote Means:

Extends container recycling deposits to modern non-carbonated single-use plastic and aluminum bottles to reduce litter.

What a "NO" Vote Means:

Leaves the deposit law limited to carbonated soft drinks and beer, relying on municipal curbside recycling for non-carbonated bottles.

Key Backers: MassPIRG, Sierra Club Massachusetts, Conservation Law Foundation Key Opponents: American Beverage Association, Retailers Association of MA

Question 8

Ranked-Choice Voting in State Elections

Electoral Reform

Summary: Establishes ranked-choice voting (instant-runoff) for Massachusetts statewide constitutional officers, state legislative seats, and county elections, enabling voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

What a "YES" Vote Means:

Enacts ranked ballots so if no candidate wins 50%+, instant runoffs reallocate lower-tier votes until a candidate secures a majority.

What a "NO" Vote Means:

Maintains standard plurality ("first-past-the-post") voting where the candidate with the highest single vote count wins.

Key Backers: Voter Choice Massachusetts, Democracy Reform Coalitions Key Opponents: Keep It Simple Massachusetts, Fiscal Conservative Advocates

Question 9

Gas Transition & Clean Energy Acceleration

Energy & Climate

Summary: Prohibits gas utility companies from passing the cost of new fossil fuel pipeline expansions onto utility ratepayers, while expanding municipal authority to mandate clean heating conversion in building renovations.

What a "YES" Vote Means:

Restricts ratepayer funding for new gas infrastructure and accelerates home heat-pump and clean electrical conversions.

What a "NO" Vote Means:

Continues allowing utility gas infrastructure investments and leaves municipal building electrification codes subject to state waiver.

Key Backers: Clean Water Action, Climate Policy Action, Municipal Leaders Key Opponents: Gas Utilities, Building Trades Unions, Commercial Real Estate Council

Massachusetts Senior Civics Curriculum • Unit 3 Ballot Explainer Project Page 3 of 3