Ballot Beacon Project Guide
MA State Election 2026 Civic Media Lab // Voter Information Project
BALLOT BEACON: 2-MINUTE EXPLAINER
Public Information Video Project Guide: Nonpartisan Massachusetts Ballot Question Analysis
ELECTION DAY
NOV 3, 2026
Target: First-Time Voters
Producer / Student
Collaborator(s)
Period / Block
Assigned Question
The Civic Mission & Project Format
In November 2026, Massachusetts voters will decide 9 statewide ballot questions. Your task is to produce a two- to three-minute (120–180s) broadcast-quality, strictly neutral video explainer informing first-time and undecided voters what a "YES" or "NO" vote enacts.
The 9 Massachusetts Ballot Questions (Select One // Source: Tufts cSPA)
Tufts Tisch College cSPA 2026 Guide
Question 1 GOVERNANCE
Public Records: Legislature & Governor
Applies public records law to Legislature & Governor's office for spending, contracts, and settlements.
Question 2 LABOR
Union Rights for Public Defenders
Grants state Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) defense workers collective bargaining rights.
Question 3 ELECTIONS
Single All-Party Open Primary
Replaces party primaries with a top-two open primary for state contests starting in 2028.
Question 4 VOTING
Election-Day Voter Registration
Allows citizens to register at polling places on election day starting in 2028 (ending 10-day deadline).
Question 5 TAXATION
Chapter 62F Automatic Tax Refunds
Rewrites state tax surplus law to trigger rebates 2–4x more frequently and return 2–7x more money.
Question 6 ENVIRONMENT
Conservation & Recreation Earmark
Dedicates ~$65M of existing sales taxes from sporting goods, RVs, and golf courses for natural spaces.
Question 7 HOUSING
"Starter Home" Zoning Overrides
Overrides local zoning to permit single-family homes by right on lots with adequate sewer/water access.
Question 8 REGULATION
Repeal Recreational Marijuana
Ends commercial adult-use cannabis sales and dismantles retail stores (medical marijuana remains legal).
Question 9 REFERENDUM
Keep or Repeal 2024 Gun Law
YES retains 2024 gun safety law (ghost guns, red flags); NO repeals it and restores pre-2024 rules.
Required Video Architecture (Target Duration: 2:00 – 3:00)
Timestamp
Segment Name
Broadcast Content & Visual Directives
0:00 – 0:25
1. Hook & Plain Title
Introduce Question # in conversational language. Display onscreen title card with legal summary.
0:25 – 0:55
2. The Status Quo
Provide a photo or drawing to illustrate the question topic.
0:55 – 1:35
3. "YES" Vote Analysis
State exactly what happens if approved. Outline primary arguments, key endorsements, and public impacts.
1:35 – 2:15
4. "NO" Vote Analysis
State exactly what happens if rejected. Outline opposition claims, highlighted risks, and fiscal concerns.
2:15 – 2:45+
5. Voter Action & Outro
Remind viewers of election date (Nov 3, 2026) and Secretary of Commonwealth links.
Nonpartisan Standard: Personal opinions, endorsements, and biased adjectives are strictly prohibited.
Page 1 of 3 // Project Blueprint
Production Protocols
MILESTONES, INTEGRITY & TECHNICAL SPECS
STANDARDS DOC
Project Milestones & Deliverables Roadmap
Milestone 1 Day 1
Question & Source Log
Submit selected ballot question with 4 verified sources: Tufts cSPA policy brief, official state text, Yes campaign, and No campaign.
Sign-off: ___/___
Milestone 2 Day 1
Dual-Column Script
Complete two-column A/V script (Audio narration on left, Visual cue / on-screen graphics on right). Verified word count: 280–380 words.
Sign-off: ___/___
Milestone 3 Day 2
Storyboard & Assets
Rough visual sketch cards with planned title cards, data charts, b-roll footage sources, and closed caption placement check.
Sign-off: ___/___
Milestone 4 Day 3
Rough Cut & Peer Review
Screen rough cut for peer review. Run the Stopwatch Bias Audit and verify audio loudness before final master export.
Sign-off: ___/___
The Civic Nonpartisan Standard: Editorial Rules
The 50/50 Stopwatch Rule
Airtime allocated to the "YES" side and the "NO" side must be balanced within a 5-second margin of error. You may not give 60 seconds to one stance and only 20 seconds to the opposition.
Plain-English Legal Translation
Replace legal jargon (e.g., "M.G.L. c. 62F", "indigent defense", "by-right zoning") with clear conversational explanations that an 18-year-old voting for the first time can comprehend instantly.
Attribution of All Claims
Never present a partisan opinion as objective fact. Frame all arguments accurately: "Proponents argue that..." and "Opponents contend that...". Always cite official ballot committee sources.
Video Production & Accessibility Specifications
Audio & Visual Production
- • Format & Framing: 16:9 widescreen landscape (1080p full HD preferred, minimum 720p). Maintain stable camera framing with head-and-shoulders anchor framing or split-screen presenter layout.
- • Audio Quality: Clear vocal dialogue recorded in a quiet environment. Vocal levels normalized between -12dB and -6dB. Background music must stay below -24dB so narration remains crisp.
- • Visual Pacing: Cut or change on-screen visuals every 5 to 8 seconds (title cards, infocards, photos, stock b-roll, or highlighted text excerpts).
Accessibility & Fair Use Guidelines
- • Subtitles / Open Captions: 100% of spoken narration must have accurate, synced on-screen captions with high-contrast text backgrounds (e.g., white sans-serif text on a black translucent pill).
- • Color Contrast & Graphics: On-screen text cards and data graphics must be legible on mobile screens (minimum 24pt relative font size on a 1080p canvas).
- • Media Rights: Use only Creative Commons, Wikimedia Commons, state government public domain files, or student-created visuals. Credit all media in closing credits.
Page 2 of 3 // Production Guidelines
Quality Assurance & Assessment
SUBMISSION CHECKLIST & EVALUATION RUBRIC
100 TOTAL POINTS
Student Pre-Flight Verification Checklist (Check every box before submitting)
1. Neutrality & Content
Both YES and NO positions are presented with equal seriousness and depth. No loaded language (e.g., "foolish", "obvious choice", "disastrous", "common sense"). Both lead advocacy campaigns / primary sponsors are correctly identified.
2. Structure & Timing
Exact run time is between 2:00 (120s) and 3:00 (180s) inclusive. Status quo (current law) is explained clearly before proposed changes. Closing call-to-action mentions Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026 without telling viewers how to vote.
3. Technical & A11y
Captions / subtitles are accurate, legible, and synced to audio throughout. Voiceover is loud, clear, and free from background hiss, hum, or clipping. All visuals, charts, music, and b-roll are credited in end-cards.
Project Assessment Rubric (25 Points Per Category)
Evaluation Criteria
Exemplary (23–25 pts)
Proficient (18–22 pts)
Emerging (0–17 pts)
1. Civic Neutrality & Balance
50/50 Balance & Nonpartisan Tone
Impeccably balanced airtime; zero partisan bias or emotional spin; both stances framed with respect and strong evidence.
Both sides covered, but slight airtime disparity (6–10s) or mild tone variation between YES and NO perspectives.
Noticeable bias, unequal time allocation, missing key opposition argument, or persuasive/advocacy tone.
2. Legal Accuracy & Clarity
Plain-English Status Quo & Changes
Accurately translates complex legal text into intuitive plain English; explains current law and real-world voter impact vividly.
Accurate core summary, but minor legal subtleties skipped or occasional dense jargon left unexplained for general voters.
Inaccurate or incomplete legal summary; confuses what YES vs NO accomplishes; overly vague or heavily jargon-laden.
3. Production & Accessibility
Video, Audio, Graphics, Captions
Broadcast-quality audio balance; crisp graphics; 100% accurate synced closed captions; visually dynamic 5–8s edit pacing.
Good audio clarity and readable visuals; captions present with minor timing slips or small typo; acceptable editing flow.
Poor audio (muffled/too quiet); missing captions; hard-to-read text graphics; static single-shot video throughout.
4. Structure, Timing & Process
Milestones, Pacing & Source Log
Video runtime precisely within 2:00–3:00; all 4 milestones submitted on schedule; comprehensive verified source citations.
Runtime within 10 seconds of bracket (1:50–3:10); milestones completed with minor revisions; adequate source citations.
Runtime significantly over/under duration bracket; missed milestone deadlines; missing or unverified source log.
Producer's Nonpartisan Integrity Pledge
"I certify that this video explainer adheres to nonpartisan journalistic integrity, accurately reflects official Massachusetts ballot publications and research from Tufts cSPA, and presents an honest, balanced view to voters."
Producer Signature: Date:
Peer Reviewer Stopwatch Audit
YES Stance Airtime: ____ sec
NO Stance Airtime: ____ sec
Total Video Run Time: ____:____
Captions Verified: [ ] YES
Auditor Signature: Score: ___/100
Submission Format: MP4 / 1080p video file + A/V script document + bibliography citation sheet.
Page 3 of 3 // Evaluation & Sign-Off
