Question 1: should most records of the Legislature and the Governor's office be open to public records requests?

Question 1 would put most records of the Legislature and the Governor's office under the state Public Records Law, with exceptions for policy development and for help requests from constituents.

A Yes vote makes that change. A No vote changes nothing.

Supporters say every city, town and state agency follows the law, and Beacon Hill should too. Opponents, including Senate President Karen Spilka, raise concerns about constituent privacy.

As of Oct. 26, the Yes committee had reported about $332,000, and no committee against was listed, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Read the full Question 1 explainer, with what each vote does, the background, the data and every source. The Cape Ann Current takes no position on any ballot question.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting runs through Thursday, Oct. 29, in Essex and through Friday, Oct. 30, in Gloucester, Rockport and Manchester; see the last week of early voting for hours. All nine questions and the candidates are in our Election 2026 guide.