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Question 2: should employees of the state public defender agency be able to form a union?

Question 2 would let employees of the state public defender agency choose whether to form a union and bargain over pay and working conditions. Our explainer covers what each vote does and who is paying for each side.

A pair of balanced scales in the center, a courthouse with columns on the left, and a table with an open folder and a pen on the right, in teal, navy and sand tones. No people are shown.
From our Question 2 explainer. Illustration: Cape Ann Current illustration
GloucesterRockportEssexManchester-by-the-Sea

By Kerry Jane · Sunday, November 1How we work

Trust Check: Checked against public records

Question 2 would let employees of the state public defender agency, known as CPCS, choose whether to form a union and bargain over pay and working conditions.

A Yes vote allows that. A No vote keeps current law.

Supporters say these employees carry heavy caseloads and have no formal voice in management. Opponents say bargaining could disrupt the agency's management and its ability to respond to changing caseloads.

As of Oct. 26, the Yes committee had reported about $1.1 million, and no committee against was listed, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Read the full Question 2 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.

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