The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously approved the Ballot Spending Transparency Act (H.868/S.507), a bill designed to strengthen disclosure requirements for spending on statewide ballot questions. The legislation was championed by Common Cause Massachusetts, a nonpartisan advocacy organization that works to improve democracy at the state and local levels through reforms such as expanded voting access and government transparency. According to its official website, Common Cause Massachusetts is part of a national effort to promote voting rights and accountability.
Geoff Foster, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, said, “Massachusetts voters deserve to know, in real time, who is funding the ballot questions that will impact their lives. Under our current system, special interests can funnel millions of dollars behind issue campaigns without the public knowing for months. The Senate’s passage of the Ballot Spending Transparency Act moves Massachusetts closer to a democracy where voters – not unknown special interests – decide our future.”
Common Cause Massachusetts identified gaps in existing laws that allowed special interests to contribute large sums during an eight-month period in election years without immediate public disclosure. Through research, coalition work, and direct engagement with lawmakers, the organization advanced the bipartisan legislation filed by Senator Sal DiDomenico and State Representative Daniel Ryan.
Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett), lead sponsor of the Senate bill, stated, “Statewide ballot questions are a great tool for empowering the public to vote directly on statewide policies, but it is vitally important that our voters know which people and organizations are funding these policy proposals. I am proud to have worked with Common Cause to pass my legislation through the Senate, which will close a loophole in our campaign finance law and ensure our residents have all the information they need to make an educated decision when voting on ballot measures.”
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts also supported the measure. Celia Canavan, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, said: “The importance of having voters be able to access up-to-date financial data regarding what is on their ballot cannot be understated. The Senate’s passage of the Ballot Spending Transparency Act is more than just a good governance reform: it brings us closer to allowing voters the tools they need to hold power accountable.”
Data shows that over the past decade, ballot campaigns in Massachusetts have raised more than $340 million—an average of $57 million per election cycle—with 36% of all contributions received during periods lacking immediate disclosure.
Common Cause Massachusetts has engaged members across every congressional district in advocacy efforts and maintains more than 20,000 supporters statewide (source). The group partners with coalitions such as the Election Modernization Coalition and promotes reforms related to voting rights and anti-corruption (source).
The Ballot Spending Transparency Act now awaits consideration by the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
