NORTHAMPTON — Ballot questions this past state election in November asked voters to weigh in on issues ranging from patient-to-nurse ratios at hospitals, creating a commission to challenge a Supreme Court ruling and repealing an anti-discriminatory transgender law, and a local group of voting advocates are working to demystify the process behind them.
“Voters have become concerned that issues like that really should be handled by the elected Legislature,” said Margaret Riddle, a member of the Northampton chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV), on Saturday. “How did these questions get on the ballot? That is a question that people ask, ‘How come I’m voting on this right now?’”
For those looking for answers, the Northampton LWV will host a discussion on Saturday, Feb 2., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Florence Civic Center for what the organization calls a consensus meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is for members of the local chapter to discuss the issues surrounding state ballot questions based on a study produced by the League of Women Voters Massachusetts (LWVMA). Members will then reach a consensus of opinion to share with the LWVMA for the state convention in June.
The public is invited to join and learn from the study conducted by the LWVMA, although they will not be part of the consensus-building process, according to Riddle. A LWVMA study committee researched the ballot question process in Massachusetts and other states to serve as the basis on a study guide that will be presented at the consensus meeting to members and non-members alike.
The consensus meeting will delve into questions such as: Were the questions understandable to everyone? Did voters have enough information to make an informed opinion? Were members comfortable with the money being spent to shape voter opinions?
“We take up each one of the questions to debate and consider,” Riddle said. An important aspect of the LWV, she said, is its non-partisan nature.
The LWV does not support or oppose any candidates or political parties, Riddle said.
Through the consensus building process that begins at the local level — there are 46 chapters across the state — the state organization reaches a position that it lobbies for.
“We work hard to educate ourselves in-depth without that partisan slant on those issues,” Riddle said. “I think that is why the Legislature pays attention to what the League has to say.”
Luis Fieldman can be reached at lfieldman@gazettenet.com