Topic: Tax Repeal

A 2002 ballot initiative to repeal the Massachusetts state income tax received 45% of the vote, significantly outperforming pre-election polls. The results revealed a demographic divide between big-government proponents in urban centers like Boston and university towns versus suburban and rural residents who favor smaller government and lower spending.

The 2008 income tax repeal effort saw a higher raw vote total but a lower percentage due to record-breaking turnout for Barack Obama. The surge of approximately 500,000 additional Democratic voters, combined with a $7 million opposition ad campaign, prevented the initiative from reaching a majority.