Massachusetts’ top court rejected a proposed ballot initiative that would cut the state’s personal income tax rate over language its judges found potentially confusing to voters.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in a ruling Thursday, agreed with the plaintiffs’ arguments that the wording of the ballot question violated the state constitution’s requirement that voters receive a “fair, concise summary” of a proposed change in law.
“The summary’s contrary statement is not a minor imprecision,” stated the opinion by Associate Justice Serge Georges Jr., with no noted dissents. “It is significantly misleading and likely to influence voters.”
The court’s action means ...