Mass. (WPRI) — Election Day is fast approaching, and you will have the chance to vote for the people and issues that matter to you. In addition to voting for your presidential candidate of choice, Massachusetts voters will decide on five statewide ballot measures on Tuesday, Nov. 5. All polling places in Massachusetts will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Want to vote sooner than Nov. 5? Early voting will take place from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1, with schedules varying by city and town. Check your community’s information to determine when and where to vote early. Prefer to vote by mail?To vote by mail, make sure your application reaches your local election office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 to receive a ballot. Ballots delivered by hand must be received by a local election office or dropped in a secure elections drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. VOTER GUIDE: Find your polling place and sample ballot Below is everything you need to know about each Massachusetts ballot question to decide whether to vote 'Yes' or 'No' in this year's general election. Skip ahead: Question 2 (MCAS) | Question 3 (Rideshare unions) | Question 4 (Psychedelic substances) | Question 5 (Minimum wage for tipped workers) 2024 Massachusetts Ballot Measures Question 1: State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature Every four years, voters in Massachusetts elect a state auditor, or "chief accountability officer," responsible for evaluating the performance of state agencies and ensuring they follow laws and regulations. While the state auditor has access to most records and documents, they currently do not have the authority to audit the legislature. Question 1 will allow voters to decide whether the state auditor’s investigative powers should be expanded to include auditing the legislature. The current state auditor, Diana DiZoglio, a former legislator herself, was sworn into office on Jan. 18 of last year. DiZoglio is the chief sponsor of Question 1 and argues that a 'Yes' vote would "shine a bright light on how taxpayer dollars are spent and help increase transparency, accountability, and accessibility for the people of Massachusetts." Even if Question 1 passes, the auditor would still be unable to oversee "core functions" of the legislature such as votes, debates, committee assignments, and policy priorities. A 'Yes' vote would expand the state auditor’s authority to pursue limited reviews of the non-core functions of the legislature. A 'No' vote would make no change in the current law, where the auditor’s authority is limited to executive agencies, and certain legislative and judicial activities can only be reviewed with permission. Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement In Massachusetts, public high school students must meet both local school district requirements and receive a "competency determination" from the state — most commonly by passing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam in their sophomore year. Supporters of Question 2 argue that standardized tests like the MCAS cannot fully measure a student’s skills or reflect their GPA. They say the emphasis on a single test "undermines high education standards, forcing teachers to teach test-taking skills rather than critical thinking and individualized learning." However, opponents contend that Question 2 is a "misguided ballot initiative" that will make state school systems "unfair and increase inequality by eliminating the only statewide education standard." If passed, students would still be required to take the MCAS, but their scores would no longer determine their eligibility to graduate. Instead, graduation criteria would be set by individual districts. A 'Yes' vote would eliminate the requirement for students to pass the MCAS to graduate, while still requiring them to complete coursework that meets state standards. A 'No' vote would keep the current law in place, meaning students would continue to be required to pass the MCAS to graduate. MORE: Question 2 could eliminate MCAS graduation requirement Question 3: Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers Under current Massachusetts law, Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare drivers are not allowed to form unions. Question 3 proposes "sector-based bargaining," which would allow drivers from multiple rideshare companies to collectively negotiate for better wages and benefits across the entire industry. The initiative would require state oversight during negotiations and create a hearing process for the Massachusetts Employment Relations Board to handle unfair labor practice complaints against rideshare companies. It would also define "active drivers" as those who complete more than the median number of rides over the previous six months. As of June, Uber and Lyft settled a lawsuit requiring them to pay drivers a minimum wage of $32.50 per hour, provide guaranteed paid sick leave, offer a stipend for the state's family and medical leave program, and give drivers access to pooled health insurance and accident insurance. MORE: Uber and Lyft agree to pay drivers $32.50 per hour in Massachusetts settlement Supporters of Question 3, like Roxana Rivera from SEIU 32BJ, argue it would allow drivers to unionize while maintaining their flexibility and independence. Opponents, however, believe it could lead to higher costs for riders and give politicians too much influence over the rules without sufficient accountability. A 'Yes' vote would allow transportation network drivers to form unions and collectively bargain for wages, benefits, and working conditions. A 'No' vote would make no change to the current law, which prevents transportation network drivers from unionizing. Question 4: Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances If passed, Question 4 would allow the recreational growing, sharing, and use of naturally occurring psychedelic substances, as well as their administration by licensed professionals in clinical settings. These substances include psilocybin, psilocin, mescaline, DMT, and ibogaine. The measure would require the Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission and Advisory Board to establish regulations for the licensing of psychedelic substances and services. Licenses would include those for psychedelic therapy centers, facilitators, cultivation, processing, sales-only operations, and testing. It would also establish a 15% state excise tax on the sale of psychedelic substances, with the revenue allocated to a dedicated fund. However, due to the lack of data on this emerging market, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance notes that the potential revenue impact is unknown. An oversight commission would also be created. Supporters argue that Question 4 would provide safe, regulated access to natural psychedelic medicines for mental health treatment. They emphasize that therapy would be administered by licensed professionals in controlled environments, with retail sales not permitted. Those against passing Question 4 say that decriminalizing these substances could lead to an increase in black market activity, impaired driving, and risks to children and pets. They also argue that corporate profits may take priority over public health. A 'Yes' vote would legalize the use of certain natural psychedelic substances for those over 21 under licensed supervision, allow for home cultivation and possession in limited quantities, and create a commission to regulate these substances. A 'No' vote would make no change in the current law, keeping natural psychedelic substances illegal. MORE: Question 4 could legalize use of psychedelic substances in Mass. Question 5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers In Massachusetts, tipped workers are guaranteed the full minimum wage of $15 an hour. However, employers can currently pay as little as $6.75 an hour, with the expectation that tips will make up the difference. If passed, Question 5 would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage that employers must pay tipped workers over a five-year schedule: To 64% of the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2025 To 73% of the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2026 To 82% of the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2027 To 91% of the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2028 To 100% of the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2029 By 2029, all Massachusetts restaurants would be required to pay tipped workers the full hourly minimum wage. Tips could also be pooled and shared among non-management staff. Those in favor of the measure argue that Question 5 is fair for workers, ensuring they earn a living wage, and fair for employers, as it would reduce turnover and improve service quality. They also argue that tips should be a reward for good service, not a necessity because large corporations don’t pay workers enough. Meanwhile, those who oppose the initiative say Question 5 would take tips away from servers, noting that 88% of servers oppose mandatory tip pooling and 90% believe raising the minimum wage would result in them earning less overall. A 'Yes' vote would gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped workers to the full state minimum wage over five years, and allow employers to pool tips for distribution among non-management workers. A 'No' vote would make no change in the law regarding tip pooling or the minimum wage for tipped workers. For more information on each proposed ballot question, refer to the Massachusetts Information for Voters guide. 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