After an overnight wait as election results trickled in from all corners of Massachusetts, state residents knew by early afternoon Wednesday that three of the four ballot initiatives they voted on had passed.
Winning the approval of the Massachusetts electorate were questions on levying an extra tax on people earning more than $1 million a year, on changing the regulations for dental insurers, and on allowing undocumented immigrants to abtain driver’s licenses. A fourth measure that would have increased the number of licenses a company can hold to sell alcohol failed.
The millionaires tax
Question 1, passed by a margin of 52% to 48% with nearly all votes counted, was dubbed the “millionaires tax.” Massachusetts currently has a flat rate income tax of 5%. Under the new tax system approved by Massachusetts voters, any income exceeding $1 million will be taxed an additional 4%.
The law will affect tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023. With the 2022 tax year already well in progress, people making over $1 million will see the new tax rate on their income tax filings for next year when they file in 2024.
Dental insurance changes
Voters approved Question 2, on establishing new regulations for dental insurance companies, by the widest margin of any of the four ballot initiatives — 71% to 29%, with most ballots counted. Under the new law, dental insurers will be required to spend 83% of the money they collect from premiums on customers’ dental expenses or on improving their quality of service, as opposed to using the funds for administrative expenses. The measure brings the dental insurance industry in line with a requirement already placed on health insurers. Proponents said it would curb corporate waste from insurance executives.
The law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Retail alcohol licenses
Question 3 did not pass. It would have raised the statewide limit on the number of retail alcohol licenses that a single company could own. The measure failed 55% to 45%, with about 95% of ballots tallied.
Driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants
The statewide final ballot initiative, Question 4, asked voters whether they approved of a law that would allow people without legal documentation to be in the country to seek driver’s licenses. Under the law, undocumented immigrants living in Massachusetts will be able to apply for driver’s licenses, so long as they can show a foreign passport or consular identification document, as well as a marriage certification or divorce decree, among other paperwork. The law does not allow undocumented immigrants to vote.
The law is set to go into effect on July 1, 2023.
It passed by a margin of 53.8% to 46.2%, with most votes counted.