Find quick answers about Question 10, the CleanAir CashBack public policy question that will appear on the ballot in participating Massachusetts House districts in 2026.
About Question 10
Question 10 is a non-binding public policy question on the 2026 ballot in participating Massachusetts House districts. It asks voters whether their state representative should be instructed to introduce and vote for legislation that places a fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels to compensate for environmental pollution and returns the proceeds directly to residents as monthly Clean Air CashBack payments.
What does Question Ask Voters?
Question 10 asks whether the representative from a district should be instructed to introduce and vote for legislation that places a fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels to compensate for environmental pollution and returns the proceeds directly to residents as monthly CleanAir CashBack payments.
Is Question 10 a New Law?
No. Question 10 is a non-binding public policy question. A vote on it does not automatically create a new law or impose a new fee. Instead, it gives voters in a legislative district an opportunity to advise their state representative about whether they support this policy direction.
What is a district Public Policy Question?
A district public policy question gives voters a way to express their views directly to their elected representative on an issue of public policy. It is intended to show public support, educate voters, and encourage future legislative action.
Why is it called Question 10?
Question 10 is the ballot question number assigned by the Elections Office of the Massachusetts Secretary of Commonweath’s Office for the 2026 general election. The number helps voters identify the question on their ballot. The policy proposal itself remains the same: charge for fossil-fuel pollution and return the proceeds directly to residents as monthly CashBack payments.
Why is Question 10 On the ballot now?
Volunteers collected the required petition signatures to place this public policy question on the ballot in participating Massachusetts House districts. Voters in those districts can now weigh in directly on whether they want their representative to support CleanAir CashBack legislation.
Question 10 and Your Vote
Who will see Question 10 on their ballot?
Question 10 will appear for registered voters in the Massachusetts House districts where the petition qualified for the ballot. Because it is a district public policy question, it may not appear on every ballot in Massachusetts.
Can I vote on Question 10 if I live outside a participating district?
Only voters whose ballots include Question 10 can vote on it. If you live outside a participating Massachusetts House district (the 1st and 8th Essex House Districts), Question 10 will not appear on your ballot. You can still learn about the policy, share information, and support future CleanAir CashBack organizing.
What does a yes vote on Question 10 mean?
A yes vote expresses support for instructing the district’s representative to introduce and vote for legislation that would place a fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels to compensate for environmental pollution and return the proceeds directly to residents as monthly Clean Air CashBack payments.
What does a no vote on Question 10 mean?
A no vote expresses opposition to instructing the district’s representative to introduce and vote for that legislation. Because Question 10 is non-binding, either result is advisory and does not itself create or block a law.
Does voting yes on Question 10 create a new tax or fee?
No. Voting yes on Question 10 does not itself create a new tax or fee. The question is advisory and concerns whether the district’s representative should support future legislation. Any actual policy would need to be considered and enacted through the normal legislative process.
How would Clean Air CashBack work if the legislature acted?
If the legislature later acted on this idea, the policy would generally place a fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels and return the proceeds directly to residents as monthly payments. Many implementation details would still need to be worked out through the normal legislative and administrative process.
Why describe the payments as monthly CashBack?
The idea is to reduce pollution while returning money directly to residents. The Question 10 language emphasizes monthly payments because that framing is more concrete and easier for voters to connect to everyday household budgets.
Has Massachusetts considered similar questions before?
Yes. Similar non-binding carbon-fee questions appeared in three Massachusetts House districts in 2022. Those results helped inform the updated language and broader public-education approach used for Question 10 in 2026.
Voting and Finding Information
Do I need anything else to support Question 10?
The petition-signature phase is complete in the districts where Question 10 qualified for the ballot. If Question 10 appears on your ballot, you can vote on it. You can also help by sharing accurate information, encouraging eligible voters to learn about the question, volunteering, and connecting the campaign with local groups and community events.
Where can I find Question 10 on my ballot?
Look for Question 10 on the ballot you receive for the 2026 election if you are registered in a participating Massachusetts House district. The exact ballot layout may vary, so read the ballot carefully and follow the instructions provided by your local election officials.
Can I still help if Question 10 is not on my ballot?
Yes. People whose ballots do not include Question 10 may still be able to volunteer, share educational materials, help promote campaign updates, or connect the campaign with supporters and community organizations in participating districts.
How will the campaign share updates?
The campaign can use the website for voter information, event listings, downloadable materials, volunteer signups, and updates about Question 10. It may also share updates through local Facebook groups and other community-outreach channels.
Getting Involved
How can I help with Question 10?
You can help by learning about the question, sharing campaign updates, talking with voters in participating districts, volunteering at local events, hosting a table, and helping connect the campaign with local groups or community events.
Can I volunteer even if I cannot vote on Question 10?
Yes. You do not need to be eligible to vote on Question 10 to help the campaign. Volunteers can share information, help promote events, distribute educational materials, and connect the campaign with supporters in participating districts.