Massachusetts Right to Repair Initiative

Voting results by municipality. Of the state's 351 cities and towns, only Salisbury and Groveland had majorities opposing the measure. All other municipalities voted over 70% in support.

Elections in Massachusetts
General elections General elections 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Federal government Presidential elections 1788-89 1792 1796 1800 1804 1808 1812 1816 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 U.S. Senate elections Class 1: 1899 1905 1911 1916 1922 1928 1934 1940 1946 1952 1958 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018 Class 2: 1918 1924 1930 1936 1942 1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002 2008 2014 2020 U.S. House elections 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Special elections Senate, 1944 Senate, 1962 1st district, 1991 9th district, 2001 5th district, 2007 Senate, 2010 Senate, 2013 5th district, 2013
State government Gubernatorial elections 1839 1913 1914 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 State Senate elections 2004 2006 2008 State House elections 2006 2008 Governor's Council elections 2006
Ballot measures 1980 Proposition 2½ 2002 English Language Education in Public Schools 2006 2008 Greyhound Protection Sensible Marijuana Policy State Income Tax Repeal 2010 No Sales Tax for Alcohol Sales Tax Relief Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning 2012 Right to Repair Death with Dignity Medical Marijuana 2014 Automatic Gas Tax Increase Repeal Expansion of Bottle Deposits Casino Repeal Paid Sick Days 2016 Expand Slot Machine Gaming Charter School Expansion Conditions for Farm Animals Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana 2018
Boston Mayoral elections 1894 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1910 1914 1917 1921 1925 1929 1933 1937 1941 1945 1949 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 City council elections 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

The Massachusetts "Right to Repair" Initiative, also known as Question 1, appeared on the Massachusetts 2012 general election ballot as an initiated state statute. The Right to Repair proposal was to require vehicle owners and independent repair facilities in Massachusetts to have access to the same vehicle diagnostic and repair information made available to the manufacturers' Massachusetts dealers and authorized repair facilities.^[1][2] The initiative passed with overwhelming voter support on November 6, 2012, with 86% for and 14% against.^[3] The measure, originally filed four times with the Massachusetts Attorney General, was filed by Arthur W. Kinsman, and was assigned initiative numbers 11-17.

On the last day of session, July 31, 2012, a legislative compromise was agreed to and H. 4362 passed. Despite the law going into effect, Question 1 remained on the ballot due to timing issues. Supporters and opponents of Question 1 had originally both stated that they would launch a campaign, together, to educate voters to vote "no" on the ballot measure in November, since the compromise was reached.^[4] However, The Massachusetts Right to Repair Committee decided that voters wanted the more stringent ballot initiative rather than the compromise legislation and were joined by AAA of Pioneer Valley in West Springfield and AAA of Southern New England in Providence in urging voters to vote YES on the initiative.^[5] After the ballot measure passed, the legislature passed H. 3757 to reconcile the two; this was signed by the governor on November 26, 2013.

Text of the measure

Support

The following is information obtained from the supporting side of the measure:

• The main proponents of the measure, and the group that organized the petition drive, is the Right to Repair Coalition.
• The primary goal, according to advocates, was to expand consumer choice with respect to service centers, and increase number of independent shops that have the ability to repair vehicles.
• During a legislative hearing on the measure, Ray Magliozzi, co-host of Car Talk, testified in favor of the legislation: "This legislation protects consumer choice and levels the playing field for independent repair shops. Right now, many repairers do not have access to the information and the customer pays big for that disadvantage.
• State Representative Daniel Winslow stated at the same hearing that the measure should be passed by the legislature and not sent to the ballot, stating: "This legislation is about protecting customer choice, promoting safety, and saving consumers time and money. Consumers are enduring expensive dealership costs and the legislature has the ability to bring relief now. They need to act."

Opponents

Opponents claimed repair shops could already access the data to proprietary information they need and categorized the ballot proposal as a "power grab" by after-market parts manufacturers to "seize" proprietary information.^[7]

References