# 1982 Massachusetts elections

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
Elections in Massachusetts :
General
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1944
1946
1948
1950
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1954
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Federal government
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Dem
2004
Dem
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Dem
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2024
Dem
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U.S. Senate
Class 1: 1788
1790
1796 (S)
1796
1798
1800 (S)
1803
1808 (S)
1810 (S)
1811
1813 (S)
1815
1815 (S)
1816 (S)
1818 (S)
1820
1820 (S)
1822
1826
1827
1829 (S)
1833
1839
February 1841 (S)
1845
1851
1851 (S)
1857
1863
1869
1874 (S)
1875
1881
1887
1893
1899
1905
1911
1916
1922
1928
1934
1940
1946
1952
1958
1962 (S)
1964
1970
1976
1982
1988
1994
2000
2006
2010 (S)
2012
2018
2024
Class 2: 1788
1793
1796
1800 (S)
1803 (S)
1805
1810
1811 (S)
1816
1822 (S)
1826 (S)
1828
1835
January 1841 (S)
1841
1845 (S)
1847
1853
1855 (S)
1859
1865
1871
1873 (S)
1877
1883
1889
1895
1901
1905 (S)
1907
1913
1918
1924
1930
1936
1942
1944 (S)
1948
1954
1960
1966
1972
1978
1984
1990
1996
2002
2008
2013 (S)
2014
2020
U.S. House
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1800/1801
1802/1803
1804
1806
1808
1810/1811
1812/1813
1814/1815
3rd
1816/1817
1818/1819
1820/1821
1822/1823
1824/1825
1826/1827
1828
1830/1832
1833/1834
1834/1835
1836
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1840/1841
1842/1844
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1846
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1850/1851
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1930
1932
1934
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1956
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1966
1968
1970
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1974
1976
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1982
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2001 (9th)
2002
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2010
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2014
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2024 :
State government
Governor
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Apr. 1831
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1911
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1930
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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
Farm Animal Confinement
Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana
2018: Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination
2020: pending :
Boston
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1822
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1844–45
Dec 1845
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1850
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1853–54
Dec 1854
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2023 :
Springfield
Mayor
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1957
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1961
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Worcester
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Massachusetts portal :
vte :
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 2, 1982 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The election included:
* statewide elections for United States Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, and Auditor;
* district elections for U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor's Councillors; and
* ballot questions at the state and local levels.
Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 14, 1982.

## Governor & Lieutenant Governor

Democrats Michael Dukakis and John Kerry were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over Republican candidates John W. Sears and Leon Lombardi.

## Attorney general

Democrat Francis X. Belotti was elected Attorney General. He defeated Republican Richard L. Wainwright and Libertarian Michael Reilly in the general election.
Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Francis X. Belotti (incumbent) | 1,555,400 | 78.25% | 0.18 |
| | Republican | Richard L. Wainwright | 375,557 | 18.89% | 2.67 |
| | Libertarian | Michael Reilly | 56,835 | 2.86% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 36 | 0.00% | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,987,828 | 100.00% | |

## Secretary of the Commonwealth

Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Michael J. Connolly defeated Republican Jody DeRoma Dow and Libertarian Robin D. Zazula in the general election.

### Candidates

* Michael J. Connolly, incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth (Democratic)
* Jody Deroma Dow (Republican)
* Robin Zazula (Libertarian)

### Results

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Michael J. Connolly (incumbent) | 1,368,314 | 72.62% | 12.66 |
| | Republican | Jody DeRoma Dow | 455,975 | 24.20% | 15.82 |
| | Libertarian | Robin D. Zazula | 60,003 | 3.18% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 43 | 0.00% | 0.02 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,884,335 | 100.00% | |

## Treasurer and Receiver-General

Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane defeated Barnstable County Treasurer Mary J. LeClair and Libertarian Freda L. Nason in the general election.

### Candidates

* Robert Q. Crane, incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General (Democratic)
* Mary J. LeClair, Barnstable County Treasurer (Republican)
* Freda L. Nason (Libertarian)

### Results

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robert Q. Crane (incumbent) | 1,338,150 | 70.42% | 10.18 |
| | Republican | Mary J. LeClair | 506,200 | 26.64% | 13.12 |
| | Libertarian | Freda L. Nason | 55,763 | 2.93% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 57 | 0.03% | 0.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,900,170 | 100.00% | |

## Auditor

Incumbent Auditor John J. Finnegan defeated Republican Michael S. Robertson and Libertarian Donald E. Washburn in the general election.

### Candidates

* John J. Finnegan, interim Auditor since 1981 (Democratic)
* Michael S. Robertson, nominee for U.S. Senate in 1976 (Republican)
* Donald E. Washburn (Libertarian)

### Results

Massachusetts Auditor General Election, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John J. Finnegan (incumbent) | 1,225,427 | 66.94% | 2.03 |
| | Republican | Michael S. Robertson | 535,463 | 29.25% | 5.84 |
| | Libertarian | Donald E. Washburn | 69,795 | 3.81% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 31 | 0.00% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,830,685 | 100.00% | |

## United States Senator

Democratic incumbent Ted Kennedy was re-elected over Republican Ray Shamie and Libertarian Howard S. Katz.

## Ballot questions
### Question 1

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would remove the constitutional prohibition against the use of public funds to aid or maintain private primary or secondary schools.
Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| | Yes | 708,034 | 37.90% | |
| ✓ | No | 1,160,130 | 62.10% | |

### Question 2

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the legislature to enact laws authorizing the state courts to impose the death penalty on the conviction of crimes to be specified by the law.
Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| ✓ | Yes | 1,131,668 | 60.02% | |
| | No | 748,549 | 39.98% | |

### Question 3

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - would require that before the construction or operation of any nuclear power plant or low-level radioactive waste storage or disposal facility in the Commonwealth, the legislature must make certain findings and a majority of voters must approve the facility at a statewide election.
Law Proposed by Initiative Petition :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| ✓ | Yes | 1,249,462 | 67.45% | |
| | No | 602,955 | 32.55% | |

### Question 4

Referendum on an Existing Law - The law requires that a refundable deposit be paid for certain beverage containers sold in Massachusetts.
Referendum on an Existing Law :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
| ✓ | Yes | 1,143,955 | 59.10% | |
| | No | 791,846 | 40.90% | |