Massachusetts general election, 1982

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.

Statewide elections

United States Senator

Further information: Massachusetts United States Senate election, 1982

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

Governor & Lieutenant Governor

Further information: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1982

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[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Francis X. Belotti	1,555,400	78.25%
	Republican	Richard L. Wainwright	375,557	18.89%
	Libertarian	Michael Reilly	56,835	2.86%
	Write-in		36	0.00%

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.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1982[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Michael J. Connolly	1,368,314	72.62%
	Republican	Jody DeRoma Dow	455,975	24.20%
	Libertarian	Robin D. Zazula	60,003	3.18%
	Write-in		43	0.00%

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.

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1982[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Q. Crane	1,338,150	70.42%
	Republican	Mary J. LeClair	506,200	26.64%
	Libertarian	Freda L. Nason	55,763	2.93%
	Write-in		57	0.03%

Auditor

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

Massachusetts Auditor General Election, 1982[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John J. Finnegan	1,225,427	66.94%
	Republican	Michael S. Robertson	535,463	29.25%
	Libertarian	Donald E. Washburn	69,795	3.81%
	Write-in		31	0.00%

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.^[5]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution[6]
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.^[7]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution[8]
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.^[9]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition[10]
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.^[11]

Referendum on an Existing Law[12]
Candidate		Votes	%	±%
✓	Yes	1,143,955	59.10%
	No	791,846	40.90%

References

1. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/142/mode/2up. 
2. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/152/mode/2up. 
3. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/162/mode/2up. 
4. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/172/mode/2up. 
5. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/466/mode/2up. 
6. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/466/mode/2up. 
7. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/472/mode/2up. 
8. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/472/mode/2up. 
9. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/478/mode/2up. 
10. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/478/mode/2up. 
11. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/484/mode/2up. 
12. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1982. http://www.archive.org/stream/massachusettsele1982mass#page/484/mode/2up.