2020 Massachusetts Question 1
An Initiative Law to Enhance,Update, and Protect the 2013 Motor Vehicle Right to Repair Law | |
| Location | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Outcome | Passed |
| Elections in Massachusetts |
|---|
 |
The Massachusetts Right to Repair Initiative (2020), also known as Question 1, appeared on the Massachusetts 2020 general election ballot as an initiated state statute. It was approved by voters and the measure will update the state's right to repair laws to include electronic vehicle data. A similar Right to repair initiative (also named Question 1) appeared on the 2012 state ballot and passed with 86% of the vote.[1]
Summary
The measure extends the state's right to repair laws to include telematics systems. Telematics systems contain car data that is stored outside the vehicle, and may include information that relates to navigation, gps, and mobile internet. The measure will require cars sold in Massachusetts starting with the model year 2022 to equip any cars having telematics systems with a standardized open access data platform. Independent repair shops and mechanics would, with owner permission, automatically have access to the vehicle's data to use it for diagnostics and car repair. Currently this data may only be used by manufacturer repair shops unless permission is granted.
Proponents
Supporting arguments
Supporters of the initiative argue that it would extend consumer choice in car repair sites, increasing competition and decreasing costs of car repair. Independent mechanic advocates argue that it would help support smaller and more local repair shops to be able to compete with larger manufacturer repair chains. Telematics is also a growing part of car systems, and supporters of the initiative argue it would extend right to repair to account for technological changes.[2] Opponents say this is a misleading characterization of the auto repair market, in which owners would still have choices for finding fixes.[3]
The proposal requires that access to information would pass through "an authorization process standardized across all makes and models and administered by an entity unaffiliated with the manufacturer." Opponents of the measure have not identified any basis to believe that this entity will not take advantage of data security techniques in designing the authorization process or to believe that data protection measures will be insufficient to protect the data and vehicle owner.
Opponents
Opponents of the initiative argue that it would result in cyber security risk and possibly make vehicle data more vulnerable. Several TV ads attacking the initiative have connected the data security concerns as allowing easier stalking and concerns of sexual predators.[4] Critics have cited these concerns as "[veering] into exaggeration and fear mongering".[5]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size[a] |
Margin
of error |
Yes (for the amendment) | No (against the amendment) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | October 14–21, 2020 | 713 (LV) | – | 75% | 15% | – | 11% |
| Ipsos/Spectrum News | October 7–15, 2020 | 1,001 (A) | ± 3.5% | 58% | 22% | – | 20% |
| MassInc./WBUR | August 6–9, 2020 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 57% | 31% | 0%[b] | 12% |
Results
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes
|
2,599,182 | 74.97 |
| No | 867,674 | 25.03 |
| Valid votes | 3,466,856 | 54.77 |
| Total votes | 3,658,005 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters and turnout | 4,812,909 | 76.00 |
| Source: [6] · [7] | ||
See also
- Massachusetts Right to Repair Initiative (2012)
- Massachusetts Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2020)
- Direct Democracy in Massachusetts
References
- ^ "Massachusetts Question 1, 'Right to Repair' referendum, approved by landslide". masslive. 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- ^ "Press". massrighttorepair.org. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- ^ Matt Stout (September 21, 2020). "Mass. has been pummeled by ads on Question 1. They veer into exaggeration and 'fearmongering,' experts say - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ Service, Colin A. YoungState House News. "New TV ad makes link between Mass. Question 1 and predators". The Herald News, Fall River, MA. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- ^ Matt Stout (September 21, 2020). "Massachusetts has been pummeled by ads about Question 1. They veer into exaggeration and 'fear-mongering,' experts say - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- ^ "PD43+ » 2020 - Statewide - Question 1Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives on or before May 5, 2020?". PD43+. Retrieved 17 January 2021..
- ^ "Voter Turnout Statistics". www.sec.state.ma.us. Retrieved 17 January 2021..
Further reading
- Bray, Hiawatha (October 12, 2020), "What's the tech behind Question 1?", Boston Globe
- Stout, Matt (October 14, 2020), "With Question 1, voters must navigate a high-stakes, complex industry battle, report says", Boston Globe
- Stout, Matt (November 2, 2020), "Amid auto industry battle, Question 1 is the most expensive ballot initiative in Mass. history", Boston Globe
- Stout, Matt (November 4, 2020), "Voters overwhelmingly back 'Right to Repair' ballot question, reject ranked-choice voting", Boston Globe
External links
- "19-06 Initiative Law to Enhance, Update and Protect the 2013 Motor Vehicle Right to Repair Law". Mass.gov. Retrieved October 8, 2020.