Proposed 2026 Charter Study Commission
2026 Barnstable County Charter Study Commission
Learn about the November 3, 2026 State Election ballot question and the proposed Barnstable County Charter Study Commission.
At a Glance
Ballot Question
November 3, 2026 State Election
19 Commissioners
15 elected members, plus three County Commissioners or their designees and the Speaker of the Assembly of Delegates or her designee
Review Period
Approximately 18 months
Final Report
Findings and recommendations issued to voters
Key Timeline
The Charter Study Commission ballot question appears before voters at the State Election. Voters may also vote for a Charter Study Commissioner from their town.
If the ballot question passes countywide, the Charter Study Commission will be established and the elected Charter Study Commissioners will take office as provided by law.
If established, the Commission will review the Barnstable County Charter and governmental structure and develop its findings and recommendations.
The Commission will issue a final report detailing its findings and recommendations.
Ballot Question
“Shall a charter study commission be created to study the present governmental structure of Barnstable County to consider and make findings concerning the form of government and make recommendations thereon?”
What Your Vote Means
At the November 3, 2026 State Election, there will be a question asking whether to create an elected Charter Study Commission. State law requires the election of Charter Study Commissioners to occur at the same election as the ballot question.
Additionally, in each of the 15 towns in Barnstable County, there will be the opportunity to elect a Charter Study Commissioner. Regardless of how you vote on the question of whether to create an elected Charter Study Commission, you may vote for election of a Charter Study Commissioner. Candidates for Charter Study Commissioner will only take office if the ballot question passes countywide.
Yes
Creates the Charter Study Commission.
No
Does not create the Charter Study Commission.
What Is a Charter Study Commission?
The Charter Study Commission would be a 19-member, nonpartisan body consisting of 15 elected members—one from each Barnstable County town—along with three County Commissioners or their designees and the Speaker of the Assembly of Delegates or her designee.
Each representative will not have an equal vote on the Commission but instead each representative's vote will be based on the population of the town that the representative represents.
The Commission would review the Barnstable County Charter and governmental structure, make findings and recommendations, and issue a final report to voters.
Are Charter Study Commissioners Paid?
No. Members of the proposed Charter Study Commission would serve without compensation.
Does the County Establish the Rules and Procedures for the Charter Review?
No. The structure, process, and procedures governing municipal and county charter study commissions are established by the Home Rule Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution and applicable state law, rather than independently determined by Barnstable County.
Why Is This on the Ballot?
The Barnstable County Commissioners voted to place on the ballot at the November 3, 2026 State Election the question of whether to create an elected Charter Study Commission. The Charter Study Commission would be tasked with responsibility to review the current structure of Barnstable County government and recommend, at the sole discretion of the Commission, potential revisions to the County Charter, including changes that could make fundamental and wholesale changes to the form of county government, and, thereby, to the County government.
Charter Study Commissioner Election
One Charter Study Commissioner will be elected from each of Barnstable County's 15 towns at the November 3, 2026 State Election.
The election of Charter Study Commissioners takes place at the same election as the ballot question. Voters may vote for a Charter Study Commissioner regardless of how they vote on the ballot question. Candidates elected as Charter Study Commissioners will only take office if the ballot question to create the Commission passes countywide.
Historical Context
- Over the years, elected officials, civic leaders, and community organizations have expressed interest in reviewing and evaluating Barnstable County government and its governing charter.
- In 2025, the Assembly of Delegates convened a Charter Review Committee as part of the Charter's required periodic review process.
- Citing the need for broader public involvement in reviewing the existing Barnstable County Home Rule Charter, the Board of Regional Commissioners voted to request that the Secretary of the Commonwealth initiate the process for a Charter Study Commission. As a result, the question will appear on the November 3, 2026 State Election ballot.
Learn More About Home Rule and Charter Commissions
The information below provides additional background on Home Rule, charter commissions, and charter review processes in Massachusetts. These resources are provided for educational purposes and are not specific to the proposed Barnstable County Charter Study Commission.
The Home Rule Amendment (Article LXXXIX) to the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted in 1966, provides cities and towns with authority to adopt, revise, or amend local charters through procedures established by state law. The amendment was intended to provide greater local control over governmental organization and administration while preserving certain powers for the Commonwealth.
The Home Rule Amendment is implemented through the Massachusetts Home Rule Procedures Act (M.G.L. Chapter 43B), which establishes processes for charter adoption, revision, amendment, and charter commissions.
Learn More https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution
Elected charter commissions have been used by communities throughout Massachusetts to study local government structure, evaluate how government functions, and recommend potential changes to voters. A charter commission typically conducts research, holds public meetings, gathers community input, and issues findings and recommendations before any proposed changes are considered by voters.
While the proposed Barnstable County Charter Study Commission would operate under legislation specific to Barnstable County, charter commissions are a familiar part of local government review processes throughout the Commonwealth.
Many Massachusetts municipalities have used charter commissions or charter review processes to evaluate and modernize local government structures. Examples include:
- Provincetown
- Harwich
- Billerica
- Hudson
- Methuen
- Palmer
- Seekonk
- Southbridge
- Winthrop
These efforts have addressed topics such as governmental organization, elected offices, administrative structure, and local decision-making processes.
The Home Rule Procedures Act (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 43B) establishes the legal framework for how Massachusetts communities may adopt, revise, or amend local charters. The law also outlines the process for creating charter commissions and conducting charter reviews.
Residents interested in learning more about charter commissions and local government organization in Massachusetts may review Chapter 43B of the Massachusetts General Laws.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter43B
If you would like to learn more about the Barnstable County Charter or review previous Charter Review efforts, the following resources are available:
Contact Information
For additional information, contact:
Robin Young
Barnstable County Government Regional Clerk
Phone: (508) 375-6648
Email: [email protected]
You may also contact your local Municipal Town Clerk or the Elections Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
