The Ward 19 Democratic Committee is holding a public forum on the controversial ballot questions for this year’s election, according to a press release.
The forum will start at 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the Nate Smith House at 155 Lamartine St.
One ballot question would legalize medical marijuana, while another question would allow terminally ill patients who have been given six months or less to live the ability to obtain lethal drugs to commit suicide.
Another question concerns automobile manufacturers being required to provide diagnostics to consumers and repair shops. But legislation recently was passed and then signed by Gov. Deval Patrick that does requires automobile manufacturers to do just that. The question, though, will remain on the ballot, but will not be discussed at the forum.
The forum will also discuss a ballot question that will be on ballots in some legislative districts. It asks if the state representative from the district should vote in favor of a resolution that calls for Congress to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.
The Citizens United ruling was a landmark 2010 decision in which the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent political donations by corporations and unions.
Another non-binding referendum on the ballot, which was backed by the Jamaica Plain-based Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, urges the U.S. Congress to tax the rich, prevent budget cuts, end the Afghanistan war and invest in jobs.