Ads for Question 1 causing confusion

NEW BEDFORD, Mass.—Ballot initiatives in two border states are making for voter confusion.

That’s because Question 1 in Massachusetts is not the same as Question 1 in Rhode Island, but you wouldn’t know that from commercials blanketing both states.

When Massachusetts voters head to the polls in November, they’ll see number of questions on the ballot, including Question 1—a proposal to eliminate the state’s income tax.

The Coalition Against Poverty is urging people to vote “no” on the proposal.

“If we eliminate the state income tax, we’re going to eliminate 40 percent of the state budget. We’re going to have negative impacts on everybody in the state,“ said Missy Gilbarg, of the Coalition Against Poverty.

Conservative talk show host Ken Pittman said a “yes” vote on the ballot question would send a strong message to lawmakers on Beacon Hill.

“I’m for people voting to get rid of the income tax as a symbolic statement that the boss has spoken. At least hear our words, which is something that rarely takes place in Boston,“ Pittman said.

Television ads for the Massachusetts ballot question have created confusion in Rhode Island, which has its own ballot Question 1.

In Rhode Island, Question 1 asks voters to approve $87 million in transportation bonds to fund bridge, road and repair projects.

Rhode Island transportation officials said the Massachusetts television ads blasting the Bay State’s ballot Question 1 need to be clearer as to which state is being targeted.

“They talk about Question 1. They don’t mention what Question No. 1 is. They just tell people they should vote ‘no’ for it. But they don’t mention the state,“ said RIDOT chief engineer Kazem Farhoumand.

The Coalition Against Poverty is a member of the organization Coalition for Our Communities, which created the ad.

“It is obviously something that we’ll bring back to the coalition now that there’s some confusion out there and make sure that Massachusetts residents know that we’re talking about them,“ Gilbarg said.

A spokesman for Coalition for Our Communities said it was not the organization’s intention to make the ads confusing and that new ads that are clearer are already in the works.