Advertisement Massachusetts voters to decide 4 ballot questions Fate of casino gambling being put to voters Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The fate of casino gambling is just one of four ballot questions being put to Massachusetts voters.The questions - which also touch on expanding the state's bottle deposit law, repealing a measure related to the gas tax, and allowing workers to accrue sick time -- are getting almost as much attention as the top political races.Casinos and other supporters of expanded gambling have raised millions to defend the 2011 law, which allows Massachusetts to license up to three casinos and a single slots parlor. They say the law will create jobs and be a boon to the economy.Critics have argued that casinos harm local economies, prey on those who can least afford to gamble away their money, and lead to gambling addiction.Since the casino question - Question 3 - asks voters if they want to repeal the law, a "yes" vote is a vote against casinos and a "no" vote is a vote for casinos.On Monday, state Secretary William Galvin urged voters to take the time to read the one sentence summaries of what a "yes" and "no" vote means for each question before casting their ballot.The ballot questions appear to be helping with voter turnout, said Gary Vecchio, a precinct warden in Worcester."I think the ballot questions do a lot to bring people out," he said. "Even if they're not thrilled about the candidates, they're passionate about the issues."Voter Nicole Perrone, 47, was skeptical of claims by casino proponents. "The casinos in Connecticut are not making much money," she said. "They're promising 3,000 jobs, but if the casinos aren't making money, where will those jobs go?"In Somerville, voters expressed mixed views about the casino proposition.Peter Adams said he voted "no" to keep the casino law in place because he works in the culinary industry and the prospect of new casinos means more job opportunities in the area. But Robin McCoy, said she voted "yes" to repeal the expanded gambling law, saying she was concerned about the traffic that a new $1.6 billion Wynn resort casino in nearby Everett would bring to her city."A part of me wants it for the jobs, but I am really concerned about the traffic. It's already really bad over there," she said.In Worcester's Elm Park neighborhood, Dante Comparetto, said he voted in favor of the repeal."To me, it's a moral issue. I think Massachusetts can do better. The biggest argument for it is it's going to create jobs, but what kind of jobs? We're a knowledge-based economy, and we should be focused on that," he said.The casino question also has generated an influx of spending by casino companies.According to the most recent campaign finance reports the pro-casino group had raised nearly $12 million, much of it from casino companies. That's far more than the $675,000 raised by casino opponents.Another question that could cause some confusion is Question 1, which seeks to eliminate a law linking future increases in the state gas tax to the rate of inflation.A "yes" vote eliminates the adjustment. A "no" vote allows the future increases.The ballot committee favoring the elimination of the increases has raised about $94,000, compared to the more than $2.1 million by opponents of the question, who favor the so-called "indexing" of the gas tax to the rate of inflation.Another question that has seen millions in spending is Question 2, which would expand the state's 5-cent bottle deposit law to non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverage containers.Opponents of the question- including supermarkets and the Washington-based American Beverage Association, which lobbies for soft drink companies -- have raised nearly $8.8 million compared to the $1.5 million raised by supporters of the ballot question, including environmental groups like the Massachusetts Sierra Club.The last question -- Question 4 -- asks if workers should be entitled to accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year.A "yes" vote would entitle employees to earn and use sick time while a "no" vote would make no changes to sick time laws.Supporters, largely unions and pro-labor groups, have raised nearly $1 million.Opponents, who say the ballot question takes a one-size-fits-all approach, have raised more than $47,000.Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.