Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 147, § 16C

Upon petition of not less than ten per cent of the registered voters in a city or town, duly certified by the registrars of voters and filed with the city or town clerk not less than thirty days before the regular municipal election of such city in any year, or before the annual town election of such town in any year, or if such petition is filed with the state secretary not less than ninety days before a biennial state election, the city or town clerk or the state secretary, as the case may be, shall cause to be printed upon the official ballot to be used in such city or town at such election the following question:--