Ballot Questions

There are four questions on the ballot – three are constitutional amendments and one is a referendum. You may vote on these questions regardless of your party registration.

Constitutional Amendment Question 1

Our summary of the question:
Whether the Pennsylvania Constitution should be amended to allow the Legislature to end the Governor’s emergency powers by a majority vote.

What the Department of State chose to put on your ballot:
Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law and increase the power of the General Assembly to unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration-and the powers of Commonwealth agencies to address the disaster regardless of its severity pursuant to that declaration-through passing a concurrent resolution by simple majority, thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval?

What the Constitution would actually say, as amended:
Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, except on the questions of adjournment or termination or extension of a disaster emergency declaration as declared by an executive order or proclamation, or portion of a disaster emergency declaration as declared by an executive order or proclamation, shall be presented to the Governor and before it shall take effect be approved by him, or being disapproved, shall be repassed by two-thirds of both Houses according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.

Constitutional Amendment Question 2

Our summary of the question:
Whether the Pennsylvania Constitution should be amended to limit the Governor’s emergency declarations to 21 days unless the Legislature votes to continue an emergency declaration.

What the Department of State chose to put on your ballot:
Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law so that: a disaster emergency declaration will expire automatically after 21 days, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the General Assembly takes action to extend the disaster emergency; the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management?

What the Constitution would actually say, as amended:
§ 20. Disaster emergency declaration and management.

(a) A disaster emergency declaration may be declared by executive order or proclamation of the governor upon finding that a disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of a disaster is imminent that threatens the health, safety or welfare of this commonwealth.

(b) Each disaster emergency declaration issued by the governor under subsection (a) shall indicate the nature, each area threatened and the conditions of the disaster, including whether the disaster is a natural disaster, military emergency, public health emergency, technological disaster or other general emergency, as defined by statute. The general assembly shall, by statute, provide for the manner in which each type of disaster enumerated under this subsection shall be managed.

(c) A disaster emergency declaration under subsection (a) shall be in effect for no more than twenty-one (21) days, unless otherwise extended in whole or part by concurrent resolution of the general assembly.

(d) Upon the expiration of a disaster emergency declaration under subsection (a), the governor may not issue a new disaster emergency declaration based upon the same or substantially similar facts and circumstances without the
passage of a concurrent resolution of the general assembly expressly approving the new disaster emergency declaration.

Constitutional Amendment Question 3

Our summary of the question:
Whether the Pennsylvania Constitution should be amended to specify equal treatment under the law without regard to race and ethnicity.

What the Department of State chose to put on your ballot:
Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended by adding a new section providing that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of an individual’s race or ethnicity?

What the Constitution would actually say, as amended:
Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because of the race or ethnicity of the individual.

Referendum Question

Our summary of the question:
Whether the state’s loan program for volunteer fire and emergency medical services companies should also include fire and emergency medical services provided by local governments or companies where personnel are paid.

What the Department of State chose to put on your ballot:
Do you favor expanding the use of the indebtedness authorized under the referendum for loans to volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance services and volunteer rescue squads under 35 PA.C.S. §7378.1 (related to referendum for additional indebtedness) to include loans to municipal fire departments or companies that provide services through paid personnel and emergency medical services companies for the purpose of establishing and modernizing facilities to house apparatus equipment, ambulances and rescue vehicles, and for purchasing apparatus equipment, ambulances and rescue vehicles, protective and communications equipment and any other accessory equipment necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the fire companies and emergency medical services companies?