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Pennsylvania 2017 ballot measures
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In 2017, one statewide ballot measure was certified for the ballot in Pennsylvania on November 7, 2017. It was approved.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Allow Local Taxing Authorities to Exempt Full Value of Homestead Amendment | Taxes | Authorizes local taxing authorities to exempt the full value of homesteads from property taxes |  |
Getting measures on the ballot
As of 2017, Pennsylvania did not provide for citizen initiatives or referendums; therefore, all statewide ballot measures were referred by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The state General Assembly may send a constitutional amendment to the ballot for voter consideration if it received a majority vote of state legislators in each chamber over two successive legislative sessions. If the state General Assembly declares that a "major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth," then a constitutional amendment may be referred by a two-thirds vote of legislators in each chamber during one legislative session.
Referred amendments must be approved by both chambers at least three months prior to the general election, making August 7, 2017, the deadline for placing measures on the ballot in 2017.
Historical facts
- See also: List of Pennsylvania ballot measures
- A total of 15 measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1996 and 2016.
- From 1996 to 2016, an average of one measure appeared annually on the ballot in Pennsylvania.
- The number of measures appearing on statewide ballots between 1996 and 2016 ranged from zero to three.
- Between 1996 and 2016, 100 percent (15 of 15) of statewide ballots were approved by voters, and none were defeated.
| Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1996-2016 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Total number | Approved | Percent approved | Defeated | Percent defeated | Annual average | Annual median | Annual minimum | Annual maximum |
| Even years | 8 | 8 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0.73 | 1.00 | 0 | 2 |
| Odd years | 7 | 7 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0.70 | 0.00 | 0 | 3 |
| All years |
15 | 15 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0.71 | 0.00 | 0 | 3 |
State profile
| Demographic data for Pennsylvania | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 12,791,904 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 44,743 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 81.6% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 11% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 3.1% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.1% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 6.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 89.2% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 28.6% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $53,599 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 15.9% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Pennsylvania. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
Pennsylvania voted for the Democratic candidate in five out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, three are located in Pennsylvania, accounting for 1.46 percent of the total pivot counties.[1]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Pennsylvania had one Retained Pivot County and two Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 0.55 and 8.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.
More Pennsylvania coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Pennsylvania
- United States congressional delegations from Pennsylvania
- Public policy in Pennsylvania
- Endorsers in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania fact checks
- More...
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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