Pennsylvania 2021 ballot measures
- Election date: 11/2/2021
- Registration deadline(s): 10/18/2021
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Start of early voting: N/A
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): 11/2/2021 (postmarked)
- Voter ID: No ID
- Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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In 2021, four statewide ballot measures appeared on the ballot for May 18, 2021, in Pennsylvania. All four were approved.
On the ballot
May 18, 2021:
| Type | Name | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Question 1 | Legislature | Empowers the legislature to extend or terminate a emergency declaration by resolution | 
|
| LRCA | Question 2 | Executive | Addresses the governor's emergency powers, including requiring legislative approval to continue beyond 21 days |
|
| LRCA | Question 3 | Constitutional | Prohibits denial or abridgement of rights on account of an individual's race or ethnicity |
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| LRSS | Question 4 | Budgets | Expands the state's loan program to volunteer fire companies to municipal fire companies and EMS service nonprofits |
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Getting measures on the ballot
Citizens
In Pennsylvania, citizens do not have the power to initiate statewide initiatives or referendums. As of 2021, voters of Pennsylvania had never voted on a ballot measure to authorize a statewide initiative and referendum process.
Legislature
The Pennsylvania State Legislature can refer statewide ballot measures, in the form of constitutional amendments, to the ballot in odd-numbered years and even-numbered years. The Pennsylvania Constitution requires a simple majority vote (50%+1) in each legislative chamber during two successive legislative sessions to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 102 votes in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Pennsylvania State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The state legislature can refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot in just one legislative session with a two-thirds vote of each chamber when a major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the state, according to the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Historical facts
- See also: List of Pennsylvania ballot measures
In Pennsylvania, voters last rejected a ballot measure, titled Question 2, in 1993. Question 2 was a bond measure that would have authorized $25 million in bonds to compensate service members involved in the Persian Gulf Conflict. The last time that a constitutional amendment was rejected in 1989. The defeated constitutional amendment related to real estate tax rates and personal income tax rates.
Between 1995 and 2019, the following occurred:
- A total of 18 measures appeared on statewide ballots.
- An average of one measure appeared on odd-year ballots.
- The number of measures appearing on statewide ballots ranged from zero to three.
- Voters approved 100 percent (18 of 18) of statewide ballot measures.
| Legislatively referred constitutional amendments, 1995-2019 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Approved | Percent approved | Defeated | Percent defeated | Odd-year average | Odd-year median | Odd-year minimum | Odd-year maximum | |
| 18 | 18 | 100.0% | 0 | 0.00% | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 3 | |
Local ballot measures
- See also: Pennsylvania 2021 local ballot measures
Voters in Philadelphia decided four charter amendments on November 2, 2021.
Voters in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and Philadelphia decided three local ballot measures in two cities on May 18, 2021. The measures include two law enforcement initiatives to ban solitary confinement in the Allegheny County Jail and ban the use of no-knock warrants by Pittsburgh police.
Click here to read more.
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Lieutenant Governor Selection Amendment | Exec | Provides that candidates for governor pick their lieutenant governor candidate for general election ticket | 
|
| LRCA | Eliminate Separate Ballot Requirement for Judicial Retention Elections Amendment | Elections | Eliminates the separate-ballot requirement for judicial retention elections |
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| LRCA | No-Excuse Absentee Voting Amendment | Elections | Removes excuses needed for absentee voting from state constitution |
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| LRCA | Districts for State Supreme, Superior, and Commonwealth Court Elections Amendment | Judiciary | Organizes the state supreme, superior, and commonwealth courts into representative districts |
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| LRCA | Childhood Sexual Abuse Retroactive Lawsuits for Two-Year Period Amendment | Trials | Creates a two-year period for legal actions arising from childhood sexual abuse that have otherwise exceeded the statute of limitations | 
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See also
External links
