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Pennsylvania Question 4, Pension Benefits to Spouses Amendment (1981)
| Pennsylvania Question 4 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 1981 | |
| Topic Pension | |
Status Defeated | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Pennsylvania Question 4 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Pennsylvania on November 3, 1981. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to authorize the legislature to extend increased pension benefits to the spouse of the pensioner. |
A "no" vote opposed amending the state constitution to authorize the legislature to extend increased pension benefits to the spouse of the pensioner. |
Election results
|
Pennsylvania Question 4 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 618,857 | 39.99% | ||
|
|
928,699 | 60.01% | ||
-
- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 4 was as follows:
| “ | Shall Article III, Section 26, of the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to permit the General Assembly to legislate that increases in retirement benefits or pensions payable to members of a retirement or pension system of the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, be extended to beneficiaries who are spouses of members of such system, provided that such increases are certified to be actuarially sound? | ” |
Path to the ballot
In Pennsylvania, the General Assembly must pass a constitutional amendment by a simple majority vote during two successive legislative sessions to refer the measure to the ballot for voter consideration. The legislature can also pass a measure by a two-thirds vote during one legislative session if a “major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth.”
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Pennsylvania Harrisburg (capital) |
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