List of Pennsylvania ballot measures
This page provides a list of ballot measures that have appeared on the statewide ballot in Pennsylvania.
- The list is comprehensive for state ballot measures since 1958.
- Years before 1958 include a selection of measures; some years are comprehensive, while others are partial.
- HBM Factbook
- List of ballot measures by year
- Types of ballot measures
Historical Ballot Measures (HBM) Factbooks
The inventory of statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the state historical ballot measure factbooks.
List of ballot measures by year
Measures are listed in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent and upcoming elections appearing first. Tables include brief summaries, relevant topics, and the election results for each measure.
2021
See also: Pennsylvania 2021 ballot measures
May 18
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State executive powers and duties; State legislative authority; State legislative processes and sessions | Allows legislature to pass a resolution by a simple majority to extend or terminate the governor's emergency declaration |
| 1,165,851 (52%) | 1,074,205 (48%) | |
| Question 2 | State executive powers and duties; State legislative authority; State legislative processes and sessions | Limits the governor's emergency declaration to 21 days unless the legislature votes to extend the declaration |
| 1,174,528 (52%) | 1,085,371 (48%) | |
| Question 3 | Constitutional rights; Race and ethnicity issues | Adds constitutional language for equal rights regardless of race or ethnicity |
| 1,629,889 (72%) | 624,205 (28%) | |
| Question 4 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Expands the state's fire department loan program to include municipal fire companies and EMS services |
| 1,629,773 (73%) | 606,147 (27%) |
2019
See also: Pennsylvania 2019 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marsy's Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment | Crime victims' rights; Criminal trials | The Pennsylvania Marsy's Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment is on the ballot in Pennsylvania as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2019. |
| 1,765,384 (74%) | 620,104 (26%) |
2017
See also: Pennsylvania 2017 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allow Local Taxing Authorities to Exempt Full Value of Homestead Amendment | Property tax exemptions; Local government finance and taxes; Homestead tax exemptions | 2017 measures November 7, 2017{{#Dpl:|category = Pennsylvania 2017 ballot measures, certified|category = State Ballot Measure, November 7, 2017|skipthispage=no|include = {Ballot box}:state, {Ballot box}:official title|format = |secseparators = ,, ,}} |
|
2016
See also: Pennsylvania 2016 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judicial Retirement Age Amendment | Judicial term limits; Age limits for officials |
| 2,541,601 (51%) | 2,432,670 (49%) |
April 26
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 2 | State judiciary |
| 1,448,141 (60%) | 978,618 (40%) |
2008
See also: Pennsylvania 2008 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Infrastructure Bond Measure | Bond issues | authorize the state to incur $400 million in debt in order to give loans and grants to municipalities for water and sewer projects |
| 2,879,592 (62%) | 1,744,555 (38%) |
2006
See also: Pennsylvania 2006 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persian Gulf Veterans' Compensation Fund Bond Measure | Veterans policy; Bond issues | issue $20 million in bonds to compensate veterans for service in the Persian Gulf Conflict |
| 2,074,692 (61%) | 1,317,051 (39%) |
2005
See also: Pennsylvania 2005 ballot measures
May 17
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environment, Open Space, and Mine Remediation Bond Measure | Environment; Bond issues | issue $625 million in bonds for environmental projects |
| 725,308 (61%) | 472,290 (39%) |
2004
See also: Pennsylvania 2004 ballot measures
April 27
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Bond Measure | Drinking water systems; Bond issues; Sewage and stormwater | issue $250 million in bonds for the construction, expansion, and improvement of water and wastewater infrastructure |
| 725,970 (63%) | 426,043 (37%) |
2003
See also: Pennsylvania 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Civil and criminal trials; Constitutional wording changes; Constitutional rights | amend the state constitutional language to match that of the United States Constitution providing that a person accused of a crime has the right to be "confronted with the witnesses against him," instead of the right to "meet the witnesses face to face," therefore allowing witnesses to testify without being physically present with the accused person |
| 1,239,356 (68%) | 578,031 (32%) | |
| Question 2 | Civil and criminal trials | allow the state legislature to provide laws concerning the testimony of children in criminal proceedings, including using videotaped depositions and closed-circuit television testimony |
| 1,494,261 (81%) | 360,283 (19%) |
2002
See also: Pennsylvania 2002 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Bond Measure | Bond issues | issue $100 million in bonds for a volunteer fire and volunteer emergency services program |
| 1,833,795 (73%) | 691,319 (27%) |
2001
See also: Pennsylvania 2001 ballot measures
May 15
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State legislative elections; Residency voting requirements | Require that an election be held at the next general election for a state Senate district, regardless of whether the district is scheduled for an election based on the four-year term, if the incumbent is no longer a resident of the district following legislative redistricting |
| 528,989 (61%) | 341,800 (39%) | |
| Question 2 | Judicial term limits; State judiciary oversight; Age limits for officials | change the mandatory judicial retirement age date from the day that a judge turns 70 to the last day of the year in which a judge turned 70 |
| 618,441 (68%) | 297,434 (32%) |
1998
See also: Pennsylvania 1998 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Resolution 1 | Civil and criminal trials | disallow bail when the proof is evidence or presumption great that the accused committed an offense for which the maximum penalty is life imprisonment |
| 1,620,567 (73%) | 601,463 (27%) | |
| Joint Resolution 2 | Criminal trials; Jury rules | give the commonwealth the right to a jury in criminal cases |
| 1,496,894 (69%) | 684,204 (31%) |
1997
See also: Pennsylvania 1997 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Taxes; Property | create a property tax homestead exclusion |
| 1,240,406 (61%) | 778,105 (39%) | |
| Question 2 | Criminal sentencing; State executive powers and duties | make changes to board of pardons |
| 1,182,067 (59%) | 811,701 (41%) | |
| Question 3 | Absentee and mail voting | allow absentee voting for people who are away from their residences |
| 1,301,638 (65%) | 686,518 (35%) |
1995
See also: Pennsylvania 1995 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Proceedings and Criminal Defendant Rights Amendment | Criminal trials | Make changes to criminal defendant rights and criminal proceedings in state constitution |
| 1,176,652 (75%) | 400,727 (25%) |
1993
See also: Pennsylvania 1993 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and Libraries Bond Measure | Environment; Bond issues; Parks, land, and natural area conservation | issue $50 million in bonds for parks, wildlife habitats, historic sites, zoos, and public libraries |
| 1,023,834 (64%) | 576,169 (36%) |
May 18
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State judiciary | create a judicial conduct board |
| 1,018,318 (83%) | 208,187 (17%) | |
| Question 2 | Bond issues; Veterans policy | issue $25 million in bonds for veteran compensation and memorial |  | 429,728 (34%) | 821,415 (66%) |
1992
See also: Pennsylvania 1992 ballot measures
April 28
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stormwater, Water Quality, and Sewage Bond Measure | Bond issues; Drinking water systems; Sewage and stormwater | issue $350 million for water supply, stormwater, and sewage plant projects |
| 866,552 (65%) | 457,881 (35%) |
1990
See also: Pennsylvania 1990 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Bond issues; Prison and jail funding | issue bonds to repair, expand, construct, reconstruct and rehabilitate county prisons |
| 1,346,264 (58%) | 955,384 (42%) | |
| Question 2 | Bond issues | issue loans to volunteer fire companies |
| 1,854,826 (79%) | 486,896 (21%) |
1989
See also: Pennsylvania 1989 ballot measures
May 16
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replace Residential Property Tax Revenue with Income Tax Revenue Amendment | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Taxes | authorize classes of local governments to reduce residential property tax rates to the extent of additional revenue generated by personal income taxes | | 514,317 (25%) | 1,538,732 (75%) |
1988
See also: Pennsylvania 1988 ballot measures
April 26
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Supply Bond Measure | Sewage and stormwater; Drinking water systems; Bond issues | issue loans to improve water supply and sewage treatment systems |
| 888,120 (76%) | 276,735 (24%) |
1987
See also: Pennsylvania 1987 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Agriculture policy; Bond issues | issue $100,000,000 for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements |
| 1,172,483 (67%) | 575,330 (33%) |
1985
See also: Pennsylvania 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Absentee and mail voting | Make changes related to absentee voting |
| 912,845 (68%) | 434,516 (32%) | |
| Question 2 | Veterans policy | create a property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a veteran who was disabled while serving in the military |
| 1,075,121 (79%) | 290,795 (21%) |
1984
See also: Pennsylvania 1984 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Property; Taxes | make uniform special real property tax provisions applicable to taxpayers |
| 1,499,771 (57%) | 1,132,296 (43%) | |
| Question 2 | Criminal trials | amend the state constitution to allow the use of a suppressed voluntary admission or voluntary confession in criminal trials |
| 1,542,142 (59%) | 1,076,343 (41%) |
April 10
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Bond issues | authorize $190 million in bonds for economic redevelopment programs |
| 726,742 (64%) | 417,351 (36%) |
1982
See also: Pennsylvania 1982 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | use funds to repair, reconstruct and rehabilitate personal care boarding homes |
| 1,371,930 (64%) | 774,178 (36%) |
1981
See also: Pennsylvania 1981 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Ports and harbors; Bond issues; Flood infrastructure and management; Water storage; Drinking water systems | use loans to repair, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, extend and improve water supply systems |
| 1,054,329 (64%) | 588,669 (36%) | |
| Question 2 | Bond issues | use loans for volunteer companies to establish or modernize facilities and equipment |
| 1,188,191 (72%) | 462,950 (28%) | |
| Question 3 | Redistricting policy | amend the state constitution to establish a Legislative Reapportionment Commission after each decennial census |
| 823,948 (57%) | 625,700 (43%) | |
| Question 4 | Public employee retirement funds | amend the state constitution to authorize the legislature to extend increased pension benefits to the spouse of the pensioner | | 618,857 (40%) | 928,699 (60%) | |
| Question 5 | Taxes | Require proceeds from aviation fuel excise taxes only be appropriated for purposes related to air navigation, such as construction, operation and maintenance of air navigational facilities, and property tax reimbursement |
| 762,491 (52%) | 714,434 (48%) |
1979
See also: Pennsylvania 1979 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State judiciary | authorize an increase to the number of judges of the Superior Court, make changes to judges' initial terms, and provide for the selection of the president judge of the Superior Court |
| 793,474 (53%) | 703,736 (47%) | |
| Question 2 | State judiciary | provide that the procedures for retention elections applied to justices and judges also apply to justices of the peace | | 730,122 (49%) | 754,755 (51%) |
1978
See also: Pennsylvania 1978 ballot measures
May 16
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State executive elections | Provide that the state attorney general be elected by voters |
| 1,017,830 (83%) | 206,528 (17%) | |
| Question 2 | State judicial selection | Provide for terms for filling vacancies in the offices of justice, judge, or justice of the peace |
| 1,000,662 (84%) | 192,059 (16%) |
1977
See also: Pennsylvania 1977 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Taxes; Veterans policy | extend property tax exemptions already given to certain disabled veterans to all residents of Pennsylvania who served the United States in any war or armed conflict and who have a related 100% disability according to the U.S. Veterans Administration |
| 1,189,626 (77%) | 360,211 (23%) | |
| Question 2 | State legislatures measures | allow the state legislature, by a two-thirds vote, to enact special emergency legislation to make appropriations required for federal emergency or major disaster relief, applicable retroactively to 1976 or 1977 |
| 1,066,563 (71%) | 428,388 (29%) |
1976
See also: Pennsylvania 1976 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonds for Volunteer Fire, Ambulance, and Rescue Squad Loans Measure | Bond issues | issue $10 million in bonds for loans to volunteer fire companies, ambulance services, and rescue squads |
| 1,408,284 (72%) | 537,692 (28%) |
1975
See also: Pennsylvania 1975 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Assistance for Flood Damages Amendment | Revenue allocation; Flood infrastructure and management | provide for tax rebates, credits, exemptions, and grants for individuals, corporations, associations, and nonprofit institutions, and private schools, to "alleviate the danger, damage, suffering, or hardship" caused by great storms or floods of 1974 or 1975. |
| 1,241,622 (68%) | 595,254 (32%) |
May 20
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Confirmation of Vacancy Appointees Amendment | State legislative vote requirements; State legislative processes and sessions | To require the state Senate to confirm a governor's appointee to fill a vacancy by a majority or two-thirds vote (as provided by law) within 25 legislative days |
| 937,249 (82%) | 209,026 (18%) |
1974
See also: Pennsylvania 1974 ballot measures
May 24
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Home Repairs Bond Measure | Bond issues | Issue $100 million in bonds through loans to provide for reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repairs to nursing homes to comply with state and federal safety standards. |
| 924,566 (75%) | 301,918 (25%) |
1973
See also: Pennsylvania 1973 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Veterans policy; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | increase state debt pursuant to the Vietnam Conflict Veterans' Compensation Act from fifty-five million dollars ($55,000,000) to sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,00). |
| 1,143,147 (67%) | 557,820 (33%) | |
| Question 2 | State judiciary | allow courts of common pleas, with the approval from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, to initiate criminal proceedings by information, without grand jury indictment |
| 897,295 (62%) | 552,797 (38%) |
May 15
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Agriculture policy; Taxes | allow for legislation for establishing "standards, qualifications and special tax provisions" for agriculture land and reserves |
| 803,173 (71%) | 325,952 (29%) |
1972
See also: Pennsylvania 1972 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Assistance for 1971-1972 Flood Damage Amendment | Revenue allocation; Flood infrastructure and management | allow the legislature to provide tax rebates, credits, exemptions, grants-in-aid, state supplementations or special provisions for damage that resulted from the storms or floods of September 1971 and June 1972 |
| 1,711,509 (71%) | 686,792 (29%) |
1971
See also: Pennsylvania 1971 ballot measures
May 18
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Jury rules; Civil trials | require a five-sixths jury in civil cases |
| 833,283 (66%) | 423,606 (34%) | |
| Question 2 | Constitutional rights; Sex and gender issues | add language to the state constitution to prohibit the denial or abridgment of rights on account of an individual's sex |
| 783,441 (63%) | 464,882 (37%) | |
| Question 3 | Constitutional rights; Environment | add environmental rights to the state constitution |
| 1,021,342 (80%) | 259,979 (20%) | |
| Question 4 | County and municipal governance; Salaries of government officials | allow a county officer's salary or emoluments to be increased or decreased during the officer's term if a change in county classification requires it | | 567,472 (46%) | 656,603 (54%) | |
| Question 5 | State legislatures measures | allow a legislator to resign to take a civil office if the office wasn't created during the legislator's term or the position's emoluments weren't increased during the legislator's term | | 487,976 (40%) | 741,458 (60%) |
1970
See also: Pennsylvania 1970 ballot measures
May 19
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injured Veteran Compensation Bond Measure | Veterans policy; Bond issues | issue $27 million in bonds to compensate veterans for injuries |
| 775,346 (77%) | 233,175 (23%) |
1969
See also: Pennsylvania 1969 ballot measures
May 20
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appointed Judges and Retention Elections Amendment | State judicial selection | change the system for selecting judges | | 624,453 (49%) | 643,960 (51%) |
1968
See also: Pennsylvania 1968 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Conflict Veteran's Compensation Bond Measure | Veterans policy; Bond issues | issue $28 million in bonds to provide compensation to Vietnam War veterans |
| 2,077,634 (76%) | 640,627 (24%) |
April 23
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convention Proposal 5 | Taxes; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | require reimbursement of local taxing authorities for certain tax exemptions |
| 882,116 (54%) | 763,745 (46%) | |
| Convention Proposals 1 and 2 | State legislatures measures; Redistricting policy | set the size of the state legislature and create an apportionment commission |
| 1,063,603 (65%) | 583,091 (35%) | |
| Convention Proposals 3 and 4 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | create a borrowing limit based on tax revenues, budgeting, financial planning, auditing and related matters |
| 1,022,706 (62%) | 614,110 (38%) | |
| Proposal 6 | County and municipal governance | make changes to constitutional provisions related to local government |
| 986,855 (61%) | 633,323 (39%) | |
| Proposal 7 | State judiciary | create a unified judicial system under the administration of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court |
| 910,855 (56%) | 729,845 (44%) |
1967
See also: Pennsylvania 1967 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Civil service | allow the state legislature to pass laws providing that disputes between public employers and policemen and firemen shall be settled by panels and that the panel's findings are binding |
| 1,396,312 (77%) | 409,534 (23%) |
May 16
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State constitutional conventions | propose holding a constitutional convention to revise four sections of the state constitution concerning the state judiciary, local government, state government finance, and redistricting |
| 1,140,931 (62%) | 703,576 (38%) | |
| Question 2 | Constitutional rights; Constitutional wording changes | amend the Declaration of Rights; to prohibit the denial of any civil right; to repeal the constitutional provision prohibiting emigration from the state; to revise constitutional language in sections concerning the creation of special criminal tribunals and prohibiting forfeiture of estates |
| 1,232,575 (66%) | 638,365 (34%) | |
| Question 3 | State legislatures measures | provide that the General Assembly shall hold continuous two-year terms; to allow the state legislature to call itself into a special session upon a majority vote; to prohibit members of the legislature and state employees from holding any other state or federal office that has a salary, fee or other prerequisite |
| 1,249,914 (68%) | 600,157 (32%) | |
| Question 4 | Constitutional wording changes; State legislatures measures | amend constitutional provisions regarding the procedures, duties, and powers of the state legislature; remove limitation on municipality classifications and restrict state legislative powers over local legislation; and create a competitive bidding process for state purchases |
| 1,233,709 (67%) | 621,381 (33%) | |
| Question 5 | State executive branch structure; State executive elections | Provide that the governor and lieutenant governor be elected jointly; to remove references to the Secretary of the Commonwealth and Secretary of Internal Affairs from the state constitution; to change the composition of the Board of Pardons; to limit the State Treasurer's eligibility for the office of Auditor General |
| 1,221,773 (66%) | 628,011 (34%) | |
| Question 6 | Residency voting requirements; Absentee and mail voting | reduce residency requirements for registering to vote and voting from one year to 90 days; to allow the state legislature to provide for laws concerning absentee voting |
| 1,227,214 (66%) | 638,361 (34%) | |
| Question 7 | Ballot measure process; State legislative processes and sessions | provide for an alternative method of adopting constitutional amendments during times of emergency in which amendments could be considered once by the state legislature, advertised, and submitted to state voters within one month |
| 1,198,076 (66%) | 626,711 (34%) | |
| Question 8 | Transportation; Constitutional wording changes | repeal Article 17 of the state constitution concerning railroads and canals and allow such matters to be provided for through state law |
| 1,221,907 (66%) | 629,067 (34%) | |
| Question 9 | Bond issues; Parks, land, and natural area conservation | authorize state debt of $500 million to fund land and water conservation |
| 1,163,779 (63%) | 677,808 (37%) |
1966
See also: Pennsylvania 1966 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Constitutional wording changes | move Article XVI of the state constitution to another article of the state constitution concerning private corporations |
| 1,212,790 (66%) | 636,925 (34%) | |
| Question 2 | State judiciary | allow the state legislature to require completion of a training and education course for justices of the peace and aldermen who are not licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania |
| 1,153,759 (57%) | 853,200 (43%) |
May 17
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | increase the local government debt limit |
| 610,465 (50%) | 600,434 (50%) | |
| Question 2 | Constitutional wording changes | consolidate constitutional provisions regarding public officials |
| 788,662 (65%) | 430,679 (35%) |
1965
See also: Pennsylvania 1965 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State judiciary | allow for a law empowering the state supreme court chief justice to assign former judges temporarily to courts for the disposal of business |
| 1,041,821 (75%) | 351,737 (25%) | |
| Question 2 | Taxes | exempt persons earning less than $1,000 per year from paying occupation privilege taxes |
| 1,141,176 (80%) | 292,700 (20%) |
1963
See also: Pennsylvania 1963 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Education | provide for higher education loans |
| 1,348,908 (61%) | 868,003 (39%) | |
| Question 2 | Administration of government | allow for emergency interim government seats in cases of disasters |
| 1,280,036 (61%) | 831,335 (39%) | |
| Question 3 | Parks, land, and natural area conservation; Environment; Bond issues | issue $70 million in bonds for acquisition of land for state parks, reservoirs, conservation, recreation, and historical preservation |
| 1,149,263 (53%) | 1,036,154 (47%) | |
| Question 4 | State constitutional conventions | call for a constitutional convention | | 1,106,388 (49%) | 1,148,060 (51%) |
1961
See also: Pennsylvania 1961 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Taxes | provide that refunds of taxes and fees can be paid out of a fund without appropriation |
| 1,108,506 (71%) | 449,778 (29%) | |
| Question 2 | State executive official measures | provide that the state's governor can succeed themselves (serve a second consecutive term) | | 762,569 (47%) | 847,869 (53%) | |
| Question 3 | State executive official measures | provide that the Secretary of Internal Affairs assumes office in January |
| 1,110,470 (73%) | 400,402 (27%) | |
| Question 4 | Veterans policy; Taxes | amend the state constitution to provide for a tax exemption for certain disabled veterans |
| 1,122,261 (71%) | 453,280 (29%) | |
| Question 5 | County and municipal governance | provide that a county treasurer can succeed themselves (serve a second consecutive term) | | 674,099 (43%) | 884,130 (57%) |
1959
See also: Pennsylvania 1959 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State legislatures measures | establish that the legislature shall meet each year on the first Tuesday in January and in even years address fiscal matters |
| 632,422 (53%) | 568,800 (47%) | |
| Question 2 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Education | prohibit school districts from having debts that exceed 15% of assessed value of taxable property | | 513,987 (42%) | 719,923 (58%) | |
| Question 3 | Elections and campaigns | allow a qualified voter who moves within the state within 60 days of an election to vote in their old district |
| 956,138 (77%) | 292,019 (23%) |
1958
See also: Pennsylvania 1958 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Forest Reserves Amendment | Parks, land, and natural area conservation | create standards and qualifications for private forest reserves |
| 816,160 (62%) | 502,943 (38%) |
1915
See also: Pennsylvania 1915 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Suffrage Amendment | Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | | 385,348 (47%) | 441,034 (53%) |
Types of ballot measures in Pennsylvania
- See also: Types of ballot measures in Pennsylvania
Citizen-initiated ballot measures
In Pennsylvania, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.
Legislative referrals
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on 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.
When the Legislature finds that a "major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth," a constitutional amendment can be referred to the ballot with a two-thirds vote during one legislative session.
Legislatively referred state statutes
- See also: Legislatively referred state statute
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to place a state statute on 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. Statutes require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Legislatively referred bond measures
- See also: Legislatively referred bond measure
In Pennsylvania, voter approval is required for state bond issues. Exceptions are made for bond issues designed to suppress insurrection, rehabilitate areas affected by human-made or natural disasters, and fund capital projects that do not exceed 175% of the average annual tax revenues for the previous five years.
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to place a bond issue on 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. State bond issues require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
See also
Footnotes
