Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Office for People with Disabilities Amendment (November 2023)

Philadelphia County Question 1
Election date November 7, 2023
Topic City governance and Local charter amendments
Status Approved
Type Referral

Philadelphia County Question 1 was on the ballot as a referral in Philadelphia County on November 7, 2023. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported amending the city charter to create a permanent Office for People with Disabilities within the city government.

A "no" vote opposed amending the city charter to create a permanent Office for People with Disabilities within the city government.

Election results

Philadelphia County Question 1
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		252,788	86.51%
No		39,414	13.49%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:

“

Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create an Office for People with Disabilities to coordinate the City’s compliance with requirements to provide access for people with disabilities to City services and programs and to otherwise provide for incorporation of the Office into the City government?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney (D)
• Philadelphia Councilmember Kendra Brooks (Working Families Party)

Arguments

• Mayor Jim Kenney: "Our Administration is committed to all members of the disability community and that’s why we are grateful to make the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities a permanent part of City government. We have a better government, and a better city, when we are as inclusive as possible. And we are focused on moving beyond compliance as we prioritize accessibility and inclusion of all residents, employees and visitors to Philadelphia.”
• Amy Nieves, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities: "While it has been my honor to lead the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities professionally, as a disabled neurodivergent with deafness, this legislation is also personal. There is much work to do, but today marks a historic moment that this work will be embedded in our city charter going forward and our office will become a permanent office within the city of Philadelphia to better serve our community.”
• Vicki Landers, Founder and Executive Director of Disability Pride Philadelphia: "We are pleased at the progress being made in the city towards access and inclusion. This resolution says the city is ready to truly engage with 17% of its constituents. The next step is a real budget to staff the office to reflect to the large number of the disability population. Congrats to Amy for the hard work and commitment! Thank you to City Council for standing behind the disability community.”
• Philadelphia Councilmember Kendra Brooks: "Making sure that every Philadelphian can participate in community, in culture, and in the life of our city is not just our moral obligation but our legal obligation. By submitting this charter change to voters, we acknowledge the work that still needs to be done, and we affirm our commitment to making Philadelphia accessible for everyone."

Opposition

Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.

Background

Philadelphia Mayor's Office on People with Disabilities

Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney (D) established the Mayor's Office on People with Disabilities (MOPD) in September 2017 through Executive Order 7-17. The office included the Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities. Both were housed under the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Path to the ballot

The Philadelphia City Council passed the charter amendment in a unanimous vote, thereby referring it to the ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Pennsylvania

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Pennsylvania.

How to vote in Pennsylvania

Poll times

In Pennsylvania, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Pennsylvania, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election, a resident of the district in which he or she is registering for at least 30 days before the next election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election. The deadline for registering to vote is 15 days before the election. Registration can be done online, in person, or by mail. Prospective voters can register in person at the county voter registration office or at a number of state agencies, including Pennsylvania Department of Transportation centers. The Pennsylvania voter registration application is available online and can be mailed to the county voter registration office. On September 19, 2023, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) announced that the state had implemented automatic voter registration.

Automatic registration

Pennsylvania practices automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Pennsylvania implemented an online voter registration system in 2015. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Pennsylvania does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must be residents of the district in which they are registering for at least 30 days before the next election.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Pennsylvania does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Pennsylvania Department of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Pennsylvania does not generally require voters to present identification while voting. However, a voter who is voting at a polling place for the first time must present identification.

Voters can present the following forms of identification. This list was current as of October 2024. Click here to ensure you have current information.

“

Approved forms of photo identification include: Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card ID issued by any Commonwealth agency ID issued by the U.S. Government U.S. passport U.S. Armed Forces ID Student ID Employee ID If you do not have a photo ID, you can use a non-photo identification that includes your name and address. Confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government Firearm permit Current utility bill Current bank statement Current paycheck Government check

”

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2023
• City governance on the ballot

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas