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Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania ballot measures

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You can see whether Ballotpedia is covering this county's local ballot measures based on the list of counties overlapping with the largest cities, which is available here.

In 2025, Ballotpedia is covering local ballot measures that appear on the ballot for voters within the 100 largest cities in the U.S., within state capitals, and throughout California. You can review the coverage scope of the local ballot measures project here.

Ballotpedia is also covering electoral system-related ballot measures, like ranked-choice voting, outside of the largest cities.

See also: Local ballot measure elections in 2025


2025

See also: Pennsylvania 2025 local ballot measures

May 20

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Ombudsperson for Office of Homeless Services Amendment (May 2025):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported creating the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson, which would advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness, investigate client complaints, and provide oversight and recommendations to the city's homeless service providers.

A "no" vote opposed creating the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson, which would advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness, investigate client complaints, and provide oversight and recommendations to the city's homeless service providers.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 2, Increase Minimum Spending on Housing Trust Fund Purposes Amendment (May 2025):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported increasing the minimum amount that must be allocated for spending on Housing Trust Fund purposes in the city’s operating budget each year.

A "no" vote opposed increasing the minimum amount that must be allocated for spending on Housing Trust Fund purposes in the city’s operating budget each year.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 3, Prison Community Oversight Board and Office Amendment (May 2025):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported amending the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to establish an independent Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board and an Office of Prison Oversight, with the city council authorized to determine their composition, powers, and duties.

A "no" vote opposed amending the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to establish an independent Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board and an Office of Prison Oversight.


2024

See also: Pennsylvania 2024 local ballot measures

April 23

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Legal Defense of Registered Community Organizations Amendment (April 2024):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported this charter amendment to require Philadelphia to provide legal defense of Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) in connection with legal claims made against RCOs due to their direct participation in the zoning variance process.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment to require Philadelphia to provide legal defense of Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) in connection with legal claims made against RCOs due to their direct participation in the zoning variance process.


2023

See also: Pennsylvania 2023 local ballot measures

November 7

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

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.


May 16

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Division of Workforce Solutions Amendment (May 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported creating the Division of Workforce Solutions within the Department of Commerce, which duties would include providing information related to job training, skill development, and employment opportunities.

A "no" vote opposed creating the Division of Workforce Solutions within the Department of Commerce, which duties would include providing information related to job training, skill development, and employment opportunities.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 2, Budget Stabilization Reserve Amendment (May 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported expanding the requirements for annual minimum appropriations to the Budget Stabilization Reserve, including increasing the maximum amount of appropriations made from General Fund Revenue from 5% to 17%.

A "no" vote opposed expanding the requirements for annual minimum appropriations to the Budget Stabilization Reserve.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 3, Employees of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission Exempt from Civil Service Amendment (May 2023):  ✖

A "yes" vote supported allowing for employees of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission to be exempt from civil service hiring requirements.

A "no" vote opposed allowing for employees of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission to be exempt from civil service hiring requirements.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 4, Office of the Chief Public Safety Director Amendment (May 2023):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported creating the Office of the Chief Public Safety Director.

A "no" vote opposed creating the Office of the Chief Public Safety Director.


2022

See also: Pennsylvania 2022 local ballot measures

November 8

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Department of Aviation Amendment (November 2022):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported creating a Philadelphia Department of Aviation and transferring airport operation-related functions from various city agencies to the new department. 

A "no" vote opposed creating a Philadelphia Department of Aviation and transferring airport operation-related functions from various city agencies to the new department.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 2, Civil Service Examination Preferences for School District Career Technical Education Graduates Amendment (November 2022):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported providing a civil service entrance examination preference for graduates of the Philadelphia School District's Career Technical Education programs.

A "no" vote opposed providing a civil service entrance examination preference for graduates of the Philadelphia School District's Career Technical Education programs.


May 17

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Zoning Board of Adjustment Members Amendment (May 2022):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported this charter amendment to increase the size of the Zoning Board of Adjustment from five to seven members and require members to have specific qualifications.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment, thus keeping the size of the Zoning Board of Adjustment at five members and not requiring members to have specific qualifications.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 2, Remove Gender-Specific References from Charter Amendment (May 2022):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported this charter amendment to remove gender references, such as using 'he' and 'him' to describe the mayor and terms like 'policeman' and 'fireman', from the Philadelphia City Charter.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment, thus keeping gender references, such as using 'he' and 'him' to describe the mayor, in the Philadelphia City Charter.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 3, Remove Gender-Specific References from Educational Supplement Amendment (May 2022):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported this charter amendment to remove gender references, such as using 'he' and 'him' to describe the superintendent and education board president, from the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia City Charter.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment, thus keeping gender references, such as using 'he' and 'him' to describe the superintendent, in the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia City Charter.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 4, Add the Fair Housing Commission to Charter Amendment (May 2022):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported this charter amendment to add the Fair Housing Commission to the Philadelphia City Charter.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment to add the Fair Housing Commission to the Philadelphia City Charter.


2021

See also: Pennsylvania 2021 local ballot measures

November 2

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Call on State Legislature and Governor to Decriminalize Marijuana Amendment (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported amending the city's charter to call on the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor to pass a law decriminalizing, regulating, and taxing the sale of marijuana for recreational use by adults 21 years of age or older.

A "no" vote opposed amending the city charter to call on the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor to decriminalize the use of non-medical marijuana.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 2, Creation of Department of Fleet Services Amendment (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported amending the city's charter to create a Department of Fleet Services to manage all city-owned vehicles and alternative vehicle fuel programs.

A "no" vote opposed amending the city's charter to create a Department of Fleet Services, thereby maintaining the management of city-owned vehicles under the Department of Public Property, the Procurement Department, and a board, which includes the mayor, the city's finance director, and the city's managing director.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 3, Changes to Civil Service System Hiring and Promoting Practices Amendment (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported amending the city's charter to change the hiring and promoting practices of the civil service system by allowing the personnel director to decide:

  • how many applicants may appear on an eligible list for hiring and promoting decisions based on the type of job and need of the civil service system and
  • how many times a specific applicant may appear on an eligible list.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment, thereby maintaining that a department head for the civil service system must pick between the two top-scoring applicants for a particular job and limits the applicant not picked for the job to two interviews within the same department for future job openings.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 4, Require Annual Appropriation to Housing Trust Fund Amendment (November 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported amending the city charter to require an annual appropriation to the city's Housing Trust Fund equaling 0.5% of the city's General Fund appropriations.

A "no" vote opposed amending the city charter to require an annual appropriation to the city's Housing Trust Fund equaling 0.5% of the city's General Fund appropriations.


May 18

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Charter Amendment (May, 2021):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported amending the Philadelphia home rule charter to provide for an expanded Board of License Inspection Review that can hear and decide cases in three-member panels.

A "no" vote opposed amending the Philadelphia home rule charter to expand the Board of License Inspection Review, maintaining the existing three to six member limit.


2020

November 3

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Call on Police to End Unconstitutional Stop-and-Frisk Amendment (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported adding language to the Philadelphia City Charter calling on the police department to "eliminate the practice of unconstitutional stop and frisk, consistent with judicial precedent."

A "no" vote opposed adding language to the Philadelphia City Charter calling on the police department to "eliminate the practice of unconstitutional stop and frisk, consistent with judicial precedent."

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 2, Office of the Victim Advocate Amendment (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported creating an Office of the Victim Advocate.

A "no" vote opposed creating an Office of the Victim Advocate.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 3, Citizens Police Oversight Commission Amendment (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported creating a Citizens Police Oversight Commission.

A "no" vote opposed creating a Citizens Police Oversight Commission.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 4, Capital Municipal Bond Issue (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported this measure to issue $134 million in bonds for capital municipal purposes, including transit; streets and sanitation; municipal buildings; parks, recreation, and museums; and economic and community development. 

A "no" vote opposed this measure to issue $134 million in bonds for capital municipal purposes.


June 2

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Department of Labor Amendment (June 2020):  ✔

A “yes” vote supported creating the Philadelphia Department of Labor, along with a Board of Labor Standards, to administer and enforce citywide labor laws and collective bargaining agreements.

A “no” vote opposed creating the Philadelphia Department of Labor, along with a Board of Labor Standards, to administer and enforce citywide labor laws and collective bargaining agreements.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 2, Political Activities of Appointed Officials and Employees Amendment (June 2020):  ✔

A “yes” vote supported changing the city’s charter to state that appointed officers and employees can volunteer for statewide candidates.

A “no” vote opposed changing the city’s charter to state that appointed officers and employees can volunteer for statewide candidates.


2019

November 5

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter Amendment for Procurement Procedures Approveda
Philadelphia Capital Bond Issue Approveda

May 21

Question 1: Philadelphia Gender-Neutral References for City Council Charter Amendment Approveda
Question 2: Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs Charter Amendment Approveda
Question 3: Philadelphia Call on Legislature for $15 Minimum Wage Charter Amendment Approveda
Question 4: Philadelphia Public Safety Enforcement Officers Charter Amendment Approveda

2018

November 6, 2018

Philadelphia City Bond Question Approveda

May 15, 2018

Ballot Question 1: Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission Funds Charter Amendment Approveda
Ballot Question 2: Philadelphia Board of Education Independent Responsibility Charter Amendment Approveda
Ballot Question 3: Philadelphia Mandatory Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for City Employees Charter Amendment Approveda

2017

May 16, 2017

Question No. 1: Philadelphia Contracts Amendment Approveda
Question No. 2: Philadelphia Community Reinvestment Commission Amendment Approveda

November 7, 2017

Question No. 2: $172 Million Capital Bonds Approveda

2010

May 18

See also: May 18, 2010 ballot measures in Pennsylvania

Approveda Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes Abolishment (May 2010)

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