Upcoming Ballot Questions
On the ballot in May, there are three state amendments to our PA Constitution and one referendum.
If one or more of the ballot questions is approved by a majority of the people voting on it, each amendment approved will become law.
Please know the importance of these ballot questions and how they will affect Pennsylvanians in the long run..
Up to date so far we will not know the order on the questions, please get familiar with the questions and vote accordingly…
There is one question that is a Statewide Referendum change– You can vote either yes or no
Act 2020-91 — Making Municipal Fire and Emergency Medical Services Companies eligible for loans
The purpose of the ballot question is to determine whether Pennsylvania voters authorize making municipal fire departments or companies with paid personnel and emergency medical services companies eligible to apply for loans from an already existing state loan program.
This will only expands the types of eligible loan applicants and it does not expand the reasons for which loans may be made
There are three Amended questions to the PA State Constitution
{Article 1} Prohibition against Denial or Abridgement of Equality of Rights because of Race or Ethnicity– You can vote yes or no
This will be added to Article I as an amendment:
Prohibition against denial or abridgment of equality of rights because of race and ethnicity.
Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because of the race or ethnicity of the individual.
{Article 3 Sect 9} Relating to Termination or Extension of Disaster Emergency Declarations
This will be added to Part of section 9 of Article 3 as an amendment- You can vote yes or no
Action on concurrent orders and resolutions.
Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, except on the questions of adjournment or termination or extension of a disaster emergency declaration as declared by executive order or proclamation, or portion of a disaster emergency declaration as declared by executive order or proclamation, shall be presented to the Governor and before it shall take effect to be approved by him, or being disapproved, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of both Houses according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.
{Article 4} Disaster Emergency Declaration & Management
This will be added to Article 4 as an amendment- You can vote yes or no
Disaster emergency declaration and management.
(a) A disaster emergency declaration may be declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor upon finding that a disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of a disaster is imminent that threatens the health, safety or welfare of this Commonwealth.
(b) Each disaster emergency declaration issued by the Governor under subsection (a) shall indicate the nature, each area threatened and the conditions of the disaster, including whether the disaster is a natural disaster, military emergency, public health emergency, technological disaster or other general emergency, as defined by statute. The General Assembly shall, by statute, provide for the manner in which each type of disaster enumerated under this subsection shall be managed.
(c) A disaster emergency declaration under subsection (a) shall be in effect for no more than twenty-one (21) days, unless otherwise extended in whole or part by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly.
(d) Upon the expiration of a disaster emergency declaration under subsection (a), the Governor may not issue a new disaster emergency declaration based upon the same or substantially similar facts and circumstances without the passage of a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly expressly approving the new disaster emergency declaration.