Question 1: Pennsylvania Legislative Resolution to Extend or Terminate Emergency Declaration Amendment - VOTE NO!

Ballot Question: 

“Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law and increase the power of the General Assembly to unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration—and the powers of Commonwealth agencies to address the disaster regardless of its severity pursuant to that declaration—through passing a concurrent resolution by simple majority, thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval?”

Reasons to Vote No: 
● This will severely limit the Governor — and any future governor — of the ability to keep our Commonwealth safe from disasters. 

● When disasters strike and lives are at stake, we do not have time to wait for 253 politicians in Harrisburg to have a political debate. We need the Governor to act quickly and decisively. 

● This amendment may undo all the progress made on mitigating the spread of COVID-19 or any other future crisis. 

● It may also leave PA as the only state in the country without an emergency plan in place for COVID-19. 
​
● Disasters are NOT political, and should NOT be subject to a political process. 

Question 2: Emergency Declarations Amendment (refers to emergency powers of the Governor) - VOTE NO!

Ballot Question: 

“Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law so that: a disaster emergency declaration will expire automatically after 21 days, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the General Assembly takes action to extend the disaster emergency; the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management?”

Reasons to Vote No: 
​● This strips the Governor — and any future governor — of the ability to keep our Commonwealth safe from disasters. 

● Disasters do not have a time limit. It is impossible to predict how or how long the impacts of a disaster will affect any one community. 

● This again subjects disaster emergency declarations to the political winds. We are all Pennsylvanians and when any Pennsylvania community is hit with a disaster, all of us share their pain. 
​
● This amendment may undo all the progress made on mitigating the spread of COVID-19 or any other future crisis. 

Question 3: Equal Rights Regardless of Race or Ethnicity Amendment - 
VOTE YES!​

 Ballot Question:  

"Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended by adding a new section providing that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of an individual’s race or ethnicity?"

Reasons to Vote Yes: 
● This amendment creates a constitutional prohibition against restricting or denying an individual’s equal rights under Pennsylvania law because of race or ethnicity. 

● This amendment applies to all Pennsylvania state, county and local governmental entities, and guarantees equality of rights under the law. 
​
● If approved, the General Assembly may pass new laws to implement the amendment, but it may not pass a law inconsistent with it. 
​