Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention Question (2010)

Not on Ballot
This measure did not or will not appear on a ballot

The Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention Question, did not appear on the November 2, 2010 ballot as a legislative referral in the state of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania was in the midst of a budget crisis, according to reports, and Governor of Pennsylvania Ed Rendell is looking toward a constitutional convention question in the fall to help solve it. Rendell has been a proponent of a constitutional convention, and will try to pressure legislature to send the measure to the ballot.

If sent to the ballot and enacted by voters, the convention would not appear until 2011. According to Tim Potts, member of Democracy Rising PA, a constitutional convention could also consider altering procedures in the state legislature, which would, he believes, be beneficial in the state. According to Potts, “I'm skeptical that things will get any better in 2010 in terms of the budget. Having gone through the 2009 ordeal [with the late budget], they should be ready to try a different approach, but there is no reason to believe they will.”

Polls

See also: Polls, 2010 ballot measures

A poll was conducted by Franklin & Marshall College and released on January 26, 2010 asking multiple questions concerning elections, the state of the state and other political issues. Among the questions included was whether or not the state should have a constitutional convention. According to the results of the poll, 72 percent of those asked stated they were in support of a convention.

In the poll, 1,165 adults were surveyed, including 993 registered voters. The margin of error of the poll was plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The poll was executed during a seven day period, ending on January 24, 2010.

Date of Poll	Pollster	In favor	Opposed	Undecided	Number polled
January 24, 2010	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, WTAE-TV	72%	20%	8%	1,165

Path to the ballot

A majority vote was required (in two successive sessions of) the Pennsylvania General Assembly. However, when a "major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth", the legislature can put a proposed amendment on the ballot in just one legislative session, if they gain a 2/3rds vote on the proposed amendment.

See also

• Pennsylvania Legislature
• Pennsylvania 2010 ballot measures
• List of Pennsylvania ballot measures

Similar measures

• Iowa Constitutional Convention Question (2010)
• Maryland Constitutional Convention Question (2010)
• Michigan Constitutional Convention (2010)
• Montana Constitutional Convention Question (2010)

External links

• Voting and Elections