2019 Pennsylvania Marsy's Law Amendment

2019 Pennsylvania Marsy's Law Amendment
November 5, 2019
UNCERTIFIED RESULTS - Marsy's Law Amendment
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 1,765,384 74.01%
No 620,104 25.99%

In 2019, Pennsylvania voters decided on a state-level constitutional amendment to guarantee crime victims more legal rights, in a model named Marsy's Law. Over 74% voted in favor, but following a lawsuit which successfully argued that the amendment contained more than one topic, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania declared that the results could not be certified.

Background

Legislation for Amendment

Senate Bill 1011 (SB 1011) of the 2018 legislative session, and House Bill 276 (HB 276) of the 2019 legislative session placed the amendment on the ballot.[a][2]

2018 session

SB 1011 was first voted on by the state Senate on March 21, 2018, and was agreed to in a unanimous, 50 to 0 vote.[3] However, on June 5, the State House Judiciary Committee voted 26 to 0 to adopt an amendment to the bill, which had been offered by State Rep. Ron Marsico.[4]

On June 20, the state House voted 197 to 0 to approve the bill.[5]

June 20, 2018, vote in the state House[5]
Political affiliation Voted for Voted against Not voting
Democratic Party 79 - 3
Republican Party 118 - 3
Total 197 - 6

As the bill had been amended, it was sent back to the state Senate, where on June 21, it agreed to the new version in a 48 to 0 vote.[6]

June 21, 2018, vote in the state Senate[6]
Political affiliation Voted for Voted against Not voting
Democratic Party 15 - 1
Republican Party 33 - -
Total 48 - 1

2019 session

HB276 was first voted on by the state House on April 8, 2019. This time, however, 8 representatives voted against.[7]

April 8, 2019, vote in the state House[7]
Political affiliation Voted for Voted against Not voting
Democratic Party 84 7 2
Republican Party 106 1 2
Total 190 8 4

In the state Senate, the bill received a vote on June 19, where it was passed unanimously.[8]

June 19, 2019, vote in the state Senate
Political affiliation Voted for Voted against Not voting
Democratic Party 22 - -
Republican Party 28 - -
Total 50 - -

Contents

The following title and question was shown to voters:[9]

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA

Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to grant certain rights to crime victims, including to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity; considering their safety in bail proceedings; timely notice and opportunity to take part in public proceedings; reasonable protection from the accused; right to refuse discovery requests made by the accused; restitution and return of property; proceedings free from delay; and to be informed of these rights, so they can enforce them?

() YES

() NO

Results

The following table shows the uncertified results by county of the amendment:

County Yes vote No vote Yes % No %
Adams 11,565 3,119 78.76 21.24[10]
Allegheny 177,143 77,863 69.47 30.53[11]
Armstrong 8,204 4,642 63.86 36.14[12]
Beaver 27,764 7,295 79.19 20.81[13]
Bedford 6,866 3,365 67.11 32.89[14]
Berks 56,219 16,618 77.18 22.82[15]
Blair 16,920 5,412 75.77 24.23[16]
Bradford 9,434 2,716 77.65 22.35[17]
Bucks 100,000 32,343 75.56 24.44[18]
Butler 26,352 9,956 72.58 27.42[19]
Cambria 24,561 6,455 79.19 20.81[20]
Cameron 1,200 273 81.47 18.53[21]
Carbon 10,198 2,905 77.83 22.17[22]
Centre 19,530 10,197 65.70 34.30[23]
Chester 89,892 33,305 72.97 27.03[24]
Clarion 5,386 2,716 66.48 33.52[25]
Clearfield 11,979 4,025 74.85 25.15[26]
Clinton 5,023 2,270 68.87 31.13[27]
Columbia 7,087 2,536 73.65 26.35[28]
Crawford[b] - - - -
Cumberland 37,116 13,839 72.84 27.16[29]
Dauphin 34,761 11,295 75.48 24.52[30]
Delaware 84,376 25,987 76.45 23.55[31]
Elk 6,234 1,755 78.03 21.97[32]
Erie 41,328 11,674 77.97 22.03[33]
Fayette 15,094 4,298 77.84 22.16[34]
Forest 946 306 75.56 24.44[35]
Franklin 16,212 6,288 72.05 27.95[36]
Fulton 1,696 758 69.11 30.89[37]
Greene 6,834 2,308 74.75 25.25[38]
Huntingdon 5,404 2,627 67.29 32.71[39]
Indiana 11,098 4,828 69.68 30.32[40]
Jefferson 4,544 3,047 59.86 40.14[41]
Juniata 2,941 1,322 68.99 31.01[42]
Lackawanna 31,429 10,195 75.51 24.49[43]
Lancaster 53,849 17,152 75.84 24.16[44]
Lawrence 14,055 4,021 77.76 22.24[45]
Lebanon 16,229 5,790 73.70 26.30[46]
Lehigh 38,694 13,837 73.66 26.34[47]
Luzerne 34,050 11,696 74.43 25.57[48]
Lycoming 15,447 7,850 66.30 33.70[49]
McKean[c] - - - -
Mercer 15,042 5,275 74.04 25.96[50]
Mifflin 4,735 1,850 71.91 28.09[51]
Monroe 19,509 4,025 82.90 17.10[52]
Montgomery 133,224 46,699 74.05 25.95[53]
Montour 2,419 674 78.21 21.79[54]
Northampton 36,014 13,761 72.35 27.65[55]
Northumberland 10,713 3,462 75.58 24.42[56]
Perry[d] - - - -
Philadelphia 180,019 66,531 73.02 26.98[57]
Pike 5,867 1,598 78.59 21.41[58]
Potter 2,815 1,371 67.25 32.75[59]
Schuylkill 24,012 6,691 78.21 21.79[60]
Snyder 3,810 2,063 64.87 35.13[61]
Somerset 14,140 3,949 78.17 21.83[62]
Sullivan 1,268 476 72.71 27.29[63]
Susquehanna[e] - - - -
Tioga 5,677 2,399 70.29 29.71[64]
Union 4,968 2,738 64.47 35.53[65]
Venango 6,815 2,918 70.02 29.98[66]
Warren[f] - - - -
Washington 32,015 11,651 73.32 26.68[67]
Wayne 8,192 2,095 79.63 20.37[68]
Westmoreland 55,776 19,523 74.07 25.93[69]
Wyoming 4,610 1,772 72.23 27.77[70]
York 50,307 14,413 77.73 22.27[71]
State total 1,765,384 620,104 74.01 25.99[72]

Aftermath

On October 10, 2019, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and Lorraine Haw filed a lawsuit alleging that the measure violated Pennsylvania's constitutional amendment separate-vote requirement. The basis of this argument stemmed from Article XI of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which states: "When two or more amendments shall be submitted they shall be voted upon separately." The litigation also argued the summary provided on the ballot was incomplete.[73]

On October 30, before Election Day, Judge Ellen Ceisler enjoined the acting secretary of state Kathy Boockvar from counting or certifying votes cast on the amendment, pending a final ruling.[72]

On October 31, the next day, Boockvar appealed the injunction. On November 4, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the preliminary injunction in a 4 to 3 ruling.[72]

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court

On June 10, 2020, arguments for the case were heard by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. On January 7, 2021, the court ruled 3 to 2 that the measure violated Pennsylvania's single-amendment rule.[72]

The ruling was appealed by four individuals, Shameekah Moore, Martin Vickless, Kristin June Irwin, and Kelly Williams, to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, after Gov. Tom Wolf decided to not appeal the decision.[72]

Pennsylvania Supreme Court

On September 21, 2021, arguments were heard by the court. On December 21, two months later, the court ruled 6 to 1 to upheld the Commonwealth Court's decision.[72]

References

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  2. ^ "Pennsylvania Marsy's Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment (2019)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Details for RCS No. 434". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  4. ^ "SB 1011 PN 1564 A07353". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Details for RCS No. 1343". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Senate Roll Call Vote Summary". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  7. ^ a b "House Bill 276". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Senate Roll Call Vote Summary". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
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  11. ^ "CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT". Clarity Elections. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Nov. 5, 2019 Armstrong County Municipal Election Official Results" (PDF). Armstrong County. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
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  20. ^ "2019 General Election". Cambria County, PA. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
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  23. ^ "Summary Results Report". Centre County, PA. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Cumulative Results". Chester County. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Election Summary Report" (PDF). Revize Website. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  26. ^ "SUMMARY REPORT". Clearfield County, PA. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  27. ^ "GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF RESULTS OF THE VOTE CAST AT THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019 FOR THE COUNTY OF CLINTON STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA". Clinton County, PA. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  28. ^ "SUMMARY REPT-GROUP DETAIL". Columbia County, PA. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  29. ^ "SUMMARY REPT-GROUP DETAIL". Cumberland County, PA. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  30. ^ "Municipal Election Results". Dauphin County. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  31. ^ "Delaware County, Pennsylvania Official Municipal Election 2019 Results for Aldan Borough". Delco Votes!. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  32. ^ "Summary Results Report" (PDF). County of Elk. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  33. ^ "ERIE, PA OFFICIAL FINAL 2019 MUNICIPAL GENERAL" (PDF). Erie County Council. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
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  64. ^ "Summary Results Report" (PDF). Tioga County, PA. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
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  68. ^ A worker at the Wayne County Board of Elections.
  69. ^ "Official Election Results for the Municipal Eleciton held November 5, 2019". Westmoreland County. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  70. ^ "Municipal Election NOVEMBER 5, 2019" (PDF). wyomingcountypa. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  71. ^ "Election Summary Report". York County, PA. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  72. ^ a b c d e f "Pennsylvania Marsy's Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment (2019)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  73. ^ "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA and LORRAINE HAW v. KATHY BOOCKVAR, THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH" (PDF). ACLU of Pennsylvania. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2026.

Notes

  1. ^ Pennsylvania law requires for amendments to be passed by the legislature in two consecutive legislative sessions.[1]
  2. ^ Results for the amendment could not be found for this county.
  3. ^ Results for the amendment could not be found for this county.
  4. ^ Results for the amendment could not be found for this county.
  5. ^ Results for the amendment could not be found for this county.
  6. ^ Results for the amendment could not be found for this county.
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