Read background on the ballot question for voters in the City of Pittsburgh in the 2026 Primary. - League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh

Home2026 Ballot Questions

2026 Ballot Questions
for residents of Allegheny County

May 19, 2026 -Primary Election

Will there be ballot questions on my Primary ballot?

City of Pittsburgh voters will have 1 question on their ballots. The question is explained below. Because there is a ballot question, you may vote in the Primary even if you are not registered as a Republican or Democrat. Any voter who registered with a "third party" or with no party will receive a "non-partisan ballot" when they go to their polling place or request a mail-in ballot. This non-partisan ballot will show just the ballot question - no candidates.

Voters in other municipalities in Allegheny County, will not have any ballot questions. Only registered Democrats and Republicans will be able to vote in the Primary.

See our Primary Basics page for more information about voting in Pennsylvania's closed primary.

2026 Election Pages:

City of Pittsburgh Ballot Question
Every voter in the City of Pittsburgh can vote on this question:

Proposed Amendment to Public Hearing Notice Requirements

"Shall the City of Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter, Article Three, Legislative Branch, be amended by changing public hearing notice requirements to adjust for public hearing notice requirements in light of changes in the public consumption of newspapers of general circulation and increased use of digital media?"

Explanation

What would the proposed ordinance do?

If passed this amendment would change language in the Home Rule Charter that requires the City of Pittsburgh to post notice of public hearings in a "newspaper".

Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter
Article 3, Section 319

"Council shall not take final action on ... legislation without a public hearing which shall be held not less than ten days following public notice published in a newspaper circulated generally in the City"

Proposed additional language

"...or if no newspaper exists, via successor media that reasonably ensures public access, including the City's official website and a digital news publication of general circulation."

Right now, City Council is required to give the public 10 days notice before taking final action on many types of legislation, including tax and salary changes, zoning and land use planning, and creation of new city agencies. The new language would would allow the city to meet this requirement by publishing notice on their website or in digital news outlets in the absence of a widely circulated, local newspaper.

Background

Historically, City Council has fulfilled its public notice requirement by posting notice of public hearings in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. More recently, these notices have also been published in the Tribune Review and the New Pittsburgh Courier.

In early 2026, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced that it would close in May. While this closure has now been reversed, the proposed closure prompted City Council to consider overall changes in news and media consumption, and the most effective ways to reach citizens with notice of public hearings. City Council voted to add language allowing for the City of Pittsburgh's website and other digital news outlets to fulfill public notice requirements.

City Council passed the measure placing this question on the ballot unanimously.

Countywide Ballot Questions? Not this time

You may have heard that the County Council passed a resolution to add ballot questions about term limits for many Allegheny County elected officials. These questions will be on your ballot in November and not on the Primary ballot.

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