May 18, 2026
Michael Candelori/For PhillyVoice
Philly voters will answer two ballot questions during Tuesday's primary election. The first asks whether a city-run retirement savings program should be created for certain private-sector workers. The second asks whether the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson should be made permanent.
Philadelphia voters will have two ballot questions to answer during Tuesday's primary election, in addition to making choices on various candidates running for office.
The first question asks whether Philadelphia should create a city-run retirement program for workers whose employers don't offer retirement benefits. The second asks whether the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson should become permanent. It was created during the Jim Kenney administration.
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A third ballot question would have asked voters to remove a rule requiring elected city officials to resign before running for higher offices. But it will not appear on the ballot, because City Council voted to repeal the question.
Changes to Philadelphia's Home Rule Charter, its constitution, must be made via ballot questions.
Here's are the two questions Philadelphia voters will answer Tuesday.
How the question appears on the ballot: Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of the Philadelphia Retirement Savings Board to oversee a defined contribution retirement program for the benefit of eligible private-sector workers, and to authorize City Council to determine the composition, powers and duties of the board?
Background: PhillySaves is a proposed city-run retirement program for private-sector employees whose employers don't offer retirement plans. Eligible workers automatically would be enrolled and contribute 3% to 6% of their wages to an IRA, but they can opt-out or change their contribution percentages.
A 15-member oversight board would manage the program. Four members would be selected by the city council president and four more by the mayor. The rest would be appointed by the city controller and several chambers of commerce groups.
To qualify for the program, a worker's employer must have operated for at least two years in Philadelphia and not offer any retirement benefits. Sole proprietors and self-employed residents do not qualify. The program aims to give workers in industries that don't typically offer retirement plans, like restaurants, an opportunity to save for the future.
What a "yes" vote means: The city would create a board to oversee the establishment and operations of the retirement savings plan. Contributions would only come from workers who opted in, and changes to the program can be made via City Council ordinances.
How it will appear on the ballot: Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson to improve the safety and quality of services for youth placed in juvenile justice, child welfare, and behavioral health residential care facilities, and to authorize City Council to determine additional powers and duties of the Youth Ombudsperson as needed to carry out this mission?
Background: In 2022, former Mayor Jim Kenney signed legislation creating the office, which investigates mistreatment and abuse issues for youth in residential placements and treatment facilities. It is separate from the Department of Human Services, which oversees juvenile justice programs, making it an independent authority.
Since it was established, the office and Youth Ombudsperson Tracie Johnson have monitored the safety and the quality of services offered to young people in detention, foster group homes and psychiatric facilities. But it is not a permanent office, because it's not in the Home Rule Charter, and could be removed.
What a "yes" vote means: The Office of the Youth Ombudsperson would be added to the Home Rule Charter, making it a permanent office. City Council would be able to give the office additional duties and powers through an ordinance.
