Anyone who doubts that Pennsylvania believes in the two-party system should take a crack at seeking office under the banner of any party other than the Big Two. Neither the state nor federal constitutions address the idea of two-party rule, but it is enshrined in state election rules that always have been written, not coincidentally, by Republicans and Democrats.
Not that some restrictions are a bad idea. The public, rather than the politicians alone, has an interest in keeping elections from becoming chaotic, and the government from becoming paralyzed by factionalism. There should indeed be some test of an independent candidate's viability as the means of access to the ballot.
It is quite clear, however, that the current standard in Pennsylvania needs revision. In order to be on the ballot in a statewide race, an independent must obtain nominating signatures from a number of voters equal to 2 percent of the vote total of the highest vote-getter in the most recent round of statewide elections.
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