The appeal of the Pennsylvania ballot access lawsuit was heard at 1 PM on Monday, July 10, at the federal courthouse at 601 Market St. in Philadelphia.
The Free the Pennsylvania Three rally was held beforehand in front of 601 Market St. The Pennsylvania Three are the Constitution, Green, and Libertarian Parties, which are held to a higher standard than the Democrats and Republicans. The three minor Parties have to secure 67,000 signatures to participate in the General Election. The Democrat and Republican parties don't have to secure any signatures to participate in that same General Election. Individual major party candidates need to collect a small number of signatures to get into their Primaries, but the major parties have automatic ballot lines in the General Election.
Speaking at the rally were Ken Krawchuk, Libertarian Candidate for Governor in 2002 and a plaintiff in this suit, John Murphy, Independent candidate for the 16th Congressional district, and Marakay Rogers, Green Party candidate for Governor. Ken Krawchuk used his famous Democracy Measuring Tape to illustrate the inequities in this case.
Hearing details:
Regardless of the appeal's outcome, it is now more important than ever for Pennsylvania citizens to demand that their state representatives support a Voters' Choice Act.