In August 2006, it is likely that all third parties will cease to exist in Pennsylvania, and the voices of their potential 2006 candidates will be silenced. Only the Green Party is expected to have a shot at gathering the 67,000+ signatures required to run a state-wide candidate (over 30 times as many signatures as required of Democrats or Republicans). Even if any independent or third party candidate does submit the required signatures, it is doubtful whether there will be enough signatures to survive a challenge. Not surprisingly, the merry band of pay-raise takers in Harrisburg has refused to pass or even consider legislation that would give more choices to Pennsylvania voters and expose the state legislature to much needed competition.
The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition is sponsoring an August 1st rally with the theme "New Choices for Pennsylvania". This rally will be on Tuesday, August 1st at noon, inside the Harrisburg Rotunda of the Main Capitol Building (at Commonwealth and Forster). This rally will mark the end of the ballot-qualification petitioning season in Pennsylvania for third party and independent candidates. All petitions are due August 1st.
Speakers for this event will include the following:
We are celebrating their voices and opinions, because they may be silenced after 8-1-06! Due to the ballot access crisis in Pennsylvania, this may be the last time they can identify themselves as candidates!!
All independents and "challenger" party candidates (but not the Democrats and Republicans) must get a certain amount of petition signatures to be included on the PA General Election ballot in November. This number varies every year in Pennsylvania, based on an arcane formula of 2% of the highest total, state-wide, from the last election. Due to an anomaly the required number this year is 67,000! The more typical number is around 25,000, which is itself unfair and extremely burdensome. This makes Pennsylvania the second worst state in the nation for ballot access, i.e. the number of choices available to voters in November. The Democratic and Republican parties don't have to collect any signatures to appear on the ballot in November, and their candidates need to collect only a small number of signatures to gain entry to their Primary Elections.
The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition has been pursuing a legislative remedy to this problem. Unfortunately, our bill, the Voter's Choice Act (VCA), based on the Delaware model, has not left the PA House State Government Committee. A separate consortium of Pennsylvania third parties and candidates have pursued a legal remedy. Having lost the initial case, their appeal was heard on July 10th in Federal Court, and they are awaiting the decision.
Therefore, this may be your last chance to hear the above candidates speak as candidates, and after 2006, you may no longer see the Green, Libertarian, and Constitution Parties listed on the voter registration form.
For further information, contact 610-543-8427.