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How to Run for Political Office: A Campaign Manual for Pennsylvania Candidates
(PDF of this manual)

Chapter 4: Getting on the Ballot - Nomination Petitions and Papers

This chapter applies to primary and November elections. It does not apply to special elections held to fill unexpected vacancies created by the resignation or death of an elected official. The filing deadlines and other provisions applicable to special elections are not covered in this manual, and a candidate seeking to run in such an election should contact his or her local county board of elections or the State Bureau of Elections to determine the specific requirements.

All candidates who wish to appear on the ballot must file what are known as "nomination petitions" or "nomination papers." Many candidates must also file a "Statement of Financial Interests" along with their nomination petitions or papers. This chapter focuses on the preparation and filing of nomination petitions and papers. Chapter 5 describes how to prepare and file the Statement of Financial Interests.

Obviously, write-in candidates are not required to file nomination petitions or papers since they hope to win the election without entering their names on the ballot. In contrast, primary conants and independents who wish to secure a ballot position must prepare and file nomination papers or petitions.

Candidates should be aware of the distinction between nomination petitions and nomination papers. Nomination petitions are documents that candidates must file to secure a ballot position in a primary election.116 Thus, if a candidate hopes to be chosen as a party's nominee for a public office (for example, Mayor or polling official), he or she must file a nomination petition in order to secure a position on the primary ballot. Similarly, a candidate must file a nomination petition if he or she wishes to be elected to a party office in the primary (for example, committeeperson). On the other hand, nomination papers are filed by candidates seeking public office as independents in the November election.117 Both of these items are described more fully throughout this chapter; for now, one should bear in mind that the filing requirements for getting on the ballot are different in some respects depending upon whether a candidate is filing nomination papers or petitions.

Before conducting a signature drive for petitions or papers, candidates should review the legal requirements of the Election Code governing the filing and preparation of these documents. Pre-printed forms of both nomination petitions and papers are available from the county board of elections (for local offices) and the Bureau of Elections of the Department of State in Harrisburg (for state offices). These forms greatly facilitate compliance with the law. For example, the Election Code provides that every signature sheet of a nomination petition or paper must be accompanied by a circulator's affidavit. This affidavit is printed on the reverse side of every pre-printed nomination petition and paper. Candidates for national convention delegate positions are governed by separate regulations and should contact the city or state committee of their party for information about procedures and documents.

Nomination Petitions for Primary Election Ballot Position

Table 1: Number of Signatures Needed for Nomination Petitions

Nomination Papers for Independent Candidates

The Political Body

How to Complete Nomination Papers: Circulation and Accompanying Documents

How to File Nomination Petitions and Papers

Follow-Up to Filing

Checklist

Nomination Petitions for Primary Election Ballot Position

Candidates wishing to secure a position on the primary ballot must file a properly completed nomination petition.118 As the name suggests, nomination petitions are documents signed by registered electors of a certain party petitioning the local county board of elections to print a candidate's name on the official primary ballot. For each office, the Election Code requires a specific number of voter signatures to obtain a ballot position (Table 1).119 Only signatures of voters registered in the party and residing within the district of the office will be counted toward the total number of signatures. 120

The time deadlines for filing petitions are extremely important and are strictly enforced. The Election Code provides only three weeks for candidates to complete and file nomination petitions. This period begins on the thirteenth Tuesday before the primary.121 Candidates must file the petitions three weeks later, on or before the tenth Tuesday prior to the election.122 This procedure is both onerous and important and must be carefully monitored.

Nomination Papers for Independent Candidates
An independent candidate can secure a position on the November ballot by filing a properly completed nomination "paper."123 Similar to a nomination petition, a nomination paper is a collection of signatures of registered voters residing in the district of the office, requesting that a candidate's name be entered on the November ballot.124 In contrast to petitions, nomination papers may be signed by members of any party, as well as voters who are registered non-partisan.125

Independent candidates may begin collecting signatures on the tenth Wednesday before the primary; no signatures may be collected before then.126 Nomination papers must be filed on or before August 1. In the event that August 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, nomination papers must be filed on the first Monday of August.127

The number of valid signatures which must be entered on nomination papers is fixed by a formula in the Election Code and is different than the number required for nomination petitions. If you are a candidate for a statewide office (Governor or State Attorney General, for example), the formula requires that you look to the most recent past election at which candidates for any statewide office -- either the office you seek or any other -- were elected. Next, the formula requires that you gather signatures equal to at least two percent of the largest vote cast for any elected statewide candidate in that election. 128

If you seek an office which represents a particular geographical area within Pennsylvania, you must be guided by the most recent past election at which candidates (not including judges) seeking to represent that same area were elected. The formula requires that you gather signatures equal to at least two percent of the largest vote cast for any candidate elected from the same area for any office (except judge).129 For example, an independent candidate running for Philadelphia City Controller would use the City of Philadelphia as the relevant geographical area (or "election district") and would measure two percent of the winner's total in the municipal election two years before, from the races for Mayor, for the city administrative offices, or for any of the seven at-large City Council seats (whichever was highest). Independent candidates for the General Assembly or for district City Council seats would use the figures from the last election in which the seat they seek was filled, since those districts are not included in other public elections.

Whichever office a candidate seeks, he or she should always contact either the Bureau of Elections of the Department of State (for state offices) or the County Board of Elections (for all other offices) to learn the specific number of required signatures based upon the official returns, rather than relying upon unofficial estimates.

The two percent requirement should not present a serious obstacle for candidates seeking Election Board offices (Judges and Inspectors of Elections) since divisions are the smallest political units and turnouts on the divisional level are often very low. In contrast, candidates for citywide offices in Philadelphia may need 5,000 to 10,000 signatures on a nomination paper if the previous turnout in a Philadelphia race was in the hundreds of thousands. The structure of the two percent rule illustrates the Election Code's intention to permit only serious contenders to enter the political process as independents. It also illustrates one of the ways in which our laws preserve the two-party system by discouraging independent candidates in major races.

The Political Body

Citizens signing nomination papers of independent candidates comprise a "political body" as described by the Election Code.130 The Code does not permit candidates to enter the race for political office entirely on their own; they must appear as the candidate of either a political party or political body. Note that a political body is permitted to nominate more than one candidate with a single nomination paper. In practice, a political body can enter a complete slate of candidates for every office on the ballot. 131

In addition to other filing requirements, nomination papers must designate a name for the political body, not to exceed three words, which will appear on the November ballot.132 The Election Code prohibits political bodies from adopting a name deceptively similar to any other party or body.133 Many political bodies designate themselves by the name of their candidates (for example, "Smith for Mayor" or "Citizens for Jones"). Nomination papers must also name three to five registered voters as the "committee" of the organization.134 These persons are empowered to fill vacancies in the slate of the political body in the event that a vacancy occurs before the final election. 135

Voters and candidates interested in independent political action through political bodies should recognize the potential that this hybrid organization has to institute change. While political bodies are usually formed to advance an individual candidate or a small slate of candidates in a single election, political bodies can become political parties, under the definition of the Election Code, if they achieve and maintain a sufficient voter turnout for their candidates.136 In a municipal or general election, a political body can become a county-wide party if the number of votes cast for one of its candidates equals at least five percent (5%) of the largest vote cast for any elected candidate in the county. 137

A political body can become a statewide party if, at a general election, one of its candidates: (a) receives in each of at least ten counties, at least two percent of the largest vote cast in each county for any election candidate; and (b) receives at least two percent of the largest vote cast in the State for any elected candidate.138

There are two classes of political parties: major political parties and minor political parties. A "major" political party is a party whose statewide registration is more than fifteen percent of the total registered voters in the State.139 In Pennsylvania, there are only two major political parties: the Democratic and Republican parties. A "minor" political party is a party whose statewide registration is less than fifteen percent of the total registered voters in the State.140 Two examples of minor political parties are the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.

To run as a nominee of a minor political party, a candidate must be selected by that party to appear on the November ballot and then must obtain nominating signatures from registered electors in the district which the candidate seeks to represent. The signature requirement is the same as if the candidate were running as an independent candidate of a political body. As is true for political bodies, all registered voters, regardless of their party affiliation, can sign a minor political party's nomination document. If successful, the minor political party candidate's name will appear on the November ballot. 141

A minor political party differs from a political body in three important respects: First, there is no disaffiliation requirement for the original nominees of minor political parties: minor political party candidates may be registered as Democrats or Republicans. Second, in the event that an original nominee of a minor political party resigns or dies after he or she has been nominated, the organization must choose a substitute candidate according to the rules applicable to major political parties, not the rules governing political bodies.142 Third, in the November election, a new party will be entitled to an exclusive row or column on the ballot for its candidates. In contrast, political bodies may be required to share their rows or columns with other political bodies.143

Status as a political party is not permanent. For a county-wide party, being classified as a political party lasts through the next general or municipal election, at which time the new party must once again capture the voting percentage described above or lose its party status.144 For a statewide party, party status lasts through the next general election (that is, for two years since general elections occur only in even-numbered years), when the minimum vote totals must be achieved once again. 145

A political body need not achieve this level of strength to effect change. A group of citizens in a single neighborhood can form an influential organization by nominating a complete slate of candidates.146 This strategy enables citizen groups to broaden their spheres of influence without immediately confronting the daunting task of influencing citywide politics.

How to Complete Nomination Papers: Circulation and Accompanying Documents

The legal guidelines for circulating nomination petitions and papers are the most detailed requirements which a candidate will encounter in a campaign. Candidates must ensure that their circulators (people who canvass to collect signatures for candidate) are apprised of the complete requirements pertaining to the dissemination of petitions or papers.

Circulators must be informed of the dates when they may begin to collect signatures as well as the deadline for collecting signatures. Any signatures dated before or after this time period will be deemed invalid. For nomination petitions, candidates have three weeks to gather signatures; the first circulation date is the thirteenth Tuesday before the primary.147 For nomination papers, candidates have significantly more time to gather signatures; the first circulation day is the tenth Wednesday before the primary.148 The last circulation day is the last day on which the petition or paper can be filed; this is the tenth Tuesday before the primary for nomination petitions 149and August 1 for nomination papers.150

Circulators must also be certain that the documents they circulate completely identify their purposes in accordance with the law. The most important advice for a candidate to follow is to ensure that if he or she does not personally take the petition or paper around to obtain the necessary signatures, and that those who do ("circulators"), are carefully instructed on what is required.

Pre-printed petitions or papers must include the following details:

1. candidate's name, residence, and occupation;
2. party or political body;
3. date of the Election Day;
4. office sought; and
5. election district that the office serves. 151

Circulators should be sure that signers of nomination petitions or papers are registered voters of the particular district served by the office. Furthermore, in the case of nomination petitions, potential signers must be registered in the party whose nomination the candidate seeks.152 Signers of nomination papers can belong to any party or be registered non-partisan.153 Circulators should also be certain that each signer enters his or her signature, residence, and date of signature, legibly and accurately.154

Circulators should also employ three additional precautions. First, since affidavits by the circulators must accompany each individual signature sheet of a petition or paper, no two circulators should handle the same sheet. Second, no sheet for an office covering more than one county should be used in more than one county.155 Third, circulators should be aware that there is a limit to how many petitions and papers a registered elector can sign for the same office, and should alert potential signers to any limit appropriate for the office that the circulator’s candidate is pursuing. For offices where only one person will be elected (Mayor or District Councilmember, for example), an individual can sign only one nomination petition and one nomination paper. 156Where two or more persons are to be elected to the same office (City Commissioner, for example), an individual can sign nomination petitions or papers for as many candidates as he or she can vote for in the upcoming election. 157

Finally, we offer some helpful suggestions for candidates and circulators to help ensure that a petition or paper will be deemed to have the appropriate number of valid signatures and can withstand objections. First, the petition or paper should include a wide margin for error so any subsequent striking of invalid signatures does not jeopardize the validity of the petition or paper. A good rule of thumb would be to secure at least twice the required number of signatures. Note that the Election Code does not place any upper limit on the number of signatures which candidates can gather.158

Second, the easiest method for ensuring that persons are qualified to sign is to canvas from door to door within the district to cover the residence qualification and to follow the voter registration "street lists" to cover the registration qualifications. "Street lists" are lists of every registered voter in a division indicating each person's address and party affiliation. Philadelphia street lists may be obtained from the County Board of Elections at 520 North Delaware Avenue in Philadelphia. The county boards of each county in the state provide similar lists of voters in their jurisdictions. 159

With the documents completed, circulators must complete one affidavit for each individual sheet of a petition or paper that they have circulated.160 This process includes signing the affidavit under oath before a notary public. Each circulator's affidavit must provide:
1. that the circulator is a qualified voter of the district. In the case of a party nomination petition, the circulator must also state that he or she is registered with the party;
2. the circulator's residence -- city, borough, or township, as well as the street and house or apartment number;
3. that the signers of the petition or paper signed with full knowledge of its contents;
4. that the signers' respective residences are correctly stated therein;
5. that the signers reside in the county named in the affidavit;
6. that each signer signed on the date opposite his or her name; and
7. that to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief, the signers are qualified voters of the district (and members of the party in the case of a party nomination petition). 161

Each of these affidavits must be attached to a corresponding signature sheet.162 Some pre-printed signature sheets already have an unsigned circulator's affidavit on the reverse side. All of the documents should be bound together with the petition sheets numbered consecutively, beginning with number one, at the foot of each sheet.163 A common mistake in collecting signatures for nomination petitions is to wait until the last Sunday to gather the completed sheets. One suggestion is to organize three meetings in each of the three weeks of permitted circulation and to hand out fresh sheets for each new week. At the second and third meetings, a notary should be present to ensure proper notarization of the circulated signature sheets from the previous week.

This completed package of signature sheets and circulators' affidavits must be accompanied by a single affidavit signed by the nominated candidate.164 The candidate's affidavit for a nomination petition must provide different information than that for a nomination paper.

For a nomination petition, the candidate's affidavit must set forth:
1. the candidate's residence, with street number and postal address;
2. the election district in which the candidate resides;
3. the office for which the candidate is filing;
4. that the candidate is eligible for the office stated in the petition;
5. that the candidate will not knowingly violate any provision of the Election Code or any other law regulating or limiting election expenses or prohibiting corrupt practices in connection therewith;
6. that the candidate is not a candidate for nomination of any other party for this office (there are special exceptions for some judicial candidates who are permitted to cross-file, an issue that is beyond the scope of this manual);
7. that the candidate is aware of the requirement that pre- and post-election reports be filed concerning campaign contributions and expenditures; and
8. that if the candidate is seeking a party office (committeeperson or national party delegate, for example), he or she is a registered and enrolled member of the designated party.

A candidate for delegate or alternative delegate to the national party convention must also indicate the Presidential candidate whom he or she supports, or indicate that he or she is uncommitted.165

Independent candidates filing nomination papers must file an accompanying affidavit setting forth:
1. the election district in which candidate resides;
2. the office for which the candidate is filing;
3. that the candidate is eligible for the office;
4. that the candidate will not knowingly violate any provision of the Election Code or any other law regulating or limiting election expenses or prohibiting corrupt practices in connection therewith;
5. that the candidate's name has not been presented by any nomination petition as a candidate for any public office voted for in the primary, and that the candidate has not been nominated by any other nomination papers filed for any such office; and
6. that the candidate was not (or will not be) a registered and enrolled member of any political party within thirty days before the primary at which the parties select his or her opponents. 166

How to File Nomination Petitions and Papers

As a rule of thumb, nomination petitions and nomination papers are filed at the offices from which the blank forms were originally obtained. Thus, petitions and papers for Philadelphia-based offices like committeeperson and polling place official must be filed with the County Board of Elections at City Hall in Room 142.167 Petitions and papers for state public offices and state party offices including national convention delegates must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Harrisburg.168 Once again, the deadline for filing petitions is the tenth Tuesday before the primary. The deadline for filing nomination papers is August 1.169

Filing petitions or papers for many public and party offices also requires the payment of a filing fee.170 The amount of the fee varies from office to office. For example, in 2003, a candidate for Judge of Elections or Philadelphia divisional Committeeperson was not required to pay a filing fee; a candidate for City Council or the General Assembly was required to pay $100 and the cost for becoming a candidate for Governor was $200.171 Candidates filing with their local County Board of Elections may pay the fee in cash, certified check, or money order (payable to "The County of ________").172 Candidates filing with the Secretary of State must pay the filing fee with a certified check or money order (payable to "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania").173 Please be aware that personal checks are never accepted, and only county boards will accept cash.

Note: a candidate required to submit a Statement of Financial Interests (Chapter 5) must append a copy to his or her nomination petition or paper.174 In addition, certain local candidates expecting to receive and spend minimal amounts of money may wish to file an affidavit discussed in Chapter 6 which excuses them from having to submit detailed reports concerning their campaign finances; that affidavit must be filed along with the nomination petition or papers.175

Follow-Up to Filing

After the last day for filing petitions and papers has passed, several other important deadlines approach. After the filing date, candidates have five days to submit requests to list their occupations and/or addresses on the ballot. This additional identification is granted only to candidates running for the same office who have identical or similar surnames.176 While this is not a common occurrence, when it happens the affected candidates should make their requests to the office where they originally filed.177

A candidate or any registered voter in the district, regardless of party affiliation, has until seven days after the filing date to submit objections to another candidate's petition or paper. 178 Any registered voter who resides in the particular district in which the candidate is running, regardless of his or her party affiliation, may file objections.179 Additionally, candidates may file objections against their opponents, enabling candidates to challenge their opponents before the election occurs.180 Candidates should review the documents of their opponents to determine if they meet the required standards. Petitions and papers are public documents available for inspection by any interested citizen at the office where they are filed.

Voters or candidates who become involved in objection proceedings, either by filing objections against another candidate or by having objections filed against them, should obtain the advice of experienced legal counsel. The laws and procedures governing objection proceedings are extremely complicated, and these proceedings move forward very rapidly once they begin. An inexperienced participant may jeopardize his or her chances for success without competent legal assistance.

Objections to petitions or papers must be filed in two places: (1) the office where the petitions or papers were originally filed; and (2) the court with jurisdiction over the matter. For example, objections to candidates for Philadelphia city offices must be lodged with the County Board of Elections and the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.181 For state offices, objections are filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg.182

The Election Code requires that the court conduct a hearing on the objections within ten days after the last day for filing petitions and papers, and that it rule on the objections within fifteen days after the last filing date.183Candidates and objectors must be notified of the hearing and are permitted to appear when it is conducted. 184

Objections must relate to the statutory requirements previously discussed for petitions or papers. That is, whether the signers were registered voters within the district, enrolled in the proper party, and signed and dated the petitions or papers themselves. One should note that the only way to check the authenticity of a voter's registration is to compare a first-generation copy of the signature on the nomination petition (or paper) with the voter's signature at it appears on his or her original voter registration card. The original voter registration forms are maintained on file with the local county board of elections.185 For example, if the court decides to strike signatures as invalid, leaving an insufficient number of valid signatures, or finds that blank petitions were circulated for signatures, then the petitions or papers under objection will be set aside and that candidate's name will be removed from the ballot.186

Candidates should be aware of two aspects of the physical printing of the ballot. First, candidates draw for ballot positions. This drawing occurs shortly after the last filing day at the office where petitions and papers are filed -- either at the local county board of elections or at the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Harrisburg. Many observers believe there is an advantage to higher positions among the numbered slots occupied by candidates for the same office; hence, the Election Code requires that each candidate be notified of and represented at the drawing of lots for positions so as to protect his or her right to a fair draw. Candidates can attend in person or be represented by an agent duly authorized by a letter of attorney.187

Following the drawing, official ballots must be printed no later than the Thursday before the election and specimen ballots must be made available for public inspection at the local county board of elections. 188These large pink sheets show the candidates for each office and their respective ballot positions. On the last Thursday before a primary election, each candidate is entitled to receive (upon request) three free specimen ballots for each election division within the county where he or she is running for office.189 On the last Thursday before a November election, representatives of the county organization of each political party or body are also entitled upon request to receive two free specimen ballots for each election division within the county where candidates of that party or body are running for office.190 Specimens should be picked up promptly and checked for accuracy so that any deficiencies can be corrected before the following Tuesday's election.

Checklist

1. Nomination petitions are used to secure a ballot position in a primary election.

2. Nomination papers are used by independent candidates to secure a ballot position in the November election.

3. Pre-printed petition and paper forms are available from the County Board of Elections (Room 142 City Hall in Philadelphia) for local offices, and the Bureau of Elections of the Department of State (Room 304, North Office Building, Harrisburg) for state offices.

4. Every signature sheet of a nomination petition or paper must be accompanied by a circulator's affidavit. The number of signatures required on a nomination petition is contained in Table 1; the number of signatures required on a nomination paper is set by a formula.

5. All signatures on nomination petitions must be made within a three week period beginning on the thirteenth Tuesday before the primary and ending on the tenth Tuesday prior to the election. (We suggest setting up three meetings to accomplish this; see main text).

6. Independent candidates may begin collecting signatures for nomination papers on the tenth Wednesday before the primary. Papers must be filed on or before August 1.

7. Completed nomination petitions or papers must include: the candidate's name, the candidate's residence, and occupation; the candidate's party or political body; the date of the election; the office which the candidate seeks; and the election district which the office serves.

8. Precautions for Circulators: (1) affidavits must accompany each signature sheet, NO TWO CIRCULATORS SHOULD HANDLE THE SAME SHEET; (2) no sheet for an office covering more than one county should be used in more than one county; and (3) a registered elector may sign nomination papers or petitions for only as many candidates as the voter may vote for in the election.

9. Helpful Suggestions for Circulators: (1) petitions and papers should include a wide margin for error (we suggest twice the number of required signatures); and (2) the easiest method for ensuring that signers are qualified is to canvas from door to door within the district and utilize the voter registration "street lists" to cover the registration requirements. Note: signers of petitions must be registered in the party for which the candidate seeks office; signers of papers may belong to any party or be registered non- partisan.

10. Circulators' affidavits must provide: (1) the circulator is a qualified voter of the district; (2) the circulator's residence; (3) the signers had full knowledge of the content of the petition or paper; (4) the residence of the signer; (5) the county of residence of the signer; (6) the date of the signing; and (7) that to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief, the signers are qualified voters of the district.

11. Candidates filing nomination petitions must file an accompanying affidavit setting forth: (1) the candidate's residence; (2) the election district of the candidate's residence; (3) the office coned; (4) that the candidate is eligible for the office; (5) that the candidate did not knowingly violate any election laws; (6) that the candidate is not a candidate for nomination of any other party for this office; (7) that the candidate is aware that campaign contribution and expenditure reports must be filed; and (8) if the candidate is seeking a party office, that he or she is a registered member of the party.

12. Independent candidates filing nomination papers must file an accompanying affidavit setting forth: (1) the election district of the candidate's residence; (2) the office for which the candidate is filing; (3) that the candidate is eligible for the office; (4) that the candidate will not knowingly violate any election laws; (5) that the candidate's name has not been presented by the nomination petition as a candidate for public office voted for in the primary; (6) that the candidate has not been nominated by any other nomination papers filed for any such office; and (7) that the candidate was not a registered member of any political party within thirty before the primary.

13. Petitions and papers for local, party, and polling place offices must be filed with the County Board of Elections at City Hall in Room 142. Petitions and papers for State public or party offices including national convention delegates must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Harrisburg.

14. Candidates filing with the County Board of Elections may pay their filing fee with cash, certified check, or money order. Candidates filing with the Secretary of State must pay the fee with a certified check or money order.

15. Candidates have five days after the filing date to request to list their occupations and/or addresses on the ballot. (This additional identification is granted only to candidates running for the same office who have identical or similar surnames).

16. Candidates have seven days after the filing date to submit objections to another candidate's petition or paper.

17. Objections must be filed at: (1) the office where the petitions or papers were filed; and (2) the court with jurisdiction over the office.

11625 P.S. § 2867.
11725 P.S. § 2911(a).
11825 P.S. § 2867.
11925 P.S. § 2872.1.
12025 P.S. § 2868.
12125 P.S. § 2868.
12225 P.S. § 2873(d).
12325 P.S. § 2911(a).
12425 P.S. §§ 2911(c), 2912
12525 P.S. § 2911(c).
12625 P.S. § 2913(b).
127Although 25 P.S. § 2913(c) provides: “All nomination papers must be filed on or before the second Friday subsequent to the primary”, the deadline for nomination papers has been extended to August 1 or the Monday immediately following August 1st when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday. This date is not contained in the Election Code, it comes from two consent decrees signed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Hall v. Davis, No. 84-1057 (E.D. Pa. 1984) and Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania v. Davis, No. 84-0262 (M.D. Pa. 1984).
12825 P.S. § 2911(b).
12925 P.S. § 2911(b); Moore v. Osser, 427 Pa. 238, 233 A.2d 579 (1967) (holding that number of qualified electors of the electoral district signing nomination papers had to be at least equal to two percent of the largest entire vote cast for any officer elected at the most recent election in the district where the nomination papers are filed).
13025 P.S. § 2831(c).
13125 P.S. §§ 2911(c), 2831(c).
13225 P.S. § 2912.
13325 P.S. § 2912.
13425 P.S. § 2912.
13525 P.S. § 2912.
13625 P.S. § 2831(a).
13725 P.S. § 2831(b).
13825 P.S. § 2831(a).
139Cf. 25 P.S. § 2872.2(a).
14025 P.S. § 2872.2(a).
14125 P.S. §§ 2872.2, 2911.
14225 P.S. §§ 2872.2, 2939.
14325 P.S. § 3010(h).
144See 25 P.S. § 2831(b).
145See 25 P.S. § 2831(a).
146See 25 P.S. § 2911(c).
14725 P.S. § 2868.
14825 P.S. § 2913(b).
14925 P.S. §§ 2868, 2873(d).
150Although 25 P.S. § 2913(c) provides: “All nomination papers must be filed on or before the second Friday subsequent to the primary”, the deadline for nomination papers has been extended to August 1 or the Monday immediately following August 1st when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday. This date is not contained in the Election Code, it comes from two consent decrees signed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Hall v.Davis, No. 84-1057 (E.D. Pa. 1984) and Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania v. Davis, No. 84-0262 (M.D. Pa. 1984).
15125 P.S. §§ 2867, 2912.
15225 P.S. § 2868.
15325 P.S. § 2911(c).
15425 P.S. §§ 2868, 2911(c).Additionally, where the political district named is entirely within any city, borough or township, signer only need to provide their residential street address.
15525 P.S. §§ 2869, 2911(d).
15625 P.S. §§ 2868, 2911(c).
15725 P.S. §§ 2868, 2911(c).
15825 P.S. §§ 2872.1, 2911(b).
159Pennsylvania County Board of Elections offices
16025 P.S. §§ 2869, 2911(d).
16125 P.S. §§ 2869, 2911(d).
16225 P.S. §§ 2869, 2911(d).
16325 P.S. §§ 2869, 2911(d).
16425 P.S. §§ 2870, 2911(e).
16525 P.S. § 2870.
16625 P.S. § 2911(e).
167See 25 P.S. §§ 2873(a), 2913(a).
168See 25 P.S. §§ 2873(a), 2913(a).
169Although 25 P.S. § 2913(c) provides: “All nomination papers must be filed on or before the second Friday subsequent to the primary”, the deadline for nomination papers has been extended to August 1 or the Monday immediately following August 1st when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday. This date is not contained in the Election Code, it comes from two consent decrees signed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Hall v. Davis, No. 84-1057 (E.D. Pa. 1984) and Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania v. Davis, No. 84-0262 (M.D. Pa. 1984).
17025 P.S. §§ 2873(b.1), 2914.
17125 P.S. §§ 2873(b.1), 2873(b.2), 2914.
17225 P.S. §§ 2873(b.1), 2914.
17325 P.S. §§ 2873(b.1), 2914.
<174/a>See 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103.
17525 P.S. § 3246.1.
17625 P.S. § 2965.
177See 25 P.S. § 2965.
17825 P.S. § 2937.
179See Independence Party Nomination, 57 A. 344 (Pa. 1904) (ruling that electors need not be members of the same political party in order to file objections to nominations of said political party candidates).
180See In re Shuli, 525 A.2d 6, 9 (Pa. Commw. 1987) (determining that by virtue of being a candidate’s opponent, that opponent has standing under 25 P.S. § 2937 to challenge the candidate’s nominating petition before the primary election).
181See 25 P.S. § 2937.
182See 25 P.S. § 2937.
18325 P.S. § 2937.
18425 P.S. § 2937.
185For the mechanics of striking signatures from petitions, see In re Duffy, 535 Pa. 286, 635 A.2d 111 (1993).
18625 P.S. §§ 2936, 2937.
18725 P.S. § 2875.
18825 P.S. § 2968(a).
18925 P.S. § 2968(b).
19025 P.S. § 2968(c