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How to Run for Political Office: A Campaign Manual for Pennsylvania Candidates
(PDF of this manual)
Chapter 7: Going to the Public
Voter registration serves as an important mechanism in an election campaign. Frequently, candidates overlook this effective method of campaigning and regret their short-sightedness after the election. Candidates often realize too late that many of their would-be supporters were not registered to vote.333 In a primary, many people may not be able to support a particular candidate because they are registered non-partisan or as a member of a different party. Regardless of the circumstances, these votes were unavailable.
All of these problems can be solved with an effective registration drive. Depending on the size of the election district, registration drives should focus on specific groups of people or in neighborhoods that have indicated support for the candidate. Regardless of the level, candidates should utilize the voter registration street lists available from the county board of elections to target citizens for new registration or a change of party affiliation.
For instance, the Philadelphia County Board of Elections provides several methods for new voters to register. Citizens may fill out a Voter Registration Application at the registration office at City Hall.334 With the passage and implementation of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), commonly referred to as "Motor Voter," citizens may register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles when they apply for a driver's license, or in state welfare offices, vocational rehabilitation offices and armed service locations. 335
Citizens may also register by mail with the Voter Registration Application (VRA).336 After this pre-addressed form is completed and mailed, the applicant will receive either a registration card or instructions for any corrections or additions needed to complete the VRA form. VRAs are available throughout the City at libraries, state liquor stores, post offices, and other government offices; they may also be obtained from the County Board of Elections or the Committee of Seventy.
Changes of party registration, name, or address can also be accomplished in person or by mail using the VRA.337 The VRA form includes a place to indicate the type of change being submitted.
REMEMBER! To be effective in an upcoming election, a new or changed registration must be postmarked or received by the Board of Elections at least thirty (30) days before the election.338 If the campaign misses the filing deadline, individual voters will be disenfranchised or forced to vote pursuant to a prior valid registration. On this basis, campaigns should file voter registration applications on a weekly (or more frequent) basis during the months leading up the election and never wait until the last day to submit an application which has been entrusted to you.
Conducing a Campaign: Advertising and Distrubting Literacture
Whenever any person makes an expenditure for the purpose of financing communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, or ballot questions, through any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, direct mailing, or any other type of general public political advertising, such communication:
(1) If authorized by the candidate, his authorized political committee or their agents, shall clearly and conspicuously state that the communication has been authorized.
(2) If not authorized by a candidate, his authorized political committee, or their agents, shall clearly and conspicuously state the name of the person who made or financed the expenditure for the communication, including, in the case of a political committee the name of any affiliated or connected organization.339
Posting Signs
With regard to placement of signage, this area is generally subject to municipal laws or regulations, candidates should contact the local government (or governments) with jurisdiction over the district for which they are seeking office for a copy of the rules governing timing, size and placement of campaign posters and requirements for post-election removal of campaign advertising.
Candidates in Philadelphia should consult the Department of Licenses and Inspections (1515 Arch Street, Philadelphia; telephone: 215-686-2490).
333 25 Pa.C.S. § 1301
334 25 Pa.C.S. § 1321(1)
335 25 Pa.C.S. §§ 1323, 1324
336 25 Pa.C.S. § 1324
337 25 Pa.C.S. §§ 1322(a), 1324(a)
338 25 Pa.C.S. § 1301(a)
339 25 P.S. § 3258(a)
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