Pennsylvania’s candidate nominating petitions are getting a facelift.
The Department of State is taking the process into the 21st century with new petition forms meant to streamline form submission and review.
Candidates will be able to fill out their information in the preamble before printing them and will be issued a unique barcode. Previously, candidates and campaign staffers had to individually fill out each form or have them photocopied.
Candidates still need to have their signatures completed in hard copy and then have those forms notarized, but a new QR code on the form will allow the Department to count the signatures electronically.
The new forms will be available online within the next week or two, according to Department of State spokesman Ron Ruman. They will print out on 8.5 by 11 inch paper.
“Pages will still be manually reviewed but this process will be much more efficient for candidates as well as Department of State workers,” Ruman said. “We encourage candidates to use this system. “
Old, hard copy forms are still available and accepted.
Candidates can begin circulating petitions to appear on the primary ballot on February 18. They are due to be filed by March 11.
2014 will be a busy year for the Department of State with an abundance of open legislative seats and a large field for governor. They expect over 1,000 candidates to circulate petitions, according to Ruman. That means a lot of people are likely to crowd into the department’s office on March 11.
“We believe that this will reduce line time,” Ruman said.
Candidates for Governor will need 2,000 signatures, including at least 100 from each of at least 10 different counties. Lieutenant Governor hopefuls need 1,000 signatures with 100 from at least 5 different counties.
Congressional candidates must collect 1,000 signatures from voters within the district. Candidates for state Senate need 500 signatures and House candidates need 300.
The rule of thumb is that candidates should collect twice as many signatures as they need, lest any of their signatures be challenged by opponents.
Hat tip to elections attorney Larry Otter for alerting PoliticsPA to the change.
Keegan Gibson contributed to this report.
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7 Responses
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how many people can circulate a a nominating pettipn for a state senate candidate in P A also how many different sheets can be passed . For instance if I am running can i give 10 sheets to be passed by 10 different people
Fill one out for Eric A Bradway For Governor The Former Lower Merion Township Constable
The huge discrepancies between Republicrat party signature requirements and those of “minor party” and independent candidates is as grossly disproportional as stated in an earlier comment. For any office not “State Wide” (governor, Lt Gov, etc) the numbers are rarely more than a 100 or so difference. As a LP county Chair I have assisted in gathering in PA from Governor to school boards.
We also have that 4 1/2 months to gather ours 100 or so more. Yes there is a ridiculous difference at the “state wide” level but if a party has a county presence in even 1/2 of the 67 counties in PA those numbers are not a problem. Is it just? No. But it is a sorry situation to hear so much crying about it and petitioning for others to change it. I believe if all these energies where spent overcoming what little obstacle this is mine and other “minor parties” would be on much better footing legally and publicly.
Another advantage us “minors” have is we can gather signatures from anyone registered to vote. Republicrats running Republican can ONLY gather Republican Registered signatures and same for the Democrat identifying half of the Republicrat party. Since us “minors” are gathering signatures for a different election than the Republicrats we can also get signatures from those that already signed for the same position in the primary.
The real issue for us “minors” and independents is the Republicrats using their money and corrupt influence to challenge our signatures till we have too few to qualify. Yea…..the “only party that matters” is so afraid of facing us on a ballot they will employ entire pits of lawyers to find every weaselly way of kicking us off the ballot. I could write a book here on the many ways it is done but suffice to say……it is these underhanded abuses of the intent in the law that most greatly cripples “minor party” and independent efforts.
Candidates for Governor will need 2,000 signatures, including at least 100 from each of at least 10 different counties if they are Republicrats. If the candidates aren’t Republicrats they need at least 10 times as many. Lieutenant Governor hopefuls need 1,000 signatures with 100 from at least 5 different counties if they are Republicrats. If the candidates aren’t Republicrats they need at least 10 times as many.
Republicrat candidates can begin circulating petitions to appear on the primary ballot on February 18. They are due to be filed by March 11. All other party or independent candidates can begin circulating petitions on March 12. Those are due to be filed by August 1.
Congressional candidates must collect 1,000 signatures from voters within the district if they are Republicrats. If the candidates aren’t Republicrats they need at least 10 times as many. Candidates for state Senate need 500 signatures and House candidates need 300 if they are Republicrats. If the candidates aren’t Republicrats they need at least 10 times as many.
I know, Mike. I thought something similar. Posting now that I have finished burning my legal size clipboards in the fireplace.
“They will print out on 8.5 by 11 inch paper.” What sorcery is this???