The only statewide petitions submitted in Pennsylvania this year are from the Constitution, Green, and Libertarian Parties. Here is a story that says the Greens submitted 35,000 signatures. Some were turned in on July 31 and some on August 1, the deadline. The state requires 20,601 signatures.
The Constitution Party turned in 34,000 signatures; the Libertarian Party turned in 42,000 signatures.
I wonder how they’ll try to get them thrown out. 2010 they pretty much bullied the various GOV/LGOV & Senate nominees off the ballot.
It would appear that all the alternative parties have enough margin for error to survive a challenge. That doesn’t mean there won’t be a challenge but at least they won’t have to pay for it. Such a great system! Those making the challenge don’t have to pay regardless of outcome but if a party doesn’t have enough valid signatures they do have to pay.
“Those making the challenge don’t have to pay regardless of outcome but if a party doesn’t have enough valid signatures they do have to pay.”
The challenge system is certainly unfair in Pennsylvania, however, I’m pretty sure that the person who makes the challenge has to pay for it if their challenge is not successful.
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There is no evidence that “3rd” parties take votes away from the legacy parties and in fact there is quite a bit of evidence to support the theory that the legacy parties take votes from “3rd” parties. If you look at polling data (you know, facts and stuff) you see that “3rd” party candidates tend to under preform. That’s the old party taking votes. You also have to consider the fact that opposition parties have to meet unfair ballot access rules and the legacy parties are given tax money to run their operations and campaigns. Moreover, the best qualified candidate for office based just on job experience this year isn’t a Democrat or a Republican, it’s Libertarian Gary Johnson. The simple fact is we don’t have free and fair elections in this country. It’s an insult and a fraud on the American people. It’s also a tragedy waiting to happen.
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