The number of signatures needed for statewide minor party and independent candidates in Pennsylvania in 2014 depends on voter turnout in November 2013 for Judge of the Superior Court. The number of votes cast in Pennsylvania’s statewide odd-year partisan judicial elections is usually low. The lower the turnout in these odd year elections, the lower the number of signatures required in the following year’s more important even-year election.

Because there is only one partisan statewide race on the Pennsylvania ballot in November 2013, and that is not for Supreme Court Justice, but just for Superior Court, voter turnout is likely to be even lower than normal. The formula for the number of signatures in 2014 is 2% of the highest vote-getting winning candidate’s vote in November 2013. That number will probably be slightly under 20,000. The number required in 2010 was 19,056, but the number required in 2006 was 67,070. The 2006 requirement was far higher because there were no statewide races in 2005, so the formula required looking back to the 2004 election, which had a far bigger turnout.