Pennsylvania election officials have revised the number of signatures needed for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, for district office. For the most part, the revisions increase the number of signatures. The revision was not posted to the state’s website until July 30, 2022. The petition deadline was August 1.

The original requirements for U.S. House, posted several months ago, were: district one 2,343; district two 1,000; district three 1,000; district four 1,748; district five 1,553; district six 1,715; district seven 1,654; district eight 1,571; district nine 2,200; district ten 1,822; district eleven 1,955; district twelve 1,419; district thirteen 2,321; district fourteen 2,277; district fifteen 2,291; district sixteen 2,138; district seventeen 1,814.

The new requirements are: one 2,338; two 1,000; three 2,300; four 2,211; five 1,901; six 1,783; seven 1,641; eight 1,563; nine 2,195; ten 1,812; eleven 1,946; twelve 1,995; thirteen 2,313; fourteen 2,272; fifteen 2,289; sixteen 2,138; seventeen 1,976.

The statewide total for the original figures is 30,821. The statewide total for the revised figures is 33,673. Fortunately the late changes do not seem to have injured any petitioning candidates. Pennsylvania always has trouble determining the number of signatures after a redistricting. It would save a great deal of work if the legislature would provide for a fixed number of signatures instead of 2% of the last winner’s vote, which is complicated when the boundaries change.