On January 6, 2025, the state of Pennsylvania filed an answer in U.S. District Court in West v Pennsylvania Department of State, w.d., 2:24cv-1349. The issue is whether it is unconstitutional for the state to require independent presidential candidates to submit certain paperwork for the candidate’s presidential elector candidates. Qualified parties do not need to submit any documents signed by their candidates for presidential elector, but independents need declarations of candidacy from each of them, and if even one is missing or defective, the entire filing is void.

The state’s answer says that political parties are different from independent candidates, so the difference is justified.