The Green Party statewide petition in Pennsylvania contains the names of the U.S. Senate and gubernatorial candidates. The gubernatorial candidate, Marakay Rogers, will withdraw her connection with the statewide petition on August 11. If the pending ballot access case wins, she will be a candidate; but if it does not win, she will have withdrawn.
The petition challenge procedure in Pennsylvania is unlike that in any other state. If a candidate whose petition is challenged does not withdraw, and the procedure ends up showing that the petition didn’t have enough signatures, the candidate is liable for the costs of the challenge. In 2004, Ralph Nader submitted twice as many signatures as were required in Pennsylvania, but the challenge process determined that he didn’t have enough valid signatures. As a result, he was required by the Commonwealth Court to pay $85,000. He filed an appeal of that determination, which has been pending in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for months.
This is one of the most ridiculous election statutes in the country, especially when it comes to cash-starved minor candidates. It’s sort of like a pedestrian who gets mowed over by a speeding driver and then is stuck with the bill for damages to the driver’s bumper and hood.
If there’s any justice, the Democrats will spend tens of thousands of dollars in an effort to knock the Greens off the ballot, only to have the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals automatically put them back on.
I am not sure of all the election laws in PA. If the state checks the petitions for validity there should be no need for a challenge unless the state does not check the petitions properly. I am assuming the state does not check the petitions and that is why there are challenges and there a fine for the loser.
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Many regulations involving third parties and ballot initiatives are very unfair.
That does not excuse fraudulently work that appears to have been done in this case. A non partisan web site has reported massive fraud by the Greens. The Nader campaign also had massive fraud this web site informs us
Ethically I don’t know if I support someones opponent funding third parties or independents petition drives.
I am also well aware of problems in FL and MA with committees and petitions etc.
Pure thuggery!
If the Green Senate candidate is concerned about being a unwitting agent for Haliburton, he can use his air-time to slap Santorum up one side and down the other. Isn’t that what he would do anyway?
Stab the enemy with their own bayonet Greens. Too bad the Ds aren’t funding the Libertarian and Constitution candidates.