For Immediate Release
July 24, 2008
Contact: Joe Sterns
717-787-5708
(Cell) 717-497-0806
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Folmer Introduces Voters' Choice Act

Legislation removes unfair election barriers to non-major party candidates

HARRISBURG – Senator Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) today introduced the Voters' Choice Act (VCA), which removes the Commonwealth's unfair hurdles that obstruct ballot access for independent and minor party candidates for public office.

"No state makes it tougher to get on the ballot than Pennsylvania, as independent and minor party candidates face significantly more difficult barriers than Republicans and Democrats," Folmer said. "My bill would enhance our democratic process by leveling the playing field."   

Currently, Pennsylvania law uses a complex formula to produce an extraordinarily high number of petition signatures that non-major party candidates must obtain in order to appear on the ballot in a general election. In 2006, that formula resulted in minor party and independent candidates having to gather nearly 68,000 petition signatures to run in the General Election for Governor or U.S. Senator. Major party candidates, meanwhile, were required to gather only 2,000 signatures during the primary election to run for those same offices.   

Folmer's legislation would make the signature requirements for independent candidates to appear on the general election ballot the same as which major party candidates have for primary elections. Because minor parties do not participate in primary elections, the Voter Choice Act would require them to nominate candidates for a general election according to their own rules, and at their own expense.

Finally, the VCA would eliminate another complicated formula under current law that makes it difficult for a political body to qualify as minor party. Under Folmer's bill, any political body which claims at least 0.05 percent of the total number of registered voters in the Commonwealth would qualify as a minor party.