Posted: | February 13, 2024 09:28 AM |
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From: | Representative Ben Waxman |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Making It Easier to Get on the Ballot |
Ballot access laws, or those that require a candidate to meet certain requirements to get on the ballot, are meant to ensure order in elections. Before an individual’s name can appear on the ballot in Pennsylvania, they must obtain signatures on nominating petitions and pay a filing fee, the amounts for both differing based on the office sought. Unfortunately, current signature and filing fee requirements in our state hinder those with limited resources from running for office. Other states in our nation require either a lower filing fee to run for office than Pennsylvania does or no filing fee at all, and a number of states have lower signature requirements for those seeking to run for state legislature. Reforming these requirements in our state will make running for office more accessible for potential candidates and will increase ballot diversity for voters. That is why I plan to introduce legislation to lower signature requirements and eliminate filing fees to run for office in Pennsylvania.The future of our state depends on a broader range of perspectives in positions of power. Please join me in improving ballot access and expanding voter choice by signing on to this proposal. |
Introduced as HB2090