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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 12, 2024 10:12 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Seth M. Grove |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Ballot Access Improvement Act |
| The harsh reality is there is a cost to our democracy. The real costs associated with the administration of equitable and fair elections across the Commonwealth will continue to grow as voting options expand and voting equipment modernizes. It is imperative that the Commonwealth explore alternative ways to fund elections in Pennsylvania. To help offset costs of elections, candidate filing fees were initially used to prevent “less than serious” candidates from appearing on ballots. Unfortunately in the 1960s in some states, filing fees were extremely large which made it unaffordable for potential candidates. As a result, two landmark US Supreme Court cases laid the groundwork for our present-day format of petition signatures and filing fees. The court cases provided that filing fees should not be the ONLY means available to become a candidate. Our present-day system of collection of signatures can be a cumbersome and costly process. As state officials, it is our duty to ensure that elections in Pennsylvania are run fairly, equitably, and securely. As the rising costs of elections impact our state and local coffers, policy makers must look at innovative ways to increase revenue. In the near future, I intend to introduce the Ballot Access Improvement Act. My legislation will not change the current petition signature process; rather, my legislation will add an alternative option to candidates to pay a filing fee in lieu of petition signatures. The filing fees will be tiered based on the elected office sought and both the state and county will be recipients of the filing fees paid by the candidates. Please join me in improving ballot access to candidates as well as increasing funds for Pennsylvania elections. |