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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 13, 2017 11:08 AM
From:	Senator Richard L. Alloway, II and Sen. Guy Reschenthaler
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Updating the MDJ Section of the Election Code

We plan on introducing legislation that will change the way in which an incumbent magisterial district judge gets on the ballot for re-election. As former MDJs, we realize the difficulties placed upon these members of the judiciary, which are prohibited from engaging in politics, except during the period of time in which they are seeking re-election. Therefore, our legislation will change the election code and permit incumbent MDJs to file a certificate of nomination for re-election, as opposed to collecting the 100 signatures, as is currently required. Non-incumbent individuals seeking the office will still be required to collect the requisite number of signatures. To be clear, this is not retention, which is constitutionally prohibited for district judges. Our legislation merely changes the way in which an incumbent gets on the ballot, in recognition of the fact that members of the judiciary are statutorily prohibited from engaging in politics, except during their re-election cycle. Any non-incumbent candidate is still permitted to collect the signatures and run in a contested election. Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation.

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