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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 15, 2021 04:41 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Scott E. Hutchinson |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Third Class City Nomination Petitions |
| In the near future I plan to introduce legislation that would lower the signature requirement for nomination petitions and the amount of filing fees for candidates running for office in third class cities. Currently, the Election Code provides for general, municipal, special and primary elections and for the nomination of candidates, among other things, and Section 912.1 relates to the number of signers required for nomination petitions of candidates at primaries. Specifically, it provides that the number of signatures required on a nominating ballot for candidates running in a primary for public or party offices in third class cities is 100. There is no separate specific provision for candidates running by district in third class cities. The signature requirement for candidates running for public or party offices in municipal corporations other than the largest cities is ten. Thus, for any public or party office not otherwise listed in section 912.1, the signature requirement is ten and would apply to candidates running in boroughs, townships, an incorporated town, or candidates running by district in third class cities. Section 913 of the Election Code relates to the place and time of filing nomination petitions and to filing fees. Under that section candidates in third class cities have a $25 filing fee, while no filing fees are provided as necessary for candidates in boroughs, towns and townships. The bill provides that only ten signatures, rather than 100 signatures, are needed on a nominating ballot for candidates running in a primary for public or party offices in third class cities. The bill does not distinguish between candidates running at large or by district since substantively there would be no difference in the number of signatures required, i.e., ten. Additionally, the bill provides that no filing fee, as opposed to a $25 filing fee, is required for these candidates in third class cities. The proposed legislation equalizes provisions for the number of signatures on nomination petitions and for the amount of filing fees between candidates running for office in third class cities and candidates in boroughs, towns and townships. I hope that you would please join me in sponsoring this critical legislation. If you have any questions regarding this legislation please contact Nathan Akers in my office at 787-9684 or nakers@pasen.gov. |
Introduced as SB117