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.





http://www.senatorfolmer.com/press-2008/072408.htm

