Pennsylvania has some of the most repressive ballot access laws of any of the fifty states. On-line registration is not permitted. Early voting is not permitted. No-excuse absentees are not permitted. A narrowly-defined picture I.D. requirement may still be imposed depending on a court ruling in July.
One of the state’s oddest ballot policies relates to cross-filing. School board candidates are permitted to run as Democrats and Republicans, no matter what their registration. I suppose the thinking is that educational policies aren’t all that partisan, although the battles over “creationism,” sex education, and teachers’ pay are definitely political.
Other offices, such as local tax collector, which appear to be almost completely administrative, feature partisan battles. (Why do we even have local tax collectors?)
The exception to strict nomination partisanship occurs with write-ins. John Wieczorek, write-in candidate for Mahoning Township Supervisor, will be running as both Democrat and Republican in November. Helen Torok, write-in candidate for Lehighton Borough Council, will also be running in both parties. Perhaps even stranger, Rodney George, a Republican, is the Democratic write-in candidate for Supervisor in Towamensing Township.
Who writes these laws?
Who wites tese laws--my guess politicians who had some kind of agenda. They usually don't do these things unless it benefits them in some way.
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