The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania - Forum

I started this thread as an area where everyone can post questions regarding the nomination papers.

David Jahn

I couldn't tell from either our or the state's posted instructions whether the sides are supposed to be of the same, or opposite orientation (book style, or "flip-top" style).  The past few years, they've been the latter.

Anyone?

And, does the state care, one way or the other?

--Harold Kyriazi

We have concluded that it doesn't matter.  Consider the following:

• The state has made blank forms available on line.
• The state has not addressed the orientation in their printing instructions.
• The first year the state made the forms available online was 2006 when the forms were flawed.  That year, they stated the orientation didn't matter.
• From a legal perspective, the documents are complete with signatures and the circulater's affidavit. 
• Once the state accepts them, it would be up to the court to determine whether or not the petitions are valid. That would only happen if someone were to present a legal challenge.
• I have read a lot of case law in recent months regarding ballot access challenges and appeared in commonwealth court for two cases.  Based upon the court's stated commitment of honoring the will of the electors in numerous cases, I cannot see a court granting a challenge based upon orientation alone.

Having said all of that, I will confirm that the state will accept the papers without concern for the orientation.

Thanks for asking.

David Jahn

P.S. I realize we have come a long way from the days when making copies of petitions was taboo.

Howdy all!  I joined the board specifically to answer questions about this process.  One thing I'd love to know is how far away you have to stay away from the polls when petitioning at Tuesday's primary voting locations.

Here's the text of an email I just wrote which should be going to the Pennsylvania portion of the national party's email list to encourage folks to petition on Tuesday April 22nd.  Please feel free to forward it far and wide.  Thanks! ....

Primary Day in Pennsylvania is fast approaching.  With your help, it can be a day we can take a major step forward as a party – not so much because of who is on the primary ballot, but because of who we can put on the ballot in November.

We need as many Pennsylvania residents as possible to go to the polls this Tuesday, April 22nd, to petition for our candidates to get on the general election ballot.  Please take as much time as you can on Tuesday, grab a clipboard and some pens and ask these voters to help us give them a Libertarian choice in Pennsylvania in November!

You can download the nomination papers and find all the information you need to fill them out at http://www.lppa.org/2008_Nomination_Papers.html.  (“Nomination papers” is the official state term for petitions in Pennsylvania.)  That petition will not only place our Presidential ticket on the ballot, it also includes your Libertarian candidates for Attorney General, Auditor General and State Treasurer.

There’s no better place to find registered voters who are in the mood to sign your petition than a polling place on election day!  Every signature you can collect as a volunteer does accomplishes much more than simply helping Libertarian candidates get on the general election ballot.  We need to collect 24,666 valid signatures from Pennsylvania registered voters to succeed.  That’s a tall order which requires the help of professional petitioners who have to be paid.  Every signature you get as a volunteer saves the party up to $2 each, which can be used to finish the petitioning efforts in Pennsylvania and all across the country.

Please go to http://www.lppa.org/2008_Nomination_Papers.html today and follow the instructions to download and print the petition.  Feel free to contact me directly by email at sean.haugh@lp.org or by phone at 202-288-9853 if you have any questions.  I’m also happy to help you find a notary and someone with the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania to whom you can turn in the signatures you collect.

There will be many more opportunities for you to circulate the nomination papers up until we have to complete the drive in late July.  But there’s no better chance to get valid signatures than at the polls on Tuesday.  Every single signature helps!  With your efforts, we’ll be able to get back on the ballot in Pennsylvania and give everyone a Libertarian alternative in November.  Thanks!

yours in liberty –
Sean Haugh
Political Director

You must stay at least 10 feet away from the door of the polling place to collect signatures on Primary day. We may want to mention that place of residence means physical address, not mailing address (absolutely no P.O. Boxes), and that people should sign as they just signed at the poll (I think it is better to catch people coming out of the poll rather than going in).

Also, printed forms must be legal size (8.5"x14") and double sided. All information on the signature line must be in the hand of the signer. Dates may be in numbers,  but must be complete with the year.

Mik Robertson

We can actually start working on gathering signatures already?  And we have thru August 1st to turn in the papers, correct? 

Do we have a longer period since this is a presidential election year?  I collected signatures in '03 to be Inspector of Elections (I won with like 13 votes), but we had only 6 weeks to do the petitions.

Thanks from Luzerne County!

Maybe you got a late start.  We are able to start circulating as son as the major parties turn theirs in.  As I recall, that was sometime around February 14th this year.  We have a large window, but we also have a lot of signatures required to run any statewide candidates.

Are you still a judge of elections?

David Jahn

Well, I was an Inspector of Elections for Wilkes Barre 1-1, but not only did I move, but Luzerne County also did a major consolidation of the precincts and went from about 350 down to 189.  I am planning on getting the 3rd party packet for Inspector next year for my current precinct, Hanover Twp, Ward 7.

Also, even tho I did switch my registration to Republican so I could vote for Dr. No (RP) in the primary, I sent in a new registration to go back to Libertarian today.