Can anyone answer this question re: changing and running your party in PA?

[MrMickeysMom]

I know it's probably very OBVIOUS by the fact Arlen Specter has changed party, and is running as a Democrat, but are we THAT DIFFERENT from NY in PA, that we are allowed to change parties on the fly, and run for political office without having to be affiliated in the new party long enough, say a YEAR, as I understand New York does?

I guess I'm looking for the PA statutes that address this and filing as a candidate of the new party. I tried looking the law up under the Commissioner of Elections, but the search engine there didn't bring up the statute relating to election law.

Anyone?

Thanks!

[JPZenger]

1. Election is a year away

I don't know the exact deadline, but the primamary is a year away. It is easy to change your party, and the only rule to run under a party primary is to be a member of that party, probably at the time of filing your nomination papers. In fact, you can form your own party if you get enough signatures.

[MrMickeysMom]

2. Thanks. Then, PA law is much different than NY...

... Only reason I'm comparing the two is a conversation I was having with my sister today, who lives in NY. I know the US Senate primary is a year away, so this question was really about a local upcoming primary May 19, where another person running against me (a Dem) decided to become a Democrat less than 6 months from the time they filed nomination to run as a Democrat.

According to my sister, that person would have had to have waited a year after becoming a Democrat, were they to run in NY state.

It differs quite a bit!

[happyslug]

3. You do NOT even have to change parties to be its candidate in Pennsylvania

In fact, and in race for Judge it is common, for people to register as a candidate for BOTH The Democratic and Republican Parties, if you win BOTH parties primaries you are BOTH parties candidates for the fall election.

All a person need is enough people who is registered with whatever party primary they want to run for. In my county we are selecting two judges and when one candidate asked me to sign the petition to get on the ballot, I was asked my party registration and the candidate then pulled out the petition for that party. Once enough register voters for that party signs the petition, it is filed with the County and the candidate is on BOTH parties ballot. No need to change party registration, you can be registered as a Republican, but if you get enough Registered Democrats to sign your petition you are on the ballot for the Democratic Primary.

Furthermore Write in candidate can win a ballot, if enough write in voters write in that candidate's name. Use to be called "Sticker" Campaigns, for the candidate would print out stickers for the voters to paste on the old Voting Machines. Today with electric voting you have to type in the candidate name, but whoever gets the most votes win that parties nomination for that office, even if the candidate is a member of the other party.

Pennsylvania does NOT require a candidate of a party to be a member of that party, only that the candidate received the most votes in the primary of that party.

[MrMickeysMom]

4. I find this interesting, if not arcaic !

I did run last year in a special race for council when there was only one other Democrat. I asked Republicans to write me in and, thus got on the ticket in November running in both parties.

But, I find it interesting that someone can petition for both parties from the beginning. That must be if there is no other person running on that opposing party, yes?

[JPZenger]

5. Running in both parties is limited to judges and school boards

I believe a person can only run in both parties if they are running for County judge or school board. Otherwise, they can only run in both parties if they receive the most votes by a write-in in the other party. If there is no other candidate in the other party, they still need a minimum number of votes to get the nomination.

[happyslug]

6. No, candidates for Judge do it all the time.

In fact a couple of decades ago the Democratic Candidate for Mayor of Pittsburgh, in his campaign for re-election ran a "Sticker" for the Republican nomination at the same time, he won BOTH nomination even through the Republicans did run a Real Republican for the position. The key is your ability to win votes from the people registered in the other party. Most times such party loyalists will NOT vote for the opposing party's candidate in the primary, but every so often it happens. Nothing in the rules forbid it.