Sign this, please!

November 10, 2006 4:48 PM

PhillyFilter: How many signatures does one need to get on the ballot for mayor?

Just curious...

posted by SansPoint to Law & Government (3 answers total)

Best answer: As an independent candidate or as a representative of one the major parties? Assuming you're running as an independent, then according to The Committee of Seventy’s How to Run for Political Office: A Campaign Manual for Pennsylvania Candidates:

The number of valid signatures which must be entered on nomination papers is fixed by a formula in the Election Code and is different than the number required for nomination petitions. If you are a candidate for a statewide office (Governor or State Attorney General, for example), the formula requires that you look to the most recent past election at which candidates for any statewide office -- either the office you seek or any other -- were elected. Next, the formula requires that you gather signatures equal to at least two percent of the largest vote cast for any elected statewide candidate in that election.

If you seek an office which represents a particular geographical area within Pennsylvania, you must be guided by the most recent past election at which candidates (not including judges) seeking to represent that same area were elected. The formula requires that you gather signatures equal to at least two percent of the largest vote cast for any candidate elected from the same area for any office (except judge). For example, an independent candidate running for Philadelphia City Controller would use the City of Philadelphia as the relevant geographical area (or "election district") and would measure two percent of the winner's total in the municipal election two years before, from the races for Mayor, for the city administrative offices, or for any of the seven at-large City Council seats (whichever was highest). Independent candidates for the General Assembly or for district City Council seats would use the figures from the last election in which the seat they seek was filled, since those districts are not included in other public elections.

Whichever office a candidate seeks, he or she should always contact either the Bureau of Elections of the Department of State (for state offices) or the County Board of Elections (for all other offices) to learn the specific number of required signatures based upon the official returns, rather than relying upon unofficial estimates.

The two percent requirement should not present a serious obstacle for candidates seeking Election Board offices (Judges and Inspectors of Elections) since divisions are the smallest political units and turnouts on the divisional level are often very low. In contrast, candidates for citywide offices in Philadelphia may need 5,000 to 10,000 signatures on a nomination paper if the previous turnout in a Philadelphia race was in the hundreds of thousands.

posted by RichardP at 5:22 PM on November 10, 2006

Not relevant to you, but here in Toronto the answer is: Just one (your own)

There are 39 people on the ballot for mayor in next week's election.
posted by winston at 7:24 PM on November 10, 2006

For questions like this, you might try contacting your ward division committee people -- they tend to know a lot and be very helpful.
posted by footnote at 10:15 AM on November 11, 2006