Third Circuit Court Upholds Ballot Access Restrictions

The Federal Appeals Court for this region, the Third Circuit upheld the petition requirements to gain access to the ballot in Pennsylvania. The onerous requirements are legal according to the Court. It held the state has the right to restrict access.

The 3rd Circuit said in Rogers v. Corbett that the law strikes a legitimate balance between the rights of political outsiders to run for public office and the state's interest in regulating access to the ballot.

In rejecting the challenge in April, the panel said, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III was correct in deciding that "the minimal burdens on minor political parties was justified by Pennsylvania's interest in preventing ballot clutter and ensuring viable candidates."

I think requiring 67,000 signatures is anti-democratic and overly onerous. If the burden is ensuring viable candidates getting 20,000 signatures, as Russ Diamond did, I say he's a viable candidate. I wouldn't be voting for Russ but I say he should be on the ballot. The same for Mimi Rogers who brought the suit.