Third Circuit Court Upholds Jury Award to Pennsylvania Petition Organizer

This is a Ballot Access News blog, which also offers reader commenting:

"On February 8, the 3rd circuit upheld the action of a federal jury, in Carey v Wilkes-Barre, 07-2226. The eight-page decision is here.In 2004, Denise Carey had organized a referendum petition, asking the voters to reverse a decision of the city to close a neighborhood fire station. Her petition seemed not to have enough valid signatures, so Carey had withdrawn it. Nevertheless, the city had then won an order in state court, ordering Carey to pay $11,056 for the costs of checking her petition.Carey had then counter-sued the city in federal court, arguing that the $11,056 in fees against her was an illegal punishment for exercising free speech and petition rights. She had won her counter-suit before the federal jury, which awarded $67,000 to her. The city had then appealed that to the 3rd circuit, but the 3rd circuit has now upheld the jury verdict in her favor. This outcome may indirectly help to win the case now pending in the 3rd circuit against the unique Pennsylvania system that awards fees to people who challenge petition validity. The name of that case is Constitution Party v Cortes."

 
Remember, "voting turnout and activism means spreading the word!"

Ballot Access News: PA Elections Bureau Finally Releases Nov 2010 Write-in Vote-- Partially

"On February 25, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation released the write-in results from the November 2, 2010 election. However, the information does not seem to be on the Bureau’s web page yet. It appears that eight counties did not tally any write-ins at all for any office. They are Clarion, Clinton, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mifflin, Montgomery, Perry, and Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania is the only large state that has no procedure for write-in candidates who want their vote tallied to file a declaration of write-in candidacy. All write-in votes are valid votes in Pennsylvania, and the state admits that the law requires that all write-ins be counted. The Pennsylvania Constitution protects write-in votes."

The entire article, with commenting, is at http://www.ballot-access.org/2011/02/26/pennsylvania-elections-bureau-finally-releases-november-2010-write-in-vote/ 

PA State Representative Eugene DePasquale: DePasquale to introduce four-bill election reform package

"Pennsylvania State Representative Eugene DePasquale, Democrat-York, announced the introduction of a package of four bills designed to improve voter turnout and give more voters a voice on Election Day.

The first bill would allow voters registered as Independents to cast ballots in Pennsylvania primary elections. ...

The second bill, to be called the Corporate Accountability Act, would require corporations to obtain shareholder approval before contributing an annual aggregate sum exceeding $10,000. Under current law, following the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, corporations can spend freely to influence a political campaign without the approval of shareholders. Further, the contributions are not made known to the shareholders or the public.

The third bill would allow for early voting in Pennsylvania. The legislation would allow all voters to cast ballots up to 15 days in advance of Election Day in both primary and general elections. ...

DePasquale said voters taking part in early voting would have to provide photo identification and sign a certificate to confirm their participation in early voting, and the county board of elections would maintain a list of early voters to prevent fraud.

The final bill in the package would make general election competition among all parties a reality by equalizing the ability of Independent and third-party candidates to run for public office in Pennsylvania."

The entire press release, without commenting, is at http://www.pahouse.com/PR/095022411.asp 

Pennsylvanians: You can contact your own State Representative concerning these bills.  I could not locate the entire text of the bills.

Incumbent protection scheme degrades democracy

The Corruption Chronicles blog, a favorite of mine from Judicial Watch, writes that legislators in the Pennsylvania House use taxpayer funds to pay their staff for re-election campaign work. This includes House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese.

On the federal level, many of our representatives employ at least one full-time staff person for nothing but campaign work; but most presumably use their campaign funds. Judicial Watch's story pertains to the state of Pennsylvania legislature; who knows how many other state officeholders around our country employ the same tactic?

Using public funds to pay campaign workers is illegal; PA's state attorney general has launched an investigation into the taxpayer abuse. State legislators have a great responsibility to conduct themselves in an ethical manner, for thousands of voters entrust them with their leadership every two years. Incumbent protection schemes such as this degrade our democracy, and the fairness of our electoral system.