Browne Wants Registration Requirement For Candidates

How can a candidate for elected office ask voters for their support, if he or she is ineligible to cast a ballot? The answer is that Pennsylvania doesn't currently require candidates to be registered to vote and that is something that Senator Pat Browne (R-16) is working to change.

"It is unbelievable that valid voter registration is not a requirement to run for elected office in Pennsylvania, but that is the case," Senator Browne said. "What is even more astonishing is that there are actually candidates out there each election who are not registered voters. How can they ask for the support of the electorate if they can't take the time or make the effort to register to vote?"

Senator Browne is drafting legislation that would require candidates for all elected offices in Pennsylvania to be registered to vote within the political subdivision they would represent. Currently, candidates for all federal, state, county, local and school board seats in Pennsylvania must meet citizenship, residency and age requirements.

"The Commonwealth has made a concentrated effort to make voter registration easier, especially through Motor-Voter. A number of organizations and agencies have worked to address sagging voter turnout numbers," Senator Browne said. "We are countering those efforts by allowing individuals to seek public office without being registered to vote. That is something that must be changed."

Contact:

Lesley Crozier
(717) 787-1349