Opinion ID: 2397006
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Late Registrations

Text: Candidates argue that because the registration process can take several days, persons who signed and mailed in registration cards during the circulation period may not have appeared on the registration list, yet may have been properly registered. At the hearing, Candidates' counsel testified that of the 1,371 signatures reviewed, the number of late signatures was fifty-two, or four percent (4%). The Commonwealth Court held that delivery to an appropriate registration official is required and that only an elector who has delivered a completed application to registration officials or has postmarked the application on or before the date of signing the petition is a qualified elector pursuant to Section 951 of the Election Code. Section 951(c) of the Election Code, 25 P.S. 2911(c), provides, inter alia, that each person signing a nomination paper shall declare therein that he is a qualified elector of the State or district, as the case may be.... The Commonwealth Court held that an elector who has either delivered a completed application to registration officials or has postmarked that application on or before the date of signing the petition is a `qualified elector' under Section 951 of the Election Code. Commonwealth Court Opinion dated August 30, 2004, at 10. Accordingly, the only individuals who may validly sign Nomination Papers are those who (1) previously registered to vote; or (2) delivered their completed application to election officials the same day that they signed the Nomination Papers; or (3) postmarked their completed application the same day that they signed the Nomination Papers. Candidates argue that striking the signatures of Pennsylvania voters who registered to vote after signing Nader's Nomination Papers is unconstitutionally burdensome and over-broad. Yet, Candidates present no precedent to support their position. They fail to present the standards for determining if such a requirement is either burdensome or overly broad. Without this minimum showing, we cannot entertain such an argument. Further, we agree with the Commonwealth Court's determination that transmittal of a registration application is necessary to effectuate registration. The requirement that the signing of Nomination Papers occur after or simultaneous with voter registration serves the compelling governmental interest of ensuring that only qualified electors participate in the nomination process. Accordingly, we agree with the Commonwealth Court that the signature of any individual whose application was delivered or postmarked after the day that he or she signed the Nomination Papers must be stricken.