Running for Office
Division of Election Administration
2023 Judicial Vacancy and Retention Elections
2023 Declarations of Retention Received
2023 Ballot Position Lottery Notice-coming soon
QUALIFICATIONS OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES AS PROVIDED BY ARTICLE V, SECTION 12 (a) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA
Justices, judges and justices of the peace shall be citizens of the Commonwealth. Justices and judges shall be members of the bar of the Supreme Court. Justices and judges of statewide courts, for a period of one year preceding their election or appointment and during their continuance in office, shall reside within the Commonwealth. Other judges and justices of the peace, for a period of one year preceding their election or appointment and during their continuance in office, shall reside within their respective districts, except as provided in this article for temporary assignments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Candidates can easily create nomination petitions online using our Candidate Survey webpage.
· The online nomination petition forms streamline the login and petition review process to reduce the amount of time candidates spend waiting in line.
· Candidates should save an electronic copy of their personalized nomination petition forms in the event they need to distribute additional forms to volunteers.
· Since the petition forms are optimized for use with our electronic filing system, it is important that candidates carefully follow the instructions for printing and copying petition pages.
If you have questions about the Candidate Survey webpage, please contact the Department of State toll-free at 1-877-868-3772, option 3.
*IMPORTANT FILING INFORMATION*
· You must file with your nomination petition a completed and notarized Candidate's Affidavit. If you are unable to obtain notarization for your Affidavit, an Unsworn Declaration must accompany the Affidavit.
· You must file nomination petition page(s) with the required number of signatures for the office you are seeking.
· You must file with your nomination petition, a copy of your Statement of Financial Interests, if applicable (not required for Federal or Political Party offices).
· You must file the original Statement of Financial Interests with the State Ethics Commission on or before the nomination petition filing deadline.
· You must submit with your nomination petition a certified check or money order in the appropriate amount payable to the 'Commonwealth of Pennsylvania' (personal checks and cash cannot be accepted).
PLEASE NOTE:
· Petitions must be printed 2-sided on 8 ½ x 11" paper, head-to-head.
· Petition pages that are not printed 2-sided will not be accepted.
· The circulator must complete the "Statement of Circulator" on each petition page after signatures are gathered.
· Signatures can be gathered only during the nomination petition circulation and filing period.
· Signatures that are dated before the first day to circulate or after the last day to circulate will not be counted.
· Remember to click the link on the petition form webpage to obtain the Statement of Financial Interests form.
Statewide and State Level Offices Eligible for Election in 2023
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
JUDGE OF THE COMMONWEALTH COURT
JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT
USEFUL LINKS
Create a personalized nomination petition form packet
View a copy of the nomination petition instructions
Nomination Petition Filing Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
"Things You Will Need" Checklist
To obtain electronic copies of nomination petitions, please email your request to
ra-elections@pa.gov.
If you have any questions, please email ra-elections@pa.gov or call 1-877-868-3772, option 3.