Under current Pa. law, only statewide candidates must file 6th Tuesday pre-election reports, which cover the period between June 8 and September 22. Other nominees, including state house and senate candidates, can wait to detail their expenses until October 23, 2026, the 2d Friday before the actual election. This system worked when most people voted on election day. People could inform themselves in advance about who is financing electoral hopefuls. That system no longer works.
Changes in our election laws now permit Mail-in Ballots and Ballot by Demand well in advance of election day. Candidates have responded by intensifying their fundraising efforts much sooner than in previous campaigns. You can see this in your mailbox on a near daily basis. Those who wait to make their pitches risk losing a critical segment of voters who prefer the convenience and simplicity of MIBs and Ballot-by-Demand over standing in line at the polling place.
The problem is that many who chose to exercise these voting alternatives have no idea who is funding the campaigns of the politicians they choose. They are unable to follow the money in any meaningful way.
For that reason, the state legislature should change current campaign finance laws to make 6th Tuesday pre-election reports mandatory in all campaigns.
Finally saw a campaign ad detailing the lousily dangerous driving record of Warren.
ReplyDeleteIt really doesn't make a difference. Very few people actually research before they vote. Most just blindly press the "D" or the "R" button.
ReplyDelete"The problem is that many who chose to exercise these voting alternatives have no idea who is funding the campaigns of the politicians they choose."
ReplyDeleteThat's the idea, silly naive boy. It's time to end early voting. One day to vote, with exceptions for military serving out of the country. Dragging out voting and counting is fertile ground for cheating. We all know it.
Those TV ads for Brooks are really good (production of, themes); must have cost big bucks, coming from outside the region, most likely.
ReplyDeleteThose TV ads against Brooks are really good (production of, themes); must have cost big bucks, coming from outside the region, most likely.
DeleteBrooks is an embarrassment! I have no idea how someone can support such a loser- he screwed everyone in his life, including his family.
DeleteIs Stacy Garrity still running? I haven't seen 1 ad or mailer from her campaign. She's getting pummeled by Shapiro ads.
DeleteIs Brooks using the dough he ripped off from his family? In fairness, politicians are required to be dishonest crooks and he carries those qualifications like a badge of honor.
ReplyDeleteYou’re trying to fix a problem that shouldn’t exist.
ReplyDeleteThe worse problem is that a candidate could commit murder on Oct 31, and could already have a majority of his vote in the bank. Add to that the increased risk of cheating, the condensed campaigning time in the primaries (which of course favors incumbents) and the downward effect on the number of candidate debates, to name a few other problems caused by election season instead of Election Day.
The problem isn’t the campaign reporting, it’s that we’re not voting at the same time any more.