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Timing, costs roadblocks to moving up (PA) '08 primary
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| Contributor | Scott³ |
| Last Edited | Scott³ Jun 23, 2007 06:15pm |
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| Category | News |
| News Date | Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | An excerpt...
"Some Pennsylvania politicians -- notably Gov. Ed Rendell -- want to move the state's 2008 primary election up to as early as Feb. 5 to give Pennsylvanians a greater say over which candidates lead the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets next year.
But it would be difficult to make such a dramatic change happen, because too many legislators and officials fear that an earlier primary would cause logistical headaches for election bureaus, additional costs to counties, petition circulating difficulties for candidates and extra burdens on school boards in adopting their new budgets.
"It's dubious at best that we will be moving to an earlier primary in 2008," said Rep. Matthew Baker, R-Tioga, Republican chairman of the House State Government Committee, which held a three-hour hearing yesterday on the issue.
Because many ballot preparations would have to be started much sooner by county elections officials, "we would have to pass a law [for a Feb. 5 primary] before the end of June," Mr. Baker said. "With the new state budget still unsettled, I don't think there's enough time. Plus we heard a lot of testimony against the idea."
The state's spring primary usually is held in May, but in presidential election years it moves up to late April. The 2008 Pennsylvania primary -- to choose candidates for presidential and state legislative races -- is now set for April 22.
Holding it then will put Pennsylvania weeks behind many other states that hold presidential primaries in January, February and March.
Mr. Rendell said that would reduce the Keystone State's impact on the 2008 presidential race. With 12 million people and a prominent role in national politics, Pennsylvania should attract more attention from candidates of both parties next year, he said.
"There will be real contests for both parties' nominations in 2008," the governor said in a statement. "The election will be perhaps the most important in many, many years." |
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