As published in the PIttsburgh Post Gazette, December 25, 2006
The real voting problem: third-party or independent candidates are shut out
Paper ballots may stop votes disappearing from recounts ("In Praise of Paper" by Bruce Schneier, Dec. 3 Forum), but they won't stop candidates disappearing from Pennsylvania ballots.
2006 saw no Pennsylvania third party or independent statewide candidates because unfair rules required over 67,000 ballot access signatures. Major-party statewide nomine...