Philadelphia District Attorney

Description

The District Attorney has power over people suspected of criminal behavior under Pennsylvania or Philadelphia law. The District Attorney has the power to indict (or not) -- in other words, the District Attorney decides whether or not a suspect will be charged with a crime. The District Attorney also has the power to prosecute (or not) -- in other words, the District Attorney decides whether or not a person will go to trial.

Application Guidelines

1.) Check your voter registration at the Philadelphia County Board of Election to make sure you are registered in the district and not registered in a major party (Democrat or Republican). In order to be eligible to be the candidate of a political body or an Independent candidate, one may not be registered and enrolled as a member of a major political party between thirty (30) days before the primary and extending through the general or municipal election of that same year. 2.) Contact the Philadelphia County Board of Election to ascertain the physical requirements for the Nomination Papers as well as any office-specific qualifications, the filing fee and the number of signatures required. 3.) Contact the Philadelphia County Board of Ethics and the Philadelphia County Board of Elections to find out what campaign finance and other reporting laws will apply to you as a candidate. 4.) Circulate Nomination Papers and submit them to the Philadelphia County Board of Elections. NB: Pennsylvania election law is complicated and often based on case history rather than the plain English meaning of the statute. Candidates are often thrown off the ballot as a result of law suits. When in doubt, consult an election lawyer.

Submit application to:
Philadelphia County Board of Elections, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, US