LWVCC: Candidates and voters both win when they participate

Centre County residents look forward to receiving the League of Women Voters of Centre County Voters Guide generously published by the Centre Daily Times and more recently by the Centre County Gazette. Voters also eagerly anticipate attending, streaming or viewing the televised broadcast of the LWVCC hosted Candidates’ Night, where attendees from opposing parties are live, side by side, and taking turns answering the same questions in a moderated format.

Such nonpartisan information is available to voters of any party. The ability to compare candidates’ views on issues of importance in the same space is invaluable to voters. And last but not least, the Voters Guide and the televised panel provides free marketing for all of the candidates. No yard sign needed! A win for the candidates and a win for the voters with this non-partisan approach.

Recently, some political parties held targeted “candidates’ nights” or town halls in which only candidates of a single party appeared. Voters were deprived of the time-tested across-the-parties presentation of different points of view by candidates of all parties. Events at which candidates of every party appear allow voters to thoughtfully consider opposing views simultaneously. Voters can decide for themselves which proposed policies are best.

What happens if candidates of one party decline an invitation to attend an all-inclusive forum? What if candidates choose not to be represented in the inclusive Voters Guide?

The Federal Election Commission passed a law that addresses that very issue called the “empty chair” ruling. FEC has said that in-person federal candidate forums such as Candidates’ Night must have participants from at least two opposing parties. If candidates from a minimum of two parties do not attend, the event cannot be held. In other words, there can be no “empty chair,” or only one side presented. The League of Women Voters of the United States, LWV of Centre County’s parent organization, supports and follows this law. The national LWV strongly encourages state and local Leagues, such as LWVCC, to follow that rule in all elections, out of an abundance of fairness to all parties.

LWVCC requests all eligible voters contact and encourage their candidates, by phone, text or email, to participate in their Voters Guide by providing or updating their answers to questions that are asked of each candidate in that race. The Voters Guide answers are provided by the candidates themselves and appear in the Guide unedited by the LWVCC. Voters are also being asked to contact and encourage their candidates by phone, text or email to participate in Candidates’ Night for 2024, which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m., in council chambers at the State College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen Street, State College.

Voters can easily find candidates who will appear on the ballot (and contact information) at VOTE411.org. Voters may submit questions via email for Candidates’ Night by Oct. 3 at lwvcentrecounty@gmail.com or by mail to LWVCC, PO Box 962, State College, PA 16804. Please indicate which race the question pertains to.

It takes just two minutes of time to confirm that a voter is eligible to vote in Centre County by checking voter registration status at centrecountyvotes.gov. This is also the place to make corrections or changes to voter’s address, name or party. Polling (voting) locations are also listed.

The election is Nov. 5. The last day to register or change voter registration is Oct. 21. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 29. See you at Candidates’ Night on Oct. 10!