In the 46th District of Pennsylvania’s State Senate, Republican Incumbent Camera Bartolotta is being challenged by Democrat James Craig. To get onto the ballot in November, Craig had to collect at least 500 signatures. When Craig turned in his signatures, he had a total of over 1,200. However, the legitimacy of more than 400 of those signatures are now being called into question. Some of the signatories are individuals who are deceased, not living in Pennsylvania or were not registered voters at the reported time of the signature.

When asked about the fraudulent signatures at a town hall event, Craig stuck to the fact that even without the 400 signatures in question, he still had enough to make it onto the ballot.

State Senator Bartolotta said she isn’t worried about Craig being on the ballot. She is concerned, however, with the integrity of the election and her constituency as a whole, calling Craig’s potential forgery “immeasurably offensive to those that participate in the electoral process.”

When Bartolotta ran four years ago as a newcomer, she ran to rid Harrisburg of what she believed were “lazy and disrespectful” politicians.

“The reason I ran four years ago was because I was tired of politicians taking advantage of their constituency,” Bartolotta said.

Many Waynesburg residents have come to find that their names and signatures are on the petitions fraudulently. One Waynesburg resident, Travis Lemley, led a charge online, via Facebook, to keep locals aware of the issue.

“In my opinion, the community has shown outrage and disgust,” Lemley said. “You cannot have a candidate that cannot be trusted.”

“Mr. Craig’s misuse and fraudulence in this matter, along with his attitude towards the same, are not that of someone you want in office. He is very callous with his responses regarding this possible petition fraud,” Lemley said. “He should know better. He is untrustworthy. You simply cannot have a person like that in office. I believe that the people of the 46th District of Pennsylvania can clearly see for themselves what he has done and they can make an educated and intelligent decision.”

While Craig has stated that his office is conducting an internal investigation, voters whose names were forged are encouraged to take the next step by contacting their district attorney’s office and file an affidavit. Lemley believes the best defense against issues such as this is to tell voters.

“I feel that voters need to be more informed. Ask, seek, and demand transparency from any candidate,” Lemley said. “Let the records speak for themselves. This is our future. Take a stand. We need more young people voting.”

Bartolotta will be debating Craig Thursday, Oct. 4 in Beaver County, and encourages everyone with questions to come and seek answers.

Bartolotta believes the election will speak for itself come Nov. 6. She said she is hopeful the people of the 46th District of Pennsylvania will demand better from candidates for office.

“We have to do better, we must do better,” Bartolotta said. “The people of the 46th District deserve better.”