‘Empty Chair’ Rule Prohibits Local Candidates’ Night for First Time on Record

For more than 50 years, the League of Women Voters of Centre County has hosted a televised public forum with candidates for local political offices ahead of election night. But after several nominees declined invitations or didn’t answer at all, this fall’s Candidates’ Night is off the table.

On Tuesday, the League of Women Voters of Centre County’s presiding officer, Jan Koch, confirmed the local chapter won’t host Candidates’ Night ahead of November’s general election. In an email, she cited the Federal Election Commission’s “empty chair” rule that prohibits hosting forums for an elective office when only one candidate participates. The FEC’s guidance aligned with the League of Women Voters, which recommends against hosting events for state and local races when only one candidate is present.

“The state League of Women Voters concurred and urged us not to go forward given the lack of participation,” Koch said.

Candidates’ Night was previously slated to host eight candidates who are campaigning for local offices, including:

• 77th State House District
  • H. Scott Conklin (Democrat)
  • Stephen Yetsko (Republican)
• 82nd State House District
  • Justin V. Behrens (Republican)
  • Paul R. Takac, Jr. (Democrat)
• 171st State House District
  • Robert Zeigler (Democrat)
  • Kerry A. Benninghoff (Republican)
• U.S. House of Representatives — PA 15th District
  • Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (Republican)
  • Michael Molesevich (Democrat)

According to Koch, the four invited Democrats each indicated their willingness to participate in Candidates’ Night. The four Republicans chose to decline or not respond. Additionally, the Centre County Republican Party confirmed that none of the invited GOP candidates would participate, Koch said.

The League of Women Voters of Centre County has hosted Candidates’ Night forums for more than 50 years. The chapter has previously skipped debates for uncontested races or races in which one candidate couldn’t participate, but canceling the event entirely is unprecedented, Koch said.

“To the best of our recollection, this is the first time none of the covered races have met this criterion for holding a forum, thus resulting in the cancellation of Candidates’ Night,” Koch said.

Although Candidates’ Night won’t hit local airwaves this fall, the League of Women Voters of Centre County will continue offering guidance and information for voters throughout the election cycle. Voting resources, including polling place locators, sample ballots and answers to frequently asked questions, are available on the chapter’s website and centrecountyvotes.com. A voter’s guide will also be published in local outlets like the Centre County Gazette and Centre Daily Times later this fall.

“We will continue to seek and utilize other resources that afford Centre County voters information on candidate positions on relevant issues,” Koch said.

The League of Women Voters of Centre County is a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership is open to both men and women.