§ 977Objections to Nomination Petitions and Papers

All nomination petitions and papers received and filed
within the periods limited by this act shall be deemed to be
valid, unless, within seven days after the last day for filing
said nomination petition or paper, a petition is presented to
the court specifically setting forth the objections thereto,
and praying that the said petition or paper be set aside. A
copy of said petition shall, within said period, be served on
the officer or board with whom said nomination petition or paper
was filed. Upon the presentation of such a petition, the court
shall make an order fixing a time for hearing which shall not
be later than ten days after the last day for filing said
nomination petition or paper, and specifying the time and manner
of notice that shall be given to the candidate or candidates
named in the nomination petition or paper sought to be set
aside. On the day fixed for said hearing, the court shall
proceed without delay to hear said objections, and shall give
such hearing precedence over other business before it, and shall
finally determine said matter not later than fifteen (15) days
after the last day for filing said nomination petitions or
papers. If the court shall find that said nomination petition
or paper is defective under the provisions of section 976, or
does not contain a sufficient number of genuine signatures of
electors entitled to sign the same under the provisions of this
act, or was not filed by persons entitled to file the same, it
shall be set aside. If the objections relate to material errors
or defects apparent on the face of the nomination petition or
paper, the court, after hearing, may, in its discretion, permit
amendments within such time and upon such terms as to payment
of costs, as the said court may specify. In case any such
petition is dismissed, the court shall make such order as to
the payment of the costs of the proceedings, including witness
fees, as it shall deem just. If a person shall sign any
nomination petitions or papers for a greater number of
candidates than he is permitted under the provisions of this
act, if said signatures bear the same date, they shall, upon
objections filed thereto, not be counted on any petition or
paper and if they bear different dates, they shall be counted
in the order of their priority of date, for only so many persons
as there are candidates to be nominated or elected. The office
of the Prothonotary of the Commonwealth Court and the office
of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the various offices
of prothonotary of the court of common pleas shall be open
between the hours of eight-thirty o'clock A.M. and five o'clock
P.M. on the last day to withdraw after filing nomination
petitions and on the last day to file objections to nomination
petitions.
   (977 amended Feb. 13, 1998, P.L.72, No.18)