Doesn't PA have tight ballot restrictions?
Yes, the two corporate-controlled parties have a heavy hand in Pennsylvania and the restrictions are tighter than in many states. For example, when I lived in California I typically saw 6 or 7 choices for President on the ballot. (of course there would also be 20 or so legitimate write-in choices) In my first Pennsylvania election, 2012, I only saw four choices. I think they were Johnson, Obama, Romney, and Stein. There were also a few legitimate write-in choices. In 2008 and 2012 it was not a problem for me. I voted for Obama in 2008 and for Romney in 2012. It is only when both the Democrat and the Republican are unappealing that this becomes a problem.
My guess is that there will be at least four named choices on the ballot along with a number of write-in candidates. I expect that the candidates of the Libertarians, the Green Party, the Constitution Party, the Justice Party, the AIP, and the Peace & Freedom Party will get enough signatures to either be named on the ballot or be legitimate write-in candidates. If there's a candidate from one of the smaller parties that you support, such as the Socialist Worker's Party candidate, then you just have to start a petition drive. I think that August 1 is the last day to file for the general election. According to Ballotpedia.org, the last time the Socialist Worker's Party had a candidate on the PA ballot was 1976, when they managed to get the required 30184 signatures and pay the ten thousand dollar fee by August 1.
Notably, Pennsylvania also has a "sore loser" law which could effectively prevent a candidate who sought, and failed, to get a major party nomination from being on the ballot as an independent candidate. No amount of paperwork or money would put Trump on the PA ballot, either named or as a write-in candidate, if he fails to secure the GOP nomination.
