Libertarians hope to put LP in play in Peoria

 Another Libertarian candidate makes it on the ballot | Week.com 25 News - Alex Menke:

August 18, 2020 - "Peoria, Ill. - A rare event in local election history as nine Libertarians have made it onto the November ballots. After a court battle over verifying signatures, Chad Grimm joins the rest of the third party candidates already on there....

"Grimm is running against Jehan Gordon-Booth for the 92nd District in the House of Representatives.

"'I'm extraordinary in support of the small business owner. I'm absolutely for lower taxes, less government. I'm also to the left of her on criminal justice which she pretends to champion,' explained Grimm.

"Libertarians are also seeking seats like coroner, auditor, board members in both Peoria and Tazewell County. Peoria County Election Commission's Executive Director, Thomas Bride, calls this local election history in the making.

"'We've only had one independent or third-party candidate in the last 10-12 years that I've been doing this. So it's extremely rare. It's not as rare at the state level, but on a local level it's more rare,' said Bride. 

"Bride thinks the state lowering the required signature number is a reason behind the change. 'In Peoria County you needed a little over 3,000 and it was [cut] down to about 330 signatures needed for the county wide race. They were allowed to collect signatures online which they haven't been able to do before. It dramatically lowered the bar [from what] it has been in the past,' said Bride.

"Bride said more people on the ballot means more choices for the voters. Grimm hopes he and the Libertarian party is the choice people are looking for."

Read more: https://week.com/2020/08/18/another-libertarian-candidate-makes-it-on-the-ballot/

Lockdown makes ballot petitioning impossible, Illinois 3rd parties tell court

New parties sue over Illinois election rules | Illinois Times - Rebecca Anzel:

April 9, 2020 -  "Social distancing and stay-at-home orders, instituted to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic, are in direct conflict with Illinois’ ballot eligibility requirements, the Libertarian and Green parties of Illinois allege in a lawsuit filed Thursday. Both are considered 'new' parties under state election rules, meaning a candidate running for office under those banners must receive a greater number of in-person petition signatures than those with 'established' parties — typically, the Democrats and Republicans.

"Libertarians and Greens have from March 24 until June 22 to gather enough signatures — in person with a canvasser watching — to qualify for inclusion on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. But party officials allege meeting that threshold will be 'practically impossible' given Gov. JB Pritzker’s social distancing and stay-at-home orders.

"The parties are asking that Illinois’ signature collection mandates be waived or suspended this general election cycle so their candidates may be on the ballot, and also that the state reimburse their attorney’s fees. Pritzker’s office did not respond to separate letters sent from the two parties in mid-March, nor did a spokesperson return a request for comment from Capitol News Illinois.

"The Illinois State Board of Elections, in a letter, said it is unable to assist.... It would take a court order or the General Assembly amending current law to address this concern, an elections board spokesperson said.

"Candidates running as Democrats or Republicans already have a guaranteed spot on the general election ballot. Under statute, the parties were allowed to petition in autumn and candidates were chosen in the March primary election. Those running under the banner of a 'new' party or independent must collect petition signatures in the spring.

"An 'established' party candidate for president ... needs at least 3,000 signatures or more if someone challenges their validity. That same person would need 5,000 signatures to run for U.S. Senate. Independents or those in a 'new' party, including Libertarians and Greens, need at least 25,000 signatures for both positions.....

"The Libertarian and Green parties point to action taken by other states as examples of what Illinois’ government should consider. Voters in Arizona and New Jersey can sign candidates’ petitions electronically and those in Denver, Colorado, and the District of Columbia can use an application called E-Sign, which validates signatures against voter rolls."

Read more: https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/new-parties-sue-over/Content?oid=12034033

Navy vet Jackson runs for Illinois governor (video)

Libertarian Kash Jackson Joins Race for Illinois Governor | Chicago Tonight | WTTW - Siobhan Neela-Stock:

May 2, 2018 - "He spent almost two decades in the U.S. Navy – and now he’s running for governor of Illinois. Libertarian candidate Kash Jackson ... has called Illinois home for the past six years. He rents a small farmhouse in Lake County – he used to own a home from 2009 to 2015 but he says the property taxes caught up to him.

"'My property taxes doubled from $4,500 to $9,000 in that time frame,' Jackson said.

"State spending is one of the key issues Jackson is focusing on, as his campaign website outlines. He wants to stop the Illinois government from continuing to raise taxes.  As a Libertarian candidate, he’s a proponent of limited government....

"Jackson said his biggest hurdle has been changing people’s perceptions about third-party candidates. But he said the Democratic and Republican parties only represent a minority of constituents. Jackson is trying to reach Illinois citizens, who he said represent a majority of the population, 'who feel they don’t have a voice,' he said.

Read more: https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/05/02/libertarian-kash-jackson-joins-race-illinois-governor 'via Blog this'

3 contest Libertarian gov. nomination in Illinois

Tom Kacich | 3 Libertarians think they're better choices for governor | News-Gazette.com - Champagne-Urbana News-Gazette:

February 21, 2018 - "Third parties historically have done poorly in Illinois gubernatorial races.... The best a Libertarian has done was Chad Grimm's 3.4 percent in 2014.

"But don't tell Kash Jackson, Matthew Scaro or Jon Stewart that they're wasting their time running for governor as Libertarians.

"'I think people are going to look not for a billionaire in November, but for somebody from the trenches who has experience, and that's me,' said Stewart, a 51-year-old former professional wrestler ('The Illustrious Jonnie Stewart') who lives in Deerfield and runs a used-car dealership in Chicago.

"'Illinois is broken,' said Scaro, a 35-year-old Chicagoan who calls himself a serial entrepreneur. 'It is a state filled with fraud and corruption, and I believe that the Democrats and Republicans cannot get along on anything except raising taxes. Only a Libertarian sitting in that seat in Springfield can straighten this state out and handle (House Speaker) Michael Madigan.'

"'I've slept in the back of a Ford Focus for several days and I'm 6-foot-1. I've slept in peoples' homes and in my truck. It is a lot of work and that's my commitment,' said Jackson, a 39-year-old veteran of 20 years in the Navy. 'My prediction is that Bruce Rauner gets the nod and J.B. Pritzker gets the nod. Then you're going to have competing interest between a billionaire, a multimillionaire and a middle-class guy who's been a political activist fighting for human and constitutional rights since he left the Navy'....

"The way the Libertarians choose their nominee could not be more different from the lengthy, expensive, TV ads-centric way the Democrats and Republicans will.

The Libertarian Party will meet at a Bloomington hotel the weekend of March 2 and 3. Only those who have been registered state party members for at least 120 days can vote on the party ticket."

Read more: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-02-21/tom-kacich-3-libertarians-think-theyre-better-choices-governor.html
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Illinois laws keeping Libertarians off ballot

Ballot Laws Muffle As McLean County Libertarians Try to Make Some Noise | Peoria Public Radio - Ryan Denham, WGLT:

October 10, 2017 - "When you’re running for elected office, you need to get people to sign your nominating petitions to get on the ballot. It can be a slog, with every waking moment pestering shoppers leaving grocery stores or asking your neighbors for their John Hancock.

"For Christopher Howick of Bloomington, it’s even worse. Howick is running for the Illinois House in 2018, the seat currently held by state Rep. Keith Sommer, R-Morton. But because Howick is a Libertarian — not a legally established party statewide — he must collect a minimum of 2,500 signatures to get on the ballot, five times as many as Sommer and Democratic challenger Jill Blair....

"The issue of ballot access has new urgency in McLean County, as local Libertarians try to make some noise and inroads against the two-party system. Libertarians ... like Howick are making runs for McLean County Board and the Illinois House. It’s a similar story statewide, with three Libertarians mounting runs for governor....

"Libertarians cheered last month after winning an appellate court victory on the so-called 'full slate requirement.' That rule, which was invalidated by a lower court, required lesser-known political parties to mount candidates for all offices in the area where they want to compete — something that even Democrats and Republicans can rarely do. An appellate court upheld the previous ruling....

"Illinois tends to be 'very hostile' to the so-called 'minor' parties — anything other than a Democrat or Republican — according to Kerri Milita, an assistant professor in the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University.

"'It’s one of the more restrictive states in the country for how tough they make it for non-major parties to get on the ballot,' said Milita, an expert in direct democracy and election laws.... 'The real reason (for the higher signature requirements) is to protect their duopoly,' Milita said of Democrats and Republicans.

The question then becomes, how high do you set the bar for signatures? After all, Howick’s minimum of 2,500 signatures is really more like 5,000, to protect himself in case his political opponents successfully challenge any of his signatures. It’s a buffer.

"For a Libertarian to successfully get on the ballot statewide to run for governor, he or she would need to collect 25,000 signatures. Republicans and Democrats only need 5,000."

Read more: http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/ballot-laws-muffle-mclean-county-libertarians-try-make-some-noise#stream/0
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IL Comptroller puts Libertarian on transition team

Former Libertarian Candidate for Comptroller Tapped for Transition Team - Kitty Testa, Libertarian Republic:

December 8, 2016- "According to a press release issued by the newly installed Illinois Comptroller, Susana Mendoza, Claire Ball, the Libertarian candidate who also vied for the position during the election, has been named to Mendoza’s transition team....

"In a statement via Facebook Ball said, 'Before anyone thinks otherwise, let me make this perfectly clear and state that I *WILL* be running again in 2018 as the Libertarian candidate for state Comptroller. This transition team is to help get the new Comptroller up to speed so our state can, at the minimum, keep moving along. I want to help in any way that I can, so things don’t get worse, and help pinpoint some of the (many) issues that need to be addressed within the office'....

"This is a unique opportunity for a Libertarian candidate. Ball will be in the position to get a glimpse into the state-wide office she seeks and to influence its operations in a practical way."
Read more: http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/libertarian-candidate-tapped-for-transition-team/


New Illinois comptroller faces red ink, asks 'Please bear with me' - Chicago Tribune - Monica Garcia::

December 5, 2016 - "Democrat Susana Mendoza was sworn in Monday as state comptroller during a small ceremony at the Capitol, asking for patience and prayers as she takes office with lllinois' pile of unpaid bills topping $10.4 billion....

"Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the Legislature remain deadlocked on a budget. The nearly two-year-long stalemate has led to a huge spike in debt as court orders and laws still require the comptroller to cut checks for some key services even if there's no money in state coffers to cover the costs."
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-mendoza-sworn-in-met-1206-20161205-story.html

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50,000 sign to put Libertarians on Illinois ballot

Libertarians seeking Illinois posts including U.S. Senate, state comptroller - News - State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL - Bernard Schoenberg:

June 27, 2016 - "Monday marked the deadline for independent or non-major party candidates to file for election, and several submitted petitions to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. Illinois Libertarians filed more than double the number of signatures required.

"Kent McMillen, 54, a paralegal from Melrose Park, is running for U.S. Senate, and Claire Ball, 33, of Addison is entering the election for state comptroller.

"Brian Lambrecht, Ball’s husband and field operations director for the Illinois Libertarian Party, said the petitions will also serve to add to the ballot former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson – the party’s presidential candidate – and his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld....

"Lambrecht lamented the 'disgusting' rule that statewide independent candidates or those outside established parties need five times the valid signatures to run – 25,000 instead of 5,000.
And he said the party turned in 53,000 signatures in order to have enough to withstand a likely challenge....

"McMillen said he wants to eventually abolish the Internal Revenue Service and federal departments of commerce, transportation and education. He also wants to transition away from the Social Security System to personal savings accounts for younger Americans.... He said the federal education department 'doesn’t educate anybody,' and as for the commerce agency, 'Businesses should deal with each other. (The Department of) Commerce kind of promotes certain types of businesses at the expense of others)'. Asked about transportation, McMillen said there should just be a 'very small' oversight agency to help coordinate projects carried out by the private sector.

"A news release said McMillen would also propose 'we begin closing our military bases overseas and bringing the troops home.' They wouldn’t all close 'on Day 1,' he told reporters at the Statehouse, but 'I think we have too many soldiers in places like Germany, Japan, Italy.' McMillen works for the Vedder Price law firm in Chicago.

"Ball stressed that she is an accountant seeking the financial job. She is employed by U.S. Cellular and said she is working toward being a certified public accountant. She said not being a Democrat or Republican would give her independence.

Read more: http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160627/libertarians-seeking-illinois-posts-including-us-senate-state-comptroller
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Illinois Libertarians beat 'full slate' law

"Insurmountable Burden" Law For Third Parties Stricken, Paving The Way For Libertarian Candidates - Amanda Vinickey, National Public Radio - WUIS:

February 15, 2016 - "A just-issued court order does away with a law that third-party candidates say makes it difficult to run for certain offices in Illinois.

"The lawsuit dates back to 2012, when Libertarian Party candidates challenged a trio of state election requirements, including the full slate law.

"'If the Libertarian party, or the Green Party, or the Constitution Party, or any other new party would want to run for governor, they would also have to find a qualified candidates for Attorney General, and a candidate for Secretary of State, Comptroller, etc.,' Libertarian Party Chair Lex Green explains.

"The same requirement applies for county-wide offices -- but only for non-qualified parties. Democrats and Republicans need not run a whole slate; they're free to run candidates for single statewide or county offices and have no one run for others....

"Green says recruiting and running a full slate is a 'nearly insurmountable burden' for new parties.

"He says defenders of the law use 'high-minded language, to say "We're trying to keep whackos and nut jobs from getting on the ballot"....

"I would argue that just because they have an R or D after their name doesn't mean they're any more sane or less so than the Libertarians,' he says. 'To me you can say whatever you want but it hides a political agenda. Because if you make the burden of getting on the ballot higher for somebody than for somebody else, then this is obviously unequal treatment under the law, which in my book is wrong ... I personally think that it is all political maneuvering to keep the Democrats and Republicans in power in Illinois.'

"The order issued Friday by Judge Andrea R. Wood of the Northern District U.S. Court finds the full slate law unconstitutional. Her reasoning isn't yet known; a decision hasn't been published."

Read more: http://wuis.org/post/insurmountable-burden-law-third-parties-stricken-paving-way-libertarian-candidates

Illinois Libertarians challenge ban on donations from medical marijuana companies

Illinois Libertarians Sue Over Medical Marijuana Campaign Finance Ban | WUIS 91.9 - Brian Mackey:

November 25, 2015 - "A federal lawsuit is seeking to overturn Illinois’ ban on campaign contributions from medical marijuana companies.

"The case was brought last week by two Libertarian Party political candidates: Claire Ball of Addison, who says she's running for comptroller, and Scott Schluter of Marion, who says he's running for state representative. They say they favor legalization of drugs, and that companies that agree with them should be able to support their campaigns.

"When Illinois legislators approved the medical marijuana pilot program in 2013, they boasted of passing the strictest medical marijuana law in the country. Rep. Lou Lang, a Democrat from Skokie, was a lead sponsor of the bill. He says the contribution ban, which applies to cannabis growers and dispensaries, was among a number of provisions meant to appease 'conservative' and 'hesitant' colleagues....

"'I would prefer this not be in the bill,' Lang said in a telephone interview. 'Not because I’m looking for campaign donations from people in the marijuana industry, but because I’m not sure that it’s great public policy to pick out one particular industry or two particular industries, and single them out for a clouding of their free speech rights, and not do it to all (industries)'....

"The specificity of the Illinois law piqued the interest of Benjamin Barr, a lawyer with the Pillar of Law Institute in Washington, D.C. He’s one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Ball and Schluter.

"'It’s strikingly bizarre to me for the state of Illinois to take this blatant and open of a position,' Barr said in a telephone interview. 'Usually, campaign finance (prohibition), when it has problems, applies heavy-handedly to one group. But they’re not named out in the law, because that’s just jumping up and down and signaling, "Look, we’re going after this particular organization or this set of speakers."'

"Barr says he’s not aware of a similar ban in any of the other roughly two-dozen states experimenting with medical marijuana....

"The U.S. Supreme Court in recent years has repeatedly ruled that spending on campaigns is essentially political speech, and thus protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

"Barr says it’s particularly important that his clients, who favor the legalization of drugs, be able to seek support from like-minded businesses: 'They're third parties. They have new ideas. They're disrupting the status quo. And what's most important to them right now? To be able to associate and to be able to get funding, so that they're able to speak to people in Illinois, and they're able to share their message.'"

Read more: http://wuis.org/post/illinois-libertarians-sue-over-medical-marijuana-campaign-finance-ban#stream/0
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Libertarians appealing to fed-up U.S. voters

Fed up voters in Illinois (and around US): Why Libertarian may tip governor's race | Fox News - Douglas E. Schoen:

October 16, 2014 - "In a year of unusual candidates, Libertarian Chad Grimm may be the most atypical of the bunch.

"The 33-year old gym manager from Peoria is polling at 7%, more than twice the margin by which Democrat incumbent Pat Quinn leads Republican challenger Bruce Rauner....

"He is pro-life, pro-gun, and anti-tax, but also pro-marijuana legalization, pro-marriage equality, and he has derided the wealthy Rauner as a 'billionaire venture capitalist.' Grimm promises to lead Illinois into an era of 'less taxes, less prisons and less red tape.'

"America doesn’t have much experience with Libertarians. We know Ron and Rand Paul by now and they’ve both raised the profile of Libertarianism tremendously. That said, candidates like Grimm still lack a natural constituency who will support them.

"It follows that the fact that Grimm is polling at 7%, enough to decide the outcome of the election and then some, begs the question of what’s going on with our two-party system.

"To this end, Grimm is benefitting from the same pervasive dissatisfaction with American politics that is shaping races from Kansas to South Dakota to Maine.

"Voters are angry and frustrated with the state of politics in America. And it looks like many of those who may have once held their noses and voted for a Democrat or a Republican are finally starting to get serious about other options.

"Over 40% of Americans are now identifying as independents. We’re seeing their voting power in action in both Kansas and South Dakota’s senate races where independents Greg Orman and Larry Pressler are not only in contention, but leading in some polls.

"But in Illinois, where politics is notoriously rough and four of the last seven governors have wound up in prison, any candidate who wasn’t a Democrat or a Republican has been forced off the ballot, except for Grimm."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/16/fed-up-voters-in-illinois-and-around-us-why-libertarian-may-tip-governor-race/
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Union local helping Libertarian in Illinois

Liberal Union Backs Libertarian Candidate in Illinois Governor Race | Washington Free Beacon - Brent Scher:

October 16, 2014 - "A large liberal union that has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to reelect Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is now throwing its financial weight behind the Libertarian candidate in an apparent effort to pull votes away from Republican Bruce Rauner.

"It was recently revealed that Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) will be conducting a large scale direct mail and robocall campaign to inform voters that Libertarian Chad Grimm is a more conservative candidate than Rauner.

"Recent polls show that Grimm is pulling in around 7 percent of voters in a race that is becoming increasingly close between Rauner and Democratic incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn....

"Last week, IOUE Local 150 contributed $30,000 to Grimm....

"The union claims that its support for Grimm is not an attempt to pull voters from Rauner, but a way to represent the various political values of its membership.

"'Local 150 is an organization with a diverse membership, and we make great efforts to encourage our members to be politically active and to vote in every election,' said communications director Ed Maher in a statement given to the Washington Free Beacon. 'While a majority of our Illinois membership has indicated its support for Governor Pat Quinn, we are committed to offering a viable choice for members who do not support Democrats.

"'Chad Grimm, the Libertarian candidate for governor, recognizes the value that unions add to Illinois’ economy and agrees that we accomplish more as a state when we focus on job creation instead of attacking unions,' he said. 'Grimm’s political values match those of a segment of our membership, and we therefore offered our support.'"

Read more: http://freebeacon.com/politics/liberal-union-backs-libertarian-candidate-in-illinois-governor-race/
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LP candidate for Illinois governor stays on ballot

Judge: Libertarian candidate for Illinois Governor can be on ballot | FOX2now.com - Associated Press:

September 18, 2014 - "A Sangamon County judge on Thursday rejected the Republican Party’s attempt to have a Libertarian candidate for Illinois governor struck from the Nov. 4 ballot.

"Judge Patrick Kelley denied GOP attorneys’ appeal of a State Board of Elections decision to allow Chad Grimm of Peoria on the ballot. His name will appear alongside those of Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner.

"The GOP attorneys had challenged the validity of the voter signatures gathered by several Libertarian petition circulators. Grimm, a fiscal conservative who advocates minimalist government, could draw votes that otherwise would go to Rauner in what’s expected to be a close race.

"Kelley found that the evidence supported the board’s decision, noting that the court could overturn it 'only if it finds the rulings are clearly erroneous.'

"Illinois GOP attorney John Fogarty had argued that thousands of signatures were invalid because they were illegible, not genuine and because petition circulators didn’t reside at their stated addresses....

"Fogarty declined comment Thursday on whether attorneys would appeal."

Read more: http://fox2now.com/2014/09/18/judge-libertarian-candidate-for-illinois-governor-can-be-on-ballot/
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Illinois LP files criminal complaint over GOP tactics in ballot access investigation

Libertarians file criminal complaint against the GOP | Peoria Public Radio - Hannah Meisel:

September 1, 2014 - "The Illinois Libertarian Party has filed a criminal complaint against the state's Republican Party. The Libertarians allege the GOP hired armed private investigators to go to the homes of voters who had signed the petitions to put the Libertarian slate on the November election ballot.

"The PI's supposedly had guns visible when asking individuals to sign an affidavit confirming that their original signature was NOT valid. Brian Lamprecht, with the Illinois Libertarian Party, says the tactics the GOP used end up hurting democracy.

"'When people look in the news and they see that armed private investigators are showing up at their doors, and people are being intimidated into signing affidavits, that's a scary thing to happen to citizens anywhere.,'

"Lamprecht says Libertarians don't buy Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner's claim that he knew nothing about the armed investigators, despite previous ties linking those involved to Rauner's campaign. The Libertarians have filed criminal complaints with the Illinois Attorney General and the Cook County State's Attorney against both the GOP and Rauner's campaign."

Read more: http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/libertarians-file-criminal-complaint-against-gop
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Libertarians survive Illinois ballot challenge

Coming in Illinois’s November election: Term limits, no; Libertarians, yes - News - Journal Standard - Freeport, IL- Kerry Lester, Associated Press:

August 27, 2014 - "The Illinois State Board of Elections dealt a double blow today to Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner.

"First, it finalized a Nov. 4 ballot that does not include a referendum he championed to limit the terms of legislators. And it allowed on the ballot a Libertarian candidate who could undermine his support among conservatives....

 "In the nationally watched governor’s race, board members voted to not include Green Party, Constitution and independent bidders for governor on the ballot because the parties gathered an inadequate number of required petition signatures. However, they allowed the Libertarian ticket, Chad Grimm and Alexander Cummings, alongside Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti, and Democrats Gov. Pat Quinn and Paul Vallas.

"Third-party candidates typically take about 5 percent of the vote, with recent election history showing their ability to swing a very close race. In 2010, Quinn defeated Republican Sen. Bill Brady by less than 1 percent of 3.6 million votes, with independent, Green and Libertarian candidates receiving 7 percent of the total."

"Grimm, a 33-year-old Peoria resident, has made previous bids for state representative and Peoria City Council. He is running on a platform that includes eliminating state income taxes and privatizing education. He also calls for ... eliminating regulations on firearms — other than gun owners being at least 18 — and 'ending the war on marijuana'."

Read more: http://www.journalstandard.com/article/20140822/News/140829707 
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Republicans try to get Libertarians off ballot in Illinois

Libertarian, Green Party politicians seeing blocks by established parties - News - Journal Star - Peoria, IL - Chris Kaergard:

July 16, 2014 - "Libertarian governor candidate Chad Grimm of Peoria, running mate Alexander Cummings of West Peoria and Green Party secretary of state candidate Sheldon Schafer of Peoria could be booted from the ballot along with the rest of their nominees for constitutional office thanks to the objections filed by Democratic and Republican party loyalists....

"Illinois law requires candidates from third parties — and those running as independents — to submit many more signatures already to get on the ballot than those running under the banner of the established parties, Republican and Democrat. For statewide office, while candidates from the two familiar parties have to file 5,000 names on nominating petitions, others must come up with 25,000 people willing to provide a John Hancock. (It’s higher still in some congressional races; in the 18th District, a candidate would have to file more than 16 times the 1,014 signatures a GOP candidate would need or the 626 a Democrat has to file.) ....

"'They’re not going to try to make it easy for people who are going to challenge the monopoly,' said Kent Redfield, an emeritus professor at the University of Illinois-Springfield. 'The rules are written by the people in power … The Democrats and Republicans will fight each other on (changing) different aspects of election law on early voting or same-day registration, but when the issue is a challenge to the monopoly that the Democratic and Republican parties have on Illinois elections, clearly the rules are written to discourage third parties and independent candidates.'

"The Libertarian Party ticket turned in 43,921 total signatures, and not quite 24,000 have been challenged by a pair connected to state Republicans. The Green Party ticket fielded just fewer than 30,000 signatures and about 12,000 have been challenged by an official connected to state Democrats. Constitution Party candidates also face a similar challenge."

Read more: http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140716/News/140719310

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