On August 2, the Illinois Democratic Party challenges to two minor party petitions appear to have come to nothing. The statewide Green Party slate, and the Socialist Equality petition in one legislative district, seem to have enough valid signatures. The challenge process involved representatives from each side sitting for days in the offices of the State Board of Elections, while employees checked each signature. Each side has an opportunity to object to the employee’s conclusion that a signature is either valid or invalid. The process is now complete and both petitions have enough. However, Democrats are still free to challenge the final results in court.
The Green Party petition needed 25,000 valid signatures, and had 39,000 raw signatures. The Socialist Equality petition, for state rep in the 52nd district, needed 2,985 signatures and contained 4,991 raw signatures. Candidates for US House and state legislature in Illinois need signatures equal to 5% of the last vote cast in that district.
Independents would have needed 10% of the last vote for state legislature, but their petitions were due last December.
It’s been two months since the 7th Circuit heard Lee v. Keith (ISBE) that says the 10% and the December deadline for independents are both wrong. I’d suspect maybe October but probably after the election for that decision. Or tomorrow for all we know.