For many years, Illinois has permitted anyone to be on the ballot who files a petition of even one signature, if no one challenges that candidate. However, for the first time, in 2018 the State Board of Elections will reject anyone who doesn’t file at least 10% of the required number of signatures. This appears to be an administrative decision, not a decision caused by any statutory change.
Do they cite a reason beyond essentially “We don’t want to keep doing the extra work of tracking more candidates”?
Just wondering. How long has the Election Board of Illinois been going, “One signature? Close enough.”
Just more LAWLESS TYRANT stuff.
Michael, ever since the 1930’s, at least.
If the state doesn’t have to print candidate names on the ballot, it can refuse to count votes for those candidates as citizens. OTOH, if voters write-in candidates’ names, what excuse does the state have to ignore a clear expression of intent by the voters? Sheer censorship.
There’s long been inconsistency on how the State Board of Elections and the many local election authorities in Illinois handle this. County Clerks regularly reject such petitions as invalid “on their face.” They just aren’t allowed to do research such as verifying the validity of signatures without a challenge.
See the bad olde days before govt *official* ballots — printed party ballots or write-ins.
Cost now to check each signature ???