Illinois petitioning for unqualified parties and independent candidates is not permitted until March 24. When the petitioning window opens, the Libertarian Party petition will list Bennett Morris for president and Bob Johnston for vice-president. Illinois does not have party petitions, but it does allow stand-ins for its candidate petitions.
Illinois Libertarians and Greens are working to persuade state legislators to pass some ballot access reform that would take effect very soon, and are also making plans for lawsuits if no relief is given. The statewide petition is 25,000 signatures. Illinois is under a “lockdown” imposed by the state government, similar to New York and California.
Thanks for including the problem we’re facing trying to get on the ballot here in Illinois. You’re literally the first news website that I’ve seen mention it. I don’t think most people realize just how egregious a violation of our First and Fourteenth Amendment rights this could be if we don’t get relief from the signature requirements. Hopefully the Democrat and Republican ruling Establishment doesn’t realize it either and are willing to help us, otherwise, if they do realize it already, they might be considering us being kept off the ballot a useful side effect of the still much needed shelter-in-place order. I wouldn’t put it past them given their decades of mistreatment against third parties and Independent candidates. If it comes to it, I hope we win the ensuing lawsuit, otherwise the precedent this will set could destroy what precious little remains of free and fair elections in this country.
COVID-19 —
excuse for TYRANNY ???
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ONE PERSON BALLOT ACCESS FORMS–
I NOMINATE ETC
SIG, NAME, ADDRESS, DATE SIGNED.
@Joshua H.
Richard Winger has always been great on getting this crucial information out there, regardless of what alternative party or independent is running for office. The people need to know what a travesty current ballot access laws are in states where certain alternative parties do not have major or recognized party status. He’s an asset to all.
The inaction by Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Elections may ultimately force our hand to have this challenged in the courts. Should a lawsuit end up being the nuclear option in this scenario, I’ve been doing what I can to get other parties and independents included in the suit.
As a result, I’ve been trying to get the Constitution Party of Illinois, their national party and independent U.S. Senate candidate and Chicago businessman Willie Wilson involved in this suit. Randy Stufflebeam, the last chair on record for CPIL, has not returned my phone calls and I’m not sure how soon Wilson will return a response.
The Libertarian and Green parties have done what they can. The Illinois Green Party published a news release asking Pritzker and ILSBoE for a ballot access reprieve. The Libertarian Party of Illinois did the same Thursday, in joint letters submitted to Pritzker and ILSBoE submitted by LPIL chair Bennett Morris and Libertarian National Committee executive director Daniel Fishman.
ILGP news release: https://www.ilgp.org/voter_suppression_03_17_20
LPIL news release: http://lpillinois.benchurl.com/c/v?e=101163B&c=14604&t=0&l=EC068BF&email=KM41D10FaPWKLdVLvJeIXyBqCyDXwEVD1BqwQ2VqVVQIn%2FBhtGcY%2FQ%3D%3D
LPIL Letters: https://heartlandnewsfeed.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Libertarian-Party-of-Illinois-Petitioning-Relief.pdf
News article: https://heartlandnewsfeed.com/2020/03/19/libertarian-party-of-illinois-seeking-ballot-access-from-state-board-of-elections-gov-pritzker/amp/
@Demo Rep
Honestly, I wouldn’t be opposed to digital petitioning or even paying an affordable filing fee in lieu of petitioning.