The Illinois bill to reduce the number of signatures for independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties, which had already been introduced in the Senate, is now also introduced in the House. The House bill is HB 3535, introduced by Representative Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville). Like SB 141, it lowers the number of general election signatures so that they match the number required for the same office in the primary.
The primary petition requirements differ for each party that has a primary, so the bill makes the general election requirement the same as for the party that has the higher primary requirement.
Is this make any difference ?
Having the bill introduced in both chambers indicates there’s some decent support for ballot access reforms in the legislature now. Will it be enough to overcome Mike Madigan’s influence (generally extremely hostile towards third parties and Ind.’s)? That remains to be seen. But it’s still something to watch and talk to one’s legislators about if one lives in IL (as I do).
Given the current state of emergency with COVID-19 these bills should or an even more streamlined approach should be adopted to ensure fair elections. It is both unrealistic and unsafe for “new parties” and independent petitioners to be expected to petition, especially considering the number of signatures required.