Seventh Circuit Poised to Knock Down Hurdle for Illinois Third Parties

CHICAGO (CN) – The Seventh Circuit lent a sympathetic ear Friday to the Libertarian Party’s challenge to an Illinois requirement that third parties run a full slate of candidates to get on the ballot.

The Illinois Election Code requires new political parties that wish to enter candidates for office in a political subdivision, such as a county or the state, to submit a petition “signed by qualified voters equaling in number not less than 5 percent of the number of voters who voted at the next preceding regular election,” for that subdivision.

In addition, new parties must submit a complete list 134 days before the election, naming a full slate of candidates for offices in the state or county in which it wishes to run.

Established political parties are not subject to either rule….

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