A federal judge has made it a little easier for third parties to qualify for state ballots in November.
Independent candidate for the Illinois Senate in the 37th District, Marcus Throneburg is a plaintiff, along with Illinois’ Libertarian and Green party organizations.
They used the Illinois State Board of Elections to suspend rules regarding third-party candidates gathering petition signatures.
They argued COVID-19 and the Governor’s stay-at-home order made it impossible to meet the requirements in a timely manner.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer decided in April that if a third party was on the ballot in 2016 or 2018, then they could be in 2020 as well.
But then on Friday Pallmeyer in part granted the Illinois State Board of Election’s request to reconsider.
Pallmeyer shortened the deadline candidates third-party candidates have to file petitions from Aug. 7th to July 20.
Her ruling still allows candidates to have voters sign via an electronic signature, although the candidate or party must then print out the results and transport a piece of paper to election officials.
Throneburg is slated to face Peoria Republican Win Stoller for the 37th District Senate seat.
