Libertarians Can Sue Illinois over Ballot Access Rules

Third parties have requirements the two big guys don't

Libertarians can sue over the more burdensome requirements that face new parties in Illinois compared with established parties, a federal judge ruled.

Illinois Election Code requires new political parties that wish to enter candidates for office in a political subdivision, such as a county, 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 the candidates for all offices in the subdivision in which it wishes to run.

Established political parties are not subject to either rule.