Illinois' ballot requirement for third parties struck down by federal judge

Unit 3
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/29/us-judge-strikes-down-illinois-law-on-3rd-parties/

U.S. District Judge Andrea Woods

 U.S. District Judge Andrea Woods ruled that requirement that third parties must present a full slate of candidates in a district before any one of its candidates can be on the ballot to be unconstitutional.   This law stood for 84 years in the state of Illinois.  Woods permanently barred the state from enforcing the law.  Her ruling in Chicago stems from a civil lawsuit brought in 2012 by the Libertarian Party in Illinois.  With the law now struck down, more names and parties should appear on county ballots in the upcoming general election in November. "I think (her ruling) is clearly intended to send a message that these are fundamentally important rights,” said David Schoen, the plaintiffs attorney. “The little guys should not always get shut out by the Democrats and Republicans.” The ruling won’t directly impact current races for the U.S. Congress and president in part because the statewide and national ballots have been smaller and easier for third parties to fill.

A graphic of the few other political parties include the Independent American Party, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, and the Green Party.

 A third party is a political party in opposition to the existing two major parties in a two-party system.  The two existing parties are the Democratic and Republican parties.  This ruling gives third party candidates an opportunity to be on ballots without having to have a entire slate of third party candidates.  It would be unlikely but we could see a party realignment where voters start voting for the third party instead of the major two parties.  With more and more names on the ballot its possible the candidates in the running could see votes taken away from them and used on third party candidates.  No longer will there be a two-party system in Illinois. The voting will not affect the national race but voting in local government will be changed forever.  This ruling will have a positive affect on Illinois voting. 

 

Motto of the Libertarian third party.