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Hearing officer recommends that Willie Wilson’s name be included on the ballot

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Illinois

* Illinois State Board of Elections Hearing Examiner David Herman…

This matter commenced when Doris J. Turner (hereinafter “Objector”) timely filed her “Objector’s Petition” with the State Board of Elections. Objector’s Petition is based solely on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversing the Order entered in Libertarian Party of Illinois v. Pritzker, 20 CV 2112. In the Libertarian case, the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered a Preliminary Injunction on April 23, 2020 reducing the required minimum number of signatures for candidates nominated by any new political party, as defined by 10 ILCS 5/10-2, and for any independent candidates, as defined in 10 ILCS 5/10-3, to 10% of the statutory minimum established by the Illinois Election Code. Objector admits in her Petition that the Candidate filed a total number of signatures greater than the 10% threshold established by the Order entered by the Northern District. Objector argues that should the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reverse the Order entered by the Northern District, then the Candidate’s Nomination Papers are invalid in that they contain less than the 25,000 signatures required by the Illinois Election Code. […]

While the Hearing Examiner has reviewed those filings, the Hearing Examiner will not make a ruling as to the merits of the Motion to Dismiss because the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has not yet acted.

At the time of this Recommendation, the Seventh Circuit has not ruled on the validity of the Preliminary Injunction entered by the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Therefore, there is no basis to reach the merits, if any, of Objector’s Petition. Wherefore, the Hearing Examiner recommends that the Illinois State Board of Elections DOES place the Candidate’s name on the ballot for the office of United States Senator for the State of Illinois because the Candidate has filed a total number of signatures meeting the 10% threshold established by the Preliminary Injunction Order entered by the Northern District of Illinois.

Conclusion

The Hearing Examiner recommends that Candidate’s name BE PLACED on the ballot as a candidate for the office of United States Senator for the State of Illinois at the November 3, 2020 election.

The board will meet Friday and likely issue its ruling at that time.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 1:32 pm

Comments

Willie Wilson on the ballot?

Ok.

Let’s see all the candidates in the Senate race work, and try to keep that threshold for a new party as far from where Wilson can be.

With so many unknowns in this election, not just outcomes, the need to work to get your own vote out will be more critical then the afterwards Wilson may want.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 3:35 pm