ILLINOIS BALLOT ACCESS
A TALE OF TWO STANDARDS
Why 99% of non-major party candidates fail to reach the Illinois ballot—and what it means for your choices as a voter.
ILLINOIS BALLOT ACCESS
A tale of two standards. Why 99% of non-major party candidates fail to reach the Illinois ballot.
Most Illinoisans believe that any qualified citizen can run for office. However, the Illinois Code creates a "two-tier" system that heavily favors established party machines over independent voices.
D and R parties collect starting late Summer a full year before, Independents starting in the dead of winter only 5 months before. And when an Independent does get enough signatures, it’s a near-guarantee they’ll be sued by the established parties.
"Behind every missing name on a ballot is a volunteer who spent 90 days collecting petition signatures from strangers, sometimes in the cold and rain, a candidate who exhausted their life savings on legal fees, and a voter who lost their preferred choice before the process even begins."
The disparity isn't just a hurdle; it’s a mathematical wall. In some Congressional Districts, the signature requirement for an independent can be 30x higher than for a major-party candidate.
| Race | Candidate Type | Signatures Required |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | D or R | 5,000 |
| Independent | 25,000 | |
| 1st Congressional | Democrat | 1,100 |
| Republican | 550 | |
| Independent | 16,700 |
This disparity in every case forces new voices to spend their entire budget just on access, while established parties start with a near-guaranteed spot.
This isn't about one candidate or one party. It’s about ensuring the process serves the people, not the machines. If you believe the rules should be fair for everyone, add your name to find out more.