CHICAGO – The Libertarian Party of Illinois (LPIL) is requesting that the Illinois State Board of Elections grant the party ballot access for the 2020 General Election in November. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, and the disaster proclamation that Governor Pritzker issued on March 9, the LPIL is unable to start their petition drive on the March 24 start date.
According to LPIL Ballot Access Director Bill Redpath, if the request goes unanswered it will be impossible for Libertarian candidates to attain ballot access in Illinois in 2020 under current law.
“As a party that has had nearly constant success in qualifying for the ballot, we request that the Governor, General Assembly, and the Board of Elections understand the effect this public health emergency has had on people’s willingness to be approached by a stranger, let alone take a pen or clipboard. Although we believe our petitioners are healthy, and they would be benched at the first sign of illness, the virus is apparently often spread by people who are asymptomatic,” Redpath explained.
LPIL has been active in Illinois for over 45 years, consistently running candidates, lobbying the General Assembly, and holding outreach events, thereby having established regular participation in the democratic process.
LPIL Chair Bennett Morris states that the party has a nominee for US House in all congressional districts and for several seats in the General Assembly.
“At the LPIL Convention on March 14, 2020, we nominated candidates for all 18 Congressional Districts. Each of those candidates would need to circulate a separate petition to attain ballot access in 2020,” Morris stated.
LPIL is requesting the courtesy of the governing organizations to reply no later than
March 24, 2020.
Party officials are available for print, radio/audio, and television/video interviews regarding this story
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