CCD files lawsuit to challenge Illinois’ petitioning requirements for minor parties and independent candidates during the coronavirus pandemic. To qualify for the general election ballot under Illinois law, minor parties must collect 25,000 signatures on nomination petitions between March 24, 2020 and June 22, 2020. But that’s now impossible because Illinois Governor Pritzker has issued a “stay at home” order, which makes it unlawful to approach people and ask them to sign pe

CCD files a motion for preliminary injunction in Baines v. Dunlap, No. 1:19-cv-00509 (D. Me.), which challenges the constitutionality of Maine’s laws that make it practically impossible for non-wealthy citizens to form a new political party. #Maine #ballotaccess #thirdparties #preliminaryinjunction

CCD argues appeal before Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Gill v. Scholz, No. 19-1125 (7th Cir.), which challenges Illinois’ 5 percent signature requirement and 90-day petitioning period for independent candidates for U.S. House. #Illinois #signatures #petitions #ballotaccess #appeals

CCD joins Emergency Application for a Stay of Enforcement, submitted to the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Herbert J. Hoffman, independent candidate for United States Senate in Maine’s 2008 general election. On July 28, 2008, the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine denied Hoffman listing on Maine’s ballot, even though all parties conceded that he had submitted a petition with enough valid signatures, because he could not prove that three particular signatures had been s