On June 21, 2020 -- a Sunday -- the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals entered an order denying the State Board of Elections' motion to stay the petitioning relief the district court granted to Illinois' minor party and independent candidates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Court of Appeals' decision effectively guarantees that Illinois' minor party and independent candidates can rely on the district court's order when seeking to qualify for Illinois' ballot in the 2020 general election.
The State Board of Elections had argued that it would be unable to print absentee ballots in time to send overseas and military voters, but the Court of Appeals rejected that argument: "We conclude that none of the evidence submitted by the Board shows that the July 20 filing deadline or the reduced signature requirement is likely to impede election officials’ ability to meet the deadline for transmitting ballots to military or overseas voters."
This is a major victory that will support nationwide efforts to secure petitioning relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See press coverage here: Chicago Tribune; Capitol News Illinois; Capitol Fax; The Daily Line.
CCD Advisory Board member Mark Brown served as co-counsel in this case.