It’s easier for Democrats or Republicans to get on the ballot in Illinois than Independents or other parties. Members of the Libertarian party say the system's rigged.
Republicans and Democrats running for the U.S. Senate or Comptroller this year need at least 5,000 valid signatures to get on the ballot. Other candidates need at least five times more than that. Libertarian Brian Lambrecht says his party had to gather even MORE. He says Libertarians turned in about 53,000 signatures, in case the petitions are challenged.
"This is how the two parties keep people off the ballot. We think it's disgusting and we think it needs to change."
But supporters of the current law say the lower signature requirement makes sense because Republican and Democratic candidates enjoy wide political support. They say that once a lesser known party becomes established, meaning enough people vote for its candidates, it can get the same ballot-access.