Illinois
We encourage everyone to contact their Senators and Representative in Congress.
Click on the images below for additional information:
SENIOR SENATOR: Richard Durbin
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JUNIOR SENATOR: Tammy Duckworth
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DISTRICT 1: Bobby Rush
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DISTRICT 2: Robin Kelly
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DISTRICT 3: Daniel Lipinsky
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DISTRICT 4: Jesus Garcia
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DISTRICT 5: Mike Quigley
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DISTRICT 6: Sean Casten
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DISTRICT 7: Danny Davis
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DISTRICT 8: Raja Krishnamoorthi
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DISTRICT 9: Janice Schakowsky
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DISTRICT 10: Bradley Schneider
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DISTRICT 11: Bill Foster
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DISTRICT 12: Mike Bost
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DISTRICT 13: Rodney Davis
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DISTRICT 14: Lauren Underwood
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DISTRICT 15: John Shimkus
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DISTRICT 16: Adam Kinzinger
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DISTRICT 17: Cheri Bustos
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DISTRICT 18: Darin Lahood
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STARTING A POLITICAL PARTY IN ILLINOIS:
On September 22, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed an earlier district court that found an Illinois law requiring a new party to run a full slate of candidates in order to qualify for ballot placement to be unconstitutional. While that law cannot be enforced, a new law had not been enacted to replace it as of January 26, 2018. Until such time as a new law is enacted, or the decision of the federal court is overturned by a higher court, newly-qualifying parties are not required to run full slates of candidates.
A new political party can be created at any political subdivision level (e.g., state, district, or county). To do so, the new political party must file nomination papers for a slate of candidates for all offices up for election in that political subdivision.
The nomination papers for the new party's candidates must be filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections during the independent and new party candidate filing period. Along with the nomination papers, the new political party must file a petition that states the party's name and its intention to become a political party. The new political party's name cannot comprise more than five words and cannot be the same name, nor include the same name, as any established political party.
The petition must also contain a list of the new party's candidates for all the offices up for election in the political subdivision in which the party wishes to be recognized. Signature requirements for the petition are as follows:
State
1 percent of voters who voted at the last statewide general election, or 25,000, whichever is less
Congressional district
5 percent of voters who voted at the last general election in that district, or the number of signatures required to gain state recognition, whichever is less
Illinois State Senate district
5 percent of voters who voted at the last general election in that district, or the number of signatures required to gain state recognition, whichever is less
Illinois House of Representatives district
5 percent of voters who voted at the last general election in that district, or the number of signatures required to gain state recognition, whichever is lessAlong with the nomination papers and petition, a certificate of officers must also be filed, listing the names and addresses of new party officers authorized to fill vacancies in nomination. If this form is not filed, the new party will not be able to fill vacancies in nomination, but the petition will still be valid.
Maintaining ballot access
Once the petition and nomination papers have been filed, the new political party may place its candidates on the general election ballot, but the party will not be officially recognized unless its candidates receive at least 5 percent of the total number of votes cast for the offices up for election in the political subdivision in which the party was seeking recognition. If the new political party ran a candidate for gubernatorial office and that candidate received at least 5 percent of the votes cast for that office, the new political party will be recognized statewide and in all political subdivisions.
The nomination papers for the new party's candidates must be filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections during the independent and new party candidate filing period. Along with the nomination papers, the new political party must file a petition that states the party's name and its intention to become a political party. The new political party's name cannot comprise more than five words and cannot be the same name, nor include the same name, as any established political party.
The petition must also contain a list of the new party's candidates for all the offices up for election in the political subdivision in which the party wishes to be recognized. Signature requirements for the petition are as follows:
State
1 percent of voters who voted at the last statewide general election, or 25,000, whichever is less
Congressional district
5 percent of voters who voted at the last general election in that district, or the number of signatures required to gain state recognition, whichever is less
Illinois State Senate district
5 percent of voters who voted at the last general election in that district, or the number of signatures required to gain state recognition, whichever is less
Illinois House of Representatives district
5 percent of voters who voted at the last general election in that district, or the number of signatures required to gain state recognition, whichever is lessAlong with the nomination papers and petition, a certificate of officers must also be filed, listing the names and addresses of new party officers authorized to fill vacancies in nomination. If this form is not filed, the new party will not be able to fill vacancies in nomination, but the petition will still be valid.
Maintaining ballot access
Once the petition and nomination papers have been filed, the new political party may place its candidates on the general election ballot, but the party will not be officially recognized unless its candidates receive at least 5 percent of the total number of votes cast for the offices up for election in the political subdivision in which the party was seeking recognition. If the new political party ran a candidate for gubernatorial office and that candidate received at least 5 percent of the votes cast for that office, the new political party will be recognized statewide and in all political subdivisions.
