Federal judge upholds Illinois election board's decison re: Nader

[Padraig18]

Judge rules against Nader in ballot complaint

August 24, 2004

BY ANNIE SWEENEY Staff Reporter

A federal judge ruled Monday that the state has not violated presidential candidate Ralph Nader's rights by making it too hard to get on the Illinois ballot.

Challenges to Nader's status as an independent candidate have sprung up across the country as Democrats are seeking to protect votes for Sen. John Kerry.

Nader's camp, expecting the challenge to the number of signatures to succeed, filed a federal lawsuit challenging portions of state election laws that Nader supporters say make it overly burdensome on a third-party candidate to get on the ballot.

In his ruling denying an injunction to Nader, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said "Illinois' petition deadline and signature requirements . . . did not impose a severe burden on persons like Nader seeking to pursue an independent presidential candidacy."

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More:



http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-nader24.html

[HFishbine]

1. Another ruling

I caught a glimpse on a news crawl last night that, as far as I could gather, another judge (one with some connection to the Bush campaign) ruled that Nader must be included on that state's ballot. Anybody have details? What state?

[Padraig18]

5. Haven't heard that.

:shrug:

[HFishbine]

6. Yep. He's on in VA by order of Bush's state campaign chair.

RICHMOND, Va. It looks like Ralph Nader's name will be on the Virginia ballot in November after all.

The Virginia Board of Elections rejected Nader campaign petitions Friday, ruling they didn't meet legal requirements.

The board says it acted on the advice of the attorney general's office.

But state Attorney General Jerry Kilgore has advised the board today that it should accept the Nader petitions.

Kilgore is President Bush's state campaign chairman. A Kilgore spokesman denies any partisan considerations in today's reversal.

http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=2210821

[fujiyama]

2. Well

he would't have made a big difference in this state, which is safe for Kerry...but just as well. I don't even want to see a high popular vote total for Nader this time.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. Illinois,

the state with balls! :7

Now, if only we can get rid of Henry Hyde and Jerry Weller. <sigh>

[gasperc]

4. Here in MI, the canvass board was deadlocked over Nader's petition

even though there are many clear and obvious violations the board was deadlocked over whether to certify Nader's petition.

[jonnyblitz]

7. I will be curious to see how he does in November

I talk to lotsa (what you all would consider anyways) "fringe" lefties and I don't know anybody who likes or plans to vote for Nader. The socialist types I know say he is a fraud and very anti-labor(based on some incident in the past with his employees, I forget the details). Although I like the Green party's platform I never cared for Nader as their candidate.