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00000178-3092-da2f-a5fe-fbbf0c520000Reactions to the 2016 ElectionNPR and GLT are here for you as we all react to this historic election. Trust Morning Edition, On Point with Tom Ashbrook, Here & Now and All Things Considered for in depth reporting and thoughtful analysis of the national races and international reactions. Count on GLT and IPR for comprehensive coverage of events here in central Illinois.

Gill To Appeal Ballot Removal

David Gill

The State Board of Elections has ruled independent 13th District Congressional candidate David Gill does not have enough petition signatures to get on the November 8th ballot.

The Bloomington Physician collected nearly 8,600 signatures, but that's still 2,000 fewer than he needed.
    
Historically courts have sided with states in agreeing there can be some signature requirement for independents to prevent voter confusion by having too many candidates.

But, Gill said Illinois standards are far too burdensome, especially when comparing house and senate races.

"A far less arduous task to run for the U.S. Senate, would need five times what the Democrat or Republican needed. In my race, I needed nearly fifteen times what the Democrat or Republican needed," said Gill.

In fact, Gill said Illinois law is the most restrictive in the nation in protecting established political parties from independent challenges.

"The worst two other states are Missouri and Indiana. I would have required about 4,200 signatures. In Ohio I would have needed 2,100. Many states require only about 300 signatures. In Tennessee, you need 25 signatures," said Gill.

That leaves incumbent Republican Representative Rodney Davis of Taylorville and Democratic Challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur on the ballot. Both Davis and Wicklund needed fewer than a thousand signatures.
     
Gill is asking U.S. District Court for an expedited ruling that the Illinois requirement is unconstitutionally high. The deadline to finalize the ballot in Illinois is 35 days away.

WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.
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