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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