Ballot Box Bullies Strike Again In Illinois

Corrupt scoundrels like Republican George Ryan (above) and Democrat Rod Blagojevich have killed any chance for independents in Illinois.

Democrats and Republicans have conspired to lock independents out of the electoral process all over the country. But few states are as bad as Illinois. Nonpartisan contenders for the House of Representatives there have to collect and notarize over 12,000 signatures just to get on the ballot. The result of these draconian laws? In the last election, there wasn’t a single independent House candidate in the entire state–mission accomplished for the Dems and the Reps.

In April, voters will choose a replacement for departing Rep. Rahm “I made $16 million in four years!” Emanuel. And the ballot box bullies in the two major parties have made it even harder for independents to challenge their dominance in that contest. From Ballot Access News:

… any independent candidate, or any nominee of an unqualified party, must submit 12,586 valid signatures no later than January 27 … The state is requiring these signatures to be collected in just 21 days.

That’s right. Illinois’ elections board is forcing independents and third party candidates to collect the same ridiculously large number of signatures they would need to qualify for a regular election … in three weeks.

Here is the link to the state board of elections rules sheet for the contest. It clearly requires independents to collect John Hancocks from at least 12,586 voters in the district.

How many do Democratic candidates need to bring in? 927. Republicans? 319.

What kind of elections board would hand down such a blatantly biased decision? The kind that’s crammed full of partisan stooges, that’s what:

Sigh. Another government agency locked in the chokehold of the two major parties. No matter what, it’s going to have four Republicans and four Democrats. Independents need not apply.

And who–pray tell–got to choose which partisan stooges made it onto the board? That paragon of virtue and good government himself, Bad Hair Blago:

And let’s not forget. Before the Democrat Blago, there was the Republican George Ryan. He may not have been as, um, colorful on a wiretap as Blago. But he was just as dirty.

Blago famously shook down a children’s hospital for campaign cash. That’s nothing! When he was still secretary of state, Ryan gave driver’s licenses to unqualified truck drivers in exchange for bribes. One of those truck drivers would up killing six kids in an accident. Ryan used those bribes to fund his winning run for governor.

For the last ten years, these two clowns have been naming the members of the state’s board of elections. Business as usual in our rotten two-party system.

PS: All told, six Illinois governors have been busted for corruption. Six. And those are just the ones that got caught!

PPS: In case you missed it, check out our interview with Ballot Access News founder Richard Winger here!