• If a minor party was on the ballot in either 2016 or 2018 for an office that is up in 2020, then it is automatically on the ballot for those same offices in 2020

On April 21, U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, a Clinton appointee, orally described substantial relief she intends to order for minor party and independent candidates for the Illinois 2020 election. Candidates will need 10% of the original legal requirement. The petition deadline is extended from June 22 to August 7. Signatures can be obtained on a signer’s computer via an electronic signature, although the candidate or party must then print out the results and transport a piece of paper to election officials. The order is being drafted but does not yet exist on paper.

The Green Party of the United States has announced lawsuits have been filed in Illinois and Georgia to stop Democratic- and Republican-run boards of elections from exploiting COVID-19, social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines that prevent the Green Party from gathering petition signatures for candidates. The Green Party has been appealing to governors across the nation for emergency ballot access relief for candidates in the interest of public health and safety. Lawsuits in more states are being explored if officials do not respond.

• But Greens Demand Emergency Relief Due to Coronavirus Pandemic

WHEATON, Il (March 24, 2020) –  The Illinois Green Party (ILGP) has placed its presidential candidate on the statewide election ballot in every presidential year since 2008, with over 117,000 Illinois voters choosing Green Party Senate candidate Scott Summers in 2016. Yet oppressive ballot access laws in Illinois -- among the worst in the nation -- repeatedly force the Greens to collect tens of thousands of petition signatures from registered voters in each election cycle just to get their candidates’ names on the ballot.

Third-party candidates may be off the ballot this November unless petitioning requirements are relaxed, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins told Yahoo News on Wednesday.

Hawkins said on the Yahoo News podcast “Skullduggery” that the Green Party may be unable to get on the ballot in as many as 30 states — including Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — due to state laws requiring third parties to collect thousands of signatures on ballots to qualify. Hawkins said it will be impossible to meet these requirements in light of White House guidelines urging citizens to stay at home and avoid social gatherings.

Our 2020 ballot access campaign has concluded. Thanks to everyone who fought for free and fair elections for all candidates! Sign up to receive updates as we fight for safe and fair ballot access in 2021!

FALLS CHURCH, Va – UPDATE: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent state of emergency declaration by Governor Ralph Northam, the Green Party of Virginia is temporarily suspending in-person petitioning. Instead, we will be petitioning the state government to waive the petitioning portion of ballot access. But we still need your help to get on the ballot this year! How can you help?

ALBANY, NY, October 29, 2019 — Green Party of New York officers said that the plan floated by Campaign Finance Commission co-chair Jay Jacobs to raise the minimum vote total for ballot access to roughly 250,000 votes was an unacceptable attack on real third parties in New York. Party officers said the Commission should instead ban fusion and make ballot access for third parties easier, including allowing any statewide office vote totals to qualify a party. (See NY Times article.)

PHILADELPHIA – Nomination papers for three Green Party of Pennsylvania candidates have been filed. None of those candidates were challenged, and they will be listed on the ballot for the General Election, November 5. The three candidates are Nicholas Prete, running for Methacton School Board in Montgomery County; Riley Mahon, running for Upper Saint Clair School Board in Allegheny County; and Charles Michael (Mike) Farley, running for Latimore Township Supervisor in Adams County.

TUCSON, Az., July 5, 2019 — On June 12th the Green Party of Pima County (GPPC) filed a lawsuit against the City of Tucson for depriving the party of ballot status in the upcoming City elections. Late this Wednesday afternoon, July 3, the court order ruling was made from the Pima County Superior Court. In his order the judge overseeing the case, Hon. D. Douglas Metcalf, stated:

IT IS ORDERED that the Green Party’s petition for special action is GRANTED. The City of Tucson and its clerk abused their discretion and acted in arbitrarily and capriciously by not including the Green Party as a political party qualified for the August 27, 2019 primary election ballot.

Last week, the Green Party of Texas (GPTX) enjoyed a tremendous victory for ballot access! Join the Green Party of the United States in this celebration by helping us to achieve urgent and critical ballot access victories in other key states today.

On Monday, Texas Gov. Abbott signed HB2504 into law. The new law makes it easier for political parties to retain ballot access, which reduces the vote test from 5% to 2% of any statewide race in any of the last five elections.