Illinois State Board of Elections v. Socialist Workers Party
United States Supreme Court
440 U.S. 173 (1979)
Illinois required 25,000 signatures for independent candidates to appear on a statewide ballot, but for municipal elections required signatures equal to 5% of votes cast in the most recent municipal election, a formula that, as applied to populous Chicago, demanded more signatures for a municipal ballot than the fixed statewide requirement demanded for a statewide ballot; the Socialist Workers Party (plaintiff) sued, arguing this disparate treatment of Chicago candidates violated equal protection. The trial court agreed, and the Illinois State Board of Elections (defendant) sought Supreme Court review.
Whether a minimum signature requirement for ballot access must represent the least restrictive means of promoting a compelling state interest to survive an equal protection challenge.