Independent and New Party Candidates seeking to get their name on the November 3rd ballot in Vermilion County are being impacted by COVID-19. Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer has ruled that candidates seeking placement on the ballot will be required to submit only 10-percent of the normal number of nominating signatures and will file petitions six weeks later than originally scheduled.
The order was in response to concerns over COVID-19 and a statewide order limiting social contact, which impaired the candidates’ ability to gather sufficient signatures and meet the original June 22nd deadline for filing. Under the order, New Party and Independent candidates will file nominating petitions with the Vermilion County Clerk from July31, 2020 through August 7, 2020.
Vermilion County Clerk Cathy Jenkins says the order also drops the requirement that signatures on nominating petitions be original, physical signatures. A physical ‘wet’ signature would still be required but not required on the candidate’s petition. Petition signers may physically sign a copy of a candidate’s petition, or they may electronically sign their handwritten signatures to a petition using a finger or a device such as a computer mouse or stylus. Photocopies of signatures will also be permitted.
Signature requirements and required forms for county offices available on the November ballot vary by office. Those requirements and forms are available by contacting Lindsay Light, Chief Deputy County Clerk at ccollections@vercounty.org.
