IL: Greens "Have Better Ideas"

From the Daily Illini:

Like the two main parties, the Greens are concerned about the state budget and education.
But as a third party in Illinois, they also face challenges that make it difficult to have a strong voice in statewide politics. Illinois policy requires that non-established parties get more signatures in order to get a candidate on the ballot.

In 2006, the Green Party became an established party in Illinois when Whitney received over 10 percent of the votes for governor – five percent more than the state requires in order to become an established party. As an established party this election cycle, it needs only 5,000 signatures in 90 days to get statewide candidates on the ballot, instead of the 25,000 that non-established parties need.
Although Abram said he is confident Whitney will receive 5 percent of the vote this November, he said if he does not, the party would return to its smaller party status.

In Champaign County, Whitney received more than the state’s average by getting over 16 percent of the vote, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. “I think we’re seeing that we are already influencing the debate in terms of what’s being discussed,” he said. “Even if we’re not elected, we can still have an important influence,”