Ruling expected on Libertarian's place on ballot

A Sangamon County judge is expected to rule Thursday on an appeal by Republican attorneys to remove a Libertarian candidate for Illinois governor from the November ballot.

Sangamon County Circuit Judge Patrick Kelley heard arguments in which the GOP attorneys questioned the validity of signatures Libertarian candidates gathered to get on the ballot.

Political analysts say Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Chad Grimm could draw votes that otherwise would go to Republican candidate Bruce Rauner (ROW'-nur) in the expectedly close race against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

The State Board of Elections decided last month to allow Grimm to appear on the ballot.

At the same time, the board ruled that Green Party, Constitution and Independent candidates should not be included on the ballot because the parties gathered too few valid signatures. Democratic Party attorneys had challenged the validity of the signatures for the Green candidate, who could have taken votes away from Quinn.