CHICAGO, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ended Ralph Nader's bid to get on Illinois' presidential ballot, upholding a decision of the state Board of Elections.
Nader's campaign had challenged Illinois' requirement of 25,000 valid signatures of registered voters saying it was too difficult for independent and third-party candidates to comply with the rule.
Nader had 21,000 signatures after petition challenges led by Democrats.
The federal appeals judges also ruled Nader had filed his appeal too late. Absentee ballots had already been shipped overseas without his name, the Chicago Sun-Times said.
Oregon's Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that would have put Nader on the Nov. 2 ballot. Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury had ruled Nader did not have enough valid petition signatures to appear on the ballots printed Wednesday.
So far, Nader has qualified to appear on ballots in 35 states.
