Federal Appeals Court Upholds Indiana Ballot Access Laws

Recent rulings from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have upheld several significant legal challenges in Indiana and Illinois. A federal judge dismissed an ACLU lawsuit against Indiana's 'intellectual diversity' law, which mandates that public universities promote a range of ideological perspectives, asserting that the plaintiffs lacked standing. In a separate ruling, the court affirmed Illinois' two-week mail-in ballot extension post-Election Day, rejecting a Republican challenge that claimed it violated constitutional election standards. Additionally, the court upheld Indiana's ballot access requirements for third-party candidates, affirming that a 2% petition signature requirement does not impose an undue burden on candidates. These rulings reflect ongoing legal battles over election laws and academic policies, with implications for both free speech and electoral access.