The date of this year's Illinois primary isn't the only thing that will be different. For the first time, the Illinois Green Party is participating in the statewide elections.

Following a good showing in the 2006 gubernatorial race, when the party captured 11 percent of the vote, the Green Party has gathered enough signatures on petitions to land four candidates on the presidential ballot and earn the right to participate in the primaries.

"We've been operating in a press blackout," said Walter Esler, the Northern Illinois coordinator to get Cynthia McKinney on the ballot.

Esler said very few people know which green candidates are running. McKinney, along with Jared Ball, Kent Mesplay and Howie Hawkins (a stand-in of sorts for Ralph Nader) are the four on the presidential ballot.

Most green candidates have to campaign on limited budgets. Esler, a former Democratic precinct captain, said they spend roughly one percent of what the Democrats and Republicans do per vote; they also don't take corporate contributions.

Candidates spend a lot of time going door-to-door, talking to people at "El" stops and other low-budget things, Esler said.

"We don't expect a large turnout in the primaries," said Wes Wagar, the director and secretary for the Chicago Green Party.

Rather, the goal is simply to start a dialogue and talk about things like sustainability-in all areas of government, not just the environment.

"We're not worried about converting people," said Esler. "If we get a dialogue started people will learn about us, and if they learn about us, they'll be with us."