Judge issues preliminary injunction pausing controversial new Illinois candidate law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A judge has paused the implementation of a controversial bill that prevents the state’s political parties from adding more candidates to ballots this November.

Earlier this month, state Democrats fast-tracked a bill that changes the rules on how candidates can get on the ballot for the November election. The law ends a process called ‘slating’, which allows county party chairs to add someone to the ballot for a general election, even if they didn’t run in the primary election. The law took effect immediately with the Governor’s signature.

Illinois Democrats speedily change candidate law; Republicans call measure ‘election interference’

A group of wannabe candidates filed the complaint against several government entities including Attorney General Kwame, Illinois Speaker of the House Chris Welch, and the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Sangamon County court records show Judge Gail Noll issued the preliminary injunction Wednesday.

“This was a gross manipulation of the electoral process by Gov. Pritzker and his Democratic allies that was clearly outside of constitutional bounds,” Senate Minority Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) said about the new law in a statement. “We look forward to the Illinois courts restoring choices for voters in legislative districts throughout this state.”

The State Board of Elections has been processing candidate petitions to state law since the change was signed into law.

The next court date for the case is June 3.

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