An Illinois judge has ruled that the slating ban imposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker harmed prospective candidates by unconstitutionally impeding their right to have their names listed on the November ballot. The judge issued a permanent injunction on June 5 at the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Sangamon County, Illinois, preventing the enforcement of the controversial election law that prohibited political parties from appointing candidates to fill out general election ballots.
The law, known as P.A. 103-0586, was passed by Democrats in the Illinois House last month and signed by Gov. Pritzker on May 3. It banned the slating appointment process, requiring candidates to run in the March primary to appear on the November general election ballot. This move was met with criticism from Republicans, who viewed it as unfair election interference and a tactic that favored Democratic candidates.
The Liberty Justice Center represented prospective GOP candidate Leslie Collazo in a lawsuit against the Illinois Board of Elections, challenging the slating repeal. Judge Gail Noll granted a preliminary injunction on May 23, temporarily halting the enforcement of the law. Following additional complaints from more GOP candidates, the judge ultimately sided with the plaintiffs on June 5, stating that the law infringed upon their right to ballot access.
While the ruling does not completely void the slating repeal law, it blocks its enforcement for this year’s general election for the plaintiffs. Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, commended the decision, emphasizing the importance of preserving fair competition in Illinois elections. The Illinois Board of Elections stated that they would comply with the court’s orders, while Gov. Pritzker defended the law as a measure to increase transparency in candidate selection processes. Please rewrite this sentence.
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