Sangamon Sun

Democrats introduced significant changes to Illinois election laws during the 2024 Spring Legislative Session, causing controversy by altering how candidates can get on the ballot for the upcoming November elections. The new law ended the practice of ‘slating’ and required candidates to have run in the March primary to be eligible for the general election, unless running as a third-party candidate.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie expressed concern over these changes, stating, “We don’t understand the sense of urgency right now, unless the end goal is to stifle the democratic process through the changes on slating candidates.”

In response, on May 10, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections. They argued that changing campaign laws mid-cycle violated constitutional voting rights. Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Gail Noll ruled in favor of blocking enforcement of this change for the current election cycle, citing that such alterations disrupt electoral certainty.

“The General Assembly could make the revisions effective for the next election,” Judge Noll wrote in her report. It remains unclear if an appeal will be made by either Attorney General Kwame Raoul or the State Board of Elections.

Separately, Illinois' ban on "bump stocks" continues despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a federal ban on similar items. A spokesperson for Attorney General Kwame Raoul clarified that “Illinois law is not affected by the decision.” This state-level ban was part of broader legislation passed after a mass shooting at Highland Park in 2022.

The broader assault weapons ban faces potential challenges at higher judicial levels. Advocates are awaiting whether the Supreme Court will hear a constitutional challenge to this state law.

Several new laws will take effect in Illinois on July 1. Among them is an increase in wages for tipped workers in Chicago and new provisions allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Rep. Coffey criticized wage increases, suggesting they might lead to job cuts and higher consumer costs.

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that undocumented immigrants could soon receive standard driver’s licenses instead of Temporary Visitor’s Driver’s Licenses (TVDLs). He stated that TVDLs often exposed individuals to discrimination due to their immigration status.

Additionally, residents are advised to stay safe during extreme heat waves forecasted across Illinois. Recommendations include staying out of direct sunlight, wearing protective clothing and sunscreen, staying hydrated with non-alcoholic fluids, and utilizing cooling centers and air-conditioned spaces when necessary.

For more information on coping with extreme heat conditions: https://ready.illinois.gov/hazards/extremetempshot.html

Rep. Coffey invites constituents to join him at Scoop Du Jour in Chatham on June 29th.

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