Illinois Governor Signs Controversial Election Bill That Would Help Democrats

‘It really does make sure that we don’t have backroom deals to put people on the ballot,’ Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.

A voter fills out his ballot during the primary election in Ottawa, Ill., on March 17, 2020. Daniel Acker/Reuters

Last week, Democrats in the Illinois House added a last-minute amendment to Senate Bill 2412 that changes state election laws, including prohibiting political parties from appointing candidates to fill out general election ballots where the party did not field a primary candidate, known as slating.

The move outraged Republicans, a minority in the Illinois Legislature, who voted “present” and walked off the House floor without debating the measure, which quickly passed both chambers and was signed into law on May 3 by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.