Democratic Leaders Seek To Dismiss Redistricting Lawsuits
SPRINGFIELD – Lawyers for Illinois’ Democratic legislative leaders last week filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from Republicans and a Mexican American advocacy group regarding newly drawn legislative maps, calling the challenge “purely speculative” until full U.S. Census data is released. The motion, filed Friday, was an expected move following a Wednesday, July 14, […]
Federal 3-Judge Panel To Decide Whether State Redistricting Plan Is Constitutional
SPRINGFIELD – Lawyers for plaintiffs and the state told a panel of federal judges Wednesday the issues involved in two lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative redistricting plan are “straightforward” and ought to be resolved in short order. But the three-judge panel hearing the case appeared uncertain about how much time they actually have, given the […]
UPDATED: Both Houses Pass Election Bill Postponing 2022 Primary To June
SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers passed an omnibus elections bill Monday that would push back the date of the 2022 primary elections amid other major changes to the state’s election code. The 156-page omnibus bill, an amendment to Senate Bill 825 filed by Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, would also strengthen the state’s cybersecurity surrounding elections and make Election Day […]
Bill Proposes Standardized Election Procedures
SPRINGFIELD – Two Republican senators have introduced legislation to standardize the way local election authorities across Illinois handle elections, from the training of election judges to posting information about delays in election night ballot counting. Sens. Sally Turner, of the Logan County town of Beason, and Sue Rezin, of Morris, said during a virtual news […]
ISBE Director On Leave After Attempted Online Extortion, Agency Reports
SPRINGFIELD — One day before Tuesday’s consolidated election, the Illinois State Board of Elections executive director was placed on administrative leave after being the subject of an online extortion attempt, ISBE said in a news release. The eight-member elections board voted unanimously on Monday to place Director Steve Sandvoss on leave, according to the release. […]
Vote-By-Mail, Curbside Voting Expansion Passes House
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House passed a bill Thursday that would make permanent some vote-by-mail and curbside voting expansions that the state adopted ahead of the 2020 presidential election due to the COVID-19 pandemic. House Bill 1871, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Katie Stuart, of Edwardsville, passed 70-41, and takes effect immediately. Under the bill, Illinois […]
Census Bureau Won’t Have Numbers Until After State Deadlines
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers are required to draw new legislative and congressional district maps this year, but that process may be thrown into chaos because of delays in producing the census numbers needed to draw equal districts. The U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other delays, it will not be able […]
In Illinois, Late-Arriving Mail-In Ballots Could Decide Close Contests
CHAMPAIGN — On Election Day 2020, there is lots of speculation on whether voters will know who they have chosen for president by Election Night, or if a final count will take longer. But for right now, let’s look at the possibility for delays in the results of other election contests, just in Illinois. Election […]
Voting Begins In Illinois, Mail-In Ballots Being Sent
Early voting for the November election began Thursday in most of Illinois. Local election authorities can also start sending out 1.8 million vote-by…
Election Officials Plan For Influx of Mail-In Ballots With New Ballot Return Options
Chicago’s election agency plans to allow voters to drop off their mail-in ballots at all early voting sites starting in mid-October. In Champaign County…
Move Over Iowa And New Hampshire — Gov Says Illinois Should Hold First Primary
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to elbow Iowa and New Hampshire out of the way in future presidential elections — so Illinois can seize the starring role in the primaries. Pritzker went public with the idea of Illinois going first on Monday evening — before America learned the full extent of the train wreck in the Iowa caucuses. […]
Audit Questions Cybersecurity At Illinois State Board Of Elections
SPRINGFIELD – An audit is criticizing cybersecurity practices at the Illinois State Board of Elections, but the board is taking issue with some of the findings. The audit criticizes the board for not doing enough to reduce the risk of a hack, and for not having cybersecurity training when new people are hired and every […]
News Around Illinois – January 13, 2020
2 Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan From Illinois, Virginia KABUL, Afghanistan — The Pentagon says the two soldiers killed Saturday in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb were from Illinois and Virginia. On Sunday, military officials identified the casualties as 21-year-old Pfc. Miguel A. Villalon of Joliet, Illinois; and 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin of Newport […]