Illinois House Bill 5263 appears to have failed to get out of the Local Government Committee by the May 22 deadline. The bill would have made it far more difficult for ballot-qualified parties to nominate candidates. The bill is dead unless the Rules Committee gives it a waiver, which is unlikely.
Another Illinois bill, which would restore the straight-ticket device, is still in the House Rules Committee. It is HB 2673. Its deadline to get out of Committee has been extended until May 31.
Republicans are behind this bill as well as another one to squelch public participation at annual town meetings. Unfortunately, that second one passed both houses.
Under the proposed bill, all the candidates would have to do is appear on the primary BALLOT of their BALLOT-qualified party, so that actual party electorate could choose their party’s candidates.
The current system preserves the authority of the party insiders.