May 31, Saturday, is the last day of the regular session of the Illinois legislature’s spring session. HB 2673, which would restore the “straight-ticket” device to Illinois general election ballots, seems dead. The bill has not passed either House, and the legislature expects to spend all day on May 31 working on the budget.
A “straight-ticket” device was used in Illinois until 1997, when it was repealed. Many Democratic leaders in Illinois support the device. It enables voters to cast a vote for all nominees of one party, without the voter even needing to look at any part of the ballot except for the device itself, which is always at the top of the ballot.
Great news. HB5263, which would reduce the ability for established parties to slate candidates after the primary, seems to be dead as well. The Illinois Green Party is established and many of our candidates used this method.
Here’s the ILGP’s press release about these and an additional anti-referendum bill: http://ilgp.org/groups/media/illinois-green-party-opposes-set-of-electoral-bills