On March 12, Illinois bills in both houses of the legislature passed out of committee. They would let voters decide in the secrecy of the voting booth which party’s primary ballot to choose. That idea, if passed, would make a profound change in Illinois election procedures. Currently, elections officials make a record of which party’s primary ballot a voter chooses, and that permits the state to impose some restrictions on that voter’s later political activity, such as running for office in another party’s primary. The bills are SB 1666 and HB 825. Thanks to Steve Rankin for the news.
Hostile amendments have been offered for both open primary bills. The amendments would provide for direct election of the GOP state central committee, which is now appointed. Republicans are split on the issue.