On January 16, Illinois Republican State Senator Dale Risinger (R-Peoria) introduced SB 46, to move the Illinois primary from February to June, in all even-numbered years.
Illinois has never been one of the states that has an early presidential primary, and then a later primary for other office. Illinois has always had just one primary per year, for all federal and state offices. The Illinois primary had always been in April, until 1965, when it was moved to June. But in 1969 it was moved to March, and in 2007 it was moved to February. The 2008 Illinois February primary was the earliest congressional primary in any state, in U.S. history. Many observers felt it was absurd for a state to hold a congressional primary that was at virtually the half-way point for a normal term for a member of the U.S. House.
The 1968 Illinois presidential primary, the only late presidential primary Illinois ever held, was one of the most interesting presidential primaries that year. It was the only presidential primary held after Senator Bobby Kennedy had been killed. Eugene McCarthy won the Illinois presidential primary, defeating Hubert Humphrey and Teddy Kennedy at the June 11 event. All votes in that presidential primary were write-in votes.
NO party hack extremist primaries, caucuses and conventions are needed.
Ballot access via equal nominating petitions.
P.R. – legislative and A.V. executive / judicial.
With the introduction of these bills in several legislatures does that suggest a pattern which suggest an agenda which suggest a coordinated conspiracy of both entrenched parties to obstruct democratic access?
I think the Illinois primary date change is a good idea, and in any event would be more helpful than hurtful to minor parties in Illinois if it passed.