Illinois House of Representatives Speaker Michael Madigan has been defeated for re-election as Speaker. He had been Speaker ever since 1983, except for two years when Republicans had a majority in the House. Under Madigan’s reign, the Illinois ballot access laws were made worse by the legislature, and all legislative attempts to improve them were killed.

In 1985 the legislature passed a bill saying that petitions for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, could not start to circulate until 90 days before the deadline. Before 1985, those petitions could start as early as the proponents wished.

In 1999, the legislature moved the petition deadline from August to June. As a result of these two changes, the number of minor party and independent candidates dropped substantially.

There have been some improvements in some Illinois ballot access laws during the last 28 years, but they were all brought about by lawsuits.

This story says that in Rensselaer County, New York, Republican leaders are actively encouraging their supporters to enroll in the Working Families Party, so as to help Republican candidates win the WFP nomination.

This Florida newspaper story says that in the newspaper’s home area, election data shows a significant number of voters are registering out of the Republican Party.