An Illinois state trial court will hold another hearing on Tuesday, May 21, in Collazo v Illinois State Board of Elections, the case over the new Illinois law that deprives qualified political parties of their ability to nominate someone after the primary is over. The Republican Party, which filed the case, seeks a preliminary injunction against the new law. The Illinois Democratic Party is seeking to intervene in the case in support of the law.

At the first hearing in the case, on Friday, May 17, the judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order, but given the fast action coming up concerning a possible injunction, that point is moot.

Three petitions for new or previously unqualified parties are being submitted in North Carolina this year: We the People, Constitution, and Justice for All. We the People supports Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for president. Justice for All supports Cornel West for president. See this story.

Already on the ballot are the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Green Parties.

On Friday, May 17, at 9:30 a.m., an Illinois state trial court will hear Collazo v Illinois State Board of Elections, Sangamon Co. Circuit Court, 2024CH000032. This is the lawsuit filed by the Illinois Republican Party to block a new election law that abolishes the ability of a qualified party to nominate someone for the legislature after the primary is over (assuming no one won the primary). The old procedure requires the nominee to collect petition signatures and also persuade a party committee to nominate him or her.

The Republican Party had been planning to use this procedure in several legislative districts, but then last month the legislature, which has a Democratic majority in each house, repealed the procedure, effective immediately.