SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — In less than 48 hours, Democrats introduced, passed and signed an election reform package that could directly affect who makes it on the ballot this November.

State Democrats fast-tracked a bill that changes the rules on how candidates can get on the ballot for the November election. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill Friday morning amid protests from Republicans and even some members in his own party.

The bill ends a process called slating, which allows county party chairs to add someone to the ballot for a general election, even if they didn’t run in the primary election. The bill took effect immediately with the Governor’s signature.

House Republicans marched off the floor in protest Wednesday when the bill was being voted on. It passed the House of Representatives 67-4-40.

“We are used to seeing this kind of maneuvering on May 31st, but we don’t understand the sense of urgency right now,” House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savana) said. “Unless the end goal is to stifle the democratic process in the process of slating candidates.”

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) sponsored the bill. He said he was not aware of any candidates being slated on the Democratic side. He also alluded to how slating candidates was a common strategy of former House Speaker Michael Madigan.

“You may have noticed this was a favorite tactic of a former legislative leader. I think that speaks for itself,” Harmon said. “I would also notice, there is no notice or no public process to this selection at all.”

Republicans called the new law election interference. Several county Republican parties were expecting to slate candidates for the November election. Unless petitions and signatures were already filed before Friday morning, their picks likely won’t appear on the ballot.

“This is patently unfair and undemocratic,” Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Lemont) “Changing the rules in the middle of the game is a blatant abuse of power.”

Even some Democrats voted against the measure. Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said changing the law is a bad look and echoed Republicans’ concerns.

“At this time in our history, when we are watching Republican legislatures across the country really attack access to the ballot and attack voting rights and fundamentally attack democracy, I just think it’s fundamentally wrong for Democrats to participate in something that makes it harder for people to run, to run for office, makes it harder for folks to engage,” Cassidy said.

When asked Thursday, Pritzker said the bill was about strengthening ethics and transparency. The bill was not discussed publicly before Wednesday.

“It really does make sure that we don’t have back room deals to put people on the ballot and run as a result of some small group of people in a smoke filled room making the choice,” the governor said.

The State Board of Elections will still accept petitions for people hoping to be slated to the ballot up until the pre-established deadline of June 3. There will be an objection period this summer where candidates can be challenged if they can remain on the ballot, including not following on this new law.

State Referendums

Also included in the law, three referendum questions will be added to the November ballot statewide.

One asks voters if they believe there should be insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization treatments.

Another asks voters if people making more than 1 million dollars per year should be taxed more to help with property tax relief in the state, and the last question asks voters if candidates for office should face civil charges if they are found to be interfering with election workers. 

All three questions are non-binding.