John Booras: Democrat Lawmakers Attack Republican Elections In Illinois

May 3, 2024

John Booras, Candidate for Congress

I was advised yesterday that the Democrats in the General Assembly very deceitfully just passed legislation to eliminate the “slating” process in Illinois elections. This means no Republican candidates can be appointed in this year's elections with seats that have vacancies. Senate Bill 2412 was signed into law yesterday. This law begins immediately.

The Republicans in the Illinois House were in shock and were enraged with this bait and switch attack on Illinois Election Law that will prevent Republicans from being on the ballot to challenge Democrats in a general election this year. Initially this was a Child Welfare Bill but was later amended.

"Slating" is when a Democrat is running unopposed in a county seat and up to the general assembly. If there is a vacancy in the Republican slot, the GOP may appoint a Republican candidate within 75 days of the primary to challenge the Democrat who was already on the ballot with or without required signatures. As of today, the GOP cannot slate anyone for the 2024 election season and on.

The Illinois Republicans are struggling to find candidates to run for office, especially in the general assembly where they are the super minority. Now it will be more difficult to challenge the Democrats in unopposed races.

This is an attack on the rule of law and any attempt for Republicans to win elections, allow me to explain. Next would be appointments with their next legislation. If God forbid a Republican got the signatures to be on the ballot after winning a primary and became sick or had a death, the Republican Party would not be able to replace that candidate with another Republican handing the Democrats an automatic victory if they decide to change the law.

Appointments are not considered slating in the event if a candidate became ill, death or withdrew in a general election. Appointments are not effected by Bill 2412.

This cannot stand, and we must fight to prevent more laws like these challenging elections from passing ever again.

The child welfare bill was rebooted just moments before going to the Illinois House floor and replaced with an omnibus election bill. The House sponsor of Senate Bill 2412, State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, said the bill does three things.

“It places three non-binding referendums on the General Election ballot, eliminates the slating process to place candidates on the ballot in certain circumstances and moves up petition deadlines by 28 days,” said Hoffman. “With regard to the slating process, currently a party can slate an individual 75 days after the primary, even if that candidate didn’t file for the petitions for the primary election or did not conduct a write-in campaign at the primary election. This [bill] would remove this ability of a legislative or representative committee to nominate candidates for state representative or for state Senate.”

The House Republicans were in disbelief of how the Democrats baited the GOP just to be cheated at the last minute.

The bill took a new form Wednesday when state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, sponsored an amendment turning it into an elections bill. With just hours notice, the state House voted on and passed the bill Wednesday afternoon. The state Senate did the same a day later.

As for the substance of the bill, besides the three non-binding referendum questions, it would ban a type of slating process. Parties can pick candidates to be their nominees if nobody filed to run in that year’s primary. Once the primary election has concluded, the party can pick a candidate. The bill would ban that practice, including for candidates parties are in the process of picking or already picked for the 2024 general election.

“What we have here before us is an opportunity to end a corrosive practice where, strategically, people avoid primaries to see what the lay of the land is and then pick the candidate best suited for November after the primary has been settled on the other side,” said Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park.

Republicans see the bill as Democrats rigging the game in the middle of the 2024 election season.

“There’s only one reason to push major legislation like this through in 24 hours, and it sure isn’t about good government. It’s to change the rules for an election cycle that has already started and a slating process that is nearly complete to stack the decks in favor of your favored incumbents,” said Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove.

The bill also increases the time aloted to get petitions from 106 days to 134.

Remember that the Democrats passed AMENDMENT ONE and easily passed this bill. That is why it is important that we fight against the corrupt Democrat machine as it is rising again, strong from the shadow of their former leader Michael Madigan. We should be upset together today. We cannot allow the Democrats to manipulate our laws for their benefit to hold on to power.

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