NW Illinois News

Earlier this week, Sangamon County Judge Gail Noll ruled to block a change to the state’s election law that was pushed forward this spring by Democrats. The proposed law aimed to protect incumbents in the upcoming election cycle. The legislation would have limited the Republican Party's ability to fill office vacancies and placed non-binding questions on the ballot intended to drive Democrat voters to the polls.

The law faced united Republican opposition in both the Illinois House and Senate. In her ruling handed down Wednesday, Judge Noll echoed Republican concerns that this law changed the rules in the middle of an election cycle.

"The General Assembly could make the revisions effective for the next election, rather than in the midst of the current election," Noll wrote in her 12-page order. "Changing the rules relating to ballot access in the midst of an election cycle removes certainty from the election process and is not necessary to achieve the legislation’s proffered goal."

While the ruling does not mean that the law is entirely null and void, it is inapplicable for this year’s general election.

Further details about the lawsuit and consequent ruling can be found here: [Capitol News Illinois](https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/judge-blocks-law-that-would-have-banned-newly-slated-candidates-from-ballot).

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