* This is big news. State law generally forbids circulating for different parties and independents in the same election cycle (for good reason), but the Chicago Electoral Board has ruled that it doesn’t apply to non-partisan school board races…
The Chicago Electoral Board ruled Tuesday that nearly two dozen school board candidates can’t be disqualified simply because their petition circulators also worked partisan races, removing a significant hurdle for nearly two dozen hopefuls in the election.
The provision known as the dual-circulation rule had been used to challenge the nominating papers of 22 school board candidates. Had the board determined that the law could be applied, it may have wiped most from contention.
“We always hear in these arguments that ballot access is a substantial right in Illinois,” election attorney Ed Mullen told the board, arguing on candidates’ behalf. “In this case, it is of greater importance, because this is the first time in history that we’re going to have a fully elected school board.”
The rule says that petition circulators can’t collect signatures for multiple types of candidates in the same election cycle — which includes working for candidates in different parties, or for both independent and partisan candidates.
- Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, Jun 30, 26 @ 3:23 pm:
I am sure an appeal is forthcoming.
- Shytown - Tuesday, Jun 30, 26 @ 6:09 pm:
The fact that the CTU couldn’t follow the rules they wrote into their own legislation should not be lost on anyone.
- Department of Gubernatorial Readiness - Tuesday, Jun 30, 26 @ 8:58 pm:
Ed Mullen shows his worth again as one of the best election lawyers in IL.
- Just a guy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 26 @ 10:07 am:
As a Chicago citizen, it truly is amazing to see the hypocrisy that comes out of the CTU. When it works in their favor, it’s about ensuring fairness and access. When it doesn’t, it means their opponents are looking to hold down minorities and the children.
- Bears Fan - Wednesday, Jul 1, 26 @ 11:25 am:
I don’t understand why the objection was even made.
The Appellate Court already ruled in McCaskill v. Municipal Officers Electoral Board, 2019 IL App (1st) 190190 that the dual circulator provision did not apply to nonpartisan races.
“As a purely literal matter, the plain language of the dual-circulator prohibition does not apply to nonpartisan elections.”
“Simply stated, the dual-circulation prohibition in section 10-4 does not apply to nonpartisan elections”
“Nothing in the language of the dual-circulator prohibition hints at its application to nonpartisan elections; the plain language admits of only the opposite conclusion.”