Illinois Appellate Court Reinstates Antoine Bass on Ballot for Rich Township Supervisor (Rich Township, IL) — In a significant legal turn, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, has overturned a decision by the Rich Township Electoral Board, reinstating Antoine Bass as a candidate for Supervisor of Rich Township. The ruling comes after Bass was previously removed from the ballot following allegations of fraudulent nomination practices.
The case originated with an objection from Ethel C. Nicholas, who challenged the legitimacy of Bass’s nomination papers. Nicholas alleged that Bass’s documents contained multiple irregularities, including signatures from unregistered voters, forged names, incomplete addresses, and misleading information in the circulator’s affidavit. After reviewing these claims, the Electoral Board ruled against Bass, concluding that he had engaged in a pattern of fraud and false swearing.
However, upon review, the Appellate Court determined that the Electoral Board’s decision lacked clear and convincing evidence. While the court acknowledged the presence of some invalid signatures, it ruled that these discrepancies did not constitute a systematic effort to defraud the election process. Furthermore, the court dismissed concerns regarding the circulator’s affidavit, stating that election laws do not mandate self-attestation by the circulator.
As a result of the ruling, Bass’s name will officially appear on the ballot as an independent candidate in the upcoming election for Supervisor of Rich Township. This decision marks a critical victory for Bass and his campaign as the election approaches.
Illinois Appellate Court Reinstates Antoine Bass on Ballot for Rich Township Supervisor
