Will County Clerk, State Senator Push Bill to Clarify Ballot Forfeiture Rules in Illinois Elections (Joliet, IL) – Will County Clerk Annette Parker and State Sen. Rachel Ventura are backing legislation aimed at tightening Illinois election law and eliminating ambiguity around candidates with unpaid campaign finance penalties.
Senate Bill 2764, which amends an existing measure, seeks to clarify how election officials should handle candidates whose political committees have outstanding fines issued by the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Under current law, candidates are barred from appearing on the ballot if their political committees have unpaid civil penalties by the time ballots are certified. The Illinois Election Code requires the State Board of Elections to provide election authorities with a list of such candidates, who are then excluded from the ballot unless a pending hearing delays resolution.
However, the statute does not clearly address what happens if those fines are paid after certification but before the election takes place — a gap lawmakers say has led to confusion and inconsistent interpretation.
“In a process as vital as choosing our elected representatives, it is imperative that all candidates are playing by the same rules,” Ventura, D-Joliet, said in a statement. “By closing loopholes that have caused confusion and uncertainty in elections, this legislation will ensure accountability and transparency and restore confidence in the process for voters and candidates alike.”
The proposed legislation would provide explicit guidance to election authorities in those situations. It also would prevent candidates who lose ballot access due to unpaid penalties from later being appointed to fill a vacancy for the same office during that election cycle.
Parker said the lack of clarity in current law has created unnecessary disputes and undermined confidence in the electoral process.
“Unclear laws around unpaid State Board of Elections fines and ballot forfeiture undermine voter confidence and create unnecessary disputes,” Parker said. “Cleaning up this legislation will protect the integrity of the ballot and give election officials the clarity they need to do their job.”
According to officials, the measure has already been reviewed by the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders Legislative Committee and its lobbyist, with no objections raised.
Supporters say the bill would create a more consistent and enforceable standard for candidates and election authorities statewide.
Will County Clerk, State Senator Push Bill to Clarify Ballot Forfeiture Rules in Illinois Elections
