The Illinois primary election is being moved to June 28th next year to allow for US Census Data to be made available for redrawing the state’s Congressional Map.
Marion County Clerk Steve Fox says the move will also allow the county board to have more time to redistrict county board districts. They were looking at a July deadline in order for candidate filing for the March primary to begin in September. Fox says now the redistricting won’t have to be completed until November, with candidates circulating petitions beginning in January and the filing of petitions in March.
The change will not impact the state representative and senate district seat redistricting that has already been delivered to the Governor. Republicans are protesting the fairness of the maps. If the maps were not adopted by June 30th, Republicans would have had a 50-50 chance of controlling the process.
Right now the change in primary date is for next year only, but there may be some support to make the move permanent.
The bill pushed through by the Democratic Majority will also make vote by mail permanent. A notice will be sent out to announce the availability as well as allow voters to register to permanently vote by mail.
