Bill > SB2158

This bill amends the Illinois Election Code to implement an open primary election system, where the two candidates who receive the most votes in a primary election, regardless of their party affiliation, will be the only two candidates certified to participate in the general election. The bill removes previous requirements for voters to declare party affiliation during primary elections and eliminates separate ballots for different political parties. In primary elections, voters will now receive a single ballot listing all candidates, and they can vote for any candidates regardless of party. For vote-by-mail and absentee ballots, voters will no longer need to specify their party affiliation, and they will receive a ballot with all candidates. The bill essentially creates a "top-two" primary system that breaks down traditional party-based primary voting, allowing for more candidate crossover and potentially increasing voter choice. This represents a significant change to how primary elections have traditionally been conducted in Illinois, moving away from party-specific ballots and toward a more open, less partisan voting process.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2158&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104