Metro East Sun

Illinois State House District 111 candidate Amy Elik stated that the elections bill passed last month by Illinois Democrats was found "unconstitutional by a Sangamon County Judge." She made the statement in a Facebook post on June 6.

"Last month, Democrats' elections bill was introduced, passed through the General Assembly, and signed into law in less than two days," said E Elik, according to Facebook. "This law, which changed elections rules mid-cycle, has now been found unconstitutional by a Sangamon County judge."

Elik shared a link to an Associated Press article on the topic. The ruling was handed down by Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Gail Noll. According to the Associated Press, the bill interferes with someone’s right to access the ballot, which Noll said in her ruling "places a severe restriction on the fundamental right to vote."

Screenshot of Rep. Amy Elik's June 6 Facebook post | Rep. Amy Elik's Facebook page

"Plaintiffs have a clearly ascertainable right to be free from unconstitutional restriction on their right to vote which under the circumstances of this case includes their right to ballot access," Noll’s opinion said.

The elections board accepted nominating petitions until June 3, which was the deadline set by the Illinois State Board of Elections for petitions to get on the ballot with the necessary signatures.

In May, Democrats pushed through a bill to partially limit ballot access and add three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot, according to a report from WTTW. The report says that as legislators in the House of Representatives were moving the bill and an amendment to Senate Bill 2412, senators were learning about the proposed changes.

Senate Bill 2412 started as a bill to amend the Children and Family Services Act, clarifying "one of the purposes of the Department of Children and Family Services is to place children in suitable permanent family arrangements." An amendment from the House floor replaced everything after the enacting clause to amend the elections code. That amendment "changes the filing dates of petitions for nomination for a State, congressional, or judicial office; petitions for nomination to fill a vacancy by special election in the office of Representative in Congress; petitions for nomination for the office of Supreme, Appellate, or Circuit Court Judge; petitions for nomination for delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating convention; petitions for nomination for a county office or trustee of a sanitary district; petitions for nomination for a municipal or township office; petitions of candidates for State central committeeperson; and petitions of candidates for precinct, township, or ward committeepersons. In provisions concerning the nomination of candidates to serve as General Assembly members, provides that, in the event that a candidate of a party who has been nominated under these provisions shall die before the general election, decline the nomination, or withdraw their name from the ballot prior to the general election, then legislative or representative committee of such district shall nominate another candidate." The bill will go into effect immediately upon signing and has provisions for repealing these new acts on Jan. 1, 2025.

Amy Elik has represented District 111 since 2021 following an election win in 2020. She has also served as Foster Township Trustee, board member for St. Mary’s Catholic School, and co-leader of Fosterburg AG 4H club according to her official biography.