Illinois State Board of Elections

Byron Sigcho-Lopez, an independent candidate for the 4th Congressional District, sued the Illinois State Board of Elections after his name was removed from the November ballot for failing to meet petition signature requirements. The lawsuit claims the state's laws unconstitutionally restrict ballot access by imposing excessive signature demands on independent candidates compared to major party candidates. Mayra Macias, another independent candidate, was also removed from the ballot under the same rules.

Illinois voters can apply for vote-by-mail ballots starting August 5 for the November election, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Hilario Dominguez, a candidate for Chicago school board president, faces a state complaint from challenger Hugo Jacobo alleging campaign finance violations. The complaint claims Dominguez's campaign committee, Friends of Hilario, submitted inaccurate filings reporting no funds raised or spent. Dominguez's campaign treasurer stated compliance will be addressed in future reports.

The Illinois State Board of Elections removed independent candidates Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macías from the ballot in Illinois’ 4th Congressional District after disqualifying thousands of their petition signatures, which left them below the required 10,816 valid signatures. Macías addressed the ruling with Anita Blanton.

Two independent candidates, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macias, were removed from the November ballot for U.S. Rep. Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia’s congressional seat due to insufficient signatures. The ruling benefits Patty Garcia, Rep. Garcia’s chief of staff, who will face fewer competitors in the race. Both candidates claim the decision resulted from a coordinated effort to suppress their campaigns.

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon's campaign accepted a $50,000 contribution from ARB Interactive, the parent company of Modo, an online casino group facing allegations of illegal gambling operations in Illinois and Arizona. The campaign later stated it would donate the same amount to local charities. The contribution occurred days before a legislative session on gambling regulation.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican National Committee challenge to Illinois' mail-in ballot rules, allowing ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted even if received afterward. President Donald Trump criticized the decision as a loss and reiterated support for the SAVE America Act, which would ban most mail ballots and require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Illinois permits mail ballots to arrive up to two weeks after Election Day if postmarked on time, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett writing the majority opinion.

Independent candidates Mayra Macias and Byron Sigcho-Lopez are fighting to retain their November ballot status in the 4th Congressional District race after thousands of their petition signatures were challenged. Both candidates fell short of required signature thresholds and must verify disputed signatures by Wednesday. Critics argue the state’s objection process disproportionately disadvantages independent candidates compared to party-backed nominees.