Voters in Peoria County will not be able to cast ballots when early voting begins on Thursday.
The delay stems from an ongoing statewide court case involving Republican gubernatorial candidate Joseph Severino. He is appealing a decision by the Illinois State Board of Elections not to certify his candidacy for the primary ballot.
Severino also is seeking a stay of a circuit court ruling that removed his name from the ballot.
“The decision to delay the start of voting was not made lightly,” said Peoria County Election Commission Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon. “If the stay is granted and the candidate’s name appears on the ballot, that would mean more than 12,000 Peoria County voters have been mailed an incorrect ballot.”
Election officials said they are hopeful a decision will be reached by the end of the week.
Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman said his office will proceed with early voting to avoid reducing the required early voting time frame.
“Left with a choice of a possibility a court may add a candidate to the ballot versus a certainty we would be reducing the required early voting time frame, I have made the decision we will move forward with early voting as outlined by state statute.”
McLean County also plans to begin offering early voting starting Thursday, according to county clerk Kathy Michael.
The primary election will be March 17.