Chicago paused its early voting process in the March 19 presidential primary election on Friday to remove a Democratic judicial candidate from the ballot, with plans to reopen on Wednesday.
Early voting began in downtown Chicago on Thursday, but an order from the Appellate Court of Illinois forced the city’s two early-voting ballot locations to close down late Friday, according to a release from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. The three-judge appellate panel upheld rulings from a lower court and the Cook County Officers Electoral Board to remove Ashonta Rice from the Democratic ballot.
Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Max Bever said in a release that the Democratic mail-in ballots had not yet been sent out, so they will be reprinted and mailed “as soon as possible.” Republican, Libertarian, and nonpartisan ballots were sent out but will not be affected.
Rice was running for a Cook County judgeship left vacant by Laura Sullivan, who retired on Dec. 31, 2022. Rice was removed from the ballot on Jan. 30, according to records from the Illinois State Board of Elections, but Friday’s court order made it official. A reason for her removal was not provided.
Chicago Board of Elections data showed 314 people cast their ballots in the two days since early voting became available in the city, and 50 vote-by-mail ballots were returned. Voters who selected Rice will not be tallied unless the Illinois Supreme Court rules otherwise, Bever said.
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Rice’s removal from the ballot leaves one candidate for the position — James Murphy-Aguilu, who was appointed to a circuit court judge position in July 2023 that concludes on Dec. 2 following the November election.
The two early voting locations in Chicago, the Supersite (191 N. Clark St.) and Board Offices (69 W. Washington St., 6th Floor), will reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday. That same day, suburban Cook County voters can begin casting early ballots on weekdays at the Board Offices location. Additional early voting locations will open in the Chicago wards starting March 4.