Kankakee County, IL – As the political landscape adjusts to a recent judicial order, Kankakee County Clerk’s Office has issued a statement indicating that, for now, the ballots for the upcoming Republican Primary remain unchanged. This announcement comes after Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter’s decision to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the March 19 Illinois Republican primary, citing his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Judge Porter’s ruling aligns with a similar precedent set by the Colorado Supreme Court in December, which invoked the “insurrection clause” of the 14th Amendment to remove Trump from their state ballot. Currently, the U.S. Supreme Court is examining the Colorado case, which has significant implications for the Illinois ruling.
While Judge Porter has directed that primary votes for Trump should not be tallied, she has temporarily suspended her order’s enforcement, anticipating appeals in the higher state courts and awaiting the verdict from the U.S. Supreme Court on the matter. In response, the Trump campaign has announced its intention to challenge Judge Porter’s ruling. Amid these legal proceedings, the Kankakee County Clerk’s Office reassures voters that the March 2024 Primary Ballots will list Trump as a candidate until a definitive legal resolution is reached.
