Overview
- The Illinois State Board of Elections ruled that Mayra Macías and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez did not meet the valid-signature threshold and will not appear on the November ballot, leaving Lyons Mayor Chris Getty as the only independent listed.
- Board general counsel Marni M. Malowitz reported Macías had 9,758 valid signatures and Sigcho-Lopez had 9,594, shortfalls of 1,058 and 1,222 respectively from the 10,816 required.
- Officials said signatures were invalidated for specific reasons, including petition sheets with wrong home addresses, signers not registered at the listed addresses, and a circulator who also collected signatures for other Democratic candidates, which is not allowed for independents.
- Both Macías and Sigcho-Lopez criticized the rulings as disenfranchisement and signaled they will pursue legal appeals that could reach the Illinois Supreme Court.
- Advocates and the campaigns say the episode highlights how Illinois’ high signature threshold and strict technical rules can narrow ballot choices, and it follows controversy over Congressman Jesús “Chuy” Garcia’s late withdrawal and rapid support for his chief of staff Patty Garcia as the lone Democrat on the primary ballot.