Republican Congressional candidate Patrick Harlan has joined with a public interest group to file suit against the State of Illinois’ current Election Day voter registration law.
Harlan, who is running this election cycle against incumbent Democrat Cheri Bustos in the 17th District, alleges alongside the Liberty Justice Center and other advocates that the law unfairly favors Democrats, because counties with higher population bases tend to vote Democrat.
The law says that counties with populations of over 100,000 can register and vote on Election Day in any polling place while counties under 100,000 do not have that option. However, voters in those counties can register on Election Day at a county clerk’s office and at a permanent polling place such as, Galesburg City Hall, for example.
Harlan’s complaint, filed in federal court last week, argues the law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment.
Documents from The Galesburg Republican’s campaign indicate the plaintiffs want the law to be declared unconstitutional, abolishing Election Day voter registration in its entirety.
