Illinois's state election board voted unanimously to keep former President Donald Trump's name on the ballot in that state as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on another ballot challenge in Colorado.
The board's hearing officer, retired Republican judge Clark Erickson, found a "preponderance of evidence" that Trump is ineligible to run for President because of January 6, which he termed an "insurrection" despite no legal rulings saying so.
The 14th Amendment states that individuals who participate in an insurrection may not hold public office, and anti-Trumpers have quickly grabbed onto the language to apply it to him.
Erickson did recommend letting the Supreme Court decide whether Trump should stay on the ballot.
The board's lawyer recommended keeping Trump's name on the ballot because they lack the authority to determine whether he had violated the Constitution.
The state would probably move to have him removed from the general election ballot if the Supreme Court rules that Colorado does have the authority to do so, joining other states waiting to see how the high court rules.
It seems unlikely that the Supreme Court would rule that the 14th Amendment disqualifies Trump, since he has not been charged with or convicted of participating in an insurrection.
There's no way the court should be determining that Trump is guilty of resurrection without some sort of trial, which has not happened.
Similarly, Maine has also kept Trump on its primary ballot pending the Supreme Court's Colorado ruling.
The Supreme Court plans to hear arguments on the Colorado case on February 8.
More than a dozen states have challenges in progress to Trump being on the ballot, but it seems likely that the Supreme Court will not allow such a thing to happen.
It's a blatant attempt by the left to tell people who they can vote for--naked election interference for sure.
If states are able to get Trump taken off the ballot in this way, you can be sure that it will be the beginning of the end for free and fair elections in the U.S. going forward.
For now, at least, voters still get to have their say.
