Peoria County Delays Voting Start Amid State-Level Court Case

Election officials cite potential ballot issues as reason for postponing early voting and vote-by-mail.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Peoria County Election Commission announced that early voting and vote-by-mail will not start as scheduled on Thursday, February 5, due to an ongoing statewide court case involving a Republican gubernatorial candidate's appeal to be reinstated on the primary ballot. Officials say a stay in the case could require over 12,000 Peoria County voters to receive corrected ballots, prompting the delay.

Why it matters

The delay in Peoria County's voting start highlights the potential disruptions that can occur when legal challenges arise close to an election. Ensuring the integrity and accessibility of the voting process is crucial for maintaining public trust in the democratic system.

The details

Republican gubernatorial candidate Joseph Severino is appealing a decision by the Illinois State Board of Elections to not certify his candidacy for the March 17, 2026 primary ballot due to a lack of valid petition signatures. Severino is seeking a stay on a circuit court's decision to remove his name from the primary ballot, which would require his name to be reinstated pending the appeal's outcome.

  • The Peoria County Election Commission announced the voting delay on February 4, 2026.
  • Early voting and vote-by-mail were originally scheduled to start on February 5, 2026.
  • State officials are hopeful a decision will be made by the end of this week.

The players

Joseph Severino

A Republican gubernatorial candidate who is appealing a decision by the Illinois State Board of Elections to not certify his candidacy for the March 17, 2026 primary ballot.

Peoria County Election Commission

The local election authority that announced the delay in the start of early voting and vote-by-mail in Peoria County due to the ongoing state-level court case.

Illinois State Board of Elections

The state-level election authority that initially decided not to certify Joseph Severino's candidacy for the March 17, 2026 primary ballot.

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What they’re saying

“The decision to delay the start of voting was not made lightly. If the stay is granted and the candidate's name is to appear on the ballot, that would mean over 12,000 Peoria County voters have been mailed an incorrect ballot.”

— Gannon, Peoria County Election Commission (25newsnow.com)

What’s next

State officials are hopeful that a decision will be made by the end of this week on whether to grant the stay and reinstate Joseph Severino's name on the primary ballot.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of timely resolution of legal challenges to election procedures in order to avoid potential voter confusion and disruptions to the voting process. Election officials must balance the need for ballot integrity with ensuring accessibility and trust in the democratic system.