CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has scaled back Election Day voter registration for highly populated areas in Illinois, a decision that sides with Republicans who claimed in a lawsuit that last year’s extension of same-day registration is unconstitutional.
Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan’s (dehr-YAY’-gehnz) move on Tuesday temporarily blocks wider same-day registration lawmakers put into effect in 2015.
Voters will still be able to register on Nov. 8, just not at individual polling places.
The state piloted same-day registration in 2014 at some locations. The option was popular, especially in Chicago.
Republicans who filed the lawsuit say expanding same-day registration in highly populated areas doesn’t provide equal access, particularly for voters in rural and Republican-leaning areas.
State Board of Elections general counsel Ken Menzel says the ruling will cause confusion. He says an appeal is likely.
