Use of 14th Amendment to keep Trump off 2024 ballot still under debate in Illinois

CHICAGO — Lawsuits have been filed in several states seeking to block former President Donald Trump from appearing on next year’s election ballots, contending his actions in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol constitutionally disqualify him from holding the presidency again.

In deep blue Illinois, however, Trump’s opponents and state officials are taking a more cautious approach.

Several legal experts say they believe any lawsuit seeking to prevent the Illinois State Board of Elections from placing Trump’s name on the GOP primary ballot or object to his candidacy would be premature prior to the two-day filing period for petitions for presidential candidates on Jan. 5-6.

And even after that, there are myriad legal and political issues surrounding a potential challenge of Trump’s candidacy in Illinois.

“We’re in a lot of uncharted territory here,” said Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the state’s election board.

At issue is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. It says that those who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution “as member of Congress, or