10 ILCS 5/7-17
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 10 - ELECTIONS|10 ILCS 5/ - Election Code.|Article 7 - The Making Of Nominations By Political Parties

 (from Ch. 46, par. 7-17)Sec. 7-17. Candidate ballot name procedures.(a) Each election authority in each county shall cause to be  printed upon the general primary ballot of each party for each precinct  in his jurisdiction the name of each candidate whose petition for  nomination or for committeeperson has been filed in the office of the  county clerk, as herein provided; and also the name of each candidate  whose name has been certified to his office by the State Board of  Elections, and in the order so certified, except as hereinafter  provided.It shall be the duty of the election authority to cause to be printed  upon the consolidated primary ballot of each political party for each  precinct in his jurisdiction the name of each candidate whose name has  been certified to him, as herein provided and which is to be voted for  in such precinct.(b) In the designation of the name of a candidate on the primary ballot  the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by  which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof, may be  used in addition to the candidate's surname. If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition for nomination, nomination papers, or certificate of nomination for that office, whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate's name on the primary ballot must be followed by "formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)" and (ii) the petition, papers, or certificate must be accompanied by the candidate's affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the period specified in (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate's name for the ballot or removing the candidate's name from the ballot, as appropriate, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's or parents' surname, marriage or civil union to assume a spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or civil union or declaration of invalidity of marriage or civil union to assume a former surname or a name change that conforms the candidate's name to his or her gender identity. No other designation such  as a political slogan, title, or degree, or nickname suggesting or  implying possession of  a title, degree or professional status, or similar information may be  used in connection  with the candidate's surname.  For purposes of this Section, a "political slogan" is defined as any  word  or words expressing or connoting a position, opinion, or belief that the  candidate may espouse, including but not limited to, any word or words  conveying any meaning other than that of the personal identity of the  candidate. A  candidate may not use a political slogan as part of his or her name on the  ballot, notwithstanding that the political slogan may be part of the  candidate's name.(c) The State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an election  authority shall remove any candidate's name designation from a ballot that is  inconsistent with subsection (b) of this Section. In addition, the State Board  of Elections, a local election official, or an election authority shall not  certify to any election authority any candidate name designation that is  inconsistent with subsection (b) of this Section.(d) If the State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an  election authority removes a candidate's name designation from a ballot  under subsection (c) of this Section, then the aggrieved candidate may  seek appropriate relief in circuit court.  (Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)