A state election law requires candidates to declare a party affiliation when they file to run. But there are a lot of offices that are non-partisan – local government and judicial positions, for example. There is an option to declare “no party affiliation,” but that has confused candidates for non-partisan offices who leave that space blank.
Two justices dissented from the order that blocked a candidate from running for the Highland Park City Council.
Justice David Viviano did concur with the ruling, finding the decision followed the letter of the law. But he said the law should be fixed by the Legislature so the distinction is clear to candidates.