The Beacon News reports a number of Illinois candidates and committees owe fines.

Election officials have little leverage in collecting the fines except to kick candidates off the ballot — moot between elections or if the candidate loses. Officials have asked the state attorney general’s office for an opinion on how it might go about enforcing the penalties.

Individual candidates legally cannot be held accountable for the money, though election officials can keep them from appearing on the ballot if they owe too much money.

The reference appears to be to: 

5/9-30. Ballot forfeiture. The name of a person who has not paid a civil penalty imposed against him or her under this Article shall not appear upon any ballot for any office in any election while the penalty is unpaid.

The Illinois State Board of Elections identifies 408 late reports.