SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – An election official has recommended three St. Clair County judges who opted to run for election instead of retention should stay on the ballot.

The judges plan to retire in name only to avoid retention elections that require 60 percent approval rather than a simple majority. They’ve filed paperwork to retire in December but are seeking to keep their jobs in the November election.

They are circuit judges John Baricevic, Robert Haida and Robert LeChien. All are Democrats and Baricevic is the chief judge.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports the Illinois State Board of Elections will meet on Wednesday and could decide on the 12-page finding by Springfield attorney David Herman.

The issue was raised by Belleville City Clerk Dallas Cook, who is a Republican candidate for county circuit clerk.