100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB0666

 

Introduced 1/25/2017, by Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
60 ILCS 1/45-50

    Amends the Township Code. Provides that a participant in a caucus shall be entitled to only one vote for each office for which he or she is voting. Provides that a participant's vote shall not be weighted to be equal to more than one vote. Effective immediately.


LRB100 07900 AWJ 17972 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0666LRB100 07900 AWJ 17972 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Township Code is amended by changing Section
545-50 as follows:
 
6    (60 ILCS 1/45-50)
7    Sec. 45-50. Caucus procedures.
8    (a) The rules of procedure for conducting a township or
9multi-township caucus must be approved and may be amended by a
10majority vote of the qualified participants attending the
11caucus. No participant shall be able to participate or vote at
12any township or multi-township caucus if the person is or was
13at anytime during the 12 months before the caucus any of the
14following:
15        (1) An elected or appointed public official of another
16    established political party.
17        (2) An elected or appointed officer, director,
18    precinct committeeman or representative of the township
19    committeeman of another established political party.
20        (3) A judge of election under Article 13 or 14 of the
21    Election Code for another statewide established political
22    party.
23        (4) A voter who voted in the primary election of

 

 

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1    another statewide established political party different
2    from the party holding the caucus.
3    (b) The rules of procedure shall include the following:
4        (1) No caucus shall commence earlier than 6:00 p.m.
5        (2) The caucus shall commence at the place specified in
6    the notice of caucus.
7        (3) Procedures by which qualified caucus participants
8    determine by a majority vote the duties of caucus judges of
9    election. Caucus judges of election shall be appointed by a
10    majority vote of the township or multi-township central
11    committee. No judge of the Supreme Court, appellate court,
12    or circuit court or associate judge shall serve as a caucus
13    judge of election.
14        (4) Nominations for selection as a candidate shall be
15    accepted from any qualified participant of the caucus.
16        (5) The method of voting (i.e., written ballot, voice
17    vote, show of hands, standing vote) for determining the
18    candidate or candidates selected for nomination.
19        (6) Whether candidates will be selected as a slate or
20    as individual nominees for each office.
21        (7) Whether written notice of intent to be a caucus
22    nominee is required.
23        (8) Other rules deemed necessary by the central
24    committee at the time the rules are promulgated or by the
25    majority of the qualified caucus participants when the
26    rules are being considered at their meeting.

 

 

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1        (9) A participant in a caucus shall be entitled to only
2    one vote for each office for which he or she is voting. A
3    participant's vote shall not be weighted to be equal to
4    more than one vote.
5    (c) Individuals participating at an established political
6party township or multi-township caucus shall comply with each
7of the following:
8        (1) A participant shall be registered under Article 4,
9    5, or 6 of the Election Code.
10        (2) A participant shall be registered within the
11    territory for which the nomination is made.
12        (3) A participant shall sign an affidavit that he or
13    she is a registered voter and affiliated with the
14    established political party holding the caucus.
15        (4) A participant shall not take part in the
16    proceedings of more than one established political party
17    township and multi-township caucus for the same election.
18    This requirement also applies to the township and
19    multi-township clerks.
20        (5) A participant shall not sign a petition of
21    nomination for an independent or new political party
22    candidate for the same election.
23        (6) A participant shall not become an independent
24    candidate or a candidate of another established political
25    party or a new political party for the same election.
26    (d) The voters participating at an established political

 

 

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1party township or multi-township caucus shall not select for
2nomination more candidates than there are to be elected for
3each office.
4    (e) No candidate for nomination at a township or
5multi-township caucus shall be required to do either of the
6following:
7        (1) Circulate and file nominating petitions to become a
8    candidate at the caucus.
9        (2) File a fee to become a candidate at the caucus.
10(Source: P.A. 92-119, eff. 1-1-02.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12becoming law.