97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5497

 

Introduced 2/15/2012, by Rep. Dan Brady

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/11-2  from Ch. 46, par. 11-2
10 ILCS 5/11-3  from Ch. 46, par. 11-3
10 ILCS 5/11-5  from Ch. 46, par. 11-5

    Amends the Election Code. Provides that each election precinct shall contain 1,200 voters (now, 500 voters in counties, 600 voters in a municipality with a board of election commissioners and fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, or 400 voters in a municipality with a board of election commissioners and more than 500,000 inhabitants). Provides that, in a city with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, if any election precinct casts more than 1,500 votes (now, 800 votes) at 2 consecutive general elections, the state's attorney shall apply to the Circuit Court to compel the board to divide the precinct. Provides that, in a city with more than 500,000 inhabitants, if any election precinct casts more than 1,200 votes (now, 600 votes) at 2 consecutive general elections, the state's attorney shall apply to the Circuit Court to compel the board to divide the precinct. Effective July 1, 2012.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB5497LRB097 18241 PJG 63467 b

1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
5Sections 11-2, 11-3, and 11-5 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/11-2)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-2)
7    Sec. 11-2. The County Board in each county, except in
8counties having a population of 3,000,000 inhabitants or over,
9shall, at its regular meeting in June, divide its election
10precincts which contain more than 1,500 800 voters, into
11election districts so that each district shall contain, as near
12as may be practicable, 1,200 500 voters, and not more in any
13case than 1,300 800. Whenever the County Board ascertains that
14any election precinct contains more than 1,300 600 registered
15voters, it may divide such precinct, at its regular meeting in
16June, into election precincts so that each precinct shall
17contain, as nearly as may be practicable, 1,200 500 voters.
18Insofar as is practicable, each precinct shall be situated
19within a single congressional, legislative and representative
20district and in not more than one County Board district and one
21municipal ward. In order to situate each precinct within a
22single district or ward, the County Board shall change the
23boundaries of election precincts after each decennial census as

 

 

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1soon as is practicable following the completion of
2congressional and legislative redistricting. In determining
3whether a division of precincts should be made, the county
4board may anticipate increased voter registration in any
5precinct in which there is in progress new construction of
6dwelling units which will be occupied by voters more than 30
7days before the next election. Each district shall be composed
8of contiguous territory in as compact form as can be for the
9convenience of the electors voting therein. The several county
10boards in establishing districts shall describe them by metes
11and bounds and number them. And so often thereafter as it shall
12appear by the number of votes cast at the general election held
13in November of any year, that any election district or
14undivided election precinct contains more than 1,500 800
15voters, the County Board of the county in which the district or
16precinct may be, shall at its regular meeting in June, or an
17adjourned meeting in July next, after such November election,
18redivide or readjust such election district or election
19precinct, so that no district or election precinct shall
20contain more than the number of votes above specified. If for
21any reason the County Board fails in any year to redivide or
22readjust the election districts or election precinct, then the
23districts or precincts as then existing shall continue until
24the next regular June meeting of the County Board; at which
25regular June meeting or an adjourned meeting in July the County
26Board shall redivide or readjust the election districts or

 

 

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1election precincts in manner as herein required. When at any
2meeting of the County Board any redivision, readjustment or
3change in name or number of election districts or election
4precincts is made by the County Board, the County Clerk shall
5immediately notify the State Board of Elections of such
6redivision, readjustment or change. The County Board in every
7case shall fix and establish the places for holding elections
8in its respective county and all elections shall be held at the
9places so fixed. The polling places shall in all cases be upon
10the ground floor in the front room, the entrance to which is in
11a highway or public street which is at least 40 feet wide, and
12is as near the center of the voting population of the precinct
13as is practicable, and for the convenience of the greatest
14number of electors to vote thereat; provided, however, where
15the County Board is unable to secure a suitable polling place
16within the boundaries of a precinct, it may select a polling
17place at the most conveniently located suitable place outside
18the precinct; but in no case shall an election be held in any
19room used or occupied as a saloon, dramshop, bowling alley or
20as a place of resort for idlers and disreputable persons,
21billiard hall or in any room connected therewith by doors or
22hallways. No person shall be permitted to vote at any election
23except at the polling place for the precinct in which he
24resides, except as otherwise provided in this Section or
25Article 19 of this Act. In counties having a population of
263,000,000 inhabitants or over the County Board shall divide its

 

 

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1election precincts and shall fix and establish places for
2holding elections as hereinbefore provided during the month of
3January instead of at its regular meeting in June or at an
4adjourned meeting in July.
5    However, in the event that additional divisions of election
6precincts are indicated after a division made by the County
7Board in the month of January, such additional divisions may be
8made by the County Board in counties having a population of
93,000,000 inhabitants or over, at the regular meeting in June
10or at adjourned meeting in July. The county board of such
11county may divide or readjust precincts at any meeting of the
12county board when the voter registration in a precinct has
13increased beyond 1,500 800 and an election is scheduled before
14the next regular January or June meeting of the county board.
15    When in any city, village or incorporated town territory
16has been annexed thereto or disconnected therefrom, which
17annexation or disconnection becomes effective after election
18precincts or election districts have been established as above
19provided in this Section, the clerk of the municipality shall
20inform the county clerk thereof as provided in Section 4-21,
215-28.1, or 6-31.1, whichever is applicable. In the event that a
22regular meeting of the County Board is to be held after such
23notification and before any election, the County Board shall,
24at its next regular meeting establish new election precinct
25lines in affected territory. In the event that no regular
26meeting of the County Board is to be held before such election

 

 

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1the county clerk shall, within 5 days after being so informed,
2call a special meeting of the county board on a day fixed by
3him not more than 20 days thereafter for the purpose of
4establishing election precincts or election districts in the
5affected territory for the ensuing elections.
6    At any consolidated primary or consolidated election at
7which municipal officers are to be elected, and at any
8emergency referendum at which a public question relating to a
9municipality is to be voted on, notwithstanding any other
10provision of this Code, the election authority shall establish
11a polling place within such municipality, upon the request of
12the municipal council or board of trustees at least 60 days
13before the election and provided that the municipality provides
14a suitable polling place. To accomplish this purpose, the
15election authority may establish an election precinct
16constituting a single municipality of under 500 population for
17all elections, notwithstanding the minimum precinct size
18otherwise specified herein.
19    Notwithstanding the above, when there are no more than 50
20registered voters in a precinct who are entitled to vote in a
21local government or school district election, the election
22authority having jurisdiction over the precinct is authorized
23to reassign such voters to one or more polling places in
24adjacent precincts, within or without the election authority's
25jurisdiction, for that election. For the purposes of such local
26government or school district election only, the votes of the

 

 

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1reassigned voters shall be tallied and canvassed as votes from
2the precinct of the polling place to which such voters have
3been reassigned. The election authority having jurisdiction
4over the precinct shall approve all administrative and polling
5place procedures. Such procedures shall take into account voter
6convenience, and ensure that the integrity of the election
7process is maintained and that the secrecy of the ballot is not
8violated.
9    Except in the event of a fire, flood or total loss of heat
10in a place fixed or established by any county board or election
11authority pursuant to this Section as a polling place for an
12election, no election authority shall change the location of a
13polling place so established for any precinct after notice of
14the place of holding the election for that precinct has been
15given as required under Article 12 unless the election
16authority notifies all registered voters in the precinct of the
17change in location by first class mail in sufficient time for
18such notice to be received by the registered voters in the
19precinct at least one day prior to the date of the election.
20    The provisions of this Section apply to all precincts,
21including those where voting machines or electronic voting
22systems are used.
23(Source: P.A. 86-867.)
 
24    (10 ILCS 5/11-3)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-3)
25    Sec. 11-3. It shall be the duty of the Board of

 

 

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1Commissioners established by Article 6 of this Act, within 2
2months after its first organization, to divide the city,
3village or incorporated town which may adopt or is operating
4under Article 6, into election precincts, each of which shall
5be situated within a single congressional, legislative and
6representative district insofar as is practicable and in not
7more than one County Board district and one municipal ward; in
8order to situate each precinct within a single district or
9ward, the Board of Election Commissioners shall change the
10boundaries of election precincts after each decennial census as
11soon as is practicable following the completion of
12congressional and legislative redistricting and such precincts
13shall contain as nearly as practicable 1,200 600 qualified
14voters, and in making such division and establishing such
15precincts such board shall take as a basis the poll books, or
16the number of votes cast at the previous presidential election.
17Within 90 days after each presidential election, such board in
18a city with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, village or
19incorporated town shall revise and rearrange such precincts on
20the basis of the votes cast at such election, making such
21precincts to contain, as near as practicable, 1,200 600 actual
22voters; but at any time in all instances where the vote cast at
23any precinct, at any election, equals 1,500 800, there must be
24a rearrangement so as to reduce the vote to the standard of
251,200 600 as near as may be. However, any apartment building in
26which more than 1,200 800 registered voters reside may be made

 

 

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1a single precinct even though the vote in such precinct exceeds
21,200 800. Within 90 days after each presidential election, a
3board in a city with more than 500,000 inhabitants shall revise
4and rearrange such precincts on the basis of the votes cast at
5such election, making such precincts to contain, as near as
6practicable, 1,200 400 actual voters; but at any time in all
7instances where the vote cast at any precinct, at any election,
8equals 1,500 600, there must be a rearrangement so as to reduce
9the vote to the standard of 1,200 400 as near as may be.
10However, any apartment building in which more than 1,200 600
11registered voters reside may be made a single precinct even
12though the vote in such precinct exceeds 1,200 600.
13    Immediately after the annexation of territory to the city,
14village or incorporated town becomes effective the Board of
15Election Commissioners shall revise and rearrange election
16precincts therein to include such annexed territory.
17    Provided, however, that at any election where but one
18candidate is nominated and is to be voted upon at any election
19held in any political subdivision of a city, village or
20incorporated town, the Board of Election Commissioners shall
21have the power in such political subdivision to determine the
22number of voting precincts to be established in such political
23subdivision at such election, without reference to the number
24of qualified voters therein. The precincts in each ward,
25village or incorporated town shall be numbered from one
26upwards, consecutively, with no omission.

 

 

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1    The provisions of this Section apply to all precincts,
2including those where voting machines or electronic voting
3systems are used.
4(Source: P.A. 84-1308.)
 
5    (10 ILCS 5/11-5)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-5)
6    Sec. 11-5. If any election district or precinct subject to
7the jurisdiction of a county board or a board of election
8commissioners in a city with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants,
9village or incorporated town casts more than 1,500 800 votes
10each at two consecutive general November elections for State
11officers, the state's attorney, upon the request of an elector
12in any such district or precinct, shall apply to the Circuit
13Court for relief by mandamus to compel the appropriate board to
14divide such district or precinct as required by law. Any relief
15so granted shall not apply to any election occurring within 60
16days thereafter. If any election precinct subject to the
17jurisdiction of a board of election commissioners in a city
18with more than 500,000 inhabitants casts more than 1,200 600
19votes at each of the two consecutive general November elections
20for State officers, the state's attorney, upon the request of
21an elector in any such precinct, shall apply to the Circuit
22Court for relief by mandamus to compel the appropriate board to
23divide such precinct as required by law. Any relief so granted
24shall not apply to any election occurring within 60 days
25thereafter.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 84-323.)
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
32012.