97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB3669

 

Introduced 2/10/2012, by Sen. Terry Link

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/7-5  from Ch. 46, par. 7-5
10 ILCS 5/12-1  from Ch. 46, par. 12-1
10 ILCS 5/13-10  from Ch. 46, par. 13-10
10 ILCS 5/17-1  from Ch. 46, par. 17-1
10 ILCS 5/17-16  from Ch. 46, par. 17-16
10 ILCS 5/17-21  from Ch. 46, par. 17-21
10 ILCS 5/18-2  from Ch. 46, par. 18-2
10 ILCS 5/18A-5
10 ILCS 5/19-8  from Ch. 46, par. 19-8
10 ILCS 5/20-8  from Ch. 46, par. 20-8
10 ILCS 5/24A-10  from Ch. 46, par. 24A-10
10 ILCS 5/24B-10

    Amends the Election Code. Provides that polls shall be open until 6:00 p.m. (now, 7:00 p.m.). Provides that the portion of an election judge's daily compensation reimbursement by the State Board of Elections shall be $25 (rather than, is increased by an additional $20). Provides that the money (rather than, the increase) provided by the Board must be used to increase each judge's compensation. Makes conforming changes to references to the closing time of the polls. Effective immediately.


LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3669LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 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 7-5, 12-1, 13-10, 17-1, 17-16, 17-21, 18-2, 18A-5,
619-8, 20-8, 24A-10, and 24B-10 as follows:
 
7    (10 ILCS 5/7-5)  (from Ch. 46, par. 7-5)
8    Sec. 7-5. (a) Primary elections shall be held on the dates
9prescribed in Article 2A.
10    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no
11primary shall be held for an established political party in any
12township, municipality, or ward thereof, where the nomination
13of such party for every office to be voted upon by the electors
14of such township, municipality, or ward thereof, is
15uncontested. Whenever a political party's nomination of
16candidates is uncontested as to one or more, but not all, of
17the offices to be voted upon by the electors of a township,
18municipality, or ward thereof, then a primary shall be held for
19that party in such township, municipality, or ward thereof;
20provided that the primary ballot shall not include those
21offices within such township, municipality, or ward thereof,
22for which the nomination is uncontested. For purposes of this
23Article, the nomination of an established political party of a

 

 

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1candidate for election to an office shall be deemed to be
2uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be
3nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the
4nomination of such party for election to such office.
5    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no
6primary election shall be held for an established political
7party for any special primary election called for the purpose
8of filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the
9United States Congress where the nomination of such political
10party for said office is uncontested. For the purposes of this
11Article, the nomination of an established political party of a
12candidate for election to said office shall be deemed to be
13uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be
14nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the
15nomination of such established party for election to said
16office. This subsection (c) shall not apply if such primary
17election is conducted on a regularly scheduled election day.
18    (d) Notwithstanding the provisions in subsection (b) and
19(c) of this Section whenever a person who has not timely filed
20valid nomination papers and who intends to become a write-in
21candidate for a political party's nomination for any office for
22which the nomination is uncontested files a written statement
23or notice of that intent with the State Board of Elections or
24the local election official with whom nomination papers for
25such office are filed, a primary ballot shall be prepared and a
26primary shall be held for that office. Such statement or notice

 

 

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1shall be filed on or before the date established in this
2Article for certifying candidates for the primary ballot. Such
3statement or notice shall contain (i) the name and address of
4the person intending to become a write-in candidate, (ii) a
5statement that the person is a qualified primary elector of the
6political party from whom the nomination is sought, (iii) a
7statement that the person intends to become a write-in
8candidate for the party's nomination, and (iv) the office the
9person is seeking as a write-in candidate. An election
10authority shall have no duty to conduct a primary and prepare a
11primary ballot for any office for which the nomination is
12uncontested, unless a statement or notice meeting the
13requirements of this Section is filed in a timely manner.
14    (e) The polls shall be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 7:00
15p.m.
16(Source: P.A. 86-873.)
 
17    (10 ILCS 5/12-1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 12-1)
18    Sec. 12-1. At least 60 days prior to each general and
19consolidated election, the election authority shall provide
20public notice, calculated to reach elderly and handicapped
21voters, of the availability of registration and voting aids
22under the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and
23Handicapped Act, of the availability of assistance in marking
24the ballot, procedures for voting by absentee ballot, and
25procedures for voting early by personal appearance.

 

 

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1    At least 30 days before any general election, and at least
220 days before any special congressional election, the county
3clerk shall publish a notice of the election in 2 or more
4newspapers published in the county, city, village,
5incorporated town or town, as the case may be, or if there is
6no such newspaper, then in any 2 or more newspapers published
7in the county and having a general circulation throughout the
8community. The notice may be substantially as follows:
9    Notice is hereby given that on (give date), at (give the
10place of holding the election and the name of the precinct or
11district) in the county of (name county), an election will be
12held for (give the title of the several offices to be filled),
13which election will be open at 6:00 a.m. and continued open
14until 6:00 7:00 p.m. of that day.
15    Dated at .... on (insert date).
16(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)
 
17    (10 ILCS 5/13-10)  (from Ch. 46, par. 13-10)
18    Sec. 13-10. The compensation of the judges of all primaries
19and all elections, except judges supervising absentee ballots
20as provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act, in counties of less
21than 600,000 inhabitants shall be fixed by the respective
22county boards or boards of election commissioners in all
23counties and municipalities, but in no case shall such
24compensation be less than $35 per day. The compensation of
25judges of all primaries and all elections not under the

 

 

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1jurisdiction of the county clerk, except judges supervising
2absentee balloting as provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act,
3in counties having a population of 2,000,000 or more shall be
4not less than $60 per day. The compensation of judges of all
5primaries and all elections under the jurisdiction of the
6county clerk, except judges supervising absentee balloting as
7provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act, in counties having a
8population of 2,000,000 or more shall be not less than $60 per
9day. The compensation of judges of all primaries and all
10elections, except judges supervising absentee ballots as
11provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act, in counties having a
12population of at least 600,000 but less than 2,000,000
13inhabitants shall be not less than $45 per day as fixed by the
14county board of election commissioners of each such county. In
15addition to their per day compensation and notwithstanding the
16limitations thereon stated herein, the judges of election, in
17all counties with a population of less than 600,000, shall be
18paid $3 each for each 100 voters or portion thereof, in excess
19of 200 voters voting for candidates in the election district or
20precinct wherein the judge is serving, whether a primary or an
21election is being held. However, no such extra compensation
22shall be paid to the judges of election in any precinct in
23which no paper ballots are counted by such judges of election.
24The 2 judges of election in counties having a population of
25less than 600,000 who deliver the returns to the county clerk
26shall each be allowed and paid a sum to be determined by the

 

 

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1election authority for such services and an additional sum per
2mile to be determined by the election authority for every mile
3necessarily travelled in going to and returning from the office
4or place to which they deliver the returns. The compensation
5for mileage shall be consistent with current rates paid for
6mileage to employees of the county.
7    However, all judges who have been certified by the County
8Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners as having
9satisfactorily completed, within the 2 years preceding the day
10of election, the training course for judges of election, as
11provided in Sections 13-2.1, 13-2.2 and 14-4.1 of this Act,
12shall receive additional compensation of not less than $10 per
13day in counties of less than 600,000 inhabitants, the
14additional compensation of not less than $10 per day in
15counties having a population of at least 600,000 but less than
162,000,000 inhabitants as fixed by the county board of election
17commissioners of each such county, and additional compensation
18of not less than $20 per day in counties having a population of
192,000,000 or more for primaries and elections not under the
20jurisdiction of the county clerk, and additional compensation
21of not less than $20 per day in counties having a population of
222,000,000 or more for primaries and elections under the
23jurisdiction of the county clerk.
24    In precincts in which there are tally judges, the
25compensation of the tally judges shall be 2/3 of that of the
26judges of election and each holdover judge shall be paid the

 

 

SB3669- 7 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1compensation of a judge of election plus that of a tally judge.
2    Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
31998, the portion of an election judge's daily compensation
4reimbursed by the State Board of Elections is increased by $15.
5The increase provided by this amendatory Act of 1998 must be
6used to increase each judge's compensation and may not be used
7by the county to reduce its portion of a judge's compensation.
8    Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
9the 97th 95th General Assembly, the portion of an election
10judge's daily compensation reimbursement by the State Board of
11Elections shall be $25 is increased by an additional $20. The
12money increase provided by this amendatory Act of the 97th 95th
13General Assembly must be used to increase each judge's
14compensation and may not be used by the election authority or
15election jurisdiction to reduce its portion of a judge's
16compensation.
17(Source: P.A. 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
18    (10 ILCS 5/17-1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 17-1)
19    Sec. 17-1. The polls shall be opened at the hour of 6:00
20a.m. and continued open until 6:00 7:00 p.m. of the same day,
21at which time the polls shall be closed; but if the judges
22shall not attend at the hour of six o'clock in the morning, or
23if it shall be necessary for the electors present to appoint
24judges to conduct the election, as herein prescribed, the polls
25may, in that case, be opened at any hour before the time for

 

 

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1closing the same shall arrive, as the case may require.
2(Source: P.A. 81-850; 81-1149.)
 
3    (10 ILCS 5/17-16)  (from Ch. 46, par. 17-16)
4    Sec. 17-16. If the voter marks more candidates than there
5are persons to be elected to an office, or if for any reason it
6is impossible to determine the voter's choice for any office to
7be filled, his ballot shall not be counted for such office,
8provided that if the name of a candidate appears in more than
9one column on the ballot as authorized by this Act, and a
10ballot has been marked in his or her favor in more than one
11column and the voter's intention is otherwise ascertainable,
12the candidate shall receive only one vote from such ballot and
13the remaining votes cast for him or her on such ballot shall
14not be counted. No ballot without the official endorsement
15shall be deposited in the ballot box, and none but ballots
16provided in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be
17counted. Ballots not counted shall be marked "defective" on the
18back thereof, and ballots to which objection has been made by
19either of the judges or challengers shall be marked "objected
20to" on the back thereof, and a memorandum signed by the judges
21stating how it was counted shall be written upon the back of
22each ballot so marked, and all ballots marked defective or
23objected to shall be enclosed in an envelope securely sealed
24and so marked and endorsed as to clearly disclose its contents.
25The envelope to be used for enclosing ballots marked

 

 

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1"defective" or "objected to" shall bear upon its face, in large
2type, the legend: "This envelope is for use after 6:00 7:00
3P.M. only." The envelope to be used for enclosing ballots
4spoiled by voters while attempting to vote shall bear upon its
5face, in large type, the legend: "This envelope is for use
6before 6:00 7:00 P.M. only." All ballots not voted, and all
7that have been spoiled by voters while attempting to vote,
8shall be returned by the judges of election to the county clerk
9and a receipt taken therefor, and shall be preserved 2 months;
10the county clerk shall keep a record of the number of ballots
11delivered for each polling place, the name of the person to
12whom and the time when delivered, and he shall also enter upon
13such record the number and character of ballots returned, with
14the time when and the person by whom they are returned.
15(Source: P.A. 84-861.)
 
16    (10 ILCS 5/17-21)  (from Ch. 46, par. 17-21)
17    Sec. 17-21. When the votes shall have been examined and
18counted, the judges shall set down on a sheet or return form to
19be supplied to them, the name of every person voted for,
20written or printed at full length, the office for which such
21person received such votes, and the number he did receive and
22such additional information as is necessary to complete, as
23nearly as circumstances will admit, the following form, to-wit:
24
TALLY SHEET AND CERTIFICATE OF
25
RESULTS

 

 

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1    We do hereby certify that at the .... election held in the
2precinct hereinafter (general or special) specified on the ....
3day of ...., in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred
4and ...., a total of .... voters requested and received ballots
5and we do further certify:
6    Number of blank ballots delivered to us ....
7    Number of absentee ballots delivered to us ....
8    Total number of ballots delivered to us ....
9    Number of blank and spoiled ballots returned.
10    (1) Total number of ballots cast (in box)....
11    .... Defective and Objected To ballots sealed in envelope
12    (2) .... Total number of ballots cast (in box)
13
Line (2) equals line (1)
14    We further certify that each of the candidates for
15representative in the General Assembly received the number of
16votes ascribed to him on the separate tally sheet.
17    We further certify that each candidate received the number
18of votes set forth opposite his name or in the box containing
19his name on the tally sheet contained in the page or pages
20immediately following our signatures.
21    The undersigned actually served as judges and counted the
22ballots at the election on the .... day of .... in the ....
23precinct of the (1) *township of ...., or (2) *City of ...., or
24(3) *.... ward in the city of .... and the polls were opened at
256:00 A.M. and closed at 6:00 7:00 P.M. Certified by us.
26
*Fill in either (1), (2) or (3)

 

 

SB3669- 11 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1        A B, ....(Address)
2        C D, ....(Address)
3        E F, ....(Address)
4        G H, ....(Address)
5        I J, ....(Address)
 
6    Each tally sheet shall be in substantially one of the
7following forms:
8-------------------------------------------------------------
9Candidate's
10Name ofCandidatesTotal
11officeNamesVote5101520
12---
13UnitedJohn Smith7711
14States
15Senator
16---
17---
18Names of candidates
19Name ofand total vote
20officefor each5101520
21---
22For UnitedJohn Smith
23States
24Senator
25Total Vote..................

 

 

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1---
2(Source: P.A. 89-700, eff. 1-17-97.)
 
3    (10 ILCS 5/18-2)  (from Ch. 46, par. 18-2)
4    Sec. 18-2. In any municipality operating under Article 6 of
5this Act, the election polls shall be open at 6:00 a.m., and
6continued open until 6:00 7:00 p.m., of the same day, at which
7time the polls shall be closed, and no judge shall be behind
8time for more than 15 minutes after the time for opening such
9polls. Any judge may absent himself for a reasonable time but
10only during the casting of ballots, and upon leaving and
11returning, the judge shall sign a time sheet indicating the
12period of his absence. When absent for any cause, the judge
13shall authorize some one of the same political party with
14himself to act for him until his return.
15(Source: P.A. 81-850; 81-1149.)
 
16    (10 ILCS 5/18A-5)
17    Sec. 18A-5. Provisional voting; general provisions.
18    (a) A person who claims to be a registered voter is
19entitled to cast a provisional ballot under the following
20circumstances:
21        (1) The person's name does not appear on the official
22    list of eligible voters for the precinct in which the
23    person seeks to vote. The official list is the centralized
24    statewide voter registration list established and

 

 

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1    maintained in accordance with Section 1A-25;
2        (2) The person's voting status has been challenged by
3    an election judge, a pollwatcher, or any legal voter and
4    that challenge has been sustained by a majority of the
5    election judges;
6        (3) A federal or State court order extends the time for
7    closing the polls beyond the time period established by
8    State law and the person votes during the extended time
9    period; or
10        (4) The voter registered to vote by mail and is
11    required by law to present identification when voting
12    either in person or by absentee ballot, but fails to do so.
13    (b) The procedure for obtaining and casting a provisional
14ballot at the polling place shall be as follows:
15        (1) After first verifying through an examination of the
16    precinct register that the person's address is within the
17    precinct boundaries, an election judge at the polling place
18    shall notify a person who is entitled to cast a provisional
19    ballot pursuant to subsection (a) that he or she may cast a
20    provisional ballot in that election. An election judge must
21    accept any information provided by a person who casts a
22    provisional ballot that the person believes supports his or
23    her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter and
24    qualified to vote in the election. However, if the person's
25    residence address is outside the precinct boundaries, the
26    election judge shall inform the person of that fact, give

 

 

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1    the person the appropriate telephone number of the election
2    authority in order to locate the polling place assigned to
3    serve that address, and instruct the person to go to the
4    proper polling place to vote.
5        (2) The person shall execute a written form provided by
6    the election judge that shall state or contain all of the
7    following that is available:
8        (i) an affidavit stating the following:
9            State of Illinois, County of ................,
10        Township ............., Precinct ........, Ward
11        ........, I, ......................., do solemnly
12        swear (or affirm) that: I am a citizen of the United
13        States; I am 18 years of age or older; I have resided
14        in this State and in this precinct for 30 days
15        preceding this election; I have not voted in this
16        election; I am a duly registered voter in every
17        respect; and I am eligible to vote in this election.
18        Signature ...... Printed Name of Voter ....... Printed
19        Residence Address of Voter ...... City ...... State
20        .... Zip Code ..... Telephone Number ...... Date of
21        Birth ....... and Illinois Driver's License Number
22        ....... or Last 4 digits of Social Security Number
23        ...... or State Identification Card Number issued to
24        you by the Illinois Secretary of State........
25        (ii) A box for the election judge to check one of the 3
26    reasons why the person was given a provisional ballot under

 

 

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1    subsection (a) of Section 18A-5.
2        (iii) An area for the election judge to affix his or
3    her signature and to set forth any facts that support or
4    oppose the allegation that the person is not qualified to
5    vote in the precinct in which the person is seeking to
6    vote.
7    The written affidavit form described in this subsection
8(b)(2) must be printed on a multi-part form prescribed by the
9county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case
10may be.
11    (3) After the person executes the portion of the written
12affidavit described in subsection (b)(2)(i) of this Section,
13the election judge shall complete the portion of the written
14affidavit described in subsection (b)(2)(iii) and (b)(2)(iv).
15    (4) The election judge shall give a copy of the completed
16written affidavit to the person. The election judge shall place
17the original written affidavit in a self-adhesive clear plastic
18packing list envelope that must be attached to a separate
19envelope marked as a "provisional ballot envelope". The
20election judge shall also place any information provided by the
21person who casts a provisional ballot in the clear plastic
22packing list envelope. Each county clerk or board of election
23commissioners, as the case may be, must design, obtain or
24procure self-adhesive clear plastic packing list envelopes and
25provisional ballot envelopes that are suitable for
26implementing this subsection (b)(4) of this Section.

 

 

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1    (5) The election judge shall provide the person with a
2provisional ballot, written instructions for casting a
3provisional ballot, and the provisional ballot envelope with
4the clear plastic packing list envelope affixed to it, which
5contains the person's original written affidavit and, if any,
6information provided by the provisional voter to support his or
7her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter. An
8election judge must also give the person written information
9that states that any person who casts a provisional ballot
10shall be able to ascertain, pursuant to guidelines established
11by the State Board of Elections, whether the provisional vote
12was counted in the official canvass of votes for that election
13and, if the provisional vote was not counted, the reason that
14the vote was not counted.
15    (6) After the person has completed marking his or her
16provisional ballot, he or she shall place the marked ballot
17inside of the provisional ballot envelope, close and seal the
18envelope, and return the envelope to an election judge, who
19shall then deposit the sealed provisional ballot envelope into
20a securable container separately identified and utilized for
21containing sealed provisional ballot envelopes. Ballots that
22are provisional because they are cast after 6:00 7:00 p.m. by
23court order shall be kept separate from other provisional
24ballots. Upon the closing of the polls, the securable container
25shall be sealed with filament tape provided for that purpose,
26which shall be wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise,

 

 

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1at least twice each way, and each of the election judges shall
2sign the seal.
3    (c) Instead of the affidavit form described in subsection
4(b), the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as
5the case may be, may design and use a multi-part affidavit form
6that is imprinted upon or attached to the provisional ballot
7envelope described in subsection (b). If a county clerk or
8board of election commissioners elects to design and use its
9own multi-part affidavit form, then the county clerk or board
10of election commissioners shall establish a mechanism for
11accepting any information the provisional voter has supplied to
12the election judge to support his or her claim that he or she
13is a duly registered voter. In all other respects, a county
14clerk or board of election commissioners shall establish
15procedures consistent with subsection (b).
16    (d) The county clerk or board of election commissioners, as
17the case may be, shall use the completed affidavit form
18described in subsection (b) to update the person's voter
19registration information in the State voter registration
20database and voter registration database of the county clerk or
21board of election commissioners, as the case may be. If a
22person is later determined not to be a registered voter based
23on Section 18A-15 of this Code, then the affidavit shall be
24processed by the county clerk or board of election
25commissioners, as the case may be, as a voter registration
26application.

 

 

SB3669- 18 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03; 93-1071, eff. 1-18-05;
294-645, eff. 8-22-05.)
 
3    (10 ILCS 5/19-8)  (from Ch. 46, par. 19-8)
4    Sec. 19-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
5    (a) (Blank.)
6    (b) Each absent voter's ballot returned to an election
7authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and
8received by that election authority before the closing of the
9polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving
10election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall
11be counted in the central ballot counting location of the
12election authority on the day of the election after 6:00 7:00
13p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).
14    (c) Each absent voter's ballot that is mailed to an
15election authority and postmarked by the midnight preceding the
16opening of the polls on election day, but that is received by
17the election authority after the polls close on election day
18and before the close of the period for counting provisional
19ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the
20receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall
21be counted at the central ballot counting location of the
22election authority during the period for counting provisional
23ballots.
24    Each absent voter's ballot that is mailed to an election
25authority absent a postmark, but that is received by the

 

 

SB3669- 19 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1election authority after the polls close on election day and
2before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots
3cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving
4authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect
5the date inserted on the certification, and, if the
6certification date is a date preceding the election day and the
7ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of
8this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location
9of the election authority during the period for counting
10provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the
11ballot shall not be counted.
12    (d) Special write-in absentee voter's blank ballots
13returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by
14this Article, and received by the election authority at any
15time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be
16endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and
17hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot
18counting location of the election authority during the same
19period provided for counting absent voters' ballots under
20subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in absentee
21voter's blank ballots that are mailed to an election authority
22and postmarked by the midnight preceding the opening of the
23polls on election day, but that are received by the election
24authority after the polls close on election day and before the
25closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at
26that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority

 

 

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1with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the
2central ballot counting location of the election authority
3during the same periods provided for counting absent voters'
4ballots under subsection (c).
5    (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, absent
6voters' ballots and special write-in absentee voter's blank
7ballots received by the election authority after the closing of
8the polls on an election day shall be endorsed by the election
9authority receiving them with the day and hour of receipt and
10shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the
11period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at
12the election, and shall then, without being opened, be
13destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.
14    (f) Counting required under this Section to begin on
15election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no
16later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or
17panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by
18law. The counting shall continue until all absent voters'
19ballots and special write-in absentee voter's blank ballots
20required to be counted on election day have been counted.
21    (g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this
22Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In
23addition, within 2 days after an absentee ballot, other than an
24in-person absentee ballot, is received, but in all cases before
25the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the
26election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature

 

 

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1on the certification envelope of that absentee ballot with the
2signature of the voter on file in the office of the election
3authority. If the election judge or official determines that
4the 2 signatures match, and that the absentee voter is
5otherwise qualified to cast an absentee ballot, the election
6authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or
7the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is
8later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is
9registered. If the election judge or official determines that
10the signatures do not match, or that the absentee voter is not
11qualified to cast an absentee ballot, then without opening the
12certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across
13the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
14shall not cast or count the ballot.
15    In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, an
16absentee ballot may be rejected by the election judge or
17official:
18        (1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
19    and resealed;
20        (2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace
21    period ballot;
22        (3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the
23    voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
24        (4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
25    If the election judge or official determines that any of
26these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across

 

 

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1the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
2shall not cast or count the ballot.
3    (g-5) If an absentee ballot, other than an in-person
4absentee ballot, is rejected by the election judge or official
5for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days
6after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the
7period for counting provisional ballots, notify the absentee
8voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall
9inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was
10rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the
11election authority, on or before the 14th day after the
12election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be
13rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election
14authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot
15should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel
16of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot,
17application, and certification envelope, as well as any
18evidence submitted by the absentee voter. No more than 2
19election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same
20political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall
21make a final determination as to the validity of the contested
22absentee ballot. The judges' determination shall not be
23reviewable either administratively or judicially.
24    An absentee ballot subject to this subsection that is
25determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the
26period for counting provisional ballots.

 

 

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1    (g-10) All absentee ballots determined to be valid shall be
2added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were
3cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.
4    (h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic
5organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher
6for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
7(Source: P.A. 94-557, eff. 8-12-05; 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06;
895-699, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
9    (10 ILCS 5/20-8)  (from Ch. 46, par. 20-8)
10    Sec. 20-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
11    (a) (Blank.)
12    (b) Each absent voter's ballot returned to an election
13authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and
14received by that election authority before the closing of the
15polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving
16election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall
17be counted in the central ballot counting location of the
18election authority on the day of the election after 6:00 7:00
19p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).
20    (c) Each absent voter's ballot that is mailed to an
21election authority and postmarked by the midnight preceding the
22opening of the polls on election day, but that is received by
23the election authority after the polls close on election day
24and before the close of the period for counting provisional
25ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the

 

 

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1receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall
2be counted at the central ballot counting location of the
3election authority during the period for counting provisional
4ballots.
5    Each absent voter's ballot that is mailed to an election
6authority absent a postmark, but that is received by the
7election authority after the polls close on election day and
8before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots
9cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving
10authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect
11the date inserted on the certification, and, if the
12certification date is a date preceding the election day and the
13ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of
14this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location
15of the election authority during the period for counting
16provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the
17ballot shall not be counted.
18    (d) Special write-in absentee voter's blank ballots
19returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by
20this Article, and received by the election authority at any
21time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be
22endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and
23hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot
24counting location of the election authority during the same
25period provided for counting absent voters' ballots under
26subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in absentee

 

 

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1voter's blank ballot that are mailed to an election authority
2and postmarked by midnight preceding the opening of the polls
3on election day, but that are received by the election
4authority after the polls close on election day and before the
5closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at
6that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority
7with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the
8central ballot counting location of the election authority
9during the same periods provided for counting absent voters'
10ballots under subsection (c).
11    (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, absent
12voters' ballots and special write-in absentee voter's blank
13ballots received by the election authority after the closing of
14the polls on the day of election shall be endorsed by the
15person receiving the ballots with the day and hour of receipt
16and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for
17the period of time required for the preservation of ballots
18used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be
19destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.
20    (f) Counting required under this Section to begin on
21election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no
22later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or
23panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by
24law. The counting shall continue until all absent voters'
25ballots and special write-in absentee voter's blank ballots
26required to be counted on election day have been counted.

 

 

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1    (g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this
2Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In
3addition, within 2 days after a ballot subject to this Article
4is received, but in all cases before the close of the period
5for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or
6official shall compare the voter's signature on the
7certification envelope of that ballot with the signature of the
8voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the
9election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures
10match, and that the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a
11ballot under this Article, the election authority shall cast
12and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is
13determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results
14to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the
15election judge or official determines that the signatures do
16not match, or that the voter is not qualified to cast a ballot
17under this Article, then without opening the certification
18envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of
19the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not
20cast or count the ballot.
21    In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a
22ballot subject to this Article may be rejected by the election
23judge or official:
24        (1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
25    and resealed;
26        (2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace

 

 

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1    period ballot;
2        (3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the
3    voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
4        (4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
5    If the election judge or official determines that any of
6these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across
7the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
8shall not cast or count the ballot.
9    (g-5) If a ballot subject to this Article is rejected by
10the election judge or official for any reason, the election
11authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all
12cases before the close of the period for counting provisional
13ballots, notify the voter that his or her ballot was rejected.
14The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the
15ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear
16before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after
17the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be
18rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election
19authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot
20should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel
21of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot,
22application, and certification envelope, as well as any
23evidence submitted by the absentee voter. No more than 2
24election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same
25political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall
26make a final determination as to the validity of the contested

 

 

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1ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable
2either administratively or judicially.
3    A ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to
4be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for
5counting provisional ballots.
6    (g-10) All ballots determined to be valid shall be added to
7the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in
8the order in which the ballots were opened.
9    (h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic
10organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher
11for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
12(Source: P.A. 94-557, eff. 8-12-05; 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06;
1395-699, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
14    (10 ILCS 5/24A-10)  (from Ch. 46, par. 24A-10)
15    Sec. 24A-10. (1) In an election jurisdiction which has
16adopted an electronic voting system, the election official in
17charge of the election shall select one of the 3 following
18procedures for receiving, counting, tallying, and return of the
19ballots:
20    (a) Two ballot boxes shall be provided for each polling
21place. The first ballot box is for the depositing of votes cast
22on the electronic voting system; and the second ballot box is
23for all votes cast on paper ballots, including any paper
24ballots required to be voted other than on the electronic
25voting system. Ballots deposited in the second ballot box shall

 

 

SB3669- 29 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1be counted, tallied, and returned as is elsewhere provided in
2"The Election Code," as amended, for the counting and handling
3of paper ballots. Immediately after the closing of the polls,
4the judges of election shall make out a slip indicating the
5number of persons who voted in the precinct at the election.
6Such slip shall be signed by all the judges of election and
7shall be inserted by them in the first ballot box. The judges
8of election shall thereupon immediately lock each ballot box;
9provided, that if such box is not of a type which may be
10securely locked, such box shall be sealed with filament tape
11provided for such purpose which shall be wrapped around the box
12lengthwise and crosswise, at least twice each way, and in such
13manner that the seal completely covers the slot in the ballot
14box, and each of the judges shall sign such seal. Thereupon two
15of the judges of election, of different political parties,
16shall forthwith and by the most direct route transport both
17ballot boxes to the counting location designated by the county
18clerk or board of election commissioners.
19    Before the ballots of a precinct are fed to the electronic
20tabulating equipment, the first ballot box shall be opened at
21the central counting station by the two precinct transport
22judges. Upon opening a ballot box, such team shall first count
23the number of ballots in the box. If 2 or more are folded
24together so as to appear to have been cast by the same person,
25all of the ballots so folded together shall be marked and
26returned with the other ballots in the same condition, as near

 

 

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1as may be, in which they were found when first opened, but
2shall not be counted. If the remaining ballots are found to
3exceed the number of persons voting in the precinct as shown by
4the slip signed by the judges of election, the ballots shall be
5replaced in the box, and the box closed and well shaken and
6again opened and one of the precinct transport judges shall
7publicly draw out so many ballots unopened as are equal to such
8excess.
9    Such excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not Counted"
10and signed by the two precinct transport judges and shall be
11placed in the "After 6:00 7:00 p.m. Defective Ballots
12Envelope". The number of excess ballots shall be noted in the
13remarks section of the Certificate of Results. "Excess" ballots
14shall not be counted in the total of "defective" ballots.
15    The precinct transport judges shall then examine the
16remaining ballots for write-in votes and shall count and
17tabulate the write-in vote; or
18    (b) A single ballot box, for the deposit of all votes cast,
19shall be used. All ballots which are not to be tabulated on the
20electronic voting system shall be counted, tallied, and
21returned as elsewhere provided in "The Election Code," as
22amended, for the counting and handling of paper ballots.
23    All ballots to be processed and tabulated with the
24electronic voting system shall be processed as follows:
25    Immediately after the closing of the polls, the precinct
26judges of election then shall open the ballot box and canvass

 

 

SB3669- 31 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1the votes polled to determine that the number of ballots
2therein agree with the number of voters voting as shown by the
3applications for ballot or if the same do not agree the judges
4of election shall make such ballots agree with the applications
5for ballot in the manner provided by Section 17-18 of "The
6Election Code." The judges of election shall then examine all
7ballot cards and ballot card envelopes which are in the ballot
8box to determine whether the ballot cards and ballot card
9envelopes bear the initials of a precinct judge of election. If
10any ballot card or ballot card envelope is not initialed, it
11shall be marked on the back "Defective," initialed as to such
12label by all judges immediately under such word "Defective,"
13and not counted, but placed in the envelope provided for that
14purpose labeled "Defective Ballots Envelope."
15    When an electronic voting system is used which utilizes a
16ballot card, before separating the ballot cards from their
17respective covering envelopes, the judges of election shall
18examine the ballot card envelopes for write-in votes. When the
19voter has voted a write-in vote, the judges of election shall
20compare the write-in vote with the votes on the ballot card to
21determine whether such write-in results in an overvote for any
22office. In case of an overvote for any office, the judges of
23election, consisting in each case of at least one judge of
24election of each of the two major political parties, shall make
25a true duplicate ballot of all votes on such ballot card except
26for the office which is overvoted, by using the ballot label

 

 

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1booklet of the precinct and one of the marking devices of the
2precinct so as to transfer all votes of the voter except for
3the office overvoted, to an official ballot card of that kind
4used in the precinct at that election. The original ballot card
5and envelope upon which there is an overvote shall be clearly
6labeled "Overvoted Ballot", and each shall bear the same serial
7number which shall be placed thereon by the judges of election,
8commencing with number 1 and continuing consecutively for the
9ballots of that kind in that precinct. The judges of election
10shall initial the "Duplicate Overvoted Ballot" ballot cards and
11shall place them in the box for return of the ballots. The
12"Overvoted Ballot" ballots and their envelopes shall be placed
13in the "Duplicate Ballots" envelope. Envelopes bearing
14write-in votes marked in the place designated therefor and
15bearing the initials of a precinct judge of election and not
16resulting in an overvote and otherwise complying with the
17election laws as to marking shall be counted, tallied, and
18their votes recorded on a tally sheet provided by the election
19official in charge of the election. The ballot cards and ballot
20card envelopes shall be separated and all except any defective
21or overvoted shall be placed separately in the box for return
22of the ballots. The judges of election shall examine the
23ballots and ballot cards to determine if any is damaged or
24defective so that it cannot be counted by the automatic
25tabulating equipment. If any ballot or ballot card is damaged
26or defective so that it cannot properly be counted by the

 

 

SB3669- 33 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1automatic tabulating equipment, the judges of election,
2consisting in each case of at least one judge of election of
3each of the two major political parties, shall make a true
4duplicate ballot of all votes on such ballot card by using the
5ballot label booklet of the precinct and one of the marking
6devices of the precinct. The original ballot or ballot card and
7envelope shall be clearly labeled "Damaged Ballot" and the
8ballot or ballot card so produced "Duplicate Damaged Ballot,"
9and each shall bear the same number which shall be placed
10thereon by the judges of election, commencing with number 1 and
11continuing consecutively for the ballots of that kind in the
12precinct. The judges of election shall initial the "Duplicate
13Damaged Ballot" ballot or ballot cards, and shall place them in
14the box for return of the ballots. The "Damaged Ballot" ballots
15or ballot cards and their envelopes shall be placed in the
16"Duplicated Ballots" envelope. A slip indicating the number of
17voters voting in person shall be made out, signed by all judges
18of election, and inserted in the box for return of the ballots.
19The tally sheets recording the write-in votes shall be placed
20in this box. The judges of election thereupon immediately shall
21securely lock the ballot box or other suitable box furnished
22for return of the ballots by the election official in charge of
23the election; provided that if such box is not of a type which
24may be securely locked, such box shall be sealed with filament
25tape provided for such purpose which shall be wrapped around
26the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least twice each way. A

 

 

SB3669- 34 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1separate adhesive seal label signed by each of the judges of
2election of the precinct shall be affixed to the box so as to
3cover any slot therein and to identify the box of the precinct;
4and if such box is sealed with filament tape as provided herein
5rather than locked, such tape shall be wrapped around the box
6as provided herein, but in such manner that the separate
7adhesive seal label affixed to the box and signed by the judges
8may not be removed without breaking the filament tape and
9disturbing the signature of the judges. Thereupon, 2 of the
10judges of election, of different major political parties,
11forthwith shall by the most direct route transport the box for
12return of the ballots and enclosed ballots and returns to the
13central counting location designated by the election official
14in charge of the election. If, however, because of the lack of
15adequate parking facilities at the central counting location or
16for any other reason, it is impossible or impracticable for the
17boxes from all the polling places to be delivered directly to
18the central counting location, the election official in charge
19of the election may designate some other location to which the
20boxes shall be delivered by the 2 precinct judges. While at
21such other location the boxes shall be in the care and custody
22of one or more teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each
23of the two major political parties, designated for such purpose
24by the election official in charge of elections from
25recommendations by the appropriate political party
26organizations. As soon as possible, the boxes shall be

 

 

SB3669- 35 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1transported from such other location to the central counting
2location by one or more teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2
3from each of the 2 major political parties, designated for such
4purpose by the election official in charge of elections from
5recommendations by the appropriate political party
6organizations.
7    The "Defective Ballots" envelope, and "Duplicated Ballots"
8envelope each shall be securely sealed and the flap or end
9thereof of each signed by the precinct judges of election and
10returned to the central counting location with the box for
11return of the ballots, enclosed ballots and returns.
12    At the central counting location, a team of tally judges
13designated by the election official in charge of the election
14shall check the box returned containing the ballots to
15determine that all seals are intact, and thereupon shall open
16the box, check the voters' slip and compare the number of
17ballots so delivered against the total number of voters of the
18precinct who voted, remove the ballots or ballot cards and
19deliver them to the technicians operating the automatic
20tabulating equipment. Any discrepancies between the number of
21ballots and total number of voters shall be noted on a sheet
22furnished for that purpose and signed by the tally judges; or
23    (c) A single ballot box, for the deposit of all votes cast,
24shall be used. Immediately after the closing of the polls, the
25precinct judges of election shall securely lock the ballot box;
26provided that if such box is not of a type which may be

 

 

SB3669- 36 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1securely locked, such box shall be sealed with filament tape
2provided for such purpose which shall be wrapped around the box
3lengthwise and crosswise, at least twice each way. A separate
4adhesive seal label signed by each of the judges of election of
5the precinct shall be affixed to the box so as to cover any
6slot therein and to identify the box of the precinct; and if
7such box is sealed with filament tape as provided herein rather
8than locked, such tape shall be wrapped around the box as
9provided herein, but in such manner that the separate adhesive
10seal label affixed to the box and signed by the judges may not
11be removed without breaking the filament tape and disturbing
12the signature of the judges. Thereupon, 2 of the judges of
13election, of different major political parties, shall
14forthwith by the most direct route transport the box for return
15of the ballots and enclosed absentee and early ballots and
16returns to the central counting location designated by the
17election official in charge of the election. If however,
18because of the lack of adequate parking facilities at the
19central counting location or for some other reason, it is
20impossible or impracticable for the boxes from all the polling
21places to be delivered directly to the central counting
22location, the election official in charge of the election may
23designate some other location to which the boxes shall be
24delivered by the 2 precinct judges. While at such other
25location the boxes shall be in the care and custody of one or
26more teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the

 

 

SB3669- 37 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1two major political parties, designated for such purpose by the
2election official in charge of elections from recommendations
3by the appropriate political party organizations. As soon as
4possible, the boxes shall be transported from such other
5location to the central counting location by one or more teams,
6each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the 2 major
7political parties, designated for such purpose by the election
8official in charge of the election from recommendations by the
9appropriate political party organizations.
10    At the central counting location there shall be one or more
11teams of tally judges who possess the same qualifications as
12tally judges in election jurisdictions using paper ballots. The
13number of such teams shall be determined by the election
14authority. Each team shall consist of 5 tally judges, 3
15selected and approved by the county board from a certified list
16furnished by the chairman of the county central committee of
17the party with the majority of members on the county board and
182 selected and approved by the county board from a certified
19list furnished by the chairman of the county central committee
20of the party with the second largest number of members on the
21county board. At the central counting location a team of tally
22judges shall open the ballot box and canvass the votes polled
23to determine that the number of ballot sheets therein agree
24with the number of voters voting as shown by the applications
25for ballot; and, if the same do not agree, the tally judges
26shall make such ballots agree with the number of applications

 

 

SB3669- 38 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1for ballot in the manner provided by Section 17-18 of the
2Election Code. The tally judges shall then examine all ballot
3sheets which are in the ballot box to determine whether they
4bear the initials of the precinct judge of election. If any
5ballot is not initialed, it shall be marked on the back
6"Defective", initialed as to such label by all tally judges
7immediately under such word "Defective", and not counted, but
8placed in the envelope provided for that purpose labeled
9"Defective Ballots Envelope". An overvote for one office shall
10invalidate only the vote or count of that particular office.
11    At the central counting location, a team of tally judges
12designated by the election official in charge of the election
13shall deliver the ballot sheets to the technicians operating
14the automatic tabulating equipment. Any discrepancies between
15the number of ballots and total number of voters shall be noted
16on a sheet furnished for that purpose and signed by the tally
17judges.
18    (2) Regardless of which procedure described in subsection
19(1) of this Section is used, the judges of election designated
20to transport the ballots, properly signed and sealed as
21provided herein, shall ensure that the ballots are delivered to
22the central counting station no later than 12 hours after the
23polls close. At the central counting station a team of tally
24judges designated by the election official in charge of the
25election shall examine the ballots so transported and shall not
26accept ballots for tabulating which are not signed and sealed

 

 

SB3669- 39 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1as provided in subsection (1) of this Section until the judges
2transporting the same make and sign the necessary corrections.
3Upon acceptance of the ballots by a team of tally judges at the
4central counting station, the election judges transporting the
5same shall take a receipt signed by the election official in
6charge of the election and stamped with the date and time of
7acceptance. The election judges whose duty it is to transport
8any ballots shall, in the event such ballots cannot be found
9when needed, on proper request, produce the receipt which they
10are to take as above provided.
11(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06.)
 
12    (10 ILCS 5/24B-10)
13    Sec. 24B-10. Receiving, Counting, Tallying and Return of
14Ballots; Acceptance of Ballots by Election Authority.
15    (a) In an election jurisdiction which has adopted an
16electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting
17system, the election official in charge of the election shall
18select one of the 3 following procedures for receiving,
19counting, tallying, and return of the ballots:
20        (1) Two ballot boxes shall be provided for each polling
21    place. The first ballot box is for the depositing of votes
22    cast on the electronic voting system; and the second ballot
23    box is for all votes cast on other ballots, including any
24    paper ballots required to be voted other than on the
25    Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology electronic

 

 

SB3669- 40 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1    voting system. Ballots deposited in the second ballot box
2    shall be counted, tallied, and returned as is elsewhere
3    provided in this Code for the counting and handling of
4    paper ballots. Immediately after the closing of the polls,
5    the judges of election shall make out a slip indicating the
6    number of persons who voted in the precinct at the
7    election. The slip shall be signed by all the judges of
8    election and shall be inserted by them in the first ballot
9    box. The judges of election shall thereupon immediately
10    lock each ballot box; provided, that if the box is not of a
11    type which may be securely locked, the box shall be sealed
12    with filament tape provided for the purpose that shall be
13    wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least
14    twice each way, and in a manner that the seal completely
15    covers the slot in the ballot box, and each of the judges
16    shall sign the seal. Two of the judges of election, of
17    different political parties, shall by the most direct route
18    transport both ballot boxes to the counting location
19    designated by the county clerk or board of election
20    commissioners.
21        Before the ballots of a precinct are fed to the
22    electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology
23    tabulating equipment, the first ballot box shall be opened
24    at the central counting station by the 2 precinct transport
25    judges. Upon opening a ballot box, the team shall first
26    count the number of ballots in the box. If 2 or more are

 

 

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1    folded together to appear to have been cast by the same
2    person, all of the ballots folded together shall be marked
3    and returned with the other ballots in the same condition,
4    as near as may be, in which they were found when first
5    opened, but shall not be counted. If the remaining ballots
6    are found to exceed the number of persons voting in the
7    precinct as shown by the slip signed by the judges of
8    election, the ballots shall be replaced in the box, and the
9    box closed and well shaken and again opened and one of the
10    precinct transport judges shall publicly draw out so many
11    ballots unopened as are equal to the excess.
12        The excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not
13    Counted" and signed by the 2 precinct transport judges and
14    shall be placed in the "After 6:00 7:00 p.m. Defective
15    Ballots Envelope". The number of excess ballots shall be
16    noted in the remarks section of the Certificate of Results.
17    "Excess" ballots shall not be counted in the total of
18    "defective" ballots.
19        The precinct transport judges shall then examine the
20    remaining ballots for write-in votes and shall count and
21    tabulate the write-in vote.
22        (2) A single ballot box, for the deposit of all votes
23    cast, shall be used. All ballots which are not to be
24    tabulated on the electronic voting system shall be counted,
25    tallied, and returned as elsewhere provided in this Code
26    for the counting and handling of paper ballots.

 

 

SB3669- 42 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1        All ballots to be processed and tabulated with the
2    electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology
3    voting system shall be processed as follows:
4        Immediately after the closing of the polls, the
5    precinct judges of election shall open the ballot box and
6    canvass the votes polled to determine that the number of
7    ballots agree with the number of voters voting as shown by
8    the applications for ballot, or if the same do not agree
9    the judges of election shall make such ballots agree with
10    the applications for ballot in the manner provided by
11    Section 17-18 of this Code.
12        In case of an overvote for any office, the judges of
13    election, consisting in each case of at least one judge of
14    election of each of the 2 major political parties, shall
15    make a true duplicate ballot of all votes on the ballot
16    except for the office which is overvoted, by using the
17    ballot of the precinct and one of the marking devices, or
18    equivalent ballot, of the precinct to transfer all votes of
19    the voter except for the office overvoted, to an official
20    ballot of that kind used in the precinct at that election.
21    The original ballot upon which there is an overvote shall
22    be clearly labeled "Overvoted Ballot", and each shall bear
23    the same serial number which shall be placed thereon by the
24    judges of election, beginning with number 1 and continuing
25    consecutively for the ballots of that kind in that
26    precinct. The judges of election shall initial the

 

 

SB3669- 43 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1    "Duplicate Overvoted Ballot" ballots and shall place them
2    in the box for return of the ballots. The "Overvoted
3    Ballot" ballots shall be placed in the "Duplicate Ballots"
4    envelope. The ballots except any defective or overvoted
5    ballot shall be placed separately in the box for return of
6    the ballots. The judges of election shall examine the
7    ballots to determine if any is damaged or defective so that
8    it cannot be counted by the automatic tabulating equipment.
9    If any ballot is damaged or defective so that it cannot
10    properly be counted by the automatic tabulating equipment,
11    the judges of election, consisting in each case of at least
12    one judge of election of each of the 2 major political
13    parties, shall make a true duplicate ballot of all votes on
14    such ballot by using the ballot of the precinct and one of
15    the marking devices, or equivalent ballot, of the precinct.
16    The original ballot and ballot envelope shall be clearly
17    labeled "Damaged Ballot" and the ballot so produced
18    "Duplicate Damaged Ballot", and each shall bear the same
19    number which shall be placed thereon by the judges of
20    election, commencing with number 1 and continuing
21    consecutively for the ballots of that kind in the precinct.
22    The judges of election shall initial the "Duplicate Damaged
23    Ballot" ballot and shall place them in the box for return
24    of the ballots. The "Damaged Ballot" ballots shall be
25    placed in the "Duplicated Ballots" envelope. A slip
26    indicating the number of voters voting in person and the

 

 

SB3669- 44 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1    total number of voters of the precinct who voted at the
2    election shall be made out, signed by all judges of
3    election, and inserted in the box for return of the
4    ballots. The tally sheets recording the write-in votes
5    shall be placed in this box. The judges of election
6    immediately shall securely lock the ballot box or other
7    suitable box furnished for return of the ballots by the
8    election official in charge of the election; provided that
9    if the box is not of a type which may be securely locked,
10    the box shall be sealed with filament tape provided for the
11    purpose which shall be wrapped around the box lengthwise
12    and crosswise, at least twice each way. A separate adhesive
13    seal label signed by each of the judges of election of the
14    precinct shall be affixed to the box to cover any slot
15    therein and to identify the box of the precinct; and if the
16    box is sealed with filament tape as provided rather than
17    locked, such tape shall be wrapped around the box as
18    provided, but in such manner that the separate adhesive
19    seal label affixed to the box and signed by the judges may
20    not be removed without breaking the filament tape and
21    disturbing the signature of the judges. Two of the judges
22    of election, of different major political parties, shall by
23    the most direct route transport the box for return of the
24    ballots and enclosed ballots and returns to the central
25    counting location designated by the election official in
26    charge of the election. If, however, because of the lack of

 

 

SB3669- 45 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1    adequate parking facilities at the central counting
2    location or for any other reason, it is impossible or
3    impracticable for the boxes from all the polling places to
4    be delivered directly to the central counting location, the
5    election official in charge of the election may designate
6    some other location to which the boxes shall be delivered
7    by the 2 precinct judges. While at the other location the
8    boxes shall be in the care and custody of one or more
9    teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the 2
10    major political parties, designated for such purpose by the
11    election official in charge of elections from
12    recommendations by the appropriate political party
13    organizations. As soon as possible, the boxes shall be
14    transported from the other location to the central counting
15    location by one or more teams, each consisting of 4
16    persons, 2 from each of the 2 major political parties,
17    designated for the purpose by the election official in
18    charge of elections from recommendations by the
19    appropriate political party organizations.
20        The "Defective Ballots" envelope, and "Duplicated
21    Ballots" envelope each shall be securely sealed and the
22    flap or end of each envelope signed by the precinct judges
23    of election and returned to the central counting location
24    with the box for return of the ballots, enclosed ballots
25    and returns.
26        At the central counting location, a team of tally

 

 

SB3669- 46 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1    judges designated by the election official in charge of the
2    election shall check the box returned containing the
3    ballots to determine that all seals are intact, and shall
4    open the box, check the voters' slip and compare the number
5    of ballots so delivered against the total number of voters
6    of the precinct who voted, remove the ballots and deliver
7    them to the technicians operating the automatic tabulating
8    equipment. Any discrepancies between the number of ballots
9    and total number of voters shall be noted on a sheet
10    furnished for that purpose and signed by the tally judges.
11        (3) A single ballot box, for the deposit of all votes
12    cast, shall be used. Immediately after the closing of the
13    polls, the precinct judges of election shall securely lock
14    the ballot box; provided that if such box is not of a type
15    which may be securely locked, the box shall be sealed with
16    filament tape provided for the purpose which shall be
17    wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least
18    twice each way. A separate adhesive seal label signed by
19    each of the judges of election of the precinct shall be
20    affixed to the box to cover any slot therein and to
21    identify the box of the precinct; and if the box is sealed
22    with filament tape as provided rather than locked, such
23    tape shall be wrapped around the box as provided, but in a
24    manner that the separate adhesive seal label affixed to the
25    box and signed by the judges may not be removed without
26    breaking the filament tape and disturbing the signature of

 

 

SB3669- 47 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1    the judges. Two of the judges of election, of different
2    major political parties, shall by the most direct route
3    transport the box for return of the ballots and enclosed
4    absentee and early ballots and returns to the central
5    counting location designated by the election official in
6    charge of the election. If however, because of the lack of
7    adequate parking facilities at the central counting
8    location or for some other reason, it is impossible or
9    impracticable for the boxes from all the polling places to
10    be delivered directly to the central counting location, the
11    election official in charge of the election may designate
12    some other location to which the boxes shall be delivered
13    by the 2 precinct judges. While at the other location the
14    boxes shall be in the care and custody of one or more
15    teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the 2
16    major political parties, designated for the purpose by the
17    election official in charge of elections from
18    recommendations by the appropriate political party
19    organizations. As soon as possible, the boxes shall be
20    transported from the other location to the central counting
21    location by one or more teams, each consisting of 4
22    persons, 2 from each of the 2 major political parties,
23    designated for the purpose by the election official in
24    charge of the election from recommendations by the
25    appropriate political party organizations.
26        At the central counting location there shall be one or

 

 

SB3669- 48 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1    more teams of tally judges who possess the same
2    qualifications as tally judges in election jurisdictions
3    using paper ballots. The number of the teams shall be
4    determined by the election authority. Each team shall
5    consist of 5 tally judges, 3 selected and approved by the
6    county board from a certified list furnished by the
7    chairman of the county central committee of the party with
8    the majority of members on the county board and 2 selected
9    and approved by the county board from a certified list
10    furnished by the chairman of the county central committee
11    of the party with the second largest number of members on
12    the county board. At the central counting location a team
13    of tally judges shall open the ballot box and canvass the
14    votes polled to determine that the number of ballot sheets
15    therein agree with the number of voters voting as shown by
16    the applications for ballot and, if the same do not agree,
17    the tally judges shall make such ballots agree with the
18    number of applications for ballot in the manner provided by
19    Section 17-18 of this Code. The tally judges shall then
20    examine all ballot sheets that are in the ballot box to
21    determine whether they bear the initials of the precinct
22    judge of election. If any ballot is not initialed, it shall
23    be marked on the back "Defective", initialed as to that
24    label by all tally judges immediately under the word
25    "Defective", and not counted, but placed in the envelope
26    provided for that purpose labeled "Defective Ballots

 

 

SB3669- 49 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1    Envelope". An overvote for one office shall invalidate only
2    the vote or count for that particular office.
3        At the central counting location, a team of tally
4    judges designated by the election official in charge of the
5    election shall deliver the ballot sheets to the technicians
6    operating the automatic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan
7    Technology tabulating equipment. Any discrepancies between
8    the number of ballots and total number of voters shall be
9    noted on a sheet furnished for that purpose and signed by
10    the tally judges.
11    (b) Regardless of which procedure described in subsection
12(a) of this Section is used, the judges of election designated
13to transport the ballots properly signed and sealed, shall
14ensure that the ballots are delivered to the central counting
15station no later than 12 hours after the polls close. At the
16central counting station, a team of tally judges designated by
17the election official in charge of the election shall examine
18the ballots so transported and shall not accept ballots for
19tabulating which are not signed and sealed as provided in
20subsection (a) of this Section until the judges transporting
21the ballots make and sign the necessary corrections. Upon
22acceptance of the ballots by a team of tally judges at the
23central counting station, the election judges transporting the
24ballots shall take a receipt signed by the election official in
25charge of the election and stamped with the date and time of
26acceptance. The election judges whose duty it is to transport

 

 

SB3669- 50 -LRB097 18256 PJG 63482 b

1any ballots shall, in the event the ballots cannot be found
2when needed, on proper request, produce the receipt which they
3are to take as above provided.
4(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03; 94-645, eff. 8-22-05;
594-1000, eff. 7-3-06.)
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
7becoming law.