10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/9-18) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-18)

Sec. 9-18. The Board may hold investigations, inquiries, and hearings concerning any matter covered by this Article, subject to such rules and regulations as the Board may establish. In the process of holding such investigations, inquiries, and hearings, the Board may administer oaths and affirmations, certify to all official acts, issue subpoenas to be authorized by a vote of 5 members of the Board, compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production of papers, books, accounts, and documents. Hearings conducted by the Board shall be open to the public.

(Source: P.A. 81-1117.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-19) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-19)

Sec. 9-19. The Board may hire such investigators, examiners, and hearing officers as may be necessary to carry out its functions under this Article, and may by regulation delegate any of its duties or functions under Sections 9-18 and 9-21 of this Article to such persons, except that final judgments and orders shall be issued only by the Board. Reports of violations under Section 9-23 shall be made only by the Board.

(Source: P.A. 78-1183.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-20) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-20)

Sec. 9-20. Any person who believes a violation of this Article has occurred may file a verified complaint with the Board. Such verified complaint shall be directed to a candidate or the chair or treasurer of a political committee, and shall be subject to the following requirements:

(1) The complaint shall be in writing.

(2) The complaint shall state the name of the candidate or chair or treasurer of a political committee against whom the complaint is directed.

(3) The complaint shall state the statutory provisions which are alleged to have been violated.

(4) The complaint shall state the time, place, and nature of the alleged offense.

The complaint shall be verified, dated, and signed by the person filing the complaint in substantially the following manner: VERIFICATION:

"I declare that this complaint (including any accompanying schedules and statements) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true and correct complaint as required by Article 9 of The Election Code. I understand that the penalty for willfully filing a false complaint shall be a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed 6 months, or both fine and imprisonment."

..............................................................

(date of filing) (signature of person filing the complaint) (Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-21) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-21)

Sec. 9-21. Upon receipt of a complaint as provided in Section 9-20, the Board shall hold a closed preliminary hearing to determine whether or not the complaint appears to have been filed on justifiable grounds. Such closed preliminary hearing shall be conducted as soon as practicable after affording reasonable notice, a copy of the complaint, and an opportunity to testify at such hearing to both the person making the complaint and the person against whom the complaint is directed. If the Board fails to determine that the complaint has been filed on justifiable grounds, it shall dismiss the complaint without further hearing. Any additional hearings shall be open to the public.

Whenever the Board, in an open meeting, determines, after affording due notice and an opportunity for a public hearing, that any person has engaged or is about to engage in an act or practice which constitutes or will constitute a violation of any provision of this Article or any regulation or order issued thereunder, the Board shall issue an order directing such person to take such action as the Board determines may be necessary in the public interest to correct the violation. In addition, if the act or practice engaged in consists of the failure to file any required report within the time prescribed by this Article, the Board, as part of its order, shall further provide that if, within the 12-month period following the issuance of the order, such person fails to file within the time prescribed by this Article any subsequent report as may be required, such person may be subject to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 9-23. The Board shall render its final judgment within 60 days of the date the complaint is filed; except that during the 60 days preceding the date of the election in reference to which the complaint is filed, the Board shall render its final judgment within 7 days of the date the complaint is filed, and during the 7 days preceding such election, the Board shall render such judgment before the date of such election, if possible.

At any time prior to the issuance of the Board's final judgment, the parties may dispose of the complaint by a written stipulation, agreed settlement or consent order. Any such stipulation, settlement or order shall, however, be submitted in writing to the Board and shall become effective only if approved by the Board in an open meeting. If the act or practice complained of consists of the failure to file any required report within the time prescribed by this Article, such stipulation, settlement or order may provide that if, within the 12-month period following the approval of such stipulation, agreement or order, the person complained of fails to file within the time prescribed by this Article any subsequent reports as may be required, such person may be subject to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 9-23.

Any person filing a complaint pursuant to Section 9-20 may, upon written notice to the other parties and to the Board, voluntarily withdraw the complaint at any time prior to the issuance of the Board's final determination.

(Source: P.A. 96-832, eff. 1-1-11.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-22) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-22)

Sec. 9-22. Any party to a Board hearing, any person who files a complaint on which a hearing was denied or not acted upon within the time specified in Section 9-21 of this Act, and any party adversely affected by a judgment of the Board may obtain judicial review, which shall be governed by the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, as amended, and all amendments and modifications thereof and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, except that--

(1) such judicial review shall be afforded directly in the Appellate Court for the District in which the cause of action arose and not in the Circuit Court,

(2) such judicial review shall be obtained by filing a petition for review within 7 days after entry of the order of other action complained of,

(3) the time limit for filing such petition for review may be waived with the consent of all parties involved, and

(4) if such petition for review is appealing an order of the Board, the effect of such order of the Board shall not be stayed unless the Appellate Court so orders upon the motion of the petitioner and upon prior notice to the Board.

(Source: P.A. 82-783.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-23) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-23)

Sec. 9-23. Whenever the Board, pursuant to Section 9-21, has issued an order, or has approved a written stipulation, agreed settlement or consent order, directing a person determined by the Board to be in violation of any provision of this Article or any regulation adopted thereunder, to cease or correct such violation or otherwise comply with this Article and such person fails or refuses to comply with such order, stipulation, settlement or consent order within the time specified by the Board, the Board, after affording notice and an opportunity for a public hearing, may impose a civil penalty on such person in an amount not to exceed $5,000; except that for State officers and candidates and political committees formed for statewide office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000. For the purpose of this Section, "statewide office" and "State officer" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.

Civil penalties imposed on any such person by the Board shall be enforceable in the Circuit Court. The Board shall petition the Court for an order to enforce collection of the penalty and, if the Court finds it has jurisdiction over the person against whom the penalty was imposed, the Court shall issue the appropriate order. Any civil penalties collected by the Court shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer.

In addition to or in lieu of the imposition of a civil penalty, the board may report such violation and the failure or refusal to comply with the order of the Board to the Attorney General and the appropriate State's Attorney.

(Source: P.A. 93-615, eff. 11-19-03.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-23.5)

Sec. 9-23.5. Public database of founded complaints. The State Board of Elections shall establish and maintain on its official website a searchable database, freely accessible to the public, of each complaint filed with the Board under this Article with respect to which Board action was taken, including all Board actions and penalties imposed, if any. The Board must update the database within 5 business days after an action is taken or a penalty is imposed to include that complaint, action, or penalty in the database. The Task Force on Campaign Finance Reform shall make recommendations on improving access to information related to founded complaints.

(Source: P.A. 96-832, eff. 1-1-11.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-24) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-24)

Sec. 9-24. The Board may also petition the Circuit Court to issue an order of the Court compelling compliance with an order issued by the Board, or to restrain or prohibit a person who is engaging or has engaged in acts or practices which constitute a violation of any provision of this Article from engaging in such acts or practices. If the Court finds that it has jurisdiction over the person of the alleged violator and that a violation has occurred or is occurring by reasons of the acts or practices of such person, the Court shall issue the appropriate order.

(Source: P.A. 78-1183.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-25) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-25)

Sec. 9-25. No person shall make an anonymous contribution or a contribution in the name of another person, and no person shall knowingly accept any anonymous contribution or contribution made by one person in the name of another person. Anonymous contributions shall escheat to the State of Illinois. Any political committee that receives such a contribution shall forward it immediately to the State Treasurer.

(Source: P.A. 78-1183.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-25.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-25.1; formerly Ch. 46, pars. 102, 103 and 104)

Sec. 9-25.1. Election interference.

(a) As used in this Section, "public funds" means any funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly or by any political subdivision of the State of Illinois.

(b) No public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or proposition, or be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization. This Section shall not prohibit the use of public funds for dissemination of factual information relative to any proposition appearing on an election ballot, or for dissemination of information and arguments published and distributed under law in connection with a proposition to amend the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

(c) The first time any person violates any provision of this Section, that person shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Upon the second or any subsequent violation of any provision of this Section, the person violating any provision of this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 87-1052.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-25.2)

Sec. 9-25.2. Contributions; candidate or treasurer of political committee.

(a) No candidate may knowingly receive any contribution solicited or received in violation of Section 33-3.1 or Section 33-3.2 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(b) The receipt of political contributions in violation of this Section shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor.

The appropriate State's Attorney or the Attorney General shall bring actions in the name of the people of the State of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-26) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-26)

Sec. 9-26. Willful failure to file or willful filing of false or incomplete information required by this Article shall constitute a business offense subject to a fine of up to $5,000.

Willful filing of a false complaint under this Article shall constitute a Class B misdemeanor.

A prosecution for any offense designated by this Article shall be commenced no later than 18 months after the commission of the offense.

The appropriate State's Attorney or the Attorney General shall bring such actions in the name of the people of the State of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-27) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-27)

Sec. 9-27. As to any civil or criminal proceedings instituted under this Article, venue shall lie in the county where the political committee was organized or in the county where the defendant resides.

(Source: P.A. 78-1183.)