10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/15-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 15-2)

Sec. 15-2. The said ballot boxes shall be delivered to and kept by the judges of election, and by them kept and delivered over to their successors.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/15-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 15-3)

Sec. 15-3. The county clerk shall provide, at the expense of the county, proper blanks, poll books and other necessary election blanks for each precinct and district in his county, and cause a suitable number thereof to be delivered to the judges of election, at least ten (10) days before any election is to be held. The provision for poll books in this section shall not apply where Articles 4, 5 or 6 make provision for the use of an official poll record in lieu of poll books.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/15-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 15-4)

Sec. 15-4. (a) In municipalities operating under Article 6 of this Act the Board of Election Commissioners shall provide all necessary ballot boxes and all registration record cards, forms of affidavits, forms of notices, certificates of registered voters, tally sheets, blanks and stationery of every description, with printed headings and certificates, necessary and proper for the registry of voters and the conduct of such elections and for every incidental purpose, connected therewith.

(b) The Board of Election Commissioners may provide ballot boxes not of a permanent type, not of wooden or metal construction, not requiring locks or keys, nor having doors or windows, if (1) such ballot boxes are so constructed as to be completely sealed and empty units upon delivery to the polling place, (2) they can be prepared for the inserting and depositing of ballots by the removal of a perforated section in the top of each such ballot box, which removal creates an open slot not larger than is sufficient to admit a single closed ballot to be inserted therein at one time and through which each ballot voted shall be put into the boxes, and (3) such ballot boxes contain a perforated door or flap on one side which can be unsealed and opened for removal of the ballots when voting has been completed. No ballot box authorized by this paragraph shall be used on more than one election day.

(Source: P.A. 77-6.)

(10 ILCS 5/15-6)

Sec. 15-6. Precinct tabulation optical scan technology voting equipment.

If the election authority has adopted the use of Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting equipment pursuant to Article 24B of this Code, and the provisions of the Article are in conflict with the provisions of this Article 15, the provisions of Article 24B shall govern the procedures followed by the election authority, its judges of elections, and all employees and agents. In following the provisions of Article 24B, the election authority is authorized to develop and implement procedures to fully utilize Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting equipment authorized by the State Board of Elections as long as the procedure is not in conflict with either Article 24B or the administrative rules of the State Board of Elections.

(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 16 heading) ARTICLE 16. BALLOTS

(10 ILCS 5/16-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-1)

Sec. 16-1. In all elections hereafter to be held in this state for public officers, the voting shall be by ballots printed and distributed at public expense as provided in this article and no other ballots shall be used.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-3)

Sec. 16-3. (a) The names of all candidates to be voted for in each election district or precinct shall be printed on one ballot, except as is provided in Sections 16-6, 16-6.1, and 21-1.01 of this Code and except as otherwise provided in this Code with respect to the odd year regular elections and the emergency referenda. The lettering of candidate names on a ballot shall be in both capital and lowercase letters in conformance with standard English language guidelines, unless compliance is not feasible due to the election system utilized by the election authority. All nominations of any political party shall be placed under the party appellation or title of such party as designated in the certificates of nomination or petitions. The names of all independent candidates shall be printed upon the ballot in a column or columns under the heading "independent" arranged under the names or titles of the respective offices for which such independent candidates shall have been nominated and so far as practicable, the name or names of any independent candidate or candidates for any office shall be printed upon the ballot opposite the name or names of any candidate or candidates for the same office contained in any party column or columns upon said ballot. The ballot shall contain no other names, except that in cases of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, the names of the candidates for President and Vice-President may be added to the party designation and words calculated to aid the voter in his choice of candidates may be added, such as "Vote for one," "Vote for not more than three." If no candidate or candidates file for an office and if no person or persons file a declaration as a write-in candidate for that office, then below the title of that office the election authority instead shall print "No Candidate". When an electronic voting system is used which utilizes a ballot label booklet, the candidates and questions shall appear on the pages of such booklet in the order provided by this Code; and, in any case where candidates for an office appear on a page which does not contain the name of any candidate for another office, and where less than 50% of the page is utilized, the name of no candidate shall be printed on the lowest 25% of such page. On the back or outside of the ballot, so as to appear when folded, shall be printed the words "Official Ballot", followed by the designation of the polling place for which the ballot is prepared, the date of the election and a facsimile of the signature of the election authority who has caused the ballots to be printed. The ballots shall be of plain white paper, through which the printing or writing cannot be read. However, ballots for use at the nonpartisan and consolidated elections may be printed on different color paper, except blue paper, whenever necessary or desirable to facilitate distinguishing between ballots for different political subdivisions. In the case of nonpartisan elections for officers of a political subdivision, unless the statute or an ordinance adopted pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution providing the form of government therefor requires otherwise, the column listing such nonpartisan candidates shall be printed with no appellation or circle at its head. The party appellation or title, or the word "independent" at the head of any column provided for independent candidates, shall be printed in letters not less than one-fourth of an inch in height and a circle one-half inch in diameter shall be printed at the beginning of the line in which such appellation or title is printed, provided, however, that no such circle shall be printed at the head of any column or columns provided for such independent candidates. The names of candidates shall be printed in letters not less than one-eighth nor more than one-fourth of an inch in height, and at the beginning of each line in which a name of a candidate is printed a square shall be printed, the sides of which shall be not less than one-fourth of an inch in length. However, the names of the candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor on the same ticket shall be printed within a bracket and a single square shall be printed in front of the bracket. The list of candidates of the several parties and any such list of independent candidates shall be placed in separate columns on the ballot in such order as the election authorities charged with the printing of the ballots shall decide; provided, that the names of the candidates of the several political parties, certified by the State Board of Elections to the several county clerks shall be printed by the county clerk of the proper county on the official ballot in the order certified by the State Board of Elections. Any county clerk refusing, neglecting or failing to print on the official ballot the names of candidates of the several political parties in the order certified by the State Board of Elections, and any county clerk who prints or causes to be printed upon the official ballot the name of a candidate, for an office to be filled by the Electors of the entire State, whose name has not been duly certified to him upon a certificate signed by the State Board of Elections shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

(b) When an electronic voting system is used which utilizes a ballot card, on the inside flap of each ballot card envelope there shall be printed a form for write-in voting which shall be substantially as follows: WRITE-IN VOTES (See card of instructions for specific information. Duplicate form below by hand for additional write-in votes.)

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

Title of Office

( ) .............................

Name of Candidate

Write-in lines equal to the number of candidates for which a voter may vote shall be printed for an office only if one or more persons filed declarations of intent to be write-in candidates or qualify to file declarations to be write-in candidates under Sections 17-16.1 and 18-9.1 when the certification of ballot contains the words "OBJECTION PENDING".

(c) When an electronic voting system is used which uses a ballot sheet, the instructions to voters on the ballot sheet shall refer the voter to the card of instructions for specific information on write-in voting. Below each office appearing on such ballot sheet there shall be a provision for the casting of a write-in vote. Write-in lines equal to the number of candidates for which a voter may vote shall be printed for an office only if one or more persons filed declarations of intent to be write-in candidates or qualify to file declarations to be write-in candidates under Sections 17-16.1 and 18-9.1 when the certification of ballot contains the words "OBJECTION PENDING".

(d) When such electronic system is used, there shall be printed on the back of each ballot card, each ballot card envelope, and the first page of the ballot label when a ballot label is used, the words "Official Ballot," followed by the number of the precinct or other precinct identification, which may be stamped, in lieu thereof and, as applicable, the number and name of the township, ward or other election district for which the ballot card, ballot card envelope, and ballot label are prepared, the date of the election and a facsimile of the signature of the election authority who has caused the ballots to be printed. The back of the ballot card shall also include a method of identifying the ballot configuration such as a listing of the political subdivisions and districts for which votes may be cast on that ballot, or a number code identifying the ballot configuration or color coded ballots, except that where there is only one ballot configuration in a precinct, the precinct identification, and any applicable ward identification, shall be sufficient. Ballot card envelopes used in punch card systems shall be of paper through which no writing or punches may be discerned and shall be of sufficient length to enclose all voting positions. However, the election authority may provide ballot card envelopes on which no precinct number or township, ward or other election district designation, or election date are preprinted, if space and a preprinted form are provided below the space provided for the names of write-in candidates where such information may be entered by the judges of election. Whenever an election authority utilizes ballot card envelopes on which the election date and precinct is not preprinted, a judge of election shall mark such information for the particular precinct and election on the envelope in ink before tallying and counting any write-in vote written thereon. If some method of insuring ballot secrecy other than an envelope is used, such information must be provided on the ballot itself.

(e) In the designation of the name of a candidate on the ballot, the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof, may be used in addition to the candidate's surname. If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition for nomination, nomination papers, or certificate of nomination for that office, whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate's name on the ballot must be followed by "formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)" and (ii) the petition, papers, or certificate must be accompanied by the candidate's affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the period specified in (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate's name for the ballot or removing the candidate's name from the ballot, as appropriate, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's or parents' surname, marriage or civil union to assume a spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or civil union or declaration of invalidity of marriage or civil union to assume a former surname or a name change that conforms the candidate's name to his or her gender identity. No other designation such as a political slogan, title, or degree or nickname suggesting or implying possession of a title, degree or professional status, or similar information may be used in connection with the candidate's surname. For purposes of this Section, a "political slogan" is defined as any word or words expressing or connoting a position, opinion, or belief that the candidate may espouse, including, but not limited to, any word or words conveying any meaning other than that of the personal identity of the candidate. A candidate may not use a political slogan as part of his or her name on the ballot, notwithstanding that the political slogan may be part of the candidate's name.

(f) The State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an election authority shall remove any candidate's name designation from a ballot that is inconsistent with subsection (e) of this Section. In addition, the State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an election authority shall not certify to any election authority any candidate name designation that is inconsistent with subsection (e) of this Section.

(g) If the State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an election authority removes a candidate's name designation from a ballot under subsection (f) of this Section, then the aggrieved candidate may seek appropriate relief in circuit court.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this Section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

Nothing in this Section shall prohibit election authorities from using or reusing ballot card envelopes which were printed before January 1, 1986 (the effective date of Public Act 84-820).

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-4.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-4.1)

Sec. 16-4.1. Ballots; Form; Consolidated Elections. This Section shall apply only to the consolidated primary election, and the consolidated election, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.

The ballot for the nomination or election of officers of each political subdivision shall be considered a separate ballot, and candidates for such offices shall be grouped together. Where paper ballots are used, the names of candidates for nomination or election to more than one political subdivision may be contained on a common ballot, provided that such ballot clearly indicates and separates each political subdivision from which such officers are to be nominated or elected.

At the consolidated election, the ballot for school district offices shall precede the ballot for community college district offices, and thereafter the ballot order of the political subdivision officers to be elected shall be as determined by the election authority. In the case of school districts other than community consolidated school districts, the ballot for non-high school district offices shall precede the ballot for high school district offices.

At the consolidated primary and at the consolidated election, the ballot for nomination or election of municipal officers shall precede the ballot for township officers. At the consolidated election, following the ballot for municipal and township offices shall be the ballots for park district and library district offices, following which shall be the ballots for other political subdivision offices in the order determined by the election authority.

The election authority, in determining the order of ballot placement for offices of political subdivisions whose ballot placement is not specified in this Section, shall give due regard to the clarity of the ballot presentation to the voters, cost and administrative ease, and the requirement to provide separate ballot formats within precincts in which the electors are not entitled to vote for the same offices or propositions. At the request of a political subdivision which extends into more than one election jurisdiction, the election authority shall endeavor to coordinate placement and color of the ballot for such subdivision with the other election authorities responsible for preparing ballots for such subdivision election. The election authority may conduct a lottery to determine the order of ballot placement of political subdivision ballots where such order is not specified in this Section. Such lottery may be conducted jointly by two or more election authorities.

(Source: P.A. 89-700, eff. 1-17-97; 90-358, eff. 1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-5)

Sec. 16-5. For all elections to which this article applies, the county clerks, in their respective counties, shall have charge of the printing of the ballots for all elections, including referenda, and shall furnish them to the judges of election. In municipalities and counties having a board of election commissioners, such board shall have charge of the printing of the ballots and furnish them to the judges of election within the territory under their jurisdiction. Ballots shall be printed and in possession of the respective election authorities at least two days before each election and subject to the inspection of candidates and their agents; if any mistakes be discovered they shall be corrected without delay. The election authority shall cause to be delivered to the judges of election at the polling place of each precinct or district, not less than twelve hours before the time fixed by law for the opening of the polls therein, at least 10% more ballots of the kind to be voted in such precinct or district than the number of voters registered therein for the purposes of such election, such ballots shall be put up in separate sealed packages, with marks on the outside clearly designating the polling place for which they are intended and the number of ballots enclosed, and receipt therefor shall be given by the judges of election to whom they are delivered, which receipt shall be preserved by the election authority. The election authority shall provide and retain at its office an ample supply of ballots, in addition to those distributed to the several voting precincts or districts, and if at any time on or before the day of election the ballots furnished to any precinct shall be lost, destroyed or exhausted before the polls are closed, on written application signed by a majority of the judges he or they shall immediately cause to be delivered to such judges at the polling place, such additional supply of ballots as may be required and sufficient to comply with the provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-5.01) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-5.01)

Sec. 16-5.01. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the election authority shall, at least 46 days prior to the date of any election at which federal officers are elected and 45 days prior to any other regular election, have a sufficient number of ballots printed so that such ballots will be available for mailing 45 days prior to the date of the election to persons who have filed application for a ballot under the provisions of Article 20 of this Code.

(b) If at any election at which federal offices are elected or nominated the election authority is unable to comply with the provisions of subsection (a), the election authority shall mail to each such person, in lieu of the ballot, a Special Write-in Vote by Mail Voter's Blank Ballot. The Special Write-in Vote by Mail Voter's Blank Ballot shall be used at all elections at which federal officers are elected or nominated and shall be prepared by the election authority in substantially the following form: Special Write-in Vote by Mail Voter's Blank Ballot (To vote for a person, write the title of the office and his or her name on the lines provided. Place to the left of and opposite the title of office a square and place a cross (X) in the square.)

Title of Office Name of Candidate

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

The election authority shall send with the Special Write-in Vote by Mail Voter's Blank Ballot a list of all referenda for which the voter is qualified to vote and all candidates for whom nomination papers have been filed and for whom the voter is qualified to vote. The voter shall be entitled to write in the name of any candidate seeking election and any referenda for which he or she is entitled to vote.

On the back or outside of the ballot, so as to appear when folded, shall be printed the words "Official Ballot", the date of the election and a facsimile of the signature of the election authority who has caused the ballot to be printed.

The provisions of Article 20, insofar as they may be applicable to the Special Write-in Vote by Mail Voter's Blank Ballot, shall be applicable herein.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code or other law to the contrary, the governing body of a municipality may adopt, upon submission of a written statement by the municipality's election authority attesting to the administrative ability of the election authority to administer an election using a ranked ballot to the municipality's governing body, an ordinance requiring, and that municipality's election authority shall prepare, a ranked vote by mail ballot for municipal and township office candidates to be voted on in the consolidated election. This ranked ballot shall be for use only by a qualified voter who either is a member of the United States military or will be outside of the United States on the consolidated primary election day and the consolidated election day. The ranked ballot shall contain a list of the titles of all municipal and township offices potentially contested at both the consolidated primary election and the consolidated election and the candidates for each office and shall permit the elector to vote in the consolidated election by indicating his or her order of preference for each candidate for each office. To indicate his or her order of preference for each candidate for each office, the voter shall put the number one next to the name of the candidate who is the voter's first choice, the number 2 for his or her second choice, and so forth so that, in consecutive numerical order, a number indicating the voter's preference is written by the voter next to each candidate's name on the ranked ballot. The voter shall not be required to indicate his or her preference for more than one candidate on the ranked ballot. The voter may not cast a write-in vote using the ranked ballot for the consolidated election. The election authority shall, if using the ranked vote by mail ballot authorized by this subsection, also prepare instructions for use of the ranked ballot. The ranked ballot for the consolidated election shall be mailed to the voter at the same time that the ballot for the consolidated primary election is mailed to the voter and the election authority shall accept the completed ranked ballot for the consolidated election when the authority accepts the completed ballot for the consolidated primary election.

The voter shall also be sent a vote by mail ballot for the consolidated election for those races that are not related to the results of the consolidated primary election as soon as the consolidated election ballot is certified.

The State Board of Elections shall adopt rules for election authorities for the implementation of this subsection, including, but not limited to, the application for and counting of ranked ballots.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-6)

Sec. 16-6. Whenever one or more proposals for amendment of the constitution or the calling of a constitutional convention or any combination thereof is or are to be voted upon by the people, the proposition or propositions for the adoption or rejection of such amendment or amendments or convention shall be submitted upon the same "Official Ballot" containing the names of candidates for State and other offices to be voted at such election. Such proposition or propositions shall be printed at the top of the "Official Ballot" preceding the names of candidates for State and other offices to be voted at such election. Such proposition or propositions shall be printed upon plain white paper with no shading, highlighting, or other distinct markings and shall include the official title of the section so named to be added or amended in the Constitution. Preceding each proposal to amend the constitution shall be printed the brief explanation of the amendment, prepared by the General Assembly, or in the case of a proposed amendment initiated by petition pursuant to Section 3 of Article XIV of the Constitution of the State of Illinois by the principal proponents of the amendment as approved by the Attorney General, and immediately below the explanation, the proposition shall be printed in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

YES For the proposed amendment

----------- to Article ______ (or Section

NO _______ of Article ______) of

the Constitution.

--------------------------------------------------------------

In the case of a proposition for the calling of a constitutional convention, such proposition shall be printed in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------

YES For the calling

----------- of a Constitutional

NO Convention.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Included with the ballot there shall be a printed notice with the words "CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT", followed by the designation of the polling place for which the ballot is prepared, the date of the election and a facsimile of the signature of the clerk or other officer who has caused the ballots to be printed. Immediately above the words "CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT" in the case of a proposition for the calling of a constitutional convention or a proposition to amend the Constitution the following legend shall be printed in bold face type: "NOTICE THE FAILURE TO VOTE THIS BALLOT MAY BE THE EQUIVALENT OF A NEGATIVE VOTE, BECAUSE A CONVENTION SHALL BE CALLED OR THE AMENDMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IF APPROVED BY EITHER THREE-FIFTHS OF THOSE VOTING ON THE QUESTION OR A MAJORITY OF THOSE VOTING IN THE ELECTION. (THIS IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A DIRECTION THAT YOUR VOTE IS REQUIRED TO BE CAST EITHER IN FAVOR OF OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSITION HEREIN CONTAINED.)

WHETHER YOU VOTE THIS BALLOT OR NOT YOU MUST RETURN IT TO THE ELECTION JUDGE WHEN YOU LEAVE THE VOTING BOOTH".

If a proposition for the calling of a constitutional convention is submitted at the same election as one or more propositions to amend the constitution, the proposition for the calling of a constitutional convention shall be printed at the top of the ballot. In such case, the constitution amendment notice shall be printed the same as if it were a proposal solely to amend the constitution.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this Section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-6.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-6.1)

Sec. 16-6.1. In elections held pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article VI of the Constitution relating to retention of judges in office, the form of the proposition to be submitted for each candidate shall be as provided in paragraph (1) or (2), as the election authority may choose.

(1) The names of all persons seeking retention in the same office shall be listed, in the order provided in this Section, with one proposition that reads substantially as follows: "Shall each of the persons listed be retained in office as (insert name of office and court)?". To the right of each candidate's name must be places for the voter to mark "Yes" or "No". If the list of candidates for retention in the same office exceeds one page of the ballot, the proposition must appear on each page upon which the list of candidates continues.

(2) The form of the proposition for each candidate shall be substantially as follows:

------------------------------------------------------

Shall ....... (insert name YES

of candidate) be retained in ---------------

office as ..... (insert name NO

of office and Court)?

------------------------------------------------------

The names of all candidates thus submitting their names for retention in office in any particular judicial district or circuit shall appear on the same ballot which shall be separate from all other ballots voted on at the general election.

Propositions on Supreme Court judges, if any are seeking retention, shall appear on the ballot in the first group, for judges of the Appellate Court in the second group immediately under the first, and for circuit judges in the last group. The grouping of candidates for the same office shall be preceded by a heading describing the office and the court. If there are two or more candidates for each office, the names of such candidates in each group shall be listed in the order determined as follows: The name of the person with the greatest length of time served in the specified office of the specified court shall be listed first in each group. The rest of the names shall be listed in the appropriate order based on the same seniority standard. If two or more candidates for each office have served identical periods of time in the specified office, such candidates shall be listed alphabetically at the appropriate place in the order of names based on seniority in the office as described. Circuit judges shall be credited for the purposes of this section with service as associate judges prior to July 1, 1971 and with service on any court the judges of which were made associate judges on January 1, 1964 by virtue of Paragraph 4, subparagraphs (c) and (d) of the Schedule to Article VI of the former Illinois Constitution.

At the top of the ballot on the same side as the propositions on the candidates are listed shall be printed an explanation to read substantially as follows: "Vote on the proposition with respect to all or any of the judges listed on this ballot. No judge listed is running against any other judge. The sole question is whether each judge shall be retained in his or her present office".

Such separate ballot shall be printed on paper of sufficient size so that when folded once it shall be large enough to contain the following words, which shall be printed on the back, "Ballot for judicial candidates seeking retention in office". Such ballot shall be handed to the elector at the same time as the ballot containing the names of other candidates for the general election and shall be returned therewith by the elector to the proper officer in the manner designated by this Act. All provisions of this Act relating to ballots shall apply to such separate ballot, except as otherwise specifically provided in this section. Such separate ballot shall be printed upon paper of a green color. No other ballot at the same election shall be green in color.

In precincts in which voting machines are used, the special ballot containing the propositions on the retention of judges may be placed on the voting machines if such voting machines permit the casting of votes on such propositions.

An electronic voting system authorized by Article 24A may be used in voting and tabulating the judicial retention ballots. When an electronic voting system is used which utilizes a ballot label booklet and ballot card, there shall be used in the label booklet a separate ballot label page or pages as required for such proposition, which page or pages for such proposition shall be of a green color separate and distinct from the ballot label page or pages used for any other proposition or candidates.

(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-7)

Sec. 16-7. Whenever a public question is to be submitted to be voted upon and has been initiated and certified in accordance with Article 28 of this Code, the election authorities to whom the question is certified shall print the question on the ballot for the proper election, and shall cause it to be submitted in the proper precincts to those electors entitled by reason of their residency to vote on such question.

The substance of such public measure shall be clearly indicated on a separate ballot, and two spaces shall be left upon the right-hand margin thereof, one for the votes favoring the public measure, to be designated by the word, "Yes", and one for the votes opposing the measure, to be designated by the word, "No", as in the form herein given:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Shall (here print YES

the substance of the -------------------------------

public measure). NO

--------------------------------------------------------------

The elector shall designate his vote by a cross mark, thus: (X). Any such separate ballot shall be printed on paper of sufficient size so that when folded once it shall be large enough to contain the following words, which shall be printed on the back, "Ballot for (name of public measure to be voted on)." Such ballot shall be handed to the elector at the same time as the ballot containing the names of the candidates, and returned therewith by the elector to the proper office in the manner designated by this Act. All provisions of this Act relating to ballots shall apply to such separate ballot, except as herein otherwise provided. Such separate ballot or ballots shall be printed upon paper of a distinctly different color from any other ballot for candidates used at such election and from those for the question of retention in office of judges and of constitutional amendments and as near as may be practicable, be of uniform size. Any variation in the size of such ballots shall not impair their validity.

In the case of a public question described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6, the election authority shall include on the ballot the description of the territory concerning which the question is to be submitted, as set forth in the certification of the public question or, where the question is initiated by petition filed with the authority, as set forth in such petition. If the election authority determines the description cannot be included within the space limitations of the ballot, the election authority shall prepare large printed copies of a notice of the public question, which shall include the description. The notice shall be prominently displayed in the polling place of each precinct in which the question is to be submitted.

In precincts in which voting machines are used, separate ballots shall not be required if such voting machines permit the casting of votes on such proposition.

An electronic voting system authorized by Article 24A may be used in voting and tabulating the ballots on a public measure. When an electronic voting system is used, which utilizes a ballot label booklet and ballot card, there shall be used in the ballot label booklet a separate ballot label page or pages as required for such public measures or propositions. The page or pages for such public measures or propositions shall be of a color separate and distinct from the ballot label page or pages used for candidates and from those used for the propositions of retention in office of judges and of constitutional amendments. The ballot card provided for recording the voter's vote or choice on public measures or propositions may be the same card as is used for recording his vote for candidates. More than one public measure or proposition may be placed on the same ballot label page or series of pages and may be voted or recorded on the same column or series of columns on the same ballot card, and all columns on the ballot card may be of the same color.

However, at the nonpartisan, consolidated primary, and consolidated elections, the proposition for a public question relating to a political subdivision shall be placed on the ballot together with the ballot for the nomination or election of officers of such political subdivision to be voted upon at the same election, unless such placement is not feasible.

(Source: P.A. 84-1467.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-9)

Sec. 16-9. The election authorities shall prepare full instructions for the guidance of voters at each election as to obtaining ballots, as to the manner of marking them and the method of gaining assistance and as to obtaining new ballots in place of those accidentally spoiled; and they shall respectively cause the same to be printed in large, clear type, on separate cards, to be called cards of instruction; and the election authorities shall furnish to the judges of election a sufficient number of such cards of instruction to enable the judges of election to comply with the provisions of this article.

(Source: P.A. 81-1194.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-10)

Sec. 16-10. The judges of election shall cause not less than one of such cards to be posted in each voting booth provided for the preparation of ballots, and not less than four of such cards to be posted in and about the polling places upon the day of election. In every county of not more than 500,000 inhabitants, each election authority shall cause to be published, prior to the day of any election, in at least two newspapers, if there be so many published in such county, a list of all the nominations made as in this Act provided and to be voted for at such election, as near as may be, in the form in which they shall appear upon the general ballot; provided that this requirement shall not apply with respect to any consolidated primary for which the local election official is required to make the publication under Section 7-21.

(Source: P.A. 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)

(10 ILCS 5/16-11)

Sec. 16-11. Precinct tabulation optical scan technology voting equipment.

If the election authority has adopted the use of Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting equipment pursuant to Article 24B of this Code, and the provisions of the Article are in conflict with the provisions of this Article 16, the provisions of Article 24B shall govern the procedures followed by the election authority, its judges of elections, and all employees and agents. In following the provisions of Article 24B, the election authority is authorized to develop and implement procedures to fully utilize Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting equipment authorized by the State Board of Elections as long as the procedure is not in conflict with either Article 24B or the administrative rules of the State Board of Elections.

(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 17 heading) ARTICLE 17. CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS AND MAKING RETURNS

(10 ILCS 5/17-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-1)

Sec. 17-1. The polls shall be opened at the hour of 6:00 a.m. and continued open until 7:00 p.m. of the same day, at which time the polls shall be closed; but if the judges shall not attend at the hour of six o'clock in the morning, or if it shall be necessary for the electors present to appoint judges to conduct the election, as herein prescribed, the polls may, in that case, be opened at any hour before the time for closing the same shall arrive, as the case may require.

(Source: P.A. 81-850; 81-1149.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-2)

Sec. 17-2. Upon opening the polls one of the judges of election shall make proclamation of the same, and at least 30 minutes before the closing of the polls proclamation shall be made in like manner that the polls will be closed in half an hour.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1450.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-3)

Sec. 17-3. (a) Before voting begins, the ballot box shall be publicly opened and exhibited, and the judges shall see that no ballot is in such box; after which the box shall be locked and the key delivered to one of the judges, and shall not be again opened until the close of the polls. This paragraph (a) applies whenever permanent type ballot boxes are used, and does not apply when non-permanent type ballot boxes are used in accordance with section 15-1, paragraph (b).

(b) When non-permanent type ballot boxes are used in accordance with section 15-1, paragraph (b), prior to the commencement of voting and before any ballots are deposited therein, the judges shall examine each sealed ballot box, show it to those present and insure that it is in fact sealed and empty; the sealed slot shall be broken open before those present and the box inspected to insure that it is empty and such ballot box shall not be removed from public view from the time it is so inspected until after the close of the polls. The sealed opening on the side of the box shall not be unsealed or opened until after the close of the polls.

(Source: P.A. 77-6.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-4)

Sec. 17-4. Each of 2 judges of the election shall keep a poll list, which shall contain a column headed "number", and another headed "names of voters". The name of each elector voting shall be entered upon each of the poll books by such judges, in regular succession, under the proper headings, and the number of such voter placed opposite his name in the column headed "number". This section shall not apply where Articles 4, 5 or 6 of this Act make provision for the use of an official poll record in lieu of poll books.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1452.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-5)

Sec. 17-5. The manner of voting shall be by ballot. The ballot shall be printed or written, or partly printed and partly written, and shall be, except as otherwise provided in Article 8A, in form as prescribed in Article 16 of this Act.

(Source: Laws 1964, 1st S.S., p. 711.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-6)

Sec. 17-6. The names of all candidates for which the elector intends to vote shall be written or printed upon the same ballot, and the office to which he or she desires each to be elected shall be designated upon the ballot in the manner prescribed in Article 16 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-333.)