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ELECTIONS
(10 ILCS 5/) Election Code.

10 ILCS 5/18-9

    (10 ILCS 5/18-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-9)
    Sec. 18-9. The judges of election shall first count the whole number of ballots in the box. If the ballots shall be found to exceed the number of applications for ballot, they shall reject the ballots, if any, found folded inside of a ballot. And if the ballots and the applications for ballot still do not agree after such rejection, the ballots shall be replaced in the box and the box closed and well shaken, and again opened; and one of the judges shall publicly draw out so many ballots unopened as shall be equal to such excess. Such excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not Counted" and signed by a majority of judges and shall be placed in the "After 6:00 p.m. Defective Ballots Envelope". The number of excess ballots shall be noted in the remarks section of the Certificate of Results. "Excess" ballots shall not be counted in the total of "defective" ballots. And the ballots and applications for ballot being made to agree in this way, the judges shall proceed to count the votes in the following manner: The judges shall open the ballots and place those which contain the same names together, so that the several kinds shall be in separate piles or on separate files. Each of the judges shall examine the separate files which are, or are supposed to be, alike, and exclude from such files any which may have a name or an erasure, or in any manner shall be different from the others of such file. One of the judges shall then take one file of the kind of ballots which contain the same names, and count them by tens, carefully examining each name on each of the ballots. Such judge shall then pass the ten ballots aforesaid to the judge sitting next to him, who shall count them in the same manner, who shall then pass them to a third judge, who shall also count them in the same manner. Then the third judge shall call the names of the persons named in the ten ballots, and the offices for which they are designated, and 2 of the judges, who did not assist in the counting shall tally ten votes for each of such persons, except as herein otherwise provided. When the judges shall have gone through such file of ballots, containing the same names, and shall count them by tens in the same way, and shall call the names of the persons named in the ballots and the office for which they are designated, the tally judges shall tally the votes by tens for each of such persons in the same manner as in the first instance. When the counting of each file of ballots which contain the same names shall be completed, the tally judges shall compare their tallies together and ascertain the total number of ballots of that kind so canvassed; and when they agree upon the number, one of them shall announce it in a loud voice to the other judges. The judges shall then canvass the other kinds of ballots which do not correspond, those containing names partly from one kind of ballots and partly from another, being those from which the name of the person proper to be voted for on such ballots has been omitted or erased, usually called "scratched tickets". They shall be canvassed separately by one of the judges sitting between 2 other judges, which judge shall call each name to the tally judges and the office for which it is designated, and the other judges looking at the ballot at the same time, and the tally judges making tally of the same. When all the ballots have been canvassed in this manner, the tally judges shall compare their tallies together, and ascertain the total number of votes received by each candidate and when they agree upon the numbers one of them shall announce in a loud voice to the judges the number of votes received by each candidate on each of the kinds of ballots containing his name, the number received by him on scratch tickets, and the total number of votes received by him.
    The votes for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be counted and tallied jointly.
    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. 89-700, eff. 1-17-97.)

10 ILCS 5/18-9.1

    (10 ILCS 5/18-9.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-9.1)
    Sec. 18-9.1. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, write-in votes shall be counted only for persons who have filed notarized declarations of intent to be write-in candidates with the proper election authority or authorities not later than 61 days prior to the election. However, whenever an objection to a candidate's nominating papers or petitions is sustained under Section 10-10 after the 61st day before the election, then write-in votes shall be counted for that candidate if he or she has filed a notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for that office with the proper election authority or authorities not later than 7 days prior to the election.
    Forms for the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall be supplied by the election authorities. Such declaration shall specify the office for which the person seeks election as a write-in candidate.
    The election authority or authorities shall deliver a list of all persons who have filed such declarations to the election judges in the appropriate precincts prior to the election.
    A candidate for whom a nomination paper has been filed as a partisan candidate at a primary election, and who is defeated for his or her nomination at the primary election, is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.
    A candidate seeking election to an office for which candidates of political parties are nominated by caucus who is a participant in the caucus and who is defeated for his or her nomination at such caucus is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.
    A candidate seeking election to an office for which candidates are nominated at a primary election on a nonpartisan basis and who is defeated for his or her nomination at the primary election is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.
    Nothing in this Section shall be construed to apply to votes cast under the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 16-5.01.
(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

10 ILCS 5/18-9.2

    (10 ILCS 5/18-9.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-9.2)
    Sec. 18-9.2. Where a vacancy in nomination is filled pursuant to Section 7-61 or Section 10-11, the vote by mail votes cast for the original candidate on the first ballot shall not be counted. For this purpose, in those jurisdictions where electronic voting systems are used, the election authority shall determine a method by which the first ballots containing the name of the original candidate may be segregated from the revised ballots containing the name of the successor candidate and separately counted.
    Where a vacancy in nomination is not filled pursuant to Section 7-61 or Section 10-11, all votes cast for the original candidate shall be counted for such candidate.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

10 ILCS 5/18-10

    (10 ILCS 5/18-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-10)
    Sec. 18-10. Each batch of ten ballots counted by the judges of election shall, as soon as counted, read and tallied, be strung upon a strong string, thread or twine in the order in which they have been read; and each batch shall thus be disposed of before the commencement of the count as to the next batch.
    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: Laws 1965, p. 2220.)

10 ILCS 5/18-11

    (10 ILCS 5/18-11) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-11)
    Sec. 18-11. Whenever any proposition is submitted to a vote of the people and is printed or written upon the same ticket, with the names of candidates for office, the names, together with such proposition, shall be canvassed in the following manner: All the ballots shall be first separated into 3 piles; the first pile containing all the ballots in favor of such proposition; the second pile containing all the ballots against such proposition, and the third pile containing all the ballots not mentioning such proposition, or being neither for nor against such proposition. Each of the judges shall then examine each pile and see that the separation has been properly made. Then the first pile shall be counted by tens, and the result announced to the tally judges who shall tally the same by tens. And so the second pile shall be counted, announced and tallied, and likewise the third pile, if necessary. Whereupon the tally judges shall announce to the judges the number of votes for and the number of votes against such proposition. The ballots for or against any proposition submitted shall always be canvassed, counted and tallied after the names of candidates for any office are canvassed, counted or tallied.
    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: Laws 1965, p. 2220.)

10 ILCS 5/18-12

    (10 ILCS 5/18-12) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-12)
    Sec. 18-12. If the tally sheet and returns should contain no heading for any proposition submitted, it shall be the duty of the tally judges to write into such tally sheets and returns the headings necessary in order to keep a correct tally, and to make a correct and accurate return, and it shall be the legal duty of the judges of election to make a true count and correct return of all votes upon any such proposition.
(Source: Laws 1963, p. 2532.)

10 ILCS 5/18-13

    (10 ILCS 5/18-13) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-13)
    Sec. 18-13. When the canvass of the ballots has been completed, and the tally judges have announced to the judges the total number of votes received by each candidate, each of the judges of the election in turn shall then proclaim, in a loud voice, the total number of votes received by each of the persons voted for in such precinct, and the office for which he is designated, and the number of votes for and the number of votes against any proposition which shall have been submitted to a vote of the people. Such proclamation shall be prima facie evidence of the result of the canvass of such ballots.
    Immediately after making such proclamation the judges shall designate one of their number to go to the nearest telephone and report to the office of the board of election commissioners the result announced in such proclamation. The board of election commissioners shall keep its office open after the close of the polls on the day of any election until it has received from each precinct in the county the report above provided for. Immediately upon receiving such report the board of election commissioners shall cause the same to be posted in a public place in its office for inspection by the public. Immediately after making such report such judge shall return to the polling place and the judges shall proceed with their duties prescribed in this Code.
    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. 81-1433.)

10 ILCS 5/18-14

    (10 ILCS 5/18-14) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-14)
    Sec. 18-14. The judges of election shall make duplicate statements of the result of the canvass, which shall be written or partly written and partly printed. Each of the statements shall contain a caption stating the day on which, and the number of the election precinct and the ward, city and county, in relation to which such statements shall be made, and the time of opening and closing of the polls of such election precinct. It shall also contain a statement showing the whole number of votes given for each person, designating the office for which they were given, which statement shall be written, or partly written and partly printed, in words at length; and in case a proposition of any kind has been submitted to a vote at such election, such statements shall also show the whole number of votes cast for or against such proposition, written out or partly written and partly printed, in words at length, and at the end thereof a certificate that such statement is correct in all respects; which certificate, and each sheet of paper forming part of the statement, shall be subscribed by the judges. If any judge shall decline to sign such return, he shall state his reason therefor in writing, and a copy thereof, signed by himself, shall be enclosed with each return. Each of the statements shall be enclosed in an envelope, which shall then be securely sealed with sealing wax or other adhesive material; and each of the judges shall write his name across every fold at which the envelope, if unfastened, could be opened. One of the envelopes shall be directed to the county clerk and one to the comptroller of the city, or to the officer of such city whose duties correspond with those of comptroller. The judges of election shall make quadruplicate sets of tallies, and each set of tallies shall also be signed by the judges of the election. If, however, the number of established political parties, as defined in Section 10-2, exceeds 2, one additional set of tallies shall be made and signed for each established political party in excess of 2. Each set shall be enclosed in an envelope, securely sealed and signed in like manner; and one of the envelopes shall be directed on the outside to the election commissioners and the other to the city, village or town clerk; the other two envelopes shall be addressed, respectively, to the chairmen of the county central committees of the established political parties. On the outside of every envelope shall be endorsed whether it contains the statements of the votes cast or the tallies, and for what precinct and ward, village or town.
    However, in those jurisdictions where electronic voting systems utilizing in-precinct counting equipment are used, one such envelope shall be transmitted to the chair of the county central committee of each established political party and 2 such envelopes shall be transmitted to the board of election commissioners.
    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.
    At the nonpartisan and consolidated elections, the judges of election shall make a tally sheet and certificate of results for each political subdivision as to which candidates or public questions are on the ballot at such election, except where such votes are to be canvassed by the board of election commissioners or by the city canvassing board provided in Section 22-8. The judges shall sign, seal in a marked envelope and deliver them to the county clerk with the other certificates of results herein required. Such tally sheets and certificates of results may be duplicates of the tally sheet and certificate of results otherwise required by this Section, showing all votes for all candidates and public questions voted for or upon in the precinct, or may be on separate forms prepared by the election authority and showing only those votes cast for candidates and public questions of each such political subdivision.
    Within 2 days of delivery of complete returns of the consolidated and nonpartisan elections, the board of election commissioners shall transmit an original, sealed tally sheet and certificate of results from each precinct in its jurisdiction in which candidates or public questions of a political subdivision were on the ballot to the local election official of such political subdivision where a local canvassing board is designated to canvass such votes. Each local election official, within 24 hours of receipt of all of the tally sheets and certificates of results for all precincts in which candidates or public questions of his political subdivision were on the ballot, shall transmit such sealed tally sheets and certificates of results to the canvassing board for that political subdivision.
    In the case of referenda for the formation of a political subdivision the tally sheets and certificates of results shall be transmitted by the board of election commissioners to the circuit court that ordered the proposition submitted or to the officials designated by the court to conduct the canvass of votes. In the case of school referenda for which a regional superintendent of schools is responsible for the canvass of votes, the board of election commissioners shall transmit the tally sheets and certificates of results to the regional superintendent.
(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

10 ILCS 5/18-15

    (10 ILCS 5/18-15) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-15)
    Sec. 18-15. The poll books shall be enclosed in an envelope, which shall then be securely sealed with sealing wax, or other adhesive material; and each of the judges shall write his name across every fold at which the envelope if unfastened could be opened.
(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1450.)

10 ILCS 5/18-16

    (10 ILCS 5/18-16) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-16)
    Sec. 18-16. Thereupon one of the judges of election shall take charge of the poll books and the key to the ballot box. Two of the judges shall each take one of the statements of the votes cast into his possession sealed up in the envelopes as aforesaid, and each of the remaining 2 judges shall take one of the tally sheets sealed up in the envelopes as aforesaid. Thereupon the judge having possession of such poll books shall immediately deliver the poll books to the Board of Election Commissioners, or to the person or persons delegated by the board to receive such envelopes, and at such place or places within the area served by the board as pre-determined by the board, with the seal unbroken and shall receive a receipt therefor; and the other judges shall immediately deliver the statements and tallies so in their possession respectively, to the respective officers to whom addressed as aforesaid and who, by this Act, are entitled to receive the same, and when delivered, each one shall take a receipt from the officer to whom delivered. Such envelopes shall be delivered to such officers or their duly authorized and appointed representatives, at the time and place where such envelopes are delivered to the Board of Election Commissioners or its designated receiving stations as pre-determined by the board, as hereinabove provided for. And none of them shall receive pay for their services as such judges without the production of the receipts so given them by the officers as aforesaid. It shall be the duty of the respective officers so designated, to whom such statements and tallies are ordered to be delivered, to receive the same, and to safely keep under lock and key until ordered to be surrendered as herein provided; and the Board of Election Commissioners shall safely keep such poll books under lock and key for one year.
    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. 76-1309.)

10 ILCS 5/18-18

    (10 ILCS 5/18-18) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-18)
    Sec. 18-18. The costs and expenses of emergency referenda elections or special elections conducted by boards of election commissioners shall be paid as provided in Sections 17-30 and 17-32 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 81-814.)

10 ILCS 5/18-40

    (10 ILCS 5/18-40)
    Sec. 18-40. Voting equipment.
    (a) 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 18, 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.
    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), when voting equipment governed by any Article of this Code is used, the requirements of Section 18-5 that (i) the voter must be notified of the voting equipment's acceptance or rejection of the ballot or identification of an under-vote for a statewide constitutional office and (ii) the voter shall have the opportunity to correct an under-vote for a statewide constitutional office or surrender the ballot that was not accepted and vote another ballot shall not be modified.
(Source: P.A. 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)

10 ILCS 5/18-100

    (10 ILCS 5/18-100)
    Sec. 18-100. Definition of a vote.
    (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, for the purpose of this Article, a person casts a valid vote on a punch card ballot when:
        (1) A chad on the card has at least one corner
    
detached from the card;
        (2) The fibers of paper on at least one edge of the
    
chad are broken in a way that permits unimpeded light to be seen through the card; or
        (3) An indentation on the chad from the stylus or
    
other object is present and indicates a clearly ascertainable intent of the voter to vote based on the totality of the circumstances, including but not limited to any pattern or frequency of indentations on other ballot positions from the same ballot card.
    (b) Write-in votes shall be counted in a manner consistent with the existing provisions of this Code.
    (c) For purposes of this Section, a "chad" is that portion of a ballot card that a voter punches or perforates with a stylus or other designated marking device to manifest his or her vote for a particular ballot position on a ballot card as defined in subsection (a).
    (d) Prior to the original counting of any punch card ballots, an election judge may not alter a punch card ballot in any manner, including, but not limited to, the removal or manipulation of chads.
(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

10 ILCS 5/Art. 18A

 
    (10 ILCS 5/Art. 18A heading)
ARTICLE 18A
PROVISIONAL VOTING

10 ILCS 5/18A-2

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-2)
    Sec. 18A-2. Application of Article. In addition to and notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the procedures in this Article shall govern provisional voting.
(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03.)

10 ILCS 5/18A-5

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-5)
    Sec. 18A-5. Provisional voting; general provisions.
    (a) A person who claims to be a registered voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot under the following circumstances:
        (1) The person's name does not appear on the official
    
list of eligible voters for the precinct in which the person seeks to vote and the person has refused an opportunity to register at the polling location or another grace period registration site. The official list is the centralized statewide voter registration list established and maintained in accordance with Section 1A-25;
        (2) The person's voting status has been challenged by
    
an election judge, a pollwatcher, or any legal voter and that challenge has been sustained by a majority of the election judges;
        (3) A federal or State court order extends the time
    
for closing the polls beyond the time period established by State law and the person votes during the extended time period;
        (4) The voter registered to vote by mail and is
    
required by law to present identification when voting either in person or by early voting ballot, but fails to do so;
        (5) The voter's name appears on the list of voters
    
who voted during the early voting period, but the voter claims not to have voted during the early voting period;
        (6) The voter received a vote by mail ballot but did
    
not return the vote by mail ballot to the election authority; or
        (7) The voter attempted to register to vote on
    
election day, but failed to provide the necessary documentation.
    (b) The procedure for obtaining and casting a provisional ballot at the polling place shall be as follows:
        (1) After first verifying through an examination of
    
the precinct register that the person's address is within the precinct boundaries, an election judge at the polling place shall notify a person who is entitled to cast a provisional ballot pursuant to subsection (a) that he or she may cast a provisional ballot in that election. An election judge must accept any information provided by a person who casts a provisional ballot that the person believes supports his or her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter and qualified to vote in the election. However, if the person's residence address is outside the precinct boundaries, the election judge shall inform the person of that fact, give the person the appropriate telephone number of the election authority in order to locate the polling place assigned to serve that address, and instruct the person to go to the proper polling place to vote.
        (2) The person shall execute a written form provided
    
by the election judge that shall state or contain all of the following that is available:
             (i) an affidavit stating the following:
                State of Illinois, County of
            
................, Township ............., Precinct ........, Ward ........, I, ......................., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that: I am a citizen of the United States; I am 18 years of age or older; I have resided in this State and in this precinct for 30 days preceding this election; I have not voted in this election; I am a duly registered voter in every respect; and I am eligible to vote in this election. Signature ...... Printed Name of Voter ....... Printed Residence Address of Voter ...... City ...... State .... Zip Code ..... Telephone Number ...... Date of Birth ....... and Illinois Driver's License Number ....... or Last 4 digits of Social Security Number ...... or State Identification Card Number issued to you by the Illinois Secretary of State ........
            (ii) A box for the election judge to check one of
        
the reasons why the person was given a provisional ballot under subsection (a) of this Section.
            (iii) An area for the election judge to affix his
        
or her signature and to set forth any facts that support or oppose the allegation that the person is not qualified to vote in the precinct in which the person is seeking to vote.
        The written affidavit form described in this
    
subsection (b)(2) must be printed on a multi-part form prescribed by the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be.
        (3) After the person executes the portion of the
    
written affidavit described in subsection (b)(2)(i) of this Section, the election judge shall complete the portion of the written affidavit described in subsection (b)(2)(iii) and (b)(2)(iv).
        (4) The election judge shall give a copy of the
    
completed written affidavit to the person. The election judge shall place the original written affidavit in a self-adhesive clear plastic packing list envelope that must be attached to a separate envelope marked as a "provisional ballot envelope". The election judge shall also place any information provided by the person who casts a provisional ballot in the clear plastic packing list envelope. Each county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, must design, obtain or procure self-adhesive clear plastic packing list envelopes and provisional ballot envelopes that are suitable for implementing this subsection (b)(4) of this Section.
        (5) The election judge shall provide the person with
    
a provisional ballot, written instructions for casting a provisional ballot, and the provisional ballot envelope with the clear plastic packing list envelope affixed to it, which contains the person's original written affidavit and, if any, information provided by the provisional voter to support his or her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter. An election judge must also give the person written information that states that any person who casts a provisional ballot shall be able to ascertain, pursuant to guidelines established by the State Board of Elections, whether the provisional vote was counted in the official canvass of votes for that election and, if the provisional vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted.
        (6) After the person has completed marking his or her
    
provisional ballot, he or she shall place the marked ballot inside of the provisional ballot envelope, close and seal the envelope, and return the envelope to an election judge, who shall then deposit the sealed provisional ballot envelope into a securable container separately identified and utilized for containing sealed provisional ballot envelopes. Ballots that are provisional because they are cast after 7:00 p.m. by court order shall be kept separate from other provisional ballots. Upon the closing of the polls, the securable container shall be sealed with filament tape provided for that purpose, which shall be wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least twice each way, and each of the election judges shall sign the seal.
    (c) Instead of the affidavit form described in subsection (b), the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, may design and use a multi-part affidavit form that is imprinted upon or attached to the provisional ballot envelope described in subsection (b). If a county clerk or board of election commissioners elects to design and use its own multi-part affidavit form, then the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall establish a mechanism for accepting any information the provisional voter has supplied to the election judge to support his or her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter. In all other respects, a county clerk or board of election commissioners shall establish procedures consistent with subsection (b).
    (d) The county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, shall use the completed affidavit form described in subsection (b) to update the person's voter registration information in the State voter registration database and voter registration database of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be. If a person is later determined not to be a registered voter based on Section 18A-15 of this Code, then the affidavit shall be processed by the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, as a voter registration application.
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

10 ILCS 5/18A-10

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-10)
    Sec. 18A-10. Sealing and transporting provisional ballots.
    (a) Upon the closing of the polls, 2 election judges not of the same political party shall return to the county clerk or board of election commissioners the unopened sealed securable container containing the provisional ballots to a location specified by the county clerk or board of election commissioners in the most direct manner of transport. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall keep the securable container secure until such time as the provisional ballots are counted in accordance with Section 18A-15.
    (b) Upon receipt of materials returned from the polling places, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall update the State voter registration list and the voter registration database of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, by using the affidavit forms of provisional voters.
(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03.)

10 ILCS 5/18A-15

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-15)
    Sec. 18A-15. Validating and counting provisional ballots.
    (a) The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall complete the validation and counting of provisional ballots within 14 calendar days of the day of the election. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall have 7 calendar days from the completion of the validation and counting of provisional ballots to conduct its final canvass. The State Board of Elections shall complete within 31 calendar days of the election or sooner if all the returns are received, its final canvass of the vote for all public offices.
    (b) If a county clerk or board of election commissioners determines that all of the following apply, then a provisional ballot is valid and shall be counted as a vote:
        (1) the provisional voter cast the provisional ballot
    
in the correct precinct based on the address provided by the provisional voter. The provisional voter's affidavit shall serve as a change of address request by that voter for registration purposes for the next ensuing election if it bears an address different from that in the records of the election authority. Votes for federal and statewide offices on a provisional ballot cast in the incorrect precinct that meet the other requirements of this subsection shall be valid and counted in accordance with this Article. As used in this item, "federal office" is defined as provided in Section 20-1 and "statewide office" means the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. Votes for General Assembly, countywide, citywide, or township office on a provisional ballot cast in the incorrect precinct but in the correct legislative district, representative district, county, municipality, or township, as the case may be, shall be valid and counted in accordance with this Article. As used in this item, "citywide office" means an office elected by the electors of an entire municipality. As used in this item, "township office" means an office elected by the electors of an entire township;
        (2) the affidavit executed by the provisional voter
    
pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of Section 18A-5 contains, at a minimum, the provisional voter's first and last name, house number and street name, and signature or mark;
        (3) except as permitted by item (5) of subsection (b)
    
of this Section, the provisional voter is a registered voter based on information available to the county clerk or board of election commissioners provided by or obtained from any of the following:
            i. the provisional voter;
            ii. an election judge;
            iii. the statewide voter registration database
        
maintained by the State Board of Elections;
            iv. the records of the county clerk or board of
        
election commissioners' database; or
            v. the records of the Secretary of State; and
        (4) for a provisional ballot cast under item (6) of
    
subsection (a) of Section 18A-5, the voter did not vote by mail ballot in the election at which the provisional ballot was cast; or
        (5) for a provisional ballot cast under item (7) of
    
subsection (a) of Section 18A-5, the voter provides the election authority with the necessary documentation within 7 days of election day.
    (c) With respect to subsection (b)(3) of this Section, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall investigate and record whether or not the specified information is available from each of the 5 identified sources. If the information is available from one or more of the identified sources, then the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall seek to obtain the information from each of those sources until satisfied, with information from at least one of those sources, that the provisional voter is registered and entitled to vote. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall use any information it obtains as the basis for determining the voter registration status of the provisional voter. If a conflict exists among the information available to the county clerk or board of election commissioners as to the registration status of the provisional voter, then the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall make a determination based on the totality of the circumstances. In a case where the above information equally supports or opposes the registration status of the voter, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall decide in favor of the provisional voter as being duly registered to vote. If the statewide voter registration database maintained by the State Board of Elections indicates that the provisional voter is registered to vote, but the county clerk's or board of election commissioners' voter registration database indicates that the provisional voter is not registered to vote, then the information found in the statewide voter registration database shall control the matter and the provisional voter shall be deemed to be registered to vote. If the records of the county clerk or board of election commissioners indicates that the provisional voter is registered to vote, but the statewide voter registration database maintained by the State Board of Elections indicates that the provisional voter is not registered to vote, then the information found in the records of the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall control the matter and the provisional voter shall be deemed to be registered to vote. If the provisional voter's signature on his or her provisional ballot request varies from the signature on an otherwise valid registration application solely because of the substitution of initials for the first or middle name, the election authority may not reject the provisional ballot.
    (d) In validating the registration status of a person casting a provisional ballot, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall not require a provisional voter to complete any form other than the affidavit executed by the provisional voter under subsection (b)(2) of Section 18A-5. In addition, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall not require all provisional voters or any particular class or group of provisional voters to appear personally before the county clerk or board of election commissioners or as a matter of policy require provisional voters to submit additional information to verify or otherwise support the information already submitted by the provisional voter. Within 2 calendar days after the election, the election authority shall transmit by electronic means pursuant to a process established by the State Board of Elections the name, street address, e-mail address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be, of each person casting a provisional ballot to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and that information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees. The provisional voter may, within 7 calendar days after the election, submit additional information to the county clerk or board of election commissioners. This information must be received by the county clerk or board of election commissioners within the 7-calendar-day period.
    (e) If the county clerk or board of election commissioners determines that subsection (b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(3) does not apply, then the provisional ballot is not valid and may not be counted. The provisional ballot envelope containing the ballot cast by the provisional voter may not be opened. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall write on the provisional ballot envelope the following: "Provisional ballot determined invalid.".
    (f) If the county clerk or board of election commissioners determines that a provisional ballot is valid under this Section, then the provisional ballot envelope shall be opened. The outside of each provisional ballot envelope shall also be marked to identify the precinct and the date of the election.
    (g) Provisional ballots determined to be valid shall be counted at the election authority's central ballot counting location and shall not be counted in precincts. The provisional ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts from which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened. The validation and counting of provisional ballots shall be subject to the provisions of this Code that apply to pollwatchers. If the provisional ballots are a ballot of a punch card voting system, then the provisional ballot shall be counted in a manner consistent with Article 24A. If the provisional ballots are a ballot of optical scan or other type of approved electronic voting system, then the provisional ballots shall be counted in a manner consistent with Article 24B.
    (h) As soon as the ballots have been counted, the election judges or election officials shall, in the presence of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, place each of the following items in a separate envelope or bag: (1) all provisional ballots, voted or spoiled; (2) all provisional ballot envelopes of provisional ballots voted or spoiled; and (3) all executed affidavits of the provisional ballots voted or spoiled. All provisional ballot envelopes for provisional voters who have been determined not to be registered to vote shall remain sealed. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall treat the provisional ballot envelope containing the written affidavit as a voter registration application for that person for the next election and process that application. The election judges or election officials shall then securely seal each envelope or bag, initial the envelope or bag, and plainly mark on the outside of the envelope or bag in ink the precinct in which the provisional ballots were cast. The election judges or election officials shall then place each sealed envelope or bag into a box, secure and seal it in the same manner as described in item (6) of subsection (b) of Section 18A-5. Each election judge or election official shall take and subscribe an oath before the county clerk or board of election commissioners that the election judge or election official securely kept the ballots and papers in the box, did not permit any person to open the box or otherwise touch or tamper with the ballots and papers in the box, and has no knowledge of any other person opening the box. For purposes of this Section, the term "election official" means the county clerk, a member of the board of election commissioners, as the case may be, and their respective employees.
(Source: P.A. 97-766, eff. 7-6-12; 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

10 ILCS 5/18A-20

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-20)
    Sec. 18A-20. Provisional voting verification system. In conjunction with each county clerk or board of election commissioners, the State Board of Elections shall establish a uniform free access information system by which a person casting a provisional ballot may ascertain whether the provisional vote was counted in the official canvass of votes for that election and, if the vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a county clerk or a board of election commissioner from establishing a free access information system described in this Section so long as that system is consistent with the federal Help America Vote Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03.)

10 ILCS 5/18A-218

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-218)
    Sec. 18A-218. Interpretation of Article 18A. The Sections of this Article following this Section shall be supplemental to all other provisions of this Article and are intended to provide procedural requirements for the implementation of the provisions of this Article. In the case of a conflict between the Sections following this Section and the Sections preceding this Section, the Sections preceding this Section shall prevail.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

10 ILCS 5/18A-218.10

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-218.10)
    Sec. 18A-218.10. Definitions relating to provisional ballots.
    (a) As used in this Article:
        "Citywide or villagewide office" means an office
    
elected by the electors of an entire municipality.
        "Correct precinct" means the precinct containing the
    
addresses at which the provisional voter resides and at which he or she is registered to vote.
        "Countywide office" means the offices of Clerk,
    
Sheriff, State's Attorney, Circuit Court Clerk, Recorder, Auditor, County Board President, County Board Member or County Commissioner in those counties that elect those officers countywide, Coroner, Regional Superintendent of Schools, Sanitary District Commissioners or Trustees, Assessor, Board of Review Members in those counties that elect those officers countywide, and Treasurer.
        "Election authority" means either the County Clerk,
    
County Board of Election Commissioners, or Municipal Board of Election Commissioners, as the case may be.
        "Election jurisdiction" means an entire county, in
    
the case of a county in which no city board of election commissioners is located or that is under the jurisdiction of a county board of election commissioners; the territorial jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners; and the territory in a county outside of the jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners. Election jurisdictions shall be determined according to which election authority maintains the permanent registration records of qualified electors.
        "Incorrect precinct" means the precinct in which the
    
voter cast a provisional ballot, but is not the precinct containing the address at which he or she is registered to vote. In order for a provisional ballot to be eligible for counting when cast in an incorrect precinct, that precinct must be located within either the county or municipality in which the voter is registered.
        "Leading established political party" means one of
    
the two political parties whose candidates for Governor at the most recent 3 gubernatorial elections received either the highest or second highest average number of votes. The first leading political party is the party whose candidate for Governor received the highest average number of votes in the 3 most recent gubernatorial elections and the second leading political party is the party whose candidate for Governor received the second highest average number of votes in the 3 most recent gubernatorial elections.
        "Legislative district" means the district in which an
    
Illinois State Senator is elected to serve the residents.
        "Persons entitled to vote provisionally" or
    
"provisional voter" means a person claiming to be a registered voter who is entitled by Section 18A-5 of this Code to vote a provisional ballot under the following circumstances:
            (1) The person's name does not appear on the
        
official list of eligible voters for the precinct in which the person seeks to vote and the person has refused an opportunity to register at the polling location or another grace period registration site.
            (2) The person's voting status has been
        
successfully challenged by an election judge, a pollwatcher or any legal voter.
            (3) A federal or State court order extends the
        
time for closing the polls beyond the time period established by State law and the person votes during the extended time period.
            (4) The voter registered to vote by mail and is
        
required by law to present identification when voting either in person or by vote by mail ballot, but fails to do so.
            (5) The voter's name appears on the list of
        
voters who voted during the early voting period, but the voter claims not to have voted during the early voting period.
            (6) The voter received a vote by mail ballot but
        
did not return the vote by mail ballot to the election authority, and failed to surrender it to the election judges.
            (7) The voter attempted to register to vote on
        
election day, but failed to provide the necessary documentation.
        "Representative district" means the district from
    
which an Illinois State Representative is elected to serve the residents.
        "Statewide office" means the Constitutional offices
    
of Governor and Lt. Governor running jointly, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Comptroller, and Treasurer.
        "Township office" means an office elected by the
    
electors of an entire township.
    (b) Procedures for Voting Provisionally in the Polling Place.
        (1) If any of the 7 reasons cited in the
    
definition of provisional voter in subsection (a) for casting a provisional ballot exists, an election judge must accept any information provided by a person who casts a provisional ballot that the person believes supports his or her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter and qualified to vote in the election. However, if the person's residence address is outside the precinct boundaries, the election judge shall inform the person of that fact, give the person the appropriate telephone number of the election authority in order to locate the polling place assigned to serve that address (or consult any alternative tools provided by the election authority for determining a voter's correct precinct polling place) and instruct the person to go to the proper polling place to vote.
        (2) Once it has been determined by the
    
election judges that the person is entitled to receive a provisional ballot, and the voter has completed the provisional voter affidavit, the voter shall be given a provisional ballot and shall proceed to vote that ballot. Upon receipt of the ballot by the election judges, the ballot shall be transmitted to the election authority in accordance with subsection (a) of Section 18A-10 of this Code.
        (3) In the event that a provisional ballot is
    
mistakenly cast in a precinct other than the precinct that contains the voter's address of registration (if the voter believed he or she registered in the precinct in which he or she voted provisionally, and the election judges should have, but did not direct the voter to vote in the correct precinct), Section 218.20 shall apply.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

10 ILCS 5/18A-218.20

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-218.20)
    Sec. 18A-218.20. Counting procedures for provisional ballots cast in an incorrect precinct within the same election authority's jurisdiction.
    (a) The election authority shall:
        (1) transmit to the State Board of Elections
    
the provisional voter's identifying information and voting jurisdiction within 2 calendar days. Following that, and subject to paragraph (2) below, if the election authority having jurisdiction over the provisional voter determines that the voter has cast a provisional ballot in an incorrect precinct, the ballot shall still be counted using the procedures established in subsection (b) of this Section or Section 18A-218.30 if applicable. Jurisdictions that use election machines authorized pursuant to Article 24C of this Code for casting provisional ballots may vary procedures of this Section and Section 18A-218.30 as appropriate for the counting of provisional ballots cast on those machines.
        (2) determine whether the voter was entitled
    
to cast a provisional ballot. The voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot if:
            (A) the affidavit executed by the voter
        
contains, at a minimum, the provisional voter's first and last name, house number and street name, and signature or mark;
            (B) the provisional voter is a registered
        
voter based on information available to the county clerk or board of election commissioners provided by or obtained from the provisional voter, an election judge, the Statewide voter registration database maintained by the State Board of Elections, the records of the county clerk or board of election commissioners' database, or the records of the Secretary of State or the voter is attempting to register but lacks the necessary documentation; and
            (C) the provisional voter did not vote
        
using the vote by mail ballot and did not vote during the period for early voting.
    (b) Once it has been determined by the election authority that the voter was entitled to vote a provisional ballot, even though it had been cast in an incorrect precinct, the election authority shall select a team or teams of 2 duly commissioned election judges, one from each of the two leading established political parties in Illinois, to count the votes that are eligible to be cast on the provisional ballot. In those jurisdictions that use election officials as defined in subsection (h) of Section 18A-15 of this Code, these duties may be performed by those election officials.
        (1) Votes cast for Statewide offices, the
    
Office of President of the United States (including votes cast in the Presidential Preference Primary), and United States Senate shall be counted on all provisional ballots cast in the incorrect precinct.
        (2) Votes cast for Representative in
    
Congress, delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention, State Senator, State Representative, or countywide, citywide, villagewide, or township office shall be counted if it is determined by the election judges or officials that the voter would have been entitled to vote for one or more of these offices had the voter voted in the precinct in which he or she is registered to vote (the correct precinct) and had the voter voted a ballot of the correct ballot style containing all the offices and candidates for which the voter was entitled to cast a ballot (the correct ballot style). This determination shall be made by comparing a sample ballot of the correct ballot style with the actual provisional ballot cast by the voter. If the same office (including the same district number for a Congressional, Legislative or Representative district) appears on both the correct ballot style sample ballot and the provisional ballot cast by the voter, votes for that office shall be counted. All votes cast for any remaining offices (offices for which the voter would not have been entitled to vote had he or she voted in the correct precinct) shall not be counted.
        (3) No votes shall be counted for an office
    
when the voter voted for more candidates than he or she was allowed.
        (4) Once it has been determined which offices
    
are to be counted and the provisional ballot contains no other votes, the provisional ballot shall be counted pursuant to the procedures set forth in this subsection (b).
        (5) If a provisional ballot does not contain
    
any valid votes, the provisional ballot shall be marked invalid and shall not be counted.
        (6) Any provisional voting verification
    
system established by an election authority shall inform the provisional voter that his or her provisional ballot was partially counted because it was cast in an incorrect precinct.
        (7) If a provisional ballot only contains
    
votes cast for eligible offices, and does not contain any votes cast for ineligible offices, the ballot may be tabulated without having to be remade.
        (8) If a provisional ballot contains both
    
valid votes that must be counted and invalid votes that cannot be counted:
            (A) the election judges, consisting in
        
each case of at least one of each of the 2 leading political parties, shall, if the provisional ballot was cast on a paper ballot sheet, proceed to remake the voted ballot onto a blank ballot that includes all of the offices for which valid votes were cast, transferring only valid votes. The original provisional ballot shall be marked "Original Provisional Ballot" with a serial number commencing at "1" and continuing consecutively for ballots of that kind in the precinct. The duplicate provisional ballot shall be marked "Duplicate Provisional Ballot" and be given the same serial number as the original ballot from which it was duplicated. The duplicate provisional ballot shall then be treated in the same manner as other provisional ballots.
            (B) if the provisional ballot was cast on
        
a direct recording electronic voting device, the election judges shall mark the original provisional ballot as a partially counted defective electronic provisional ballot because it was cast in the incorrect precinct (or bear some similar notation) and proceed to either:
                (i) remake the voted ballot by
            
transferring all valid votes to a duplicate paper ballot sheet of the correct ballot style, marking the duplicate ballot "Duplicate Electronic Provisional Ballot" and then counting the duplicate provisional ballot in the same manner as the other provisional ballots marked on paper ballot sheets; or
                (ii) transfer, or cause to be
            
transferred, all valid votes electronically to the correct precinct, which shall be counted and added to the vote totals for the correct precinct, excluding any votes that cannot be counted. If this method is used, a permanent paper record must be generated for both the defective provisional ballot and the duplicate electronic provisional ballot.
    (c) For provisional ballots cast at a partisan primary election, the judges shall use a duplicate ballot of the correct ballot style for the same political party as the ballot chosen by the voter.
    (d) At least one qualified pollwatcher for each candidate, political party, and civic organization, as authorized by Section 17-23 of this Code, shall be permitted to observe the ballot remaking process.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)