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ELECTIONS
(10 ILCS 5/) Election Code.

10 ILCS 5/20-7

    (10 ILCS 5/20-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-7)
    Sec. 20-7. Upon receipt of such vote by mail voter's ballot, the officer or officers above described shall forthwith enclose the same unopened, together with the application made by said vote by mail voter in a large or carrier envelope which shall be securely sealed and endorsed with the name and official title of such officer and the words, "This envelope contains a vote by mail voter's ballot and must be opened on election day," together with the number and description of the precinct in which said ballot is to be voted, and such officer shall thereafter safely keep the same in his office until counted by him as provided in the next section.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

10 ILCS 5/20-8

     (10 ILCS 5/20-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-8)
    Sec. 20-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
    (a) (Blank.)
    (b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by that election authority may be processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is received by the election authority in the central ballot counting location of the election authority, but the results of the processing may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).
    (c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots.
    Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and, if the certification date is election day or earlier and the ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the ballot shall not be counted.
    If an election authority is using an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed no later than election day.
    (d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by the election authority at any time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballot that are mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that are received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same periods provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).
    (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots received by the election authority after the closing of the polls on the day of election shall be endorsed by the person receiving the ballots with the day and hour of receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.
    (f) Counting required under this Section to begin on election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been counted.
    (g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition, within 2 days after a ballot subject to this Article is received, but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of that ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a ballot under this Article, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or official determines that the signatures do not match, or that the voter is not qualified to cast a ballot under this Article, then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.
    In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a ballot subject to this Article may be rejected by the election judge or official:
        (1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
    
and resealed;
        (2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace
    
period ballot;
        (3) if the voter voted in person on election day or
    
the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
        (4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
    If the election judge or official determines that any of these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.
    (g-5) If a ballot subject to this Article is rejected by the election judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of the contested ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.
    A ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots.
    (g-10) All ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.
    (h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

10 ILCS 5/20-9

    (10 ILCS 5/20-9)
    Sec. 20-9. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 87-1052. Repealed by P.A. 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06.)

10 ILCS 5/20-10

    (10 ILCS 5/20-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-10)
    Sec. 20-10. Pollwatchers shall be permitted to be present during the casting of the vote by mail voters' ballots, each political party, candidate and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned. Such pollwatchers shall be subject to the same provisions as are provided for pollwatchers in Sections 7-34 and 17-23 of this Code, and shall be permitted to observe the election judges making the signature comparison between that which is on the ballot envelope and that which is on the permanent voter registration record card taken from the master file.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

10 ILCS 5/20-11

    (10 ILCS 5/20-11) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-11)
    Sec. 20-11. Whenever it shall be made to appear by due proof to the judges of election that any elector who has marked and forwarded his ballot as provided in this article has died prior to the opening of the polls on the date of the election, then the ballot of such deceased voter shall be returned by the judges of election in the same manner as provided for rejected ballots above; but the casting of the ballot of a deceased voter shall not invalidate the election.
(Source: Laws 1944, 1st S.S., p. 6.)

10 ILCS 5/20-12

    (10 ILCS 5/20-12) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-12)
    Sec. 20-12. In all counties, cities, towns and precincts in which voting machines are used, all the provisions of this Act, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, relating to the furnishing of ballot boxes, printing and furnishing official ballots and supplies in such number as provided by law, the canvassing of the ballots and making the proper return of the result of the election, shall, to the extent necessary to make this article effective, apply with full force and effect; Provided, however, that the number of ballots to be printed shall be in the discretion of the election authority.
(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

10 ILCS 5/20-13

    (10 ILCS 5/20-13) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-13)
    Sec. 20-13. If otherwise qualified to vote, any person not covered by Section 20-2, 20-2.1, or 20-2.2 of this Article who is not registered to vote and who is temporarily absent from his county of residence, may make special application to the election authority having jurisdiction over his precinct of permanent residence, not less than 5 days before a presidential election, for a vote by mail ballot to vote for the president and vice-president only. Such application shall be furnished by the election authority and shall be in substantially the following form:
    SPECIAL VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION (For use by non-registered Illinois residents temporarily absent from the county to vote for the president and vice-president only)
AFFIDAVIT
    1. I hereby request a vote by mail ballot to vote for the president and vice-president only ......... (insert date of general election)
    2. I am a citizen of the United States and a permanent resident of Illinois.
    3. I have maintained, and still maintain, a permanent abode in Illinois for the past .......... years at: .......... (House) .......... (Number) .......... (Street) .......... (City) .......... (Village) .......... (Town)
    4. I will not be able to regularly register in person as a voter because .................... (Give reason for temporary absence such as "Student", "Temporary job transfer", etc.)
    5. I was born .......... (Month) .......... (Day) .......... (Year) in .................... (State or County);
    6. To be filled in only by a person who is foreign-born (If answer is "yes" in either a. or b. below, fill in appropriate information in c.):
    a. One or both of my parents were United States citizens at the time of my birth?
(
  ) YES ( ) NO     b. My United States citizenship was derived through an act of the Congress of the United States?
(
  ) YES ( ) NO     c. The name of the court issuing papers and the date thereof upon which my United States citizenship was derived is .................... located in .......... (City) .......... (State) on .......... (Month) .......... (Day) .......... (Year)
    (For persons who derived citizenship through papers issued through a parent or spouse, fill in the following)
    (1) My parents or spouse's name is:
    ......... (First) .......... (Middle) .......... (Last)
    (2) ........ (Month) .......... (Day) .......... (Year)
    is the date of my marriage or my age at which time I derived my citizenship.
    7. I am not registered as a voter in any other county in the State of Illinois or in any other State.
    8. I am not requesting a ballot from any other place and am not voting in any other manner in this election and I have not voted and do not intend to vote in this election at any other address. I request that you mail my ballot to the following address:
    (Print name and complete mailing address)
    .........................................
    .........................................
    .........................................
    9. Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29 of the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
......................
Signature of Applicant
    The procedures set forth in Sections 20-4 through 20-12 of this Article, insofar as they may be made applicable, shall be applicable to vote by mail voting under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

10 ILCS 5/20-13.1

    (10 ILCS 5/20-13.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-13.1)
    Sec. 20-13.1. Any person not covered by Sections 20-2, 20-2.1 or 20-2.2 of this Article who is registered to vote but who is disqualified from voting because he moved outside his election precinct during the 30 days preceding a presidential election may make special application to the election authority having jurisdiction over his precinct of former residence by mail, not more than 30 nor less than 5 days before a Federal election, or in person in the office of the election authority, not more than 30 nor less than 1 day before a Federal election, for a vote by mail ballot to vote for the president and vice-president only. Such application shall be furnished by the election authority and shall be in substantially the following form:
SPECIAL VOTER APPLICATION
    (For use by registered Illinois voters disqualified for having moved outside their precinct on or after the 30th day preceding the election, to vote for president and vice-president only.)
    1. I hereby request a ballot to vote for president and vice-president only on .......... (insert date of general election).
    2. I am a citizen of the United States and my present address is: .................... (Residence Number) .......... (Street) .................... (City/Village/Township) .......... (County) .......... (State).
    3. As of .......... (Month), .......... (Day), .......... (Year) I was a registered voter at .......... (Residence Number) .......... (Street) .................... (City/Village/Township).
    4. I moved to my present address on .......... (Month) .......... (Day) .......... (Year).
    5. I have not registered to vote from nor have I requested a ballot in any other election jurisdiction in this State or in another State.
    6. (If vote by mail request), I request that you mail the ballot to the following address:
    Print name and complete mailing address.
    ........................................
    ........................................
    ........................................
    Under the penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
........................
(Signature of Applicant)
    7. Subscribed and sworn to before me on .......... (Month) .......... (Day) .......... (Year)
........................
(Signature of Official
Administering Oath)
    The procedures set forth in Sections 20-4 through 20-12 of this Article, insofar as they may be made applicable, shall be applicable to vote by mail voting under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

10 ILCS 5/20-14

    (10 ILCS 5/20-14) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-14)
    Sec. 20-14. The foregoing sections of this article shall be deemed to provide a method of registration and of voting in addition to the methods otherwise provided in this Code.
(Source: P.A. 81-953.)

10 ILCS 5/20-15

    (10 ILCS 5/20-15)
    Sec. 20-15. 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 20, the provisions of Article 24B shall govern the procedures followed by the election authority, its judges of elections, and all employees and agents, provided that ballots under this Article must be counted at the election authority's central ballot counting location. 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, at the central ballot counting location, 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. 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06.)

10 ILCS 5/20-20

    (10 ILCS 5/20-20)
    Sec. 20-20. Report on ballots. On or before the 21st day after an election, each election authority shall transmit to the State Board of Elections the following information with respect to that election:
        (1) The number, by precinct, of ballots subject to
    
this Article requested, provided, and counted.
        (2) The number of rejected ballots subject to this
    
Article.
        (3) The number of voters seeking review of rejected
    
ballots pursuant to subsection (g-5) of Section 20-8.
        (4) The number of ballots counted following review
    
pursuant to subsection (g-5) of Section 20-8.
    On or before the 28th day after an election, the State Board of Elections shall compile the information received under this Section with respect to that election and make that information available to the public.
(Source: P.A. 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06.)

10 ILCS 5/20-25

    (10 ILCS 5/20-25)
    Sec. 20-25. Extraordinary procedures. In the event of a deployment of the United States Armed Forces or the declaration of an emergency by the President of the United States or the Governor of Illinois, The Governor or the executive director of the State Board of Elections may modify the registration and voting procedures established by this Article or by rules adopted pursuant to this Article for the duration of the deployment or emergency in order to facilitate vote by mail voting under this Article. The Governor or executive director, as the case may be, then promptly shall notify each election authority of the changes in procedures. Each election authority shall publicize the modifications and shall provide notice of the modifications to each person under its jurisdiction subject to this Article for whom the election authority has contact information.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

10 ILCS 5/Art. 21

 
    (10 ILCS 5/Art. 21 heading)
ARTICLE 21. ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES

10 ILCS 5/21-1

    (10 ILCS 5/21-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 21-1)
    Sec. 21-1. Choosing and election of electors of President and Vice-President of the United States shall be in the following manner:
    (a) In each year in which a President and Vice-President of the United States are chosen, each political party or group in this State shall choose by its State Convention or State central committee electors of President and Vice-President of the United States and such State Convention or State central committee of such party or group shall also choose electors at large, if any are to be appointed for this State and such State Convention or State central committee of such party or group shall by its chair and secretary certify the total list of such electors together with electors at large so chosen to the State Board of Elections.
    The filing of such certificate with the Board, of such choosing of electors shall be deemed and taken to be the choosing and selection of the electors of this State, if such party or group is successful at the polls as herein provided in choosing their candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States.
    (b) The names of the candidates of the several political parties or groups for electors of President and Vice-President shall not be printed on the official ballot to be voted in the election to be held on the day in this Act above named. In lieu of the names of the candidates for such electors of President and Vice-President, immediately under the appellation of party name of a party or group in the column of its candidates on the official ballot, to be voted at said election first above named in subsection (1) of Section 2A-1.2 and Section 2A-2, there shall be printed within a bracket the name of the candidate for President and the name of the candidate for Vice-President of such party or group with a square to the left of such bracket. Each voter in this State from the several lists or sets of electors so chosen and selected by the said respective political parties or groups, may choose and elect one of such lists or sets of electors by placing a cross in the square to the left of the bracket aforesaid of one of such parties or groups. Placing a cross within the square before the bracket enclosing the names of President and Vice-President shall not be deemed and taken as a direct vote for such candidates for President and Vice-President, or either of them, but shall only be deemed and taken to be a vote for the entire list or set of electors chosen by that political party or group so certified to the State Board of Elections as herein provided. Voting by means of placing a cross in the appropriate place preceding the appellation or title of the particular political party or group, shall not be deemed or taken as a direct vote for the candidates for President and Vice-President, or either of them, but instead to the Presidential vote, as a vote for the entire list or set of electors chosen by that political party or group so certified to the State Board of Elections as herein provided.
    (c) Such certification by the respective political parties or groups in this State of electors of President and Vice-President shall be made to the State Board of Elections within 2 days after such State convention or meeting of the State central committee in which the electors were chosen.
    (d) Should more than one certificate of choice and selection of electors of the same political party or group be filed by contesting conventions or contesting groups, it shall be the duty of the State Board of Elections within 10 days after the adjournment of the last of such conventions to meet and determine which set of nominees for electors of such party or group was chosen and selected by the authorized convention of such party or group. The Board, after notice to the chair and secretaries or managers of the conventions or groups and after a hearing shall determine which set of electors was so chosen by the authorized convention and shall so announce and publish the fact, and such decision shall be final and the set of electors so determined upon by the electoral board to be so chosen shall be the list or set of electors to be deemed elected if that party shall be successful at the polls, as herein provided.
    (e) Should a vacancy occur in the choice of an elector in a congressional district, such vacancy may be filled by the executive committee of the party or group for such congressional district, to be certified by such committee to the State Board of Elections. Should a vacancy occur in the office of elector at large, such vacancy shall be filled by the State committee of such political party or group, and certified by it to the State Board of Elections.
(Source: P.A. 99-522, eff. 6-30-16; 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

10 ILCS 5/21-2

    (10 ILCS 5/21-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 21-2)
    Sec. 21-2. The county clerks of the several counties shall, within 21 days next after holding the election named in subsection (1) of Section 2A-1.2 and Section 2A-2, make 2 copies of the abstract of the votes cast for electors by each political party or group, as indicated by the voter, as aforesaid, by a cross in the square to the left of the bracket aforesaid, or as indicated by a cross in the appropriate place preceding the appellation or title of the particular political party or group, and transmit by mail one of the copies to the office of the State Board of Elections and retain the other in his office, to be sent for by the electoral board in case the other should be mislaid. Within 31 days after the holding of such election, and sooner if all the returns are received by the State Board of Elections, the State Board of Elections shall proceed to open and canvass said election returns and to declare which set of candidates for President and Vice-President received, as aforesaid, the highest number of votes cast at such election as aforesaid; and the electors of that party whose candidates for President and Vice-President received the highest number of votes so cast shall be taken and deemed to be elected as electors of President and Vice-President, but should 2 or more sets of candidates for President and Vice-President be returned with an equal and the highest vote, the State Board of Elections shall cause a notice of the same to be published, which notice shall name some day and place, not less than 5 days from the time of such publication of such notice, upon which the State Board of Elections will decide by lot which of the sets of candidates for President and Vice-President so equal and highest shall be declared to be highest. And upon the day and at the place so appointed in the notice, the board shall so decide by lot and declare which is deemed highest of the sets of candidates for President and Vice-President so equal and highest, thereby determining only that the electors chosen as aforesaid by such candidates' party or group are thereby elected by general ticket to be such electors.
(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

10 ILCS 5/21-3

    (10 ILCS 5/21-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 21-3)
    Sec. 21-3. Within five days after the votes shall have been canvassed and the results declared or the result declared by lot as provided for in Section 21-2 above, the Governor shall cause the result of said election to be published, and shall proclaim the persons electors of President and Vice-President so chosen composing the list so elected, by transmitting by mail to the several persons so chosen and composing the list or set elected, electors of President and Vice-President certificates in triplicate, under the Seal of State of their appointment, and shall also transmit under the Seal of State to the Secretary of State of the United States the certificate of the election of said electors as required by the laws of Congress.
(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

10 ILCS 5/21-4

    (10 ILCS 5/21-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 21-4)
    Sec. 21-4. Presidential electors; meeting; allowance. The electors, elected under this Article, shall meet at the office of the Secretary of State in a room to be designated by the Secretary in the Capitol at Springfield in this State, at the time appointed by the laws of the United States at the hour of ten o'clock in the forenoon of that day, and give their votes for President and for Vice-President of the United States, in the manner provided in this Article, and perform such duties as are or may be required by law. Each elector shall receive an allowance for food and lodging equal to the amount per day permitted to be deducted for such expenses under the Internal Revenue Code, plus a mileage allowance at the rate in effect under regulations promulgated pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5707(b)(2) for the number of highway miles necessarily and conveniently traveled, for going to the seat of government to give his or her vote and returning to his or her residence and otherwise performing the official duties of an elector, to be paid on the warrant of the State Comptroller, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, and any person appointed by the electors assembled to fill a vacancy shall also receive the allowances provided for electors appointed.
(Source: P.A. 92-359, eff. 1-1-02.)

10 ILCS 5/21-5

    (10 ILCS 5/21-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 21-5)
    Sec. 21-5. In case any person duly elected an elector of President and Vice-President of the United States shall fail to attend at the Capitol on the day on which his vote is required to be given, it shall be the duty of the elector or electors of President and Vice-President, attending at the time and place, to appoint a person or persons to fill such vacancy; provided, that should the person or persons chosen, as in this Article provided, in the foregoing sections, arrive at the place aforesaid before the votes for President and Vice-President are actually given, the person or persons appointed to fill such vacancy shall not act as elector of President and Vice-President.
(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

10 ILCS 5/Art. 22

 
    (10 ILCS 5/Art. 22 heading)
ARTICLE 22. CANVASSING VOTES

10 ILCS 5/22-1

    (10 ILCS 5/22-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-1)
    Sec. 22-1. Abstracts of votes. Within 21 days after the close of the election at which candidates for offices hereinafter named in this Section are voted upon, the election authorities of the respective counties shall open the returns and make abstracts of the votes on a separate sheet for each of the following:
        A. For Governor and Lieutenant Governor;
        B. For State officers;
        C. For presidential electors;
        D. For United States Senators and Representatives to
    
Congress;
        E. For judges of the Supreme Court;
        F. For judges of the Appellate Court;
        G. For judges of the circuit court;
        H. For Senators and Representatives to the General
    
Assembly;
        I. For State's Attorneys elected from 2 or more
    
counties;
        J. For amendments to the Constitution, and for other
    
propositions submitted to the electors of the entire State;
        K. For county officers and for propositions submitted
    
to the electors of the county only;
        L. For Regional Superintendent of Schools;
        M. For trustees of Sanitary Districts; and
        N. For Trustee of a Regional Board of School Trustees.
    Each sheet shall report the returns by precinct or ward.
    Multiple originals of each of the sheets shall be prepared and one of each shall be turned over to the chair of the county central committee of each of the then existing established political parties, as defined in Section 10-2, or his duly authorized representative immediately after the completion of the entries on the sheets and before the totals have been compiled.
    The foregoing abstracts shall be preserved by the election authority in its office.
    Whenever any county clerk is unable to canvass the vote, the deputy county clerk or a designee of the county clerk shall serve in his or her place.
    The powers and duties of the election authority canvassing the votes are limited to those specified in this Section.
    No person who is shown by the election authority's proclamation to have been elected at the consolidated election or general election as a write-in candidate shall take office unless that person has first filed with the certifying office or board a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10 or Section 10-5, a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1, and a receipt for filing a statement of economic interests in relation to the unit of government to which he or she has been elected. For officers elected at the consolidated election, the certifying officer shall notify the election authority of the receipt of those documents, and the county clerk shall issue the certification of election under the provisions of Section 22-18.
(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

10 ILCS 5/22-1.2

    (10 ILCS 5/22-1.2)
    Sec. 22-1.2. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1149. Repealed by P.A. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06.)

10 ILCS 5/22-2

    (10 ILCS 5/22-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-2)
    Sec. 22-2. The county clerk shall make out a certificate of election to each of the persons having the highest number of votes, for the several county offices, and deliver such certificate to the person entitled to it, on his application.
(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

10 ILCS 5/22-3

    (10 ILCS 5/22-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-3)
    Sec. 22-3. When two (2) or more persons receive an equal and the highest number of votes for an office to be filled by the county alone, the county clerk shall issue a notice to such persons of such tie vote, and require them to appear at his office, on a day named in the notice, no later than 21 days following an election, and determine by lot which of them is to be declared elected.
(Source: P.A. 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)

10 ILCS 5/22-4

    (10 ILCS 5/22-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-4)
    Sec. 22-4. On the day appointed, the clerk and the chair (or vice-chair or secretary, as the case may be) of the county central committees of the Republican and Democratic parties and other canvassers, or, in case of their absence the state's attorney or sheriff, shall attend, and the parties interested shall appear and determine by lot which of them is to be declared elected; and the clerk shall issue his certificate of election to the person thus declared elected.
(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

10 ILCS 5/22-5

    (10 ILCS 5/22-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-5)
    Sec. 22-5. Immediately after the completion of the abstracts of votes by precinct or ward, the county clerk shall make 2 correct copies of the abstracts of votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, both of which said copies he shall envelope and seal up, and endorse upon the envelopes in substance, "Abstracts of votes for State Officers from .... County"; and shall seal up a copy of each of the abstracts of votes for other officers and amendments to the Constitution and other propositions voted on, and endorse the same so as to show the contents of the package, and address the same to the State Board of Elections. The several packages shall then be placed in one envelope and addressed to the State Board of Elections. The county clerk shall send the sealed envelope addressed to the State Board of Elections via overnight mail so it arrives at the address the following calendar day.
(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03; 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

10 ILCS 5/22-6

    (10 ILCS 5/22-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-6)
    Sec. 22-6. E-Canvass.
    (a) Within 22 days after each election, each Election Authority shall provide unit-by-unit vote totals to the State Board of Elections in an electronic format to be prescribed by the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of this Section.
    (b) Beginning with the November 2014 general election and every primary, consolidated, general, and special election thereafter, within 52 days after each election, the State Board of Elections shall publish the precinct-by-precinct vote totals on its website and make them available in a downloadable form.
(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

10 ILCS 5/22-7

    (10 ILCS 5/22-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-7)
    Sec. 22-7. Canvass of votes; declaration and proclamation of result. The State Board of Elections, shall proceed within 31 days after the election, and sooner if all the returns are received, to canvass the votes given for United States Senators and Representatives to Congress, State executive officers, judges of the Supreme Court, judges of the Appellate Court, judges of the Circuit Court, Senators, Representatives to the General Assembly, State's Attorneys and Regional Superintendents of Schools elected from 2 or more counties, respectively, and the persons having the highest number of votes for the respective offices shall be declared duly elected, but if it appears that more than the number of persons to be elected have the highest and an equal number of votes for the same office, the electoral board shall decide by lot which of such persons shall be elected; and to each person duly elected, the Governor shall give a certificate of election or commission, as the case may require, and shall cause proclamation to be made of the result of the canvass, and they shall at the same time and in the same manner, canvass the vote cast upon amendments to the Constitution, and upon other propositions submitted to the electors of the entire State; and the Governor shall cause to be made such proclamation of the result of the canvass as the statutes elsewhere provide. The State Board of Elections shall transmit to the State Comptroller a list of the persons elected to the various offices. The State Board of Elections shall also transmit to the Supreme Court the names of persons elected to judgeships in adversary elections and the names of judges who fail to win retention in office.
    No person who is shown by the canvassing board's proclamation to have been elected at the consolidated election or general election as a write-in candidate shall take office unless that person has first filed with the certifying office or board a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10 or Section 10-5, a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1, and a receipt for filing a statement of economic interests in relation to the unit of government to which he or she has been elected. For officers elected at the consolidated election, the certifying officer shall notify the election authority of the receipt of those documents, and the county clerk shall issue the certification of election under the provisions of Section 22-18.
(Source: P.A. 93-847, eff. 7-30-04; 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

10 ILCS 5/22-8

    (10 ILCS 5/22-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-8)
    Sec. 22-8. In municipalities operating under Article 6 of this Act, within 21 days after the close of such election, the board of election commissioners shall open all returns and shall make abstracts or statements of the votes for all offices and questions voted on at the election.
    Each abstract or statement shall report the returns by precinct or ward.
    Multiple originals of each of the abstracts or statements shall be prepared and one of each shall be turned over to the chair of the county central committee of each of the then existing established political parties, as defined in Section 10-2.
(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

10 ILCS 5/22-9

    (10 ILCS 5/22-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-9)
    Sec. 22-9. It shall be the duty of the election authority to canvass and add up and declare the result of every election hereafter held within the boundaries of such city, village or incorporated town operating under Article 6 of this Act. The election authority shall file a certified copy of the record with the County Clerk of the county; and such abstracts or results shall be treated, by the County Clerk in all respects, as if made by the election authority now provided by the foregoing sections of this law, and he shall transmit the same, by facsimile, e-mail, or other electronic means, to the State Board of Elections, or other proper officer, as required hereinabove. The county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, shall also send the abstract by precinct or ward and result in a sealed envelope addressed to the State Board of Elections via overnight mail so it arrives at the address the following calendar day. And such abstracts or results so declared, and a certified copy thereof, shall be treated everywhere within the state, and by all public officers, with the same binding force and effect as the abstract of votes now authorized by the foregoing provisions of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 94-647, eff. 1-1-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

10 ILCS 5/22-9.1

    (10 ILCS 5/22-9.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-9.1)
    Sec. 22-9.1. Within 5 days after the last day for proclamation of the results of any canvass declaring persons nominated, elected or declared eligible for a runoff election for any office or declaring the adoption or rejection of a question of public policy, the following persons may file a petition for discovery:
        (a) any candidate who, in the entire area in which
    
votes may be cast for the office for which he is a candidate, received votes equal in number to at least 95% of the number of votes cast for any successful candidate for the same office; and
        (b) any 5 electors of the same area within which
    
votes may be cast on a question of public policy, if the results of the canvass are such that the losing side on the question would have been the prevailing side had it received an additional number of votes equal to 5% of the total number of votes cast on the question.
    A petition under this Section shall be filed with the election authority for purposes of discovery only. The petition shall ask that ballots, voting machines, or ballot cards - as the case may be - shall be examined, that any automatic tabulating equipment shall be tested, and that ballots, recorded votes, or ballot cards - as the case may be - shall be counted in specified precincts, not exceeding 25% of the total number of precincts within the jurisdiction of the election authority. Where there are fewer than 4 precincts under the jurisdiction of the election authority and within the area in which votes could be cast in the election in connection with which the petition has been filed, discovery shall be permitted in one of such precincts.
    A petition filed under this Section shall be accompanied by the payment of a fee of $50 per precinct specified. All such fees shall be paid by the election authority into the county or city treasury, as the case may be.
    After 3 days notice in writing to the successful candidate for the same office or, in the case of a question of public policy, such notice as will reasonably inform interested persons of the time and place of the discovery proceedings, the election authority shall examine the ballots, voting machines, ballot cards, voter affidavits and applications for ballot, test the automatic tabulating equipment, and count the ballots, recorded votes, and ballot cards in the specified election districts or precincts. At the request of any candidate entitled to participate in the discovery proceedings, the election authority shall also make available for examination the ballot applications and voter affidavits for the specified precincts. Each candidate affected by such examination shall have the right to attend the same in person or by his representative. In the case of a question of public policy, the board shall permit an equal number of acknowledged proponents and acknowledged opponents to attend the examination.
    On completion of the count of any ballots in each district or precinct, the ballots shall be secured and sealed in the same manner required of judges of election by Sections 7-54 and 17-20 of the Election Code. The handling of the ballots in accord with this Section shall not of itself affect the admissibility in evidence of the ballots in any other proceedings, either legislative or judicial.
    The results of the examination and count shall not be certified, used to amend or change the abstracts of the votes previously completed, used to deny the successful candidate for the same office his certificate of nomination or election, nor used to change the previously declared result of the vote on a question of public policy. Such count shall not be binding in an election contest brought about under the provisions of the Election Code, shall not be a prerequisite to bringing such an election contest, shall not prevent the bringing of such an election contest, nor shall it affect the results of the canvass previously proclaimed.
(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

10 ILCS 5/22-10

    (10 ILCS 5/22-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-10)
    Sec. 22-10. The County Clerk shall make out a certificate of election to each person having the highest number of votes for the several county offices, and deliver such certificate of election to the person entitled to it, on his application.
(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

10 ILCS 5/22-12

    (10 ILCS 5/22-12) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-12)
    Sec. 22-12. In the canvass of such votes by the election authority, provided in section 22-8 hereof, the election authority shall declare who is elected to any city or town office. In the case of a tie in the election to any city, or to any office voted for only within the territory of such city, it shall be determined by lot, in such manner as such canvassers shall direct, which candidate or candidates shall hold the office, and thereupon the person in whose favor it shall result, shall be declared elected by the order entered in the court as aforesaid.
(Source: P.A. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06.)

10 ILCS 5/22-14

    (10 ILCS 5/22-14)
    Sec. 22-14. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 83-334. Repealed by P.A. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06.)

10 ILCS 5/22-15

    (10 ILCS 5/22-15) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-15)
    Sec. 22-15. The election authority shall, upon request, and by mail if so requested, furnish free of charge to any candidate for any office, whose name appeared upon the ballot within the jurisdiction of the election authority, a copy of the abstract of votes by precinct or ward for all candidates for the office for which such person was a candidate. Such abstract shall be furnished no later than 2 days after the receipt of the request or 8 days after the completing of the canvass, whichever is later.
    Within one calendar day following the canvass and proclamation of each general primary election and general election, each election authority shall transmit to the principal office of the State Board of Elections copies of the abstracts of votes by precinct or ward for the offices of ward, township, and precinct committeeperson via overnight mail so that the abstract of votes arrives at the address the following calendar day. Each election authority shall also transmit to the principal office of the State Board of Elections copies of current precinct poll lists.
(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

10 ILCS 5/22-15.1

    (10 ILCS 5/22-15.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-15.1)
    Sec. 22-15.1. (a) Within 60 days following the canvass of the general election within each election jurisdiction, the election authority shall prepare, in typewritten or legible computer-generated form, a report of the abstracts of votes by precinct for all offices and questions of public policy in connection with which votes were cast within the election jurisdiction at the general election. The report shall include the total number of ballots cast within each precinct or ward and the total number of registered voters within each precinct or ward. The election authority shall provide a copy of the report to the chair of the county central committee of each established political party in the county within which the election jurisdiction is contained, and shall make a reasonable number of copies of the report available for distribution to the public.
    (b) Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1985, each election authority shall prepare, in typewritten or legible computer-generated form, a report of the type required by subsection (a) concerning the general election of 1984. The election authority shall provide a copy of the report to the chairperson of the county central committee of each established political party in the county in which the election jurisdiction is contained, and shall make a reasonable number of copies of the report available for distribution to the public.
    (c) An election authority may charge a fee to reimburse the actual cost of duplicating each copy of a report provided pursuant to subsection (a) or (b).
(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

10 ILCS 5/22-16

    (10 ILCS 5/22-16) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-16)
    Sec. 22-16. If the result of a canvass disclosed that a person elected to office is a person whose nomination for said office was vacated and not filled pursuant to Section 7-61 or 10-11, such person shall be declared elected and the office thereupon shall become vacant. Such vacancy in office shall be filled under the applicable provision of Article 25.
(Source: P.A. 84-861.)

10 ILCS 5/22-17

    (10 ILCS 5/22-17) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-17)
    Sec. 22-17. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the canvass of votes cast at the consolidated election shall be conducted by the election authority within 21 days after the close of such elections.
    (b) The board of election commissioners as provided in Section 22-8 shall canvass the votes cast at the consolidated election for offices of any political subdivision entirely within the jurisdiction of a municipal board of election commissioners.
    (c) The canvass of votes cast upon any public questions submitted to the voters of any political subdivision, or any precinct or combination of precincts within a political subdivision, at any regular election or at any emergency referendum election, including votes cast by voters outside of the political subdivision where the question is for annexation thereto, shall be canvassed by the same election authority as for the canvass of votes of the officers of such political subdivision. However, referenda conducted throughout a county and referenda of sanitary districts whose officers are elected at general elections shall be canvassed by the county clerk. The votes cast on a public question for the formation of a political subdivision shall be canvassed by the relevant election authority and filed with the circuit court that ordered the question submitted.
    (c-5) No person who is shown by the election authority's proclamation to have been elected at the consolidated election or general election as a write-in candidate shall take office unless that person has first filed with the certifying office or board a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10 or Section 10-5, a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1, and a receipt for filing a statement of economic interests in relation to the unit of government to which he or she has been elected. For officers elected at the consolidated election, the certifying officer shall notify the election authority of the receipt of those documents, and the county clerk shall issue the certification of election under the provisions of Section 22-18.
    (d) The canvass of votes for offices of political subdivisions cast at special elections to fill vacancies held on the day of any regular election shall be conducted by the election authority which is responsible for canvassing the votes at the regularly scheduled election for such office.
    (e) Abstracts of votes prepared pursuant to canvasses under this Section shall report returns by precinct or ward.
(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 94-647, eff. 1-1-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

10 ILCS 5/22-18

    (10 ILCS 5/22-18) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-18)
    Sec. 22-18. The canvass of votes and the proclamation of results by the election authority provided in Section 22-17 shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures and requirements otherwise provided in this Article. A signed copy or original duplicate of its completed abstract of votes must be transmitted to each election authority having jurisdiction over any of the territory of the respective political subdivision and transmitted, by facsimile, e-mail, or any other electronic means, to the State Board of Elections in the same manner as provided in Section 22-5.
    The county clerk shall make out a certificate of election to each person declared elected to an office by the election authorities and transmit such certificate to the person so entitled, upon his application. For political subdivisions whose territory extends into more than one county, the certificates of election shall be issued by the county clerk of the county which contains the principal office of the political subdivision.
    Whenever an election authority canvasses the votes cast upon a public question submitted to referendum pursuant to a court order, the election authority shall immediately transmit a signed copy or an original duplicate of its completed abstract of the votes to the court which ordered the referendum.
(Source: P.A. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06.)

10 ILCS 5/Art. 23

 
    (10 ILCS 5/Art. 23 heading)
ARTICLE 23. CONTESTING ELECTIONS

10 ILCS 5/23-1.1a

    (10 ILCS 5/23-1.1a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.1a)
    Sec. 23-1.1a. Election contest - Statewide - Jurisdiction. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction over contests of the results of any election, including a primary, for an elected officer provided for in Article V of the Constitution, and shall retain jurisdiction throughout the course of such election contests.
(Source: P.A. 89-5, eff. 1-1-96.)

10 ILCS 5/23-1.2a

    (10 ILCS 5/23-1.2a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.2a)
    Sec. 23-1.2a. Election contest - Statewide offices - Who may contest - Time and place for filing - Fee. The results of an election, including a primary, for an elected executive officer provided for in Article V of the Constitution may be challenged (1) by any candidate whose name was on the ballot for that office, (2) by any person who filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for that office, or (3) by any person who voted in that election, provided that such person's challenge is supported by a verified petition signed by persons who voted in the election in a number no less than the largest number of signatures required to nominate a person to be a candidate of any political party which nominated a candidate for the office being contested.
    Any person, including a candidate, qualified pursuant to this Section and desiring to contest the results of an election for such an office shall, within 15 days of the date of the official proclamation of results of such election, file a Petition of State Election Contest with the clerk of the Supreme Court together with a filing fee in the amount of $10,000.
(Source: P.A. 89-5, eff. 1-1-96.)

10 ILCS 5/23-1.3a

    (10 ILCS 5/23-1.3a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.3a)
    Sec. 23-1.3a. Election contest - Statewide - Petition - Contents. A Petition of State Election Contest shall be signed and verified by each person contesting the results of the election and shall contain:
    (a) The name of each candidate who received at least 1% of the votes cast for the office contested and the residence address of each such candidate as shown in the Statement of Candidacy of each candidate or, in the case of a write-in candidate, such candidate's residence address as determined by a diligent search;
    (b) The results of the contested election as certified in the official proclamation;
    (c) A statement that the Petitioner cast a ballot in the election contested, was a candidate whose name was on the ballot for the office which is the subject of the election contest, or filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the office which is the subject of the election contest;
    (d) A statement that each petitioner believes (i) mistake or fraud has been committed in the casting, counting or return or canvass of the votes for the office involved or (ii) there was some other irregularity in the conduct of the contested election, or both;
    (e) A statement declaring with particularity the specific precincts in which the mistake, fraud or irregularity relied upon by the Petitioner is believed to have occurred;
    (f) The names and addresses of each election authority in whose jurisdiction the election was held, clearly indicating which election authorities had jurisdiction over the precincts in which each alleged mistake, fraud or irregularity occurred;
    (g) A statement declaring that, as a consequence of the mistake, fraud or irregularity alleged, the result of the election, as officially proclaimed, was incorrect; and
    (h) A statement declaring the Petitioner's belief as to which candidate did receive the highest number of votes.
(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

10 ILCS 5/23-1.4a

    (10 ILCS 5/23-1.4a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.4a)
    Sec. 23-1.4a. Election contest - Statewide - Notice to parties. Upon receipt of a properly executed Petition of State Election Contest and the filing fee, the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall within 48 hours (a) mail, by certified first class mail, return receipt requested, a copy of the Petition to each candidate and each election authority listed in the Petition at their addresses shown therein and to the State Board of Elections, and (b) notify the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that a Petition of State Election Contest has been filed.
(Source: P.A. 86-873.)