10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/13-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-5)

Sec. 13-5. Immediately on the appointment of such judges, the county clerk shall notify each judge of election of his appointment.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1450.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-6)

Sec. 13-6. The judges so appointed shall be and continue judges of all elections held within their respective precincts or districts, until other judges shall be appointed in like manner.

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

(10 ILCS 5/13-6.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-6.1)

Sec. 13-6.1. Each judge of election shall be identified as such by a suitable badge or label authorized and issued by the county clerk and bearing the date of the election for which issued. On such badge, the judge shall print his or her name and the ward, township or road district and precinct number in which he or she is serving.

(Source: P.A. 84-971.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-6.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-6.2)

Sec. 13-6.2. For each precinct in which there are 2 teams of judges, the county clerk shall designate 2 of the judges of election, one from each political party, as holdover judges. The holdover judges shall be on duty during the entire time from the opening of the polls until the conclusion of the counting of the vote.

(Source: P.A. 76-1224.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-7)

Sec. 13-7. If, at the time of the opening of any election, or at the time the polls are closed in the case of a judge designated to count the votes, any person appointed or constituted a judge of election shall not be present, or will not act or take the oath to act in such capacity the judge or judges present may appoint some other qualified elector having the same qualifications and who is affiliated with the same political party, as the one refusing to take the oath or refusing to act or serve in his place. If there be no judges of election present, or if they refuse to act, such electors of the precinct as may then be present at the place of election, may fill the places of such judges of election by election from their number. After the polls are open, if any judge becomes ill or if any member of his immediate family becomes ill, such judge may be excused from further attendance, and the remaining judges may appoint some other qualified elector, having the same qualifications who is affiliated with the same political party as the judge excused, to act in his place. The judges so appointed shall have the same power and be subject to the same penalties as the other judges of election.

(Source: P.A. 76-1224.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-8)

Sec. 13-8. Before any vote is taken, the judges of the election shall severally subscribe and take an oath or affirmation, in the following form:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of judge of election, according to the best of my ability, and (in the case of a registered voter, that I am entitled to vote at this election)."

(Source: P.A. 91-352, eff. 1-1-00.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-9)

Sec. 13-9. In case there is no judge present at the opening of the election, or in case such judge is appointed a judge of election, the judges of the election may administer the oath or affirmation to each other; and the person administering such oath or affirmation, shall cause an entry thereof to be made and subscribed by him, and prefixed to each poll book, or if there be no poll book on a separate sheet or form.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 1135.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-10)

Sec. 13-10. The compensation of the judges of all primaries and all elections, except judges supervising vote by mail ballots as provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act, in counties of less than 600,000 inhabitants shall be fixed by the respective county boards or boards of election commissioners in all counties and municipalities, but in no case shall such compensation be less than $35 per day. The compensation of judges of all primaries and all elections not under the jurisdiction of the county clerk, except judges supervising vote by mail balloting as provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act, in counties having a population of 2,000,000 or more shall be not less than $60 per day. The compensation of judges of all primaries and all elections under the jurisdiction of the county clerk, except judges supervising vote by mail balloting as provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act, in counties having a population of 2,000,000 or more shall be not less than $60 per day. The compensation of judges of all primaries and all elections, except judges supervising vote by mail ballots as provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act, in counties having a population of at least 600,000 but less than 2,000,000 inhabitants shall be not less than $45 per day as fixed by the county board of election commissioners of each such county. In addition to their per day compensation and notwithstanding the limitations thereon stated herein, the judges of election, in all counties with a population of less than 600,000, shall be paid $3 each for each 100 voters or portion thereof, in excess of 200 voters voting for candidates in the election district or precinct wherein the judge is serving, whether a primary or an election is being held. However, no such extra compensation shall be paid to the judges of election in any precinct in which no paper ballots are counted by such judges of election. The 2 judges of election in counties having a population of less than 600,000 who deliver the returns to the county clerk shall each be allowed and paid a sum to be determined by the election authority for such services and an additional sum per mile to be determined by the election authority for every mile necessarily travelled in going to and returning from the office or place to which they deliver the returns. The compensation for mileage shall be consistent with current rates paid for mileage to employees of the county.

However, all judges who have been certified by the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners as having satisfactorily completed, within the 2 years preceding the day of election, the training course for judges of election, as provided in Sections 13-2.1, 13-2.2 and 14-4.1 of this Act, shall receive additional compensation of not less than $10 per day in counties of less than 600,000 inhabitants, the additional compensation of not less than $10 per day in counties having a population of at least 600,000 but less than 2,000,000 inhabitants as fixed by the county board of election commissioners of each such county, and additional compensation of not less than $20 per day in counties having a population of 2,000,000 or more for primaries and elections not under the jurisdiction of the county clerk, and additional compensation of not less than $20 per day in counties having a population of 2,000,000 or more for primaries and elections under the jurisdiction of the county clerk.

In precincts in which there are tally judges, the compensation of the tally judges shall be 2/3 of that of the judges of election and each holdover judge shall be paid the compensation of a judge of election plus that of a tally judge.

Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1998, the portion of an election judge's daily compensation reimbursed by the State Board of Elections is increased by $15. The increase provided by this amendatory Act of 1998 must be used to increase each judge's compensation and may not be used by the county to reduce its portion of a judge's compensation.

Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the portion of an election judge's daily compensation reimbursement by the State Board of Elections is increased by an additional $20. The increase provided by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly must be used to increase each judge's compensation and may not be used by the election authority or election jurisdiction to reduce its portion of a judge's compensation.

Beginning on the effective date of the changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the portion of an election judge's daily compensation reimbursement by the State Board of Elections is increased by an additional $20. The increase provided by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly must be used to increase each judge's compensation and may not be used by the election authority or election jurisdiction to reduce its portion of a judge's compensation.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-1-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-10a) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-10a; formerly Ch. 46, pars. 901, 902, 903, 904, 905 and 906)

Sec. 13-10a. Compensation of judges of special district referenda.

(a) Unless compensation is otherwise provided by law, if a county or municipality elects to compensate a judge of election who serves a referendum that has been called to create a special district, the judge shall be compensated in the same amount as provided for judges of election in Section 13-10.

(b) Where the proposed special district being voted upon in an election is wholly included in, or is coterminous with, a municipality, the cost of compensating the judges of election may be borne by the municipality.

(c) Where the proposed special district being voted upon in an election does not fall entirely within one municipality, the cost of compensating the judges of election may be borne by the county, and where the district includes territory in more than one county, the compensation costs may be apportioned between or among the counties according to the number of precincts within each county that lie in the proposed district.

(d) Where the referendum for a special district is ordered by a court, and the judges of election are appointed by the court, the court, at the request of a municipality or county, shall assess the cost of compensating the election judges and shall submit a bill for payment to the municipality or county.

(e) Where the referendum for a special district is conducted by a county clerk or by a board of election commissioners, the clerk or board, at the request of a municipality or county, shall assess the cost of compensation of election judges, and shall submit a bill for payment to the municipality or county.

(f) No judge of election who is compensated for services as an election judge under any other Section or Act shall be compensated for simultaneous service in a referendum under the provisions of this Section.

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

(10 ILCS 5/13-10.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-10.1)

Sec. 13-10.1. Whenever a county board requires any township supervisor to oversee the conduct of any election necessitating the personal attendance of such supervisor at two or more polling places, the county board shall compensate such supervisor at the same rate as is paid to a judge of election.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 2248.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-11) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-11)

Sec. 13-11. It shall be the duty of the county clerk, on the receipt of the election returns of any general or special election, to make out his certificate, stating the compensation to which the judges of each election may be entitled for their services, and lay the same before the county board at its next session; and the board shall order the compensation aforesaid to be paid out of the county treasury. The State Board of Elections shall reimburse such county in the amount of the increase in compensation provided in Public Acts 81-850 and 81-1149 and by this amendatory Act of 1998.

(Source: P.A. 90-672, eff. 7-31-98.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-16) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-16)

Sec. 13-16. Any peace officer attending such election may call to his aid a sufficient number of citizens to arrest any disorderly person or suppress any riot or disorder during the election. Whoever conducts himself in a riotous or disorderly manner at any election, and persists in such conduct after being warned to desist, may be arrested without warrant.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 301.)

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 14 heading) ARTICLE 14. JUDGES (IN MUNICIPALITIES UNDER BOARDS OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS)

(10 ILCS 5/14-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-1)

Sec. 14-1. (a) The board of election commissioners established or existing under Article 6 shall, at the time and in the manner provided in Section 14-3.1, select and choose 5 persons, men or women, as judges of election for each precinct in such city, village or incorporated town.

Where neither voting machines nor electronic, mechanical or electric voting systems are used, the board of election commissioners may, for any precinct with respect to which the board considers such action necessary or desirable in view of the number of voters, and shall for general elections for any precinct containing more than 600 registered voters, appoint in addition to the 5 judges of election a team of 5 tally judges. In such precincts the judges of election shall preside over the election during the hours the polls are open, and the tally judges, with the assistance of the holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 14-5.2, shall count the vote after the closing of the polls. The tally judges shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for judges of election. The foregoing provisions relating to the appointment of tally judges are inapplicable in counties with a population of 1,000,000 or more.

(b) To qualify as judges the persons must:

(1) be citizens of the United States;

(2) be of good repute and character and not subject to the registration requirement of the Sex Offender Registration Act;

(3) be able to speak, read and write the English language;

(4) be skilled in the 4 fundamental rules of arithmetic;

(5) be of good understanding and capable;

(6) not be candidates for any office at the election and not be elected committeepersons;

(7) reside and be entitled to vote in the precinct in which they are selected to serve, except that in each precinct not more than one judge of each party may be appointed from outside such precinct. Any judge so appointed to serve in any precinct in which he is not entitled to vote must be entitled to vote elsewhere within the county which encompasses the precinct in which such judge is appointed and such judge must otherwise meet the qualifications of this Section, except as provided in subsection (c) or (c-5).

(c) An election authority may establish a program to permit a person who is not entitled to vote to be appointed as an election judge if, as of the date of the election at which the person serves as a judge, he or she:

(1) is a U.S. citizen;

(2) is a junior or senior in good standing enrolled in a public or private secondary school;

(3) has a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;

(4) has the written approval of the principal of the secondary school he or she attends at the time of appointment;

(5) has the written approval of his or her parent or legal guardian;

(6) has satisfactorily completed the training course for judges of election described in Sections 13-2.1, 13-2.2, and 14-4.1; and

(7) meets all other qualifications for appointment and service as an election judge.

No more than one election judge qualifying under this subsection may serve per political party per precinct. Prior to appointment, a judge qualifying under this subsection must certify in writing to the election authority the political party the judge chooses to affiliate with.

Students appointed as election judges under this subsection shall not be counted as absent from school on the day they serve as judges.

(c-5) An election authority may establish a program to permit a person who is not entitled to vote in that precinct or county to be appointed as an election judge if, as of the date of the election at which the person serves as a judge, he or she:

(1) is a U.S. citizen;

(2) is currently enrolled in a community college, as defined in the Public Community College Act, or a public or private Illinois university or college;

(3) has a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;

(4) has satisfactorily completed the training course for judges of election described in Sections 13-2.1, 13-2.2, and 14-4.1; and

(5) meets all other qualifications for appointment and service as an election judge.

No more than one election judge qualifying under this subsection may serve per political party per precinct. Prior to appointment, a judge qualifying under this subsection must certify in writing to the election authority the political party the judge chooses to affiliate with.

Students appointed as election judges under this subsection shall not be counted as absent from school on the day they serve as judges.

(d) The board of election commissioners may select 2 additional judges of election, one from each of the major political parties, for each 200 voters in excess of 600 in any precinct having more than 600 voters as authorized by Section 11-3. These additional judges must meet the qualifications prescribed in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-3.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-3.1)

Sec. 14-3.1. The board of election commissioners shall, during the month of July of each even-numbered year, select for each election precinct within the jurisdiction of the board 5 persons to be judges of election who shall possess the qualifications required by this Act for such judges. The selection shall be made by a county board of election commissioners in the following manner: the county board of election commissioners shall select and approve 3 persons as judges of election in each election precinct from a certified list furnished by the chair of the county central committee of the first leading political party in that precinct; the county board of election commissioners also shall select and approve 2 persons as judges of election in each election precinct from a certified list furnished by the chair of the county central committee of the second leading political party in that precinct. The selection by a municipal board of election commissioners shall be made in the following manner: for each precinct, 3 judges shall be selected from one of the 2 leading political parties and the other 2 judges shall be selected from the other leading political party; the parties entitled to 3 and 2 judges, respectively, in the several precincts shall be determined as provided in Section 14-4. However, a Board of Election Commissioners may appoint three judges of election to serve in lieu of the 5 judges of election otherwise required by this Section to serve in any emergency referendum, or in any odd-year regular election or in any special primary or special election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress or to nominate candidates for such purpose.

If only 3 judges of election serve in each election precinct, no more than 2 persons of the same political party shall be judges of election in the same election precinct, and which political party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political party is entitled to one judge of election shall be determined as set forth in this Section for a county board of election commissioners' selection of 5 election judges in each precinct or in Section 14-4 for a municipal board of election commissioners' selection of election judges in each precinct, whichever is appropriate. In addition to such precinct judges, the board of election commissioners shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each, who shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for other judges of election. The number of such panels of judges required shall be determined by regulation of the State Board of Elections, which shall base the required number of special panels on the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction or the number of absentee ballots voted at recent elections or any combination of such factors. A municipal board of election commissioners shall make the selections of persons qualified under Section 14-1 from certified lists furnished by the chair of the respective county central committees, or each ward committeeperson in a municipality of 500,000 or more inhabitants, of the 2 leading political parties. Lists furnished by chairmen of county central committees or ward committeepersons, as the case may be, under this Section shall be arranged according to precincts. The chair of each county central committee or ward committeepersons, as the case may be, shall, insofar as possible, list persons who reside within the precinct in which they are to serve as judges. However, he may, in his sole discretion, submit the names of persons who reside outside the precinct but within the county embracing the precinct in which they are to serve. He must, however, submit the names of at least 2 residents of the precinct for each precinct in which his party is to have 3 judges and must submit the name of at least one resident of the precinct for each precinct in which his party is to have 2 judges. The board of election commissioners shall no later than March 1 of each even-numbered year notify the chairmen of the respective county central committees or ward committeepersons, as the case may be, of their responsibility to furnish such lists, and each such chair shall furnish the board of election commissioners with the list for his party on or before May 1 of each even-numbered year. The board of election commissioners shall acknowledge in writing to each county chair or ward committeepersons, as the case may be, the names of all persons submitted on such certified list and the total number of persons listed thereon. If no such list is furnished or if no names or an insufficient number of names are furnished for certain precincts, the board of election commissioners shall make or complete such list from the names contained in the supplemental list provided for in Section 14-3.2. Judges of election shall hold their office for 2 years from their appointment and until their successors are duly appointed in the manner herein provided. The board of election commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of Section 14-3.2, fill all vacancies in the office of judges of election at any time in the manner herein provided.

Such selections under this Section shall be confirmed by the court as provided in Section 14-5.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-3.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-3.2)

Sec. 14-3.2. In addition to the list provided for in Section 14-3.1, the chair of the county central committee, or each ward committeeperson in a municipality of 500,000 or more inhabitants, of each of the 2 leading political parties shall furnish to the board of election commissioners a supplemental list, arranged according to precinct in which they are to serve, of persons available as judges of election, the names and number of all persons listed thereon to be acknowledged in writing to the county chair or ward committeepersons, as the case may be, submitting such list by the board of election commissioners. The board of election commissioners shall select from this supplemental list persons qualified under Section 14-1, to fill vacancies among the judges of election. If the list provided for in Section 14-3.1 for any precinct is exhausted, then selection shall be made from the supplemental list furnished by the chair of the county central committee or ward committeepersons, as the case may be, of the party. If such supplemental list is exhausted for any precinct, then selection shall be made from any of the persons on the supplemental list without regard to the precincts in which they are listed to serve. No selection or appointment from the supplemental list shall be made more than 21 days prior to the date of precinct registration for those judges needed as precinct registrars, and more than 60 days prior to the date of an election for those additional persons needed as election judges. In any case where selection cannot be made from the supplemental list without violating Section 14-1, selection shall be made from outside the supplemental list of some person qualified under Section 14-1.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-4)

Sec. 14-4. The leading political party represented by a minority of all the commissioners in the board shall be entitled to 2 of the judges in each precinct with an even number, and 3 of the judges in each precinct with an odd number, and the other leading political party shall be entitled to 3 judges in the even and 2 judges in the odd number precincts; and if only 3 judges of election serve in each precinct, the leading political party represented by the minority of all the commissioners in the board shall be entitled to one of the judges of election in each precinct with an even number, and 2 of the judges of election in each precinct with an odd number, and the other leading political party shall be entitled to 2 judges of election in the even and one judge of election in the odd number precincts; and it shall be the duty of such commissioners to observe this division in all respects in making such appointments; except that this Section does not apply to appointments by county boards of election commissioners under Section 14-3.1.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-4.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-4.1)

Sec. 14-4.1. The Board of Election Commissioners shall establish a training course for judges of election. The curriculum of such course shall be approved by the Board. A suitable certificate shall be issued by the Board to each student upon his satisfactory completion of the course.

Such course may be established jointly with a course in the county established as provided in Section 13-2.1 of this Act.

Such course shall be conducted in the manner provided by Section 13-2.2 of this Act.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3399.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-4.5)

Sec. 14-4.5. Time off from work to serve as election judge. Any person who is appointed as an election judge under Section 13-1 or 13-2 may, after giving his or her employer at least 20 days' written notice, be absent from his or her place of work for the purpose of serving as an election judge. An employer may not penalize an employee for that absence other than a deduction in salary for the time the employee was absent from his or her place of employment. An employer may not require an employee to use earned vacation time or any form of paid leave time to serve as an election judge.

This Section does not apply to an employer with fewer than 25 employees. An employer with more than 25 employees shall not be required to permit more than 10% of the employees to be absent under this Section on the same election day.

(Source: P.A. 98-691, eff. 7-1-14.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-5)

Sec. 14-5. After the judges are selected and have agreed to serve as provided in Sections 14-1 to 14-4, inclusive, then a report of such selections shall be made and filed in the court, and application shall then be made by the board to the circuit court for their confirmation and appointment, whereupon the court shall enter an order that cause be shown, if any exists, against the confirmation and appointment of such persons so named, on or before the opening of the court on a day to be fixed by the court. And the board of commissioners shall immediately give notice of such order and the names of all such judges so reported to such court for confirmation, and their residence and the precinct for which they were selected, by causing a notice to be published in one or more newspapers in such city, village or incorporated town, and if no newspaper be published in such city, village or incorporated town, then by posting such notice in 3 of the most public places in such city, village or town. The notice shall state that a list of judges of election is available for public inspection in the office of the election authority. If no cause to the contrary is shown prior to the day fixed, and if, in each precinct, at least one judge representing each of the two major political parties has been certified by the board of commissioners as having satisfactorily completed within the preceding 6 months the training course and examination for judges of election, as provided in Section 14-4.1 of this Act such appointments shall be confirmed by order entered by that court.

If in any precinct the requisite 2 judges have not been so certified by the board of commissioners as having satisfactorily completed such course and examination, the board of commissioners shall immediately notify all judges in that precinct, to whose appointment there is no other objection, that all such judges shall attend the next such course. The board of commissioners shall then certify to the court that all such judges have been so notified (and such certification need contain no detail other than a mere recital). The appointment of such judges shall then be confirmed by order entered by the court. If any judge so notified and so confirmed fails to attend the next such course, such failure shall subject such judge to possible removal from office at the option of the election authority.

If objections to the appointment of any such judge is filed prior to the day fixed by the court for confirmation of judges, the court shall hear such objections and the evidence introduced in support thereof, and shall confirm or refuse to confirm such nominations, as the interests of the public may require. No reasons may be given for the refusal to confirm. If any vacancies exist by reason of the action of such board or otherwise, at any time, the board of commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of Section 14-3.2, further report and nominate persons to fill such vacancies so existing in the manner aforesaid, and a court in the same way shall consider such nominations and shall confirm or refuse to confirm the same in the manner aforesaid. Upon the confirmation of such judges, at any time, a commission shall issue to each of such judges, under the seal of such court, and appropriate forms shall be prepared by the board of commissioners for such purpose. After such confirmation and acceptance of such commission, such judges shall thereupon become officers of such court. If a vacancy occurs so late that application to and confirmation by the court cannot be had before the election, then the board of commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of Section 14-3.2, make an appointment and issue a commission to such officer or officers, and when thus appointed such officer shall be considered an officer of the court and subject to the same rules and punishment, in case of misbehavior, as if confirmed by the court, and any judge, however appointed, and at whatever time, shall be considered an officer of court, and be subject to the same control and punishment in case of misbehavior. Not more than 10 business days after the day of election, the board of election commissioners shall compile a list containing the name, address and party affiliation of each judge of election who served on the day of election, and shall preserve such list and make it available for public inspection and copying for a period of not more than one year from the date of receipt of such list. Copies of such list shall be available for purchase at a cost not to exceed the cost of duplication. The board of commissioners has the right at any time, in case of misbehavior or neglect of duty, to remove any judge of election, and shall cause such vacancy to be filled in accordance with this Act. Except for judges appointed under subsection (c) of Section 14-1, the board has the right, at any time, to remove any judge of election for failing to vote the primary ballot of the political party he represents at a primary election at which he served as such judge, and shall cause such vacancy to be filled in accordance with this Act. The board shall remove any judge of election who, twice during the same term of office, fails to provide for the opening of the polling place at the time prescribed in Section 17-1 or Section 18-2, whichever is applicable, unless such delay can be demonstrated by the judge of election to be beyond his or her control. In the event that any judge of election is removed for cause, the board shall specify such cause in writing and make such writing a matter of public record, with a copy to be sent to the appropriate county chair who made the initial recommendation of the election judges. The judges of election must be appointed and confirmed at least 35 days prior to the next election.

If any vacancy shall occur or exist, more than 5 days before election the judges appointed to such places must be confirmed by such court. Such commissioners shall not voluntarily remove any judge within 5 days of such election, except for flagrant misbehavior, incapacity or dishonesty, and the reasons therefor must afterwards be reported in writing to such court and made a matter of public record, with a copy to be sent to the appropriate county chair who made the initial recommendation of the election judge. If such removal be wilful and without cause, the commissioners shall be punished for contempt of court and subject to removal. The board of election commissioners shall have the power on election day to remove without cause any judge of election appointed by the other judges of election pursuant to Section 14-6 and to appoint another judge of election to serve for that election. Such substitute judge of election must be selected, where possible, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14-3.2 and must be qualified in accordance with Section 14-1.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-5.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-5.1)

Sec. 14-5.1. Each judge of election shall be identified as such by a suitable badge or label authorized and issued by the board of election commissioners and bearing the date of the election for which issued. On such badge, the judge shall print his or her name and the ward or township and precinct number in which he or she is serving.

(Source: P.A. 84-971.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-5.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-5.2)

Sec. 14-5.2. For each precinct in which there are 2 teams of judges, the board of election commissioners shall designate 2 of the judges of election, one from each political party, as holdover judges. The holdover judges shall be on duty during the entire time from the opening of the polls until the conclusion of the counting of the vote.

(Source: P.A. 76-1224.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-6)

Sec. 14-6. If, in any municipality operating under Article 6 of this Act, any judge shall not be present after the expiration of 15 minutes from the time to open the polls, or within 15 minutes from the time of closing the polls in the case of a judge appointed to count the vote or if any judge becomes ill or if any member of his immediate family becomes ill such judge may be excused from further attendance, and the judge or judges present shall fill the place of such absent judge, always selecting a person of the same political party as the party absent. One of the judges shall administer to such substitute the oath as required of the judge originally appointed, and blank forms shall be sent out by the commissioners for such purpose, which oath shall be preserved and returned to the commissioners, and such appointee shall be considered an officer of the circuit court, and subject to the same punishment and penalties as any other judge. Whenever such regular judge shall be present such substitute shall cease to act. No judge shall knowingly absent himself from the polls on election day, without good cause. No judge shall knowingly detain any register or poll book or cause it not to be produced at the polling place at the opening of the polls, or for not more than 15 minutes thereafter.

(Source: P.A. 80-704.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-7)

Sec. 14-7. Immediately after the confirmation of such judges by the circuit court, the Board of Election Commissioners shall notify each judge of election of his appointment and shall immediately mail to the judge of election his commission.

Previous to any vote being taken, judges of election shall severally subscribe and take an oath or affirmation in the following form:

"I, ...., residing at .... in the city (village or town) of .... in the State of Illinois, do solemnly swear (or affirm) (in the case of a registered voter, that I am a legal voter in the .... ward of the city (village or town), of .... in the State of Illinois); that I will support the laws and constitution of the United States, and of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the office of judge of election for the .... precinct of the .... ward of the city (village or town) of ...., in the county of ...., in the State of Illinois, according to the best of my ability."

(Source: P.A. 91-352, eff. 1-1-00.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-8)

Sec. 14-8. At least 60 days prior to the next election occurring immediately after the expiration of the term of office of the judges, the election commissioners shall cause judges of election again to be selected, who shall be selected, appointed and commissioned in the same way, according to the same forms and subject to the same qualifications and limitations as required for the selection and appointment of such officers in the first instance hereunder.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1450.)

(10 ILCS 5/14-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-9)

Sec. 14-9. In all municipalities operating under Article VI of this Act, judges of election shall receive the compensation specified in Section 13-10 in accordance with the population of the county as in said Section specified.

When any judge of election, deputy registrar, judge of registration or officer of registration does not perform all the services required by this Act, then the board of election commissioners shall audit his time and allow his pro rata compensation.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1450.)

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 15 heading) ARTICLE 15. BALLOT BOXES AND POLL BOOKS

(10 ILCS 5/15-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 15-1)

Sec. 15-1. (a) Except in municipalities operating under Article 6 of this Act, the county board shall provide a sufficient number of ballot boxes, with secure locks and keys, at the expense of the county, for the several precincts and districts. There shall be an opening in the top of each box not larger than is sufficient to admit a single closed ballot to be inserted therein at one time, through which each ballot voted shall be put into the box.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(10 ILCS 5/15-6)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Title of Office

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

Name of Candidate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Title of Office Name of Candidate

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YES For the proposed amendment

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

NO _______ of Article ______) of

the Constitution.

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

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

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

YES For the calling

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

NO Convention.

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

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

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

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

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

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