10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/6-38) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-38)

Sec. 6-38. The 2 deputy registrars provided by this Article 6 for registration in each precinct preceding the election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1936, and for the last day of registration provided for in Section 6-49.1, shall be the canvassers of the precinct for which they are appointed.

The Board of Election Commissioners shall furnish to each deputy registrar a verification list of registered voters approved by the Board of Election Commissioners or a blank book which shall be named "Verification List", each page of which shall be ruled into 4 columns, and to be marked thus:

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

Street Remarks

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

Number Street Names O.K. - Died - Moved, etc.

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

Such book shall contain pages sufficient to allow 6 pages for each street, avenue, alley and court in the precinct in question. During the progress of the registration, or immediately thereafter, each deputy registrar shall transfer all the names upon the registration record cards to such verification list; arranging them according to streets, avenues, alleys or courts, beginning with the lowest residence number, and placing them numerically, as near as possible, from the lowest up to the highest number.

They shall first write the name of such street, avenue, alley or court, at the top of the second column, and then proceed to transfer the names to such "Verification Lists" according to the street numbers as above indicated.

If, during either day of registration, any registered voter of the ward, village, or incorporated town shall come before the deputy registrars and the judge of registration and make oath that he believes that any particular person whose name has been entered upon the registry is not a qualified voter, such fact shall be noted; and after the completion of such "Verification Lists" one of the registrars, or judge of registration, shall make a cross or check mark in ink opposite such name. If the deputy registrars or the judge of the registration know any person so complained of is a qualified voter and believe that such complaint was made only to vex and harass such qualified voter, then such name shall be placed upon such lists without such cross or check mark but such cross or check mark shall be placed upon such lists in case either of the registrars or the judge of registration desires.

(Source: P.A. 84-1308.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-39) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-39)

Sec. 6-39. Upon the Wednesday and Thursday following the last day of registration, and upon the Wednesday and Thursday following the last day of precinct registration provided for in Section 6-49.1 of this Article, if so much time is required, the 2 deputy registrars shall go together and canvass the precinct for which they have been appointed, calling at each dwelling place or each house from which any one is registered in such precinct and each dwelling place as indicated upon said "Verification Lists"; and if they shall find that any person whose name appears upon their verification lists does not reside at the place designated thereupon, they shall make a notation in the column headed "Remarks" as follows: "Changed Name"; "Died", or "Moved", as the case may be, indicating that such person does not reside at such place.

Whenever deemed necessary by the canvassers, or either of them, he or they may demand of the person having command of the police in such precinct to furnish a policeman, to accompany them and protect them in the performance of their duties; and it shall be the duty of the person having command of the police in such precinct to furnish a policeman for such purpose. In such canvass no person shall refuse to answer questions and give the information asked for and known to him or her, or shall knowingly give false information, or make false statements. In making such canvass the canvassers shall make special inquiry at the residence or place designated on the verification lists, as to all the persons registered as qualified voters, and shall receive information from judges of election, party canvassers, or other persons.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2987.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-40) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-40)

Sec. 6-40. Where verification lists are furnished to the canvassers by the Board of Election Commissioners, immediately upon completion of the canvass, the canvassers, or one of them, shall file with the Board of Election Commissioners the list of registered voters upon which the canvassers have made notation in the column headed "Remarks" as follows: "O. K.", if they still reside at the address shown on the registration list, or "Died", "Moved", or "Changed Name" as the case may be. Such lists shall be attested to by the canvassers in an attached affidavit. No canvasser shall be remunerated for services as canvasser until such signed affidavit is filed with the Board of Election Commissioners.

Upon receipt by the Board of Election Commissioners of the completed list and the attached affidavit as to the correctness of the list, the Board of Election Commissioners shall prepare post card "Notices to Show Cause Why Registration Should not be Cancelled" to send to each voter on each list after whose name the canvassers have written "Died", "Moved", or "Changed Name". They shall be sent by mail, and electronic mail if the person whose registration is questioned has provided the election authority with an e-mail address, to those whose registration is questioned by the Board of Election Commissioners not later than 10 P.M. on Friday of the week of the canvass. The affidavits made by the canvassers showing the names and addresses of such canvassers shall be a public record for 60 days.

The Board of Election Commissioners shall also prepare a correct list of those registered voters in each precinct who are designated "O.K." in the remarks column by the canvassers and supplemental lists after the hearings on "Notices to Show Cause Why Registration Should Not be Cancelled"; such lists to be called "Printed Register of Registered Voters" of a given date and supplements thereto.

It shall be the duty of the Board of Election Commissioners when complaint is made to them, to investigate the action of such canvassers and to cause them or either of them to be brought before the circuit court and to prosecute them as for contempt, and also at the discretion of the Board of Election Commissioners, to cause them to be prosecuted criminally for such wilful neglect of duty.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 10-1-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-41) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-41)

Sec. 6-41. The canvassers, or one of them, shall prepare a list of the names of the parties designated as aforesaid, and to whom such notice has been sent, given, or left at the address, and make and attach his or their affidavit or affidavits thereto, stating that notice, duly stamped, was mailed to each of said parties at the places designated on the list, on or before 10 o'clock p. m. of the Thursday following the canvass, and that notice was also personally left at the said address of each of the parties named in the lists so attached, if there be such address; and such canvassers shall also file in the office of the Board of Election Commissioners on or before 6 o'clock p. m. on the Friday following the canvass, an exact duplicate of such list with the affidavit or affidavits attached thereto. Blank affidavit forms shall be furnished by the board for the purpose aforesaid; but if none are furnished, such canvassers shall cause the same to be drawn, and they shall swear to such affidavit before the judge of registration of such precinct, or a member of the Board of Election Commissioners, or the executive director thereof.

In cities, villages and incorporated towns having a population of over 200,000 and having a Board of Election Commissioners and in cities, villages and incorporated towns within the jurisdiction of the Board of Election Commissioners, the Board of Election Commissioners shall remain in session from 10 o'clock a.m. to 9 o'clock p.m. for 10 days following the last day of the canvass for the sole purpose of revising their registry. No new name shall be added to the registry at such session of the Board of Election Commissioners.

In cities, villages and incorporated towns having a population of less than 200,000, the hearing herein provided and the final revision of the registry, shall be by the Board of Election Commissioners for such city, village or incorporated town. The commissioners shall meet for this purpose upon the Monday and Tuesday following the canvass, and shall remain in session between the hours of 8 o'clock a.m. and 10 o'clock p.m., and the precinct election officials who made the canvass of the precinct shall meet with them as may be required by the Board of Election Commissioners.

If any person to whom such notice has been sent, shall appear before the Board of Election Commissioners during the session, he shall make oath and sign an affidavit in substance as follows:

"I do solemnly swear that I am a citizen of the United States and that I have resided in the .... precinct of the .... Ward of the City of ...., in the State of Illinois, since the .... day of ....; and that I have never been convicted of any crime (or if convicted, state the time and when pardoned by the Governor of any State)."

This affidavit shall be signed and sworn to before one of such Board of Election Commissioners, or the clerk of the board, and it shall be filed in the office of the Board of Election Commissioners and be preserved for 60 days.

Thereupon the Board of Election Commissioners shall further examine him and shall also swear such canvassers or the precinct election officials as the case may be, and hear them upon the question, and the Board of Election Commissioners shall have the power to send one or both of the canvassers or precinct election officials, as the case may be, to make further examination and inquiry at the place claimed by such person to be his residence, and again examine such canvassers or precinct election officials touching the same; and if after such further examination and hearing, the majority of the board in question are of the opinion that such person is not a qualified voter in such precinct, they shall indicate in the proper manner that the card of such person shall be removed from the precinct file.

At the close of any such session, if any person so notified to appear at such session has not appeared and shown cause why the card bearing his name should not be withdrawn from the precinct file, the same shall be withdrawn from the file.

The Board of Election Commissioners shall, however, keep the cancelled cards in a suspense file for 2 years and reinstate them at any time within such 2 year suspense period, when a person's registration is cancelled under this or other Sections of this Article for failure to apply for reinstatement or to appear in proper time, and there is sufficient subsequent showing that he is a duly qualified elector.

Either of said canvassers shall have the power and right of both in the matter pertaining to such canvass; but in case either refuses or neglects to make such canvass as aforesaid, then the other may make such canvass alone.

In case of the temporary disability upon the part of either canvasser, the remaining canvasser shall appoint a temporary canvasser who shall represent and be affiliated with the same political party as the canvasser whose place is being filled, and shall administer to him the usual oath of office for canvassers. Such temporary canvasser shall perform all the duties of the office until the disability of the regular canvasser is removed.

(Source: P.A. 82-373.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-42) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-42)

Sec. 6-42. With respect to those who register at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners preceding the election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1936, as provided by Section 6-29 of this Article, and preceding the last day of registration as provided for in Section 6-49.1, such board shall, immediately after completion of the precinct registration, or by the last day of such registration, transmit to the deputy registrar of each precinct the original registration record cards of each person who has registered at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners as a qualified elector of such precinct; and the provisions of Sections 6-38, 6-39, 6-40 and 6-41, of this Article shall apply to the persons registered at such office in the same manner as if they had registered in the precinct. The Board of Election Commissioners shall have power to provide by rule for the manner of returning such original registration cards and for a separate report upon electors who have registered at its office.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1806.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-43) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-43)

Sec. 6-43. Immediately after the completion of the revision by the Board of Election Commissioners, the board shall cause copies to be made of all names upon the registration record cards not marked or erased, with the address, and shall have the same arranged according to the streets, avenues, courts, or alleys, commencing with the lowest number, and arranging the same in order according to the street numbers, and shall then cause such precinct register, upon such arrangement, to be printed in plain, large type in sufficient numbers to meet all demands, and upon application a copy of the same shall be given to any person applying therefor. Provided, however, that in municipalities having a population of more than 500,000 and having a Board of Election Commissioners, as to all elections, excepting any elections held for the purpose of electing judges of the circuit courts, registrations for which are made solely before the Board of Election Commissioners, and where no general precinct registrations were provided for or held within 27 days before the election, the Board of Election Commissioners shall cause, within 10 days after the last day of registration before such board, copies to be made of all names of qualified electors appearing upon each registration record card in like manner as hereinabove provided, and upon application a copy of the same shall be given to any person applying therefor: Provided, further, that whenever an election is held within 90 days after a preceding election, or when any elections are held for the purpose of electing judges of the circuit courts, the printed list and the supplement thereto provided for the last preceding election shall constitute the Printed Precinct Register for the ensuing election, subject to such changes as shall be made, if any, as herein provided, which changes, if any, and the contents of any supplemental list, insofar as the latter have not been changed pursuant to this Act, shall be printed in a new supplemental list which shall supplant the prior supplemental list and shall be delivered to the judges of the respective precincts, with the printed register and the certification, in the manner and at the time provided in Sections 6-48 and 6-60 of this Article. Such list shall have printed on the bottom thereof the facsimile signatures of the members of the Board of Election Commissioners certifying that the names on the list are the names of all voters entitled to vote in the precinct indicated on the top thereof. Such list shall be termed the "Printed Precinct Register" and shall be prima facie evidence that the electors whose names appear thereon are entitled to vote. Provided that if, on order of the Board of Election Commissioners a corrected or revised precinct register of voters in a precinct or precincts is printed, such list or lists shall have printed thereon the day and month of such revision and shall be designated "Revised Precinct Register of Voters."

Any elector whose name does not appear as a registered voter on such printed precinct register, supplemental list or any list provided for in this Article and whose name has not been erased or withdrawn shall be entitled to vote as hereinafter in this Article provided if his registration card is in the master file. Such elector shall within 7 days after the publication of such printed precinct register, file with the Board of Election Commissioners an application stating that he is a duly registered voter and that his registration card is in the master file. The Board shall hold a hearing upon such application within 2 days after the filing thereof and shall announce its decision thereon within 3 days after the hearing. If the name of such applicant appears upon the registration card in the master file, the board shall issue to such elector a certificate setting forth that his name does so appear and certifying that he has the right to vote at the next succeeding election. Such certificate shall be issued in duplicate, one to be retained in the files of the board, and the other to be issued to the elector.

The Board of Election Commissioners upon the issuance of such certificate shall see that the name of such elector appears upon the precinct registry list in the precinct.

(Source: P.A. 92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-44) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-44)

Sec. 6-44. Any voter or voters in the ward, village or incorporated town containing such precinct, and any precinct committeeperson in the county, may, between the hours of nine o'clock a.m. and six p.m. of Monday and Tuesday of the second week prior to the week in which such election is to be held make application in writing, before such board of election commissioners, to have any name upon such register of any precinct erased. However, in municipalities having a population of more than 500,000 and having a board of election commissioners (except as otherwise provided for such municipalities in Section 6-60 of this Article) and in all cities, villages and incorporated towns within the jurisdiction of such board, such application shall be made between the hours of nine o'clock a.m. and six o'clock p.m. of Monday and Tuesday of the second week prior to the week in which such election is to be held. Such application shall be, in substance, in the words and figures following:

"I, being a qualified voter, registered from No. .... street in the .... precinct of the .... ward of the city (village or town) of .... do hereby solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have personal knowledge that .... registered from No. .... street is not a qualified voter in the .... precinct of the .... ward of the city (village or town) of .... and hence I ask that his name be erased from the register of such precinct for the following reason ....

Affiant further says that he has personal knowledge of the facts set forth in the above affidavit. (Signed).... Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date). .... ...." Such application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant before any member of the board or the clerk thereof and filed with said board. Thereupon notice of such application, with a demand to appear before the board of election commissioners and show cause why his name shall not be erased from said register, shall be personally served upon such person or left at his place of residence indicated in such register, or in the case of a homeless individual, at his or her mailing address, by a messenger of said board of election commissioners, and, as to the manner and time of serving such notice such messenger shall make affidavit; the messenger shall also make affidavit of the fact in case he cannot find such person or his place of residence, and that he went to the place named on such register as his or her place of residence. Such notice shall be served at least one day before the time fixed for such party to show cause.

The commissioners shall also cause a like notice or demand to be sent by mail duly stamped and directed, to such person, to the address upon the register at least 2 days before the day fixed in the notice to show cause.

A like notice shall be served on the person or persons making the application to have the name upon such register erased to appear and show cause why said name shall be erased, the notice to set out the day and hour of such hearing. If the voter making such application fails to appear before said board at the time set for the hearing as fixed in the notice or fails to show cause why the name upon such register shall be erased, the application may be dismissed by the board.

Any voter making such application or applications shall be privileged from arrest while presenting the same to the board of election commissioners, and while going to and returning from the board of election commissioners.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-45) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-45)

Sec. 6-45. A docket of all applications to said board of election commissioners, whether such application shall be made for the purpose of being registered or restored, or for the purpose of erasing a name on the register or for completing registration shall be made out in the order of the wards and precincts as the case may be. Such docket shall show the disposition of each case and be available to the public. In cities, villages or incorporated towns having a population of less than 500,000 the commissioners shall sit to hear such applications between the hours of 10 o'clock a. m., and 9 o'clock p. m. on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday immediately preceding such election, and in cities, villages and incorporated towns having a population of over 500,000 and having a board of election commissioners, (except as otherwise provided for such municipalities in Section 6-60 of this Article), and in all cities, villages and incorporated towns within the jurisdiction of such board, such commissioners shall sit to hear such applications between the hours of 10 o'clock a. m. and 9 o'clock p. m., on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the second week prior to the week in which such election is to be held. At the request of either party to such applications, the board shall issue subpoenas to witnesses to appear at such hearings, and witnesses may be sworn and examined upon the hearing of said application. Each person appearing in response to an application to have a name erased shall deliver to the board a written affidavit, which shall be, in substance, in the words and figures following:

"I do solemnly swear that I am a citizen of the United States; that I have resided in the State of Illinois since the .... day of .... and in the county of .... said State, since the .... day of .... and in the .... precinct of the .... ward, in the city of .... said county and State, since the .... day of .... and that I am .... years of age; that I am the identical person registered in said precinct under the name I subscribe hereto."

This answer shall be signed and sworn to or affirmed before any person authorized to administer oaths or affirmations. The decision on each application shall be announced at once after hearing, and a minute made thereof, and when an application to be registered or to be restored to such register or to complete registration shall be allowed the said board of election commissioners shall cause a minute to be made upon the original and duplicate registration records. And where an application to erase a name shall be allowed, the board of election commissioners shall cause the name to be erased forthwith, and the registration record card withdrawn.

In cities, villages and incorporated towns of 500,000 or more inhabitants, having a board of election commissioners, and in cities, villages and incorporated towns within the jurisdiction of such board of election commissioners, applications under this section and hearings or citations under Sections 6-56, 6-59 and 6-60 hereof, may be heard by individual commissioners or by persons specially designated by the commissioners for this purpose, and a decision by such individual commissioner or person so designated, shall become the decision of the board of election commissioners upon approval of such board.

(Source: Laws 1947, p. 899.)