(55 ILCS 5/2-5005) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-5005)
    Sec. 2-5005. Referendum on resolution of county board. (a) If the county board adopts a resolution calling for a referendum on the proposal to adopt the county executive form of government and home rule for the county, within the time provided in the general election law, the county clerk and the county board shall provide for the submission of such proposition to the electors of the county in accordance with this Section at the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
    Upon filing of a petition with the clerk of the circuit court of the county within the time provided in the general election law signed by at least 2% of the registered voters in the county or 500 individuals, whichever is less, requesting that the county executive form of government be established in the county, the clerk of the circuit court shall transmit the petition to the chief judge of the circuit court who shall determine the sufficiency of the petition or shall assign the determination of the sufficiency of the petition to a circuit judge who shall make the determination. If the judge determines that the petition is sufficient, he shall certify the sufficiency of the petition and shall issue an order directing the county clerk and the county board to provide for the submission of such proposition to the electors of the county at the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
    The referendum shall be conducted in such a manner as is prescribed in the general election law.
    The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
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    Shall the County of
.......... become a Home             YES
Rule County and establish the   ------------------------------
county executive form of             NO
government?
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    (b) If the county board adopts a resolution calling for a referendum on the proposal to adopt the county executive form of government and elect not to be a home rule unit within the time provided in the general election law, the county clerk and the county board shall provide for the submission of such proposition to the electors of the county in accordance with this Section at the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
    Upon filing of a petition with the clerk of the circuit court of the county within the time provided in the general election law signed by at least 2% of the registered voters in the county or 500 individuals, whichever is less, requesting that the county executive form of government be established in the county and that the county elect not to be a home rule unit, the clerk of the circuit court shall transmit the petition to the chief judge of the circuit court who shall determine the sufficiency of the petition or shall assign the determination of the sufficiency of the petition to a circuit judge who shall make the determination. If the judge determines that the petition is sufficient, he shall certify the sufficiency of the petition and shall issue an order directing the county clerk and the county board to provide for the submission of such proposition to the electors of the county at the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
    The referendum shall be conducted in such a manner as is prescribed in the general election law.
    The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
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    Shall the County of .......                 YES
adopt the county executive          --------------------------
form of government and elect                    NO
not to become a home rule unit?
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    (c) If a majority of the voters voting on the proposition described in subsection (a) or (b) vote in favor of it, the board shall proceed to establish the county executive form of government in accordance with this Division. A referendum under this Section may be held in a county only once within any 23-month period.
(Source: P.A. 86-962; 86-1028.)