Article 6

10 ILCS 5/6-1 — The Provisions of This Article

The provisions of this Article 6 (and of Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. hereof) so far as they are the same as those of the provisions of "An Act regulating the holding of elections and declaring the result thereof in cities, villages and incorporated towns in this state", approved June 19, 1885, as amended, (hereinafter sometimes referred to in this Article as the Act of 1885) shall be construed as a continuation of such prior provisions and not as a new enactment; and it is declared to be the legislative intent that any city, village or incorporated town which has heretofore adopted and become entitled to the provisions of said Act of 1885, shall automatically become subject to the provisions of this Article 6 and Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act (as well as certain sections in other articles which are made specifically applicable to such city, village or incorporated town), which three articles together shall be known as the City Election Law.

10 ILCS 5/6-2 — The Benefits of Article 6

The electors of any city now existing in this state may adopt and become entitled to the benefits of this Article 6 and Articles 14 and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act in the manner following:

Whenever one thousand of the legal voters of such city voting at the last preceding election shall petition the circuit court of the county in which such city is located, to submit to a vote of the electors of such city the proposition as to whether such city and the electors thereof shall adopt and become entitled to the benefits of this Article, and said Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, it shall be the duty of such circuit court to order such proposition to be submitted accordingly at the next succeeding general or regularly scheduled municipal election; and if such proposition is not adopted at such election, the same shall in like manner be submitted to a vote of the electors of such city by said circuit court upon a like application at any general or regularly scheduled municipal election thereafter. If one thousand shall exceed one-eighth of the legal voters of any such city voting at the last preceding general or consolidated election, then such application need not be signed or made by more than one-eighth of the legal voters of such city voting at the last preceding general or consolidated election. Such petition shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Article 28. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Code.

10 ILCS 5/6-3 — Election Notice

The circuit court shall give at least 60 days notice of such election by publishing such notice in one or more newspapers published within such city, for at least 5 times, the first publication to be at least 60 days before the day of election, and if no newspaper is published in such city, then by posting at least 5 copies of such notice in each ward 60 days before such election; and such court shall enter an order directing the county clerk to prepare the necessary blank returns for the use of the judges of election, substantially in the following form:

Also to prepare separate tally sheets with appropriate headings.

And it shall be the duty of such county clerk to deliver to the judges of all the precincts in such city at such election proper tally sheets and blank statements of returns of votes cast for and against such proposition at such election. And it shall be the duty of the circuit court to supervise and direct such matters and see that they are properly done.

And it shall be the duty of such county clerk to deliver to the judges of all the precincts in such city at such election proper tally sheets and blank statements of returns of votes cast for and against such proposition at such election. And it shall be the duty of the circuit court to supervise and direct such matters and see that they are properly done.

The circuit court shall also prepare directions to the judges of election as to the manner of canvassing the votes for and against such proposition, keeping tally thereof and making returns of the votes as to such proposition, in accordance with the provisions of this article; also informing them therein of the penalties of the law imposed upon the judges for any refusal or neglect pertaining to their duties, and such circuit court shall deliver such directions to the county clerk directing him to have them printed and sent out to such judges. And it shall be the duty of such county clerk to obey such instructions.

It shall be the duty of the county clerk to do and cause to be done all things required of him by section 6-2 to 6-20, inclusive, of this Article, and for a failure to perform such duties he shall, on conviction, be removed from his office by the court in which such conviction shall be had.

The county shall pay all expenses connected with such election.

10 ILCS 5/6-4 — Labeling the Ballot

At such election the ballots, so far as they relate to this act, shall be written or printed in the following form: "For city election law" or "Against city election law."

10 ILCS 5/6-5 — Printing the Ballot

The ballot upon such proposition in the form aforesaid must be printed or written at the bottom of the ticket containing the names of candidates for public offices at such election who are voted for by any elector.

10 ILCS 5/6-6 — Canvassing the Ballot

The judges of such election shall canvass the ballots so cast for or against such proposition. They shall count in favor of said proposition all ballots, "For city election law" and they shall count against such proposition all ballots, "Against city election law".

10 ILCS 5/6-7 — Procedure for Canvassing the Ballot

Such canvass shall be made by such judges in the following manner:

Before the name or names of any candidate on any ballot shall be canvassed, one of the judges, two sitting on either side of him and observing the canvass, shall separate all the ballots cast in such precinct into 3 piles or files, putting together in the first pile all those containing the phrase, "For city election law", and putting together in the second pile all the ballots containing the phrase, "Against city election law", and putting together in the third pile all the other ballots of every description.

One of the 3 judges shall then count the first pile of ballots in batches of 10, and when one batch is counted, shall pass the same to the next judge, who shall count the same and pass it to the third judge, who shall also count it, and when the 3 shall have finished the count of the 10 ballots, the last judge shall announce in a loud voice the result, "Ten votes for city election law".

It shall then be duty of each of 2 judges, who took no part in the counting, to tally 10 votes accordingly on his tally sheet for city election law, and so the whole pile shall be counted.

Before counting the second pile the tally judges shall announce the result or number so entered and credited, "For city election law", and the second pile shall be counted in the same way in batches of 10, and the result tallied and announced in the same way "Against city election law".

And thereupon it shall be the duty of each of the judges in turn to announce in a loud voice the result of the election in that precinct upon that proposition.

No ballot shall be counted for or against such proposition unless it be in the form herein prescribed; no account is to be kept of the third pile of ballots as to such proposition.

10 ILCS 5/6-8 — Tally Sheet

If no tally sheet shall be furnished to the judges of any precinct relating to such proposition, the tally judges shall use any piece of paper containing the headings written out by either of them: "For city election law", and "Against city election law", and tally the vote thereon opposite the respective headings as announced to them: and if no blank statements of returns relating to such proposition be provided or furnished to them, then it shall be the duty of the judges to write out a return in triplicate, in substance in accordance with the form found in Section 6-3 of this Article.

10 ILCS 5/6-9 — Upon Completion of the Canvass

After ascertaining and announcing the result as aforesaid, such judges shall make, fill up and sign duplicate returns or statements of the votes cast for and against such proposition as aforesaid, in the form found in Section 6-3 of this Article, each of which shall be attested by the other judges, and each of which shall then be enclosed and sealed in an envelope, one of which shall be on the outside addressed to the appropriate election authority and one to the comptroller of such city, or to the officer whose duties correspond with those of the comptroller.

Upon each of which statements shall be endorsed "city election law returns". In the same manner the tally sheet in duplicate shall be signed by the judges, and shall be enclosed and sealed in separate envelopes, one of which shall be addressed to the county judge and one to the city clerk; upon both of the envelopes shall be endorsed "city election law tallies".On the outside of each envelope shall be endorsed whether it contains a statement of the votes cast or the tallies, and for what precinct and ward.

After the envelopes respectively containing such returns and tallies are closed and sealed, the judges of election shall each write across the folds of such envelopes their names, and thereupon each of the judges of election shall take one of said returns or tallies, and shall deliver, each one respectively, to the person or officer to whom addressed, by noon of the next day, and when delivered he shall receive a receipt therefor from the officer to whom delivered, and it shall be the duty of such officer to give such receipts, and to safely keep such envelopes unopened until called for by the election authority as herein provided.

10 ILCS 5/6-10 — Watchers

At the canvass of the ballots in any precinct in any city where such proposition has been submitted, it shall be the duty of such judges of election, on request, to admit to the room two electors of the ward who voted in favor of such proposition and two who voted against it, as special watchers of such canvass; and said judges and the police officer or other officer of the law present shall protect such watchers and see that they are not excluded, and at the time of such canvass of the ballots cast for or against such proposition such watchers shall be entitled to a position where they can plainly see and read each ballot, and it shall be the duty of such judges to grant and protect them in such position.

10 ILCS 5/6-11 — Canvassing Returns

The returns must be canvassed in the same manner as any other referendum held in the municipality.

10 ILCS 5/6-12 — Condition of Returns

No judge of election shall knowingly open, change, tear, mutilate, lose or conceal or knowingly cause or permit to be opened, changed, torn, mutilated, lost or concealed any return of votes cast for or against this Article 6 and Articles 14 and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, or any tally sheet of votes so cast for or against such proposition after the same has been sealed up and delivered to him to be carried and delivered to the officer of law required by this act to receive the same.

10 ILCS 5/6-13 — Condition of Tally Sheets

No officer having possession of such returns, tallies or ballots, shall steal, counsel or assist in stealing, or shall change or mutilate any return or tally sheet relating to such election.

10 ILCS 5/6-15 — Adopting Article 6

Any village or incorporated town in this state may adopt this article 6 and articles 14 and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, in like manner, and the same shall be submitted to a vote of the people of the said village or incorporated town, upon written application to said court, of 150 electors in such village or incorporated town.

10 ILCS 5/6-16 — After Adoption of this Article

After and from the time of the adoption of this Article and Articles 14 and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, as aforesaid, the provisions of the said Articles shall be applicable to such cities, villages or incorporated towns, together with such other sections of this Act which are made specifically applicable thereto, and all laws in conflict therewith shall no longer be applicable to such cities, villages or incorporated towns. But all laws or parts of laws not inconsistent with the provisions of said Articles and sections shall continue in force and be applicable to any such city, village or incorporated town, the same as if said Articles and sections had not been adopted.

10 ILCS 5/6-17 — Approval of the Proposition

Whenever 1,000 of the legal voters in a city of 250,000 population or less where this Article 6 and Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act or the Act of which they are a continuation have been adopted shall petition the circuit court in the county in which such city is located to submit to a vote of the electors of such city the proposition as to whether such city and the electors thereof shall reject the Articles, the court shall enter an order of record approving such petition and thereupon the court shall submit such proposition to the legal voters of such city at the next succeeding general, state, county or municipal election to be held in such county in not less than 30 days after the entry of such order.

If 1,000 shall exceed one-eighth of the legal voters of any such city then such petition need not be signed or made by more than one-eighth of the legal voters of such city.

Notice of election shall be given by the court at least 20 days prior to such election by publication in one or more newspapers of general circulation published within such city.

10 ILCS 5/6-18 —

The ballots which shall be used for voting on the rejection of this Act shall be written or printed in the following form:

The ballots to be used at such election shall be printed by the officers charged by law with the duty of printing ballots for general elections in said city. The ballots so cast shall be received, returned and canvassed in the same manner and by the same officers as is provided by law in the case of ballots cast for city officers and any contest of the result of such election shall be tried as nearly as may be in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

10 ILCS 5/6-19 — Rejection of the Proposition

The election officials canvassing returns shall cause a statement of the result of such election on the rejection of this Article 6 and Articles 14 and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act to be certified to the court. If a majority of the total votes cast at such election is in the affirmative, the court shall enter an order declaring said Articles rejected and shall file a copy of the order in the office of the Secretary of State. Thereupon said Articles shall cease to be operative and binding in such city.

10 ILCS 5/6-19.1 — Validation of Rejection

When, prior to February 13, 1967, in any city with a population of 100,000 or less, a majority of the legal voters voting on the proposition of whether the city election law shall be rejected, as provided in Section 6-18, have voted in favor of the rejection of the city election law and the election is in other respects in conformity with law, the publication of the election notice is declared to be legal and valid and the election is validated, notwithstanding that the publication was only 12 days prior to the election by publication in one or more newspapers of general circulation published within the city.

10 ILCS 5/6-19.5 — Rejection of Article By Superseding County Board of Election Commissioners

In addition to any other method of rejection provided in this Article, when a county board of election commissioners is established in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 6A-1. this link opens in a new browser tab. in a county in which is located any portion of a municipality with a municipal board of election commissioners, the application of the provisions of this Article to the territory of that municipality located within that county is rejected.

10 ILCS 5/6-20 — Rejecting Article 6

Any village or incorporated town in this State having adopted this Article 6 and Articles 14 and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act may reject them in the same manner as provided in the case of cities upon written application to the circuit court in which such village or incorporated town is located of 150 electors in such village or incorporated town.

10 ILCS 5/6-21 — Creation of a Board of Election Commissioners

In every city, village and incorporated town so adopting this Article 6 and Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act there shall be created a board of election commissioners, which shall be composed of 3 members, each of whom shall be designated as an election commissioner, and shall be appointed by the circuit court in the county in which such city, village or incorporated town shall be located.

Each person appointed as an election commissioner shall at the time of such appointment have been a resident of the State of Illinois for the 2 years last past, except that the appointing court may waive the 2 year residence requirement for good cause shown and entered of record. And such appointment shall be entered of record in such court, and when qualified such commissioner shall be an officer of such court.

The first appointment of such commissioners shall be within 60 days after the adoption of said Articles, and those first appointed shall hold their offices for the period of 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively, and the judge appointing them shall designate the term for which each one shall hold his office, whether for 1, 2 or 3 years.

If the office of either commissioner shall become vacant, it shall thereupon be the duty of such court to appoint within 60 days a successor for such unexpired term; within 60 days after the expiration of the term for which each commissioner is appointed such court shall, in the same way, nominate and appoint a successor, who shall hold his office for the period of 3 years, and until his successor is appointed.

A board of election commissioners is not a unit of local government within the meaning of Section 8 of Article VII of the Constitution of 1970. Appointments of election commissioners on and after July 1, 1971, shall continue to be made by the circuit court in the same manner as before that date.

10 ILCS 5/6-22 — Selection of Commissioners by Political Party

Two of such commissioners at least shall always be selected from the 2 leading political parties of the state, one from each of such parties, and all shall be legal voters residing in such city, village or incorporated town, and be persons of well known political convictions and of approved integrity and capacity.

No commissioner can hold any other political office.

Whenever it shall come to the knowledge of the court that one of the leading political parties of the state is not represented upon such commission by a person of the same political faith, the court shall at once remove one of such commissioners and fill the vacancy with a member of the leading political party not so represented.

10 ILCS 5/6-23 — Removing a Commissioner

Such court may at any time, upon complaint made and cause shown satisfactory to it, after notice to such commissioner and an opportunity to be heard, remove any such commissioner and enter of record in the court such order of removal. Such order may be appealed as in other civil cases. Such complaint must be signed and sworn to by at least 25 legal voters of such city, village or incorporated town, and must state the grounds of such complaint.

10 ILCS 5/6-24 — Organizing the Board of Election Commissioners

Within 20 days after such first appointment shall be made, such commissioners shall organize as a board by electing one of their number as chair and one as secretary, and they shall perform the duties incident to such offices. And upon every new appointment of a commissioner, such board shall reorganize in like manner.

Each commissioner, before taking his seat in such board, shall take an oath of office before the court, which in substance shall be in the following form:

Where the 2 year residence requirement is waived by the appointing court, the provision pertaining to the 2 year residence requirement shall be omitted from the oath of office.

Which oath, when subscribed and sworn to before such court shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of said county and be there preserved. Such commissioner shall also, before taking such oath, give an official bond in the sum of $10,000.00 with two securities, to be approved by said court, conditioned for the faithful and honest performance of his duties and the preservation of the property of his office.

Such board of commissioners shall at once secure and open an office sufficient for the purposes of such board, which shall be kept open during ordinary business hours of each week day and such other days and such other times as the board may direct or as otherwise required by law, legal holidays excepted; provided that such office shall be kept open from the time of opening the polls on the day of any election, primary or general, and until all returns of that election have been received from each precinct under the jurisdiction of such Board.

Upon the opening of such office the county clerk of the county in which such city, village or incorporated town is situated shall, upon demand, turn over to such board all registry books, registration record cards, poll books, tally sheets and ballot boxes heretofore used and all other books, forms, blanks and stationery of every description in his hands in any way relating to elections or the holding of elections within such city, village or incorporated town.

10 ILCS 5/6-25 — Employing Staff

Said board shall have the right to employ an executive director who shall have charge of the office of said board and who shall be present and in attendance at all proper business hours. Such executive director shall take an oath of office before the court to the effect that he will honestly and faithfully perform all the duties of such office, under the direction of said board, which shall be preserved in the same way, and he shall be under the direction of said board, and he shall have the right to administer all oaths required under this act to be administered by either of said commissioners.

The board shall have the right to employ an independent external auditor who shall assist the board and the circuit court in reviewing and approving all financial expenditures of the board.

The board may employ an attorney who shall advise and represent such board in all cases where the advice or services of an attorney are necessary.

Such additional assistance may be employed by said board from time to time, as may be necessary, with the consent and approval previously entered of record by said court or which may afterwards be approved by such court.

10 ILCS 5/6-26 — Duties of the Board of Elections Commissioners

The board of election commissioners shall make all necessary rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this Article 6 and Articles 14 and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, with reference to the registration of voters and the conduct of elections.

The board of election commissioners shall, except as otherwise provided in this Section, have charge of and make provisions for all elections, general, special, local, municipal, state and county, and all others of every description to be held in such city or any part thereof, at any time, or in such village or incorporated town, as the case may be. The board of election commissioners shall not have charge of elections for local school councils established pursuant to Article 34 of The School Code.

10 ILCS 5/6-27 — Voter Registration Requirements

Every person having resided in the State and in election precinct 30 days next preceding any election therein and who shall be a citizen of the United States of the age of 18 or more years, shall be entitled to vote at such elections described in the last preceding Section.

After the first registration provided by this Article, the vote of no person, other than an elector voting pursuant to Article 20. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act or exempt under 6-67.01 or S6-67.02 [Editor's note: 6-67.02 does not exist.] of this Article from registration, shall be received in any election conducted under the provisions of this Article 6 or Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act unless such person has registered under the provisions of this Article in the precinct in which such person resides. For the purposes of this Article, the word "election" shall include primary.

No person shall be entitled to be registered in or from any precinct unless such person shall, by the date of the election next following, have resided in the State and within the precinct for 30 days, and be otherwise qualified to vote at such election. Every applicant who shall be 18 years of age on the day of the next election shall be permitted to register, if otherwise qualified.

To constitute residence under this Act, Article 3. this link opens in a new browser tab. is controlling.

10 ILCS 5/6-28 — First Registration

The first registration under this Article shall be that preceding the election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1936. Registration for such election shall be conducted by the Board of Election Commissioners, shall be either at the office of such Board or in the precinct, as hereinafter provided in this Article, and shall be upon registration record cards in the manner provided by this Article. Such first registration under this Article and subsequent revisions thereof shall be under the full charge and control of the Board of Election Commissioners, and the expenses thereof shall be paid in the manner provided by this Article. It shall be the duty of such board to give timely notice through the press of the time and place of such first registration.

10 ILCS 5/6-29 — Voter Registration

For the purpose of registering voters under this Article, the office of the Board of Election Commissioners shall be open during ordinary business hours of each week day, from 9 a.m. to 12 o'clock noon on the last four Saturdays immediately preceding the end of the period of registration preceding each election, and such other days and such other times as the board may direct.

Voter Registration Closes

During the 27 days immediately preceding any election there shall be no registration of voters at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners in cities, villages and incorporated towns of fewer than 200,000 inhabitants. In cities, villages and incorporated towns of 200,000 or more inhabitants, there shall be no registration of voters at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners during the 35 days immediately preceding any election; provided, however, where no precinct registration is being conducted prior to any election then registration may be taken in the office of the Board up to and including the 28th day prior to such election.

The Board of Election Commissioners may set up and establish as many branch offices for the purpose of taking registrations as it may deem necessary, and the branch offices may be open on any or all dates and hours during which registrations may be taken in the main office. All officers and employees of the Board of Election Commissioners who are authorized by such board to take registrations under this Article shall be considered officers of the circuit court, and shall be subject to the same control as is provided by Section 14-5. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act with respect to judges of election.

In any election called for the submission of the revision or alteration of, or the amendments to the Constitution, submitted by a Constitutional Convention, the final day for registration at the office of the election authority charged with the printing of the ballot of this election shall be the 15th day prior to the date of election.

The Board of Election Commissioners shall appoint one or more registration teams, consisting of 2 of its employees for each team, for the purpose of accepting the registration of any voter who files an affidavit, within the period for taking registrations provided for in this Article, that he is physically unable to appear at the office of the Board or at any appointed place of registration. On the day or days when a precinct registration is being conducted such teams shall consist of one member from each of the 2 leading political parties who are serving on the Precinct Registration Board. Each team so designated shall visit each person with a disability and shall accept the registration of such person the same as if he had applied for registration in person.

Any otherwise qualified person who is absent from his county of residence due to business of the United States, or who is temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States, may make application to become registered by mail to the Board of Election Commissioners within the periods for registration provided for in this Article or by simultaneous application for registration by mail and vote by mail ballot as provided in Article 20. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Code.

Upon receipt of such application the Board of Election Commissioners shall immediately mail an affidavit of registration in duplicate, which affidavit shall contain the following and such other information as the State Board of Elections may think it proper to require for the identification of the applicant:

Upon receipt of the executed duplicate affidavit of Registration, the county clerk shall transfer the information contained thereon to duplicate Registration Cards provided for in Section 4-8. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Article and shall attach thereto a copy of each of the duplicate affidavit of registration and thereafter such registration card and affidavit shall constitute the registration of such person the same as if he had applied for registration in person.

10 ILCS 5/6-30 — First Registration

If any city, village or incorporated town adopts and becomes entitled to the benefits of this Article 6 and Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, after the date for the first registration hereunder, registration therein shall be governed by the law applicable thereto at the time of the adoption of said Articles until a complete first registration can be had.

Such first registration shall be in the manner provided in this Article and shall precede the primary held for the nomination of candidates for the next succeeding congressional election, and the periods provided for each step in such registration shall be the same as are provided by this Article 6 with respect to cities, villages and incorporated towns subject to this Article at the time when it takes effect. A period for registration at the office of the board of election commissioners prior to such election shall be allowed equal to that provided by this Article, for the period intervening between the first Tuesday in August, 1936 and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1936.

10 ILCS 5/6-31 — Registration Other Than At The Office of the Board of Election Commissioners

In addition to the registration authorized at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners, there shall be two days of registration in each precinct preceding the election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1936. The place of registration in each precinct shall be designated by the Board of Election Commissioners, and public notice thereof given, and the provisions of Article 11, Section 11-4. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act shall apply thereto. The registration places so designated shall be open from 8:00 o'clock a.m. until 9:00 o'clock p.m. on each of such days of registration.

The first of said two days of registration shall be on Saturday preceding the Tuesday four weeks before said election; the second of said two days of registration shall be on Tuesday three weeks preceding said election; provided, however, that in cities, villages and incorporated towns of 200,000 or more, having a board of election commissioners, and in cities, villages and incorporated towns within the jurisdiction of said board of election commissioners, the first day of registration shall be on Saturday preceding the Tuesday six weeks preceding said election; and the second day of such registration shall be on Tuesday four weeks preceding said election.

In addition to the two days of registration hereinabove provided, the Board of Election Commissioners may provide for additional days of registration (not exceeding two) before said election. The last day so designated shall be earlier than the last day of registration hereinabove provided for cities, villages and incorporated towns under the jurisdiction of such Board.

For the registration held in accordance with the terms of this section there shall be a board of registry composed of two deputy registrars and one judge of registration for each precinct. The political party with which the minority member of the Board of Election Commissioners is affiliated, shall be entitled to be represented by one deputy registrar in each precinct. The political party with which the majority of the members of the Board of Election Commissioners are affiliated shall be entitled to be represented by one deputy registrar in each precinct.

In the even numbered precincts the political party with which a majority of the members of the Board of Election Commissioners are affiliated, shall be entitled to be represented by the judge of registration.

In the odd numbered precincts the party represented by the minority member of the Board of Election Commissioners shall be entitled to be represented by the judge of registration.

Such board shall cause the printed list and supplement of the registration for the previous election to be posted up at the place of registration two days before such registration, with a printed notice of the time and place of the next registration. After the first registration under this article, the printed lists required to be posted shall be those for the precincts served by the registration places designated by the Board of Election Commissioners.

Poll Watchers at Registration

The election authorities shall issue credentials to registration day pollwatchers in the manner and on the terms prescribed in Section 17-23. this link opens in a new browser tab. with respect to pollwatchers at elections.

Registration day pollwatchers shall be allowed to see the names and addresses of the people who have registered during the course of the day.

Electioneering

No person shall, at any precinct registration or reregistration, do any electioneering or soliciting of votes or engage in any political discussion within any precinct registration place or within 30 feet thereof. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit any candidate from being present in or near any precinct registration place. All persons who register to vote at any precinct registration place must be residents of the precinct in which they register.

10 ILCS 5/6-31.1 — Maintaining Voter Records

For use in connection with referenda and the nonpartisan and consolidated elections, each election authority shall maintain permanent records of the boundaries of all political subdivisions partially or wholly within its jurisdiction and any districts thereof, and shall maintain permanent records indicating by tax extension number code for each registered voter the political subdivisions and any districts thereof in which that voter resides. Such records may be kept on the registration record cards or on separate registration lists, or if a method other than record coding by tax extension number is adopted by an election authority, such method shall be, approved by the State Board of Elections. Each political subdivision must, no later than 5 days after any redistricting, annexation, disconnection or other boundary change is adopted, give notice of any such adoption and the effective date of such act to each election authority having election jurisdiction over any of its former or new territory.

Each election authority must make available to election judges for use on election day, records indicating by tax extension number code or other method approved by the State Board of Elections for each registered voter, the political subdivisions in which that voter resides. For the purposes of election day use by election judges, such records must be kept on the registration record cards or on separate registration lists.

10 ILCS 5/6-32 — Deputy Registrars

The deputy registrars and judges of registration provided for by Section 6-30 of this Article shall be selected by the Board of Election Commissioners in the manner and for the same term provided for judges of election by Sections 14-2 and 14-3 [Editor's note: 14-2 & 14-3 do not exist] and shall be officers of the court and have the qualifications prescribed for judges of election by Section 14-1. this link opens in a new browser tab.; provided that in each precinct in counties of 500,000 inhabitants or more, one deputy registrar may be appointed from outside such precinct if not enough other qualified persons who reside within the precinct can be found to serve as deputy registrar in such precinct. The one deputy registrar so appointed to serve in any precinct in which he is not entitled to vote prior to the election must be entitled to vote elsewhere within the ward or township which includes within its boundaries the precinct in which such deputy registrar is appointed and such deputy registrar must be otherwise qualified. A report of such selection shall be made and filed in the court and thereafter all provisions of Article 14, Section 14-5. this link opens in a new browser tab., of this Act with respect to judges of election shall apply to such deputy registrars and judges of registration. Such registrars and judges shall be notified of their appointments in the manner provided for judges by Section 14-7 of Article 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act.

Any vacancy in the offices of deputy registrar or of judge of registration on the day of registration shall be filled by the registrar or judge of registration present, always selecting a person of the same political party as the absent deputy registrar or judge of registration; and the same oath shall be administered by the registrar or judge of registration present to such deputy registrar or judge of registration as is provided for regular deputy registrars and judges of registration. All oaths of office or affidavits which have been signed and sworn to shall be returned to the office of the Board of Election Commissioners in an envelope provided for that purpose, which envelope shall be sealed.

10 ILCS 5/6-34 — Administering Oaths

One of the deputy registrars, the judge of registration or an officer or clerk in the office of the board of election commissioners authorized to administer oaths, shall administer to all persons who shall personally apply to register the following oath or affirmation:

10 ILCS 5/6-35 — Voter Registration Record Cards

The Boards of Election Commissioners shall provide a sufficient number of blank forms for the registration of electors which shall be known as registration record cards and which shall consist of loose leaf sheets or cards, of suitable size to contain in plain writing and figures the data hereinafter required thereon or shall consist of computer cards of suitable nature to contain the data required thereon. The registration record cards, which shall include an affidavit of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in duplicate. The duplicate of which may be a carbon copy of the original or a copy of the original made by the use of other method or material used for making simultaneous true copies or duplications.

The registration record card shall contain the following and such other information as the Board of Election Commissioners may think it proper to require for the identification of the applicant for registration:

Each applicant for registration shall make an affidavit in substantially the following form:

Space shall be provided upon the face of each registration record card for the notation of the voting record of the person registered thereon.

Each registration record card shall be numbered according to wards or precincts, as the case may be, and may be serially or otherwise marked for identification in such manner as the Board of Election Commissioners may determine.

The registration cards shall be deemed public records and shall be open to inspection during regular business hours, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. On written request of any candidate or objector or any person intending to object to a petition, the election authority shall extend its hours for inspection of registration cards and other records of the election authority during the period beginning with the filing of petitions under Sections 7-10, 8-8, 10-6 or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of electoral board hearings on any objections to petitions containing signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction of the election authority. The extension shall be for a period of hours sufficient to allow adequate opportunity for examination of the records but the election authority is not required to extend its hours beyond the period beginning at its normal opening for business and ending at midnight. If the business hours are so extended, the election authority shall post a public notice of such extended hours. Registration record cards may also be inspected, upon approval of the officer in charge of the cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by certified judges and poll watchers and challengers at the polling place on election day, but only to the extent necessary to determine the question of the right of a person to vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically handle the registration record cards.

Updated copies of computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information shall be furnished by the Board of Election Commissioners within 10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year and within 10 days after each registration period is closed to the State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the State Board. For the purposes of this Section, a registration period is closed 27 days before the date of any regular or special election. Registration information shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, sex, residence, telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation, if applicable, precinct, ward, township, county, and representative, legislative and congressional districts. In the event of noncompliance, the State Board of Elections is directed to obtain compliance forthwith with this nondiscretionary duty of the election authority by instituting legal proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the election authority maintains the registration information. The costs of furnishing updated copies of tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034 per name of registered voters in the election jurisdiction, but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from appropriations made to the State Board of Elections for reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The State Board shall furnish copies of such tapes, discs, other electronic data or compilations thereof to state political committees registered pursuant to the Illinois Campaign Finance Act or the Federal Election Campaign Act and to governmental entities, at their request and at a reasonable cost. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of voter registration information, the disclosure of electronic voter registration records to any person or entity other than to a State or local political committee and other than to a governmental entity for a governmental purpose is specifically prohibited except as follows: subject to security measures adopted by the State Board of Elections which, at a minimum, shall include the keeping of a catalog or database, available for public view, including the name, address, and telephone number of the person viewing the list as well as the time of that viewing, any person may view the centralized statewide voter registration list on a computer screen at the Springfield office of the State Board of Elections, during normal business hours other than during the 27 days before an election, but the person viewing the list under this exception may not print, duplicate, transmit, or alter the list. Copies of the tapes, discs or other electronic data shall be furnished by the Board of Election Commissioners to local political committees and governmental entities at their request and at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost of the tapes, discs, et cetera for this purpose would be the cost of duplication plus 15% for administration. The individual representing a political committee requesting copies of such tapes shall make a sworn affidavit that the information shall be used only for bona fide political purposes, including by or for candidates for office or incumbent office holders. Such tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be used under any circumstances by any political committee or individuals for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes. If such tapes contain information on county residents related to the operations of county government in addition to registration information, that information shall not be used under any circumstances for commercial solicitation or other business purposes. The prohibition in this Section against using the computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes shall be prospective only from the effective date of this amended Act of 1979. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.

The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October 1, 1987, such regulations as may be necessary to ensure uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing of voter registration information. The regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, specifications for uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to be employed by the election authorities of this State in the electronic data processing of voter registration information. Each election authority utilizing electronic data processing of voter registration information shall comply with such regulations on and after May 15, 1988.

If the applicant for registration was last registered in another county within this State, he shall also sign a certificate authorizing cancellation of the former registration. The certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

The cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately by the clerk of the Election Commission to the county clerk, (or Election Commission as the case may be) where the applicant was formerly registered. Receipt of such certificate shall be full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.

10 ILCS 5/6-35.01 — Voters With Disabilities Card

If an applicant for registration reports a permanent physical disability which would require assistance in voting, the board of election commissioners shall mark all his registration cards in the right margin on the front of the card with a band of ink running the full margin which shall be of contrast to, and easily distinguishable from, the color of the card. If an applicant for registration declares upon properly witnessed oath, with his signature or mark affixed, that he cannot read the English language and that he will require assistance in voting, all his registration cards shall be marked in a manner similar to the marking on the cards of a voter who requires assistance because of physical disability, except that the marking shall be of a different distinguishing color. Following each election the cards of any voter who has requested assistance as a voter with a disability, and has stated that the disability is permanent, or who has received assistance because of inability to read the English language, shall be marked in the same manner.

10 ILCS 5/6-35.02 — Noting Persons With Disabilities

Upon the issuance of a voter's identification card for persons with disabilities as provided in Section 19-12.1. this link opens in a new browser tab., the board of election commissioners shall cause the identification number of such card to be clearly noted on all the registration cards of such voter.

10 ILCS 5/6-35.03 — Design of Voter Registration Record Card

The State Board of Elections shall design a registration record card which, except as otherwise provided in this Section, shall be used in triplicate by all election authorities in the State, except those election authorities adopting a computer-based voter registration file authorized under Section 6-79. The Board shall prescribe the form and specifications, including but not limited to the weight of paper, color and print of such cards. Such cards shall contain boxes or spaces for the information required under Sections 6-31.1 and 6-35 of this Code; provided, that such cards shall also contain a box or space for the applicant's social security number, which shall be required to the extent allowed by law but in no case shall the applicant provide fewer than the last 4 digits of the social security number, and a box for the applicant's telephone number, if available.

Except for those election authorities adopting a computer-based voter registration file authorized under Section 6-79, the original and duplicate cards shall respectively constitute the master file and precinct binder registration records of the voter. A copy shall be given to the applicant upon completion of his or her registration or completed transfer of registration.

Whenever a voter moves to another precinct within the same election jurisdiction or to another election jurisdiction in the State, such voter may transfer his or her registration by presenting his or her copy to the election authority or a deputy registrar. If such voter is not in possession of or has lost his or her copy, he or she may effect a transfer of registration by executing an Affidavit of Cancellation of Previous Registration.

In the case of a transfer of registration to a new election jurisdiction, the election authority shall transmit the voter's copy or such affidavit to the election authority of the voter's former election jurisdiction, which shall immediately cause the transmission of the voter's previous registration card to the voter's new election authority. No transfer of registration to a new election jurisdiction shall be complete until the voter's old election authority receives notification.

Deputy registrars shall return all copies of registration record cards or Affidavits of Cancellation of Previous Registration to the election authority within 7 working days after the receipt thereof. Such copies or Affidavits of Cancellation of Previous Registration received by the deputy registrars between the 35th and 28th day preceding an election shall be returned by the deputy registrars within 48 hours after receipt thereof. Such copies or Affidavits of Cancellation of Previous Registration received by the deputy registrars on the 28th day preceding an election shall be returned by the deputy registrars to the election authority within 24 hours after receipt thereof.

10 ILCS 5/6-35.5 — Deputy Registrar Eligibility

Unless otherwise provided by law, an individual who is 17 years old or older who is registered to vote in this State shall be eligible to serve as a deputy registrar.

10 ILCS 5/6-36 — Registration Form for Deputy Registrars and Judges of Registration

The board of election commissioners shall supply deputy registrars and judges of registration with registration forms and shall fully instruct them in their duties. Each deputy registrar and judge of registration shall receipt to the board of election commissioners for all blank registration record cards issued to them, specifying therein the number of the blanks received by them, and each such deputy registrar and judge of registration shall be charged with such blanks until he returns them to the board of election commissioners. If for any cause a blank registration record card is mutilated or rendered unfit for use in making it out, or if a mistake therein has been made, such blank shall not be destroyed, but the word "mutilated" shall be written across the face of such blank, and such blank shall be returned to the board of election commissioners and shall be preserved in the same manner and for the same length of time as mutilated ballots. When any registration shall have been completed, each deputy registrar and judge of registration shall return all registration record cards to the board of election commissioners whether such cards have been filled out and executed or whether they are unused, or whether they have been mutilated. Deputy registrars and judges of registration shall make personal delivery of the registration records to the board of election commissioners, after the close of each registration and before they separate. Each deputy registrar and judge of registration shall certify the registration records in substantially the following form:

10 ILCS 5/6-37 —Registering Voters

Except as otherwise provided for in Section 6-29 of this Article, no person shall be registered unless he applies in person to a registration officer, answers such relevant questions as may be asked of him by the registration officer, and executes the affidavit of registration.

Documentation Required

The registration officer shall require the applicant to furnish two forms of identification, and except in the case of a homeless individual, one of which must include his or her residence address. These forms of identification shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following: driver's license, social security card, public aid identification card, utility bill, employee or student identification card, lease or contract for a residence, credit card, or a civic, union or professional association membership card. The registration officer shall require a homeless individual to furnish evidence of his or her use of the mailing address stated. This use may be demonstrated by a piece of mail addressed to that individual and received at that address or by a statement from a person authorizing use of the mailing address.

The registration officer shall require each applicant for registration to read or have read to him the affidavit of registration before permitting him to execute the affidavit.

The registration officer shall satisfy himself that each applicant for registration is qualified to register before registering him. Any voter of the ward, village or incorporated town in which such applicant resides, shall be permitted to be present at the place of registration, and shall have the right to challenge any applicant who applies to be registered.

In case the officer is not satisfied that the applicant is qualified he shall forthwith in writing notify such applicant to appear before the board of election commissioners to furnish further proof of his qualification. Upon the card of such applicant shall be written the word "incomplete" and no such applicant shall be permitted to vote unless such registration is satisfactorily completed as hereinafter provided.

Any person claiming to be an elector in any election precinct in such city, village or incorporated town and whose registration is marked "incomplete" may make and sign an application in writing, under oath, to the board of election commissioners in substance in the following form:

In all cities, villages or incorporated towns having a population of less than 200,000 all such applications shall be presented to the board of election commissioners by the applicant, in person, between the hours of nine o'clock a.m., and five o'clock p.m. on Tuesday or Wednesday of the second week prior to the week in which such election is to be held, and in all municipalities having a population of more than 200,000 and having a board of election commissioners and in all cities, villages and incorporated towns within the jurisdiction of such board, all such applications shall be presented to the board of election commissioners by the applicant, in person between the hours of nine o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m., on Monday and Tuesday of the third week prior to the week in which such election is to be held.

10 ILCS 5/6-38 — Registered Voters. Verification List

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 Verification List

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:

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-39 — Canvassing Registered Voters

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-40 — Submitting the Voter Registration Verification List

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-41 — Challenging Being Removed From the Registered Voter List

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:

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-42 — Returning Registration Record Cards

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-43 — Revised Precinct Register of Voters

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-44 — Challenging Voter Registration

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:

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-45 — Docket of Voter Registration Changes

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:

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-46 — Voter Registration Hearing

The circuit court of the county in which such city, village or incorporated town shall be located, shall, on Friday and Saturday of the week prior to the week in which such election is to be held, especially sit to hear such applications as shall be made to it to be placed upon the registry in any particular precinct: Provided, however, that the circuit court of any county in which a municipality is located 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 such board, shall especially sit to hear such applications on Monday and Tuesday of the first week prior to the week in which such election is to be held. Such application shall be sworn to, and shall state that the party making the same has applied to the precinct registration officers, or to the board of election commissioners, and that said precinct registration officers, or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, refused to place his name upon such registry or to complete his registration or has stricken his name from such registry. Application shall be made on or before the opening of the court on Friday or Monday last aforesaid, as the case may be, and the court shall cause a docket of such applications to be made out, arranged by wards and precincts, and the same shall be heard, summarily and evidence may be introduced for and against such application. Each case shall be decided at once on hearings and the clerk of the court shall make a minute of the disposition of each application; a copy of such minute shall at once be given to the board of election commissioners which shall forthwith cause such name to be placed upon the original and duplicate registration records if the court has so ordered, and indicate that it was entered by order of court. After the entry of the order to be restored, or to be registered or to complete registration, no further change shall be permitted in the original and duplicate registration records by the board of election commissioners, and such records shall constitute the official registration for the election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1936. No person admitted to the register by order of such court shall be protected by such order from a criminal prosecution for any violation of the provisions of this Act.

10 ILCS 5/6-47 — Refusing An Application

In case said court shall refuse any such application, an order shall be entered accordingly on the Wednesday following the session of the court held for the purpose aforesaid. Appeals may be taken as in other civil cases.

10 ILCS 5/6-48 — Supplemental List

A supplemental list of all persons whose registration shall have been ordered restored or completed by order of the board of election commissioners or by order of the circuit court, under Sections 6-45 and 6-46 of this Article, and a supplemental list of all persons erased or withdrawn from such register by order of the board, under Section 6-45 or 6-60 of this Article, shall be printed by such board in sufficient quantity to accommodate each precinct, and the board shall cause copies thereof to be delivered to all persons demanding the same. If the names of no persons have been added, erased or withdrawn, a supplemental list shall be printed stating that fact. The board of election commissioners shall post one copy of the printed register in each polling place not later than the fifth day before the election and one copy of the supplemental list on the day before the election. Before the opening of the polls on the day of election, the board of election commissioners shall deliver to the judges of each precinct where such election is to be held, the printed register required by Section 6-43 of this Article and the supplemental list or lists aforesaid, together with a certification thereof bearing the facsimile signature of the executive director of the board attesting that the persons whose names appear on such printed register as revised or corrected by the supplemental list or lists, are qualified to vote at such election in the precinct indicated at the top of the list. The printed register, and supplemental list or lists, together with the certification of the executive director shall be firmly attached to each other.

In case the printed register or supplemental list or lists, together with the certification by the executive director of the board be lost or destroyed, the board of election commissioners shall furnish a duplicate thereof upon request of any judge of election.

The original and supplemental lists may be consolidated into one list. In the event of such consolidation the certification herein required by the executive director shall be attached to such consolidated list.

10 ILCS 5/6-49 — Providing Registration Cards

The registration hereinabove provided preceding the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1936, shall constitute a permanent registration, subject to revision and alteration in the manner hereinafter provided. However, except as provided in Section 6-49.1 of this Article, the registration hereinabove provided for shall constitute a permanent registration only until September 15, 1961, in municipalities having 3 days of precinct registration preceding the 1962 primary election and only until the last day of precinct re-registration in 1970 in other municipalities, at which time such registrations shall become null and void and shall be cancelled immediately thereafter by such Board.

All registrations subsequent to that hereinbefore provided shall be upon registration record cards provided by the Board of Election Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of Section 6-35 of this Article.

10 ILCS 5/6-49.1 — Place of Registration

In municipalities of 500,000 or more inhabitants having a Board of Election Commissioners and in all cities, villages and incorporated towns under the jurisdiction of such Board of Election Commissioners there shall be 3 days of registration in each precinct preceding the April 10, 1962 State and County Primary Election. The first of such 3 days of registration shall be on Friday, September 15, 1961; the second of such 3 days of registration shall be on Friday, October 13, 1961; and the third of such 3 days of registration shall be on Tuesday, March 13, 1962. Any registration received by the Board of Election Commissioners after July 15, 1961 shall be considered a part of the re-registration required by this Section and shall constitute a permanent registration subject to revision and alteration in the manner hereafter provided in this Article. In all other cities, villages and incorporated towns the registration heretofore in effect shall continue unless the Board of Election Commissioners for any such other cities, villages or incorporated towns files with the clerk of such other city, village or incorporated town, prior to October 15, 1969, a resolution, or copy thereof, expressing the need for a general registration therein preceding the June, 1970, State and county primary election. If such resolution is so filed, there shall be a re-registration in 1969 and 1970 as hereinafter in this Section provided. The registration herein provided in this Section 6-49.1 shall constitute a permanent registration subject to revision and alteration in the manner hereinafter provided in this Article.

In municipalities having fewer than 500,000 inhabitants and having a board of election commissioners and in which a resolution expressing the need for a general registration preceding the June, 1970, primary has been filed as provided in this Section, there shall be 3 days of registration in each precinct preceding the primary election of June 9, 1970. The first of such 3 days of registration shall be Friday, November 21, 1969; the second, Friday, December 19, 1969; and the third, Tuesday, January 15, 1970. Any registration received by the board of election commissioners after September 1, 1970, shall be considered a part of the re-registration required by this Section and shall constitute a permanent registration subject to revision and alteration in the manner hereinafter provided in this Article.

The place of registration in each precinct shall be designated by the Board of Election Commissioners and public notice thereof given, and the provisions of Article 11, Section 11-4. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act shall apply thereto. The registration places so designated shall be open from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on each of such days of registration. All of the provisions of this Article 6 shall apply to such registration.

10 ILCS 5/6-50 — Hours

The office of the board of election commissioners shall be open during ordinary business hours of each week day, from 9 a.m. to 12 o'clock noon on the last four Saturdays immediately preceding the end of the period of registration preceding each election, and such other days and such other times as the board may direct. There shall be no registration at the office of the board of election commissioners in cities, villages and incorporated towns of fewer than 200,000 inhabitants during the 27 days preceding any primary, regular or special election at which the cards provided for in this article are used, or until the second day following such primary, regular or special election. In cities, villages and incorporated towns of 200,000 or more inhabitants, there shall be no registration of voters at the office of the board of election commissioners during the 35 days immediately preceding any election; provided, however, where no precinct registration is being conducted prior to any election then registration may be taken in the office of the board up to and including the 28th day prior to such election. In any election called for the submission of the revision or alteration of, or the amendments to the Constitution, submitted by a Constitutional Convention, the final day for registration at the office of the election authority charged with the printing of the ballot of this election shall be the 15th day prior to the date of election.

The Board of Election Commissioners shall appoint one or more registration teams, each consisting of one member from each of the 2 leading political parties, for the purpose of accepting the registration of any voter who files an affidavit, within the period for taking registrations provided for in this Article, that he is physically unable to appear at the office of the Board or at any appointed place of registration. On the day or days when a precinct registration is being conducted such teams shall consist of one member from each of the 2 leading political parties who are serving on the precinct registration board. Each team so designated shall visit each person with a disability and shall accept the registration of such person the same as if he had applied for registration in person.

The office of the board of election commissioners may be designated as a place of registration under Section 6-51 of this Article and, if so designated, may also be open for purposes of registration on such day or days as may be specified by the board of election commissioners under the provisions of that Section.

10 ILCS 5/6-50.1 — Other Methods of Registration

In addition to registration at the office of the board of election commissioners, the board of election commissioners shall provide the following methods of registration:

• (1) The appointment of deputy registrars as provided in Section 6-50.2;
• (2) The establishment of temporary places of registration as provided in Section 6-50.3.

The board of election commissioners may provide for registration pursuant to Section 6-51.

10 ILCS 5/6-50.2 — Appointing Deputy Registrars

• (a) The board of election commissioners shall appoint all precinct committeepersons in the election jurisdiction as deputy registrars who may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the State, except during the 27 days preceding an election.
  • 1. The chief librarian, or a qualified person designated by the chief librarian, of any public library situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the State, at such library.
  • 2. The principal, or a qualified person designated by the principal, of any high school, elementary school, or vocational school situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept the registrations of any resident of the State, at such school. The board of election commissioners shall notify every principal and vice-principal of each high school, elementary school, and vocational school situated in the election jurisdiction of their eligibility to serve as deputy registrars and offer training courses for service as deputy registrars at conveniently located facilities at least 4 months prior to every election.
  • 3. The president, or a qualified person designated by the president, of any university, college, community college, academy, or other institution of learning situated within the State, who may accept the registrations of any resident of the election jurisdiction, at such university, college, community college, academy, or institution.
  • 4. A duly elected or appointed official of a bona fide labor organization, or a reasonable number of qualified members designated by such official, who may accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the State.
  • >5. A duly elected or appointed official of a bona fide State civic organization, as defined and determined by rule of the State Board of Elections, or qualified members designated by such official, who may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the State.

    In determining the number of deputy registrars that shall be appointed, the board of election commissioners shall consider the population of the jurisdiction, the size of the organization, the geographic size of the jurisdiction, convenience for the public, the existing number of deputy registrars in the jurisdiction and their location, the registration activities of the organization and the need to appoint deputy registrars to assist and facilitate the registration of non-English speaking individuals. In no event shall a board of election commissioners fix an arbitrary number applicable to every civic organization requesting appointment of its members as deputy registrars.

    The State Board of Elections shall by rule provide for certification of bona fide State civic organizations. Such appointments shall be made for a period not to exceed 2 years, terminating on the first business day of the month following the month of the general election, and shall be valid for all periods of voter registration as provided by this Code during the terms of such appointments.

  • 6. The Director of Healthcare and Family Services, or a reasonable number of employees designated by the Director and located at public aid offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the election jurisdiction at any such public aid office.
  • 7. The Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, or a reasonable number of employees designated by the Director and located at unemployment offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the election jurisdiction at any such unemployment office. If the request to be appointed as deputy registrar is denied, the board of election commissioners shall, within 10 days after the date the request is submitted, provide the affected individual or organization with written notice setting forth the specific reasons or criteria relied upon to deny the request to be appointed as deputy registrar.
  • 8. The president of any corporation, as defined by the Business Corporation Act of 1983, or a reasonable number of employees designated by such president, who may accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the State.

  The board of election commissioners may appoint as many additional deputy registrars as it considers necessary. The board of election commissioners shall appoint such additional deputy registrars in such manner that the convenience of the public is served, giving due consideration to both population concentration and area. Some of the additional deputy registrars shall be selected so that there are an equal number from each of the 2 major political parties in the election jurisdiction. The board of election commissioners, in appointing an additional deputy registrar, shall make the appointment from a list of applicants submitted by the Chair of the County Central Committee of the applicant's political party. A Chair of a County Central Committee shall submit a list of applicants to the board by November 30 of each year. The board may require a Chair of a County Central Committee to furnish a supplemental list of applicants.

  Deputy registrars may accept registrations at any time other than the 27-day period preceding an election. All persons appointed as deputy registrars shall be registered voters within the election jurisdiction and shall take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation:

  "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 registration officer to the best of my ability and that I will register no person nor cause the registration of any person except upon his personal application before me.

  SIGNATURE OF REGISTRATION OFFICER

  (Signature of Registration Officer)"

  This oath shall be administered and certified to by one of the commissioners or by the executive director or by some person designated by the board of election commissioners, and shall immediately thereafter be filed with the board of election commissioners. The members of the board of election commissioners and all persons authorized by them under the provisions of this Article to take registrations, after themselves taking and subscribing to the above oath, are authorized to take or administer such oaths and execute such affidavits as are required by this Article.

  Appointments of deputy registrars under this Section, except precinct committeepersons, shall be for 2-year terms, commencing on December 1 following the general election of each even-numbered year, except that the terms of the initial appointments shall be until December 1st following the next general election.

  Appointments of precinct committeepersons shall be for 2-year terms commencing on the date of the county convention following the general primary at which they were elected.

  The county clerk shall issue a certificate of appointment to each deputy registrar, and shall maintain in his office for public inspection a list of the names of all appointees.
• (b) The board of election commissioners shall be responsible for training all deputy registrars appointed pursuant to subsection (a), at times and locations reasonably convenient for both the board of election commissioners and such appointees. The board of election commissioners shall be responsible for certifying and supervising all deputy registrars appointed pursuant to subsection (a). Deputy registrars appointed under subsection (a) shall be subject to removal for cause.
• (c) Completed registration materials under the control of deputy registrars appointed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be returned to the appointing election authority by first-class mail within 2 business days or personal delivery within 7 days, except that completed registration materials received by the deputy registrars during the period between the 35th and 28th day preceding an election shall be returned by the deputy registrars to the appointing election authority within 48 hours after receipt thereof. The completed registration materials received by the deputy registrars on the 28th day preceding an election shall be returned by the deputy registrars within 24 hours after receipt thereof. Unused materials shall be returned by deputy registrars appointed pursuant to paragraph 4 of subsection (a), not later than the next working day following the close of registration.
• (d) The county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, must provide any additional forms requested by any deputy registrar regardless of the number of unaccounted registration forms the deputy registrar may have in his or her possession.
• (e) No deputy registrar shall engage in any electioneering or the promotion of any cause during the performance of his or her duties.
• (f) The board of election commissioners shall not be criminally or civilly liable for the acts or omissions of any deputy registrar. Such deputy registrars shall not be deemed to be employees of the board of election commissioners.
• (g) Completed registration materials returned by deputy registrars for persons residing outside the election jurisdiction shall be transmitted by the board of election commissioners within 2 days after receipt to the election authority of the person's election jurisdiction of residence.

10 ILCS 5/6-50.3 — Temporary Places of Registration

The board of election commissioners may establish temporary places of registration for such times and at such locations as the board may select. Notice of the time and place of registration at any such temporary place of registration under this Section shall be published by the board of election commissioners in a newspaper having a general circulation in the city, village or incorporated town not less than 3 nor more than 15 days before the holding of such registration.

Temporary places of registration shall be established so that the areas of concentration of population or use by the public are served, whether by facilities provided in places of private business or in public buildings or in mobile units. Areas which may be designated as temporary places of registration include, but are not limited to, facilities licensed or certified pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, Soldiers' and Sailors' Homes, shopping centers, business districts, public buildings and county fairs.

Temporary places of registration shall be available to the public not less than 2 hours per year for each 1,000 population or fraction thereof in the county.

All temporary places of registration shall be manned by employees of the board of election commissioners or deputy registrars appointed pursuant to Section 6-50.2.

10 ILCS 5/6-51 — Registration & Hours

Prior to any election the board of election commissioners may, in the manner provided by this Section, designate convenient places in the city, village or incorporated town for the registration of voters. A list of such places shall be submitted to and be subject to the approval of the circuit court, and notice of the time and place for such registration shall be given by publication in a newspaper in such city, village or incorporated town 20 days before such registration. In cities, villages and incorporated towns of 200,000 or more, at least one such place shall be designated for each 30,000 inhabitants, and at least one shall be designated for each ward of such city, village or incorporated town and for each city, village or incorporated town under the jurisdiction of a board of election commissioners; but the requirement of one place of registration for each 30,000 inhabitants shall not apply to special elections for a city, village or incorporated town, or any part thereof, or to any judicial election at which no officers other than judicial officers are to be elected, or to any election, general, special or municipal (including a primary election) that shall be held on or before July 1, in the year immediately following a congressional election.

The places so designated for registration shall be open from 8 o'clock a. m., to 9 o'clock p. m., on such day or days (not exceeding 2) as may be specified by the board of election commissioners, but shall not be open on any day more than 38 days preceding the election or at any time subsequent to Tuesday, 4 weeks before the election; provided that in municipalities of more than 200,000 and having a board of election commissioners and in cities, villages and incorporated towns within the jurisdiction of such board, such place may be opened on such day or days as may be specified by the board of election commissioners but shall not be open on any day more than 38 days preceding the election, and shall not be open at any time subsequent to Tuesday, 4 weeks before the election.

10 ILCS 5/6-52 — Registration Subsections

Registration under Sections 6-49.1, 6-50, 6-50.2, 6-50.3 and 6-51 of this Article shall be made in the manner provided by Sections 6-34, 6-35 and 6-37 of this Article.

With respect to registrations at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners under Section 6-50 hereof, applications to complete registrations and hearings thereon shall (except as may be otherwise provided in Sections 6-43 and 6-60 of this Article) be made and heard at such times as may by rule be prescribed by the Board of Election Commissioners, but the hearing and decision thereof by the Board of Election Commissioners shall be within 30 days after the application for registration.

In such cases and in all other cases not specifically provided for by this Article, applications for hearings by the court may be made within 5 days after decision by the board in the manner provided by Section 6-46, and a hearing and decision by such court shall be had within 30 days after such application. Appeals may be taken as in other civil cases. In all cases where registration is had at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners within 42 days before any election hearings by such board and by the court shall (except as may be otherwise provided in Sections 6-43 and 6-60 of this Article) be on the days preceding the election specified in Sections 6-45 and 6-46 of this Article. Hearings and decisions shall be had within the periods specified by such sections.

10 ILCS 5/6-53 — Changing Voter Registration Address

Any registered elector who changes his residence from one address number or place to another within the same precinct, city or village or incorporated town, may have his registration transferred to his new address by making and signing an application for such change of residence address upon a form to be provided by such board of election commissioners. Such application may be made to the office of such board or at any place designated in accordance with Section 6-51 of this Article.

Upon receipt of such application the board of election commissioners or officer, employee or deputy registrar designated by such board shall cause the signature of the voter and the data appearing upon the application to be compared with the signature and data on the registration record, and if it appears that the applicant is the same person as the party previously registered under that name, the transfer shall be made. In case the person is unable to sign his name the board of election commissioners shall require such person to execute the request in the presence of the board or of its properly authorized representative, by his mark, and if satisfied of the identity of the person, the board of election commissioners shall make the transfer. The person in charge of the registration shall draw a line through the last address, ward and precinct number on the original and duplicate and write the new address, ward and precinct number on the original and duplicate registration records.

Any registered elector may transfer his registration only at any such time as is provided by this Article for the registration of voters at the office of the board. When a removal of a registered voter takes place from one address to another within the same precinct within a period during which such transfer of registration cannot be made, before any election or primary, he shall be entitled to vote upon presenting to the judges of election an affidavit of a change and having said affidavit supported by the affidavit of a qualified voter who is a householder in the same precinct. Suitable forms for this purpose shall be provided by the board of election commissioners whose duty it is to conduct the election; and thereupon the precinct election officials shall report to the board of election commissioners the names of all such persons who have changed their address and voted.

The board of election commissioners may obtain information from utility companies, city records, the post office or from other sources regarding the removal of registered voters, and notify such voters that a transfer of registration may be made in the manner provided by this section.

If any person be registered by error in a precinct other than that in which he resides, a transfer of registration to the precinct in which he resides may be made in the manner provided by this section.

Where a revision or rearrangement of precincts is made by the board of election commissioners under the power conferred by Section 11-3 of Article 11. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, such board shall immediately transfer to the proper precinct the registration of any voter affected by such revision or rearrangement of precincts; make the proper notations on the cards in the master and precinct files; and shall notify the registrant of such change.

10 ILCS 5/6-54 — Changing a Name in Voter Registration

Any registered voter who changes his or her name by marriage or otherwise, shall be required to register anew and authorize the cancellation of the previous registration; provided, however, that if the change of name takes place within a period during which such new registration cannot be made, next preceding any election or primary, the elector may, if otherwise qualified, vote upon making the following affidavit before the judges of election:

If the voter whose name has changed still resides in the same precinct, the voter may vote after making the affidavit at the polling place regardless of when the change of name occurred. In that event, the affidavit shall not state that the voter is required to register; the affidavit shall be treated by the election authority as authorization to cancel the registration under the former name, and the election authority shall register the voter under his or her current name.

10 ILCS 5/6-55 — Criminals and Deceased Persons

The board of election commissioners shall obtain the reports provided for by sections 6-61 and 6-62 of this Article and shall cancel the registration of criminals and of deceased persons whose names are reported to it.

10 ILCS 5/6-56 — Canvassing Hotels & Rooming Houses

Not more than 30 nor less than 28 days before any election under this Article, all owners, managers, administrators or operators of hotels, lodging houses, rooming houses, furnished apartments or facilities licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, which house 4 or more persons, outside the members of the family of such owner, manager, administrator or operator, shall file with the board of election commissioners a report, under oath, together with one copy thereof, in such form as may be required by the board of election commissioners, of the names and descriptions of all lodgers, guests or residents claiming a voting residence at the hotels, lodging houses, rooming houses, furnished apartments, or facility licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act under their control.

In counties having a population of 500,000 or more such report shall be made on forms mailed to them by the board of election commissioners. The board of election commissioners shall sort and assemble the sworn copies of the reports in numerical order according to ward and according to precincts within each ward and shall, not later than 5 days after the last day allowed by this Article for the filing of the reports, maintain one assembled set of sworn duplicate reports available for public inspection until 60 days after election days. Except as is otherwise expressly provided in this Article, the board shall not be required to perform any duties with respect to the sworn reports other than to mail, sort, assemble, post and file them as hereinabove provided.

Except in such cases where a precinct canvass is being conducted by the Board of Election Commissioners prior to a Primary or Election, the board of election commissioners shall compare the original copy of each such report with the list of registered voters from such addresses. Every person registered from such address and not listed in such report or whose name is different from any name so listed, shall immediately after the last day of registration be sent a notice through the United States mail, at the address appearing upon his registration record card, requiring him to appear before the board of election commissioners on one of the days specified in Section 6-45 of this Article and show cause why his registration should not be cancelled. The provisions of Sections 6-45, 6-46 and 6-47 of this Article shall apply to such hearing and proceedings subsequent thereto.

Any owner, manager or operator of any such hotel, lodging house, rooming house or furnished apartment who shall fail or neglect to file such statement and copy thereof as in this Article provided, may, upon written information of the attorney for the election commissioners, be cited by the election commissioners or upon the complaint of any voter of such city, village or incorporated town, to appear before them and furnish such sworn statement and copy thereof and make such oral statements under oath regarding such hotel, lodging house, rooming house or furnished apartment, as the election commissioners may require. The election commissioners shall sit to hear such citations on the Friday of the fourth week preceding the week in which such election is to be held. Such citation shall be served not later than the day preceding the day on which it is returnable.

10 ILCS 5/6-57 — Confirming Corrections to Registration Records

To each person who registers at the office of the board of election commissioners or at any place designated by such board under Section 6-51 of this Article, after the first registration under this Article, the board shall send by mail, and electronic mail if the registrant has provided the board of election committees with an e-mail address, a notice setting forth the elector's name and address as it appears on the registration record card, and shall request him in case of any error to present the notice on or before the tenth day next ensuing at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners in order to secure the correction of the error. Such notice shall contain on the outside a request for the postmaster to return it within five days if it cannot be delivered to the addressee at the address given thereon. Upon the return by the post office of any such notice which it has been unable to deliver at the given address because the addressee cannot be found there, a notice shall be at once sent through the United States mail to such person at the address appearing upon his registration record card requiring him to appear before the Board of Election Commissioners at a time and place specified in the notice and show cause why his name should not be cancelled from the register. Thereafter, proceedings shall be, as nearly as may be, in conformity with those established by Section 6-52 of this Article with respect to applications to complete registration. Such notice may be sent at any time within thirty days after the registration of any person, but such notice shall be sent within five days after the last day of registration before any election, to all persons who have registered since the last preceding election, and to whom no such notice has theretofore been sent; and where the addressee cannot be found, notice requiring such person to appear before the board of election commissioners shall specify dates for hearing before the election not later than those prescribed by Section 6-45 of this Article.

10 ILCS 5/6-58 — Notice of Suspension of Registration

Following each general election occurring in November of even numbered years, beginning in 1940, the board of election commissioners shall examine the registration records and shall send to every voter who has not voted during the last four years, a notice through the mails, substantially as follows:

In case the elector is unable to sign his name, the application for reinstatement shall be made at the office of the board of election commissioners.

After the expiration of thirty days the board of election commissioners shall cancel the registration of all electors thus notified who have not applied for reinstatement. A proper entry shall be made on the registration record for all electors whose registration is reinstated. Any elector whose registration has been cancelled for failure to vote may register again by making application therefor in the manner provided by this Article.

When a registration is cancelled under this or other sections of this Article, a proper entry shall be made upon the face of the original and duplicate records, which shall then be placed in a file of cancelled registrations and shall be preserved for two years from date of cancellation.

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.

10 ILCS 5/6-59 — Verification of Voter Registration

The Board of Election Commissioners on its own initiative, or upon order of the circuit court, shall at all times have authority to conduct investigations and to make canvasses of the registered voters in any precinct or precincts within its jurisdiction either by the methods provided in this Article or at other times and by other methods than those prescribed herein.

However, the Board of Election Commissioners shall, at least once in every 2 years, conduct a verification of voter registrations and shall cause the cancellation of registration of persons who have ceased to be qualified voters.

Such verification shall be accomplished by one of the following methods:

• (1) precinct canvass conducted by 2 qualified persons of opposite party affiliation appointed by the Board of Election Commissioners or
• (2) written request sent to each registered voter by first class mail, not forwardable or
• (3) an alternative method of verification submitted in writing to and approved by The State Board of Elections at a public meeting not less than 60 days prior to the date on which the Board of Election Commissioners has fixed for implementation of that method of verification; provided, said Board shall submit to the State Board of Elections a written statement of the results obtained by use of such alternative method within 30 days of the completion of the verification.

If, upon the basis of investigations or canvasses, the board shall be of the opinion that any person registered under this Article is not a qualified voter or has ceased to be a qualified voter, it shall send a notice through the United States mail to such person, requiring him to appear before such board at a time specified in such notice, not less than 10 nor more than 30 days after the mailing of such notice and show cause why his registration should not be cancelled.

If such a person does not appear, his registration shall be cancelled. If such a person does appear he shall make an affidavit and shall be heard in the manner provided by Section 6-45 of this Article, and if his registration is cancelled as a result of such a hearing, he shall be entitled to a hearing in the circuit court and to an appeal to the Supreme Court in the manner provided by Section 6-52 of this Article.

Whenever the Board of Election Commissioners acting under authority of this section conducts a canvass of the registered voters in any precinct or precincts and the board designates canvassers to conduct the canvass, the board shall appoint as canvassers persons affiliated with the leading political parties in like manner as judges of election are appointed under the provisions of Section 14-4. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act; provided that in each precinct in counties of 500,000 inhabitants or more, one canvasser may be appointed from outside such precinct if not enough other qualified persons who reside within the precinct can be found to serve as canvasser in such precinct. The one canvasser so appointed to serve in any precinct in which he is not entitled to vote prior to the election must be entitled to vote elsewhere within the ward or township which includes within its boundaries the precinct in which such canvasser is appointed and such canvasser must be otherwise qualified.

The canvassers, so appointed by virtue of this section, shall comply with the provisions of Sections 6-40 and 6-41 relative to the mailing and leaving of notices at the addresses of persons whose right to vote in the precinct or precincts is questioned.

10 ILCS 5/6-59.01 — Homeless Registered Voters

Each registered voter lacking a permanent abode shall be canvassed by the board of election commissioners before each election. The canvass shall be by mail sent not later than 49 days preceding the election to the mailing address listed on the voter's registration record card. The board shall include in the mailing a postage prepaid return postcard. The voter must certify on the postcard his or her continued residence at the registration address and mail the postcard back to the board so that it is postmarked no later than the 26th day preceding the election.

If an application for registration is presented within the 49 day period preceding an election, then this Section shall not apply and the provisions of this Article with respect to the mailing of a verification of a registration notice shall be a canvass, except that such notice shall be mailed to the registrant's mailing address.

10 ILCS 5/6-59.1 — Accepting Qualified Registration

The board of election commissioners and its appointed deputy registrars shall accept the registration of any qualified person residing in the county in which the municipality under the jurisdiction of such board is situated and shall transmit such registrations to the county clerk prior to the close of registration before an election.

10 ILCS 5/6-60 — List of Registered Voters

Immediately after the last registration day before any election, except as is otherwise provided in Section 6-43 of this Article, the board of election commissioners shall prepare and print precinct registers in the manner provided by Section 6-43 of this article, and make such copies available to any person applying therefor. Provided, however, that in cities, villages and incorporated towns of less than 200,000 inhabitants such printed lists shall be prepared only before a general election. On the precinct registers, the board of election commissioners shall indicate, by italics, asterisk, or other means, the names of all persons who have registered since the last regularly scheduled election in the consolidated schedule of elections established in Section 2A-1.1 of this Act.

Prior to the general election of even-numbered years, all boards of election commissioners shall give the precinct registers to the chair of a county central committee of an established political party, as such party is defined in Section 10-2. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, or to the chair's duly authorized representative. Within 30 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1983, all boards of election commissioners shall give the precinct registers compiled prior to the general November election of 1982 to the chair of a county central committee of an established political party or to the chair's duly authorized representative.

For the first registration under this Article, such precinct register shall be printed and available to any person upon application therefor at least three days before the first day upon which any voter may make application in writing to have any name erased from the register as provided by Section 6-44 of this Article. For subsequent registrations, such registers, except as otherwise provided in this Section for municipalities of more than 500,000, shall be printed and shall be available to any person upon application at least five days before the first day upon which any voter may make application in writing to have any name erased from the register.

Application to have a name upon such register erased may be made in the manner provided by Section 6-44 of this Article, and applications to erase names, complete registration, or to register or restore names shall be heard in the same manner as is provided by Section 6-45 of this Article, with application to the circuit court and appeal to the Supreme Court as provided in Sections 6-46 and 6-47. The rights conferred and the times specified by these Sections with respect to the first election under this Article shall also apply to succeeding registrations and elections. Provided, however, that in municipalities having a population of more than 500,000, and having a Board of Election Commissioners, as to all elections, registrations for which are made solely with the Board of Election Commissioners, and where no general precinct registrations were provided for or held within twenty-eight days before the election, an application to have a name upon such register erased, as provided for in Section 6-44, shall be made within two days after the publication of the printed precinct register, and the Board of Election Commissioners shall announce its decision on such applications within four days after said applications are made, and within four days after its decision on such applications shall cause a supplemental printed precinct register showing such correction as may be necessary by reason of such decision to be printed in like manner as hereinabove provided in Section 6-43 hereof, and upon application a copy of the same shall be given to any person applying therefor. Such list shall have printed on the bottom thereof the facsimile signatures of the members of the board of election commissioners. Said supplemental printed precinct register shall be prima facie evidence that the electors whose names appear thereon are entitled to vote. If the dates specified in this Article as to applications to complete or erase registrations or as to proceedings before the Board of Election Commissioners or the circuit court in the first registration under this Article shall not be applicable to any subsequent primary or regular or special election, the Board of Election Commissioners shall, with the approval of the circuit court, adopt and publish a schedule of dates which shall permit equal intervals of time therefor as are provided for such first registrations.

After action by the Board of Election Commissioners and by the circuit court, a supplemental list shall be prepared and made available in the manner provided by Section 6-48 of this Article.

List of Voters

Within 60 days after each general election the board of election commissioners shall indicate by italics, asterisk, or other means, on the list of registered voters in each precinct, each registrant who voted at that general election, and shall provide a copy of such list to the chair of the county central committee of each established political party or to the chair's duly authorized representative.

Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1983, the board of election commissioners shall indicate by italics, asterisk, or other means, on the list of registered voters in each precinct, each registrant who voted at the general election of 1982, and shall provide a copy of such coded list to the chair of the county central committee of each established political party or to the chair's duly authorized representative.

The board of election commissioners may charge a fee to reimburse the actual cost of duplicating each copy of a list provided under either of the 2 preceding paragraphs.

10 ILCS 5/6-61 — Notification of Prison Sentence

It shall be the duty of the clerk of any court where parties are tried or convicted of penitentiary offenses in the county where such city, village or incorporated town is located, to furnish monthly to such board of commissioners the names of all parties convicted or sentenced for any crime, the punishment of which is confinement in the penitentiary, and their place of residence if such fact be in the possession of such clerk.

10 ILCS 5/6-62 — Notification of Deaths

It shall be the duty of the person or officer having charge of the vital records of a city, village or incorporated town to furnish to the board of election commissioners, monthly, a report of the names and previous residences of all persons over 18 years of age that have died during the preceding month.

10 ILCS 5/6-63 — Striking Names From the Voter Rolls

It shall be the duty of the board of election commissioners to strike the names of all such criminals and of all such deceased persons from the registers of the precinct in which any such person is registered, noting opposite such name the cause for which it was stricken.

10 ILCS 5/6-64 — Replacing Registration Cards

If either the original or duplicate registration card or both, of any elector, shall be lost, destroyed or mutilated in whole or in part, the board of election commissioners shall prepare two new registration cards, an original and a duplicate, and shall require the execution of a new registration affidavit by such elector, and if any such elector shall refuse to execute such affidavit within thirty days after the mailing of a notice to such elector at the last address from which he has registered, then the registration of such elector shall be cancelled. If either the original or duplicate registration cards, or both, of all registered voters of any city, village or incorporated town or any ward or precinct thereof shall be lost or destroyed, the board of election commissioners shall require a re-registration of electors of such city, ward or precinct.

10 ILCS 5/6-65 — Making Registration Cards Searchable

The duplicate registration record cards shall remain permanently in the office of the Board of Election Commissioners; shall be filed alphabetically without regard to wards or precincts; and shall be known as the master file. The master file may be kept in a computer-based voter registration file or paper format, provided a secondary digital back-up is kept off site. The digital file shall be searchable and remain current with all registration activity conducted by the Board of Election Commissioners. The original registration record cards shall constitute the official precinct registry of voters; shall be filed by wards and precincts; and shall be known as the precinct file. The original cards shall be delivered to the judges of election by the Board of Election Commissioners in a suitable binder or other device, which shall be locked and sealed in accordance with directions to be given by the Board of Election Commissioners and shall also be suitably indexed for convenient use by the precinct officers. The precinct files shall be delivered to the precinct officers for use at the polls, on the day of election and shall be returned to the Board of Election Commissioners immediately after the close of the polls. The board shall determine by rules the manner of delivery and return to such file. At all other times the precinct file shall be retained at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners except for such use of it as may be made under this Article with respect to registration not at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners.

10 ILCS 5/6-66 — Certificate of Registered Voter

Upon application to vote each registered elector shall sign his name or make his mark as the case may be, on a certificate substantially as follows:

Individual Not Required to Provide His Social Security Number

An individual shall not be required to provide his social security number when applying for a ballot. He shall not be denied a ballot, nor shall his ballot be challenged, solely because of his refusal to provide his social security number. Nothing in this Act prevents an individual from being requested to provide his social security number when the individual applies for a ballot. If, however, the certificate contains a space for the individual's social security number, the following notice shall appear on the certificate, immediately above such space, in bold-face capital letters, in type the size of which equals the largest type on the certificate:

The applications of each State-wide political party at a primary election shall be separately printed upon paper of uniform quality, texture and size, but the applications of no 2 State-wide political parties shall be of the same color or tint. If the election authority provides computer generated applications with the precinct, ballot style, and voter's name and address preprinted on the application, a single application may be used for State-wide political parties if it contains spaces or check-off boxes to indicate the political party. Such applications may contain spaces or check-off boxes permitting the voter to also request a primary ballot of any political party which is established only within a political subdivision and for which a primary is conducted on the same election day. Such applications shall not entitle the voter to vote in both the primary of a State-wide political party and the primary of a local political party with respect to the offices of the same political subdivision or to vote in the primary of more than one State-wide political party on the same day.

Election Judge Comparing Signature

The judges in charge of the precinct registration files shall compare the signature upon such certificate with the signature on the registration record card as a means of identifying the voter. Unless satisfied by such comparison that the applicant to vote is the identical person who is registered under the same name, the judges shall ask such applicant the questions for identification which appear on the registration card, and if the applicant does not prove to the satisfaction of a majority of the judges of the election precinct that he is the identical person registered under the name in question then the vote of such applicant shall be challenged by a judge of election, and the same procedure followed as provided in this Article and Act for challenged voters.

Elector Unable to Sign His Name

In case the elector is unable to sign his name, a judge of election shall check the data on the registration card and shall check the address given, with the registered address, in order to determine whether he is entitled to vote.

Checking the Certificate

One of the judges of election shall check the certificate of such applicant for a ballot after the registration record has been examined, and shall sign his initials on the certificate in the space provided therefor, and shall enter upon such certificate the number of the voter in the place provided therefor, and make an entry in the voting record space on the registration record, to indicate whether or not the applicant voted. Such judge shall then hand such certificate back to the applicant in case he is permitted to vote, and such applicant shall hand it to the judge of election in charge of the ballots. The certificates of the voters shall be filed in the order in which they are received and shall constitute an official poll record. The terms "poll lists" and "poll books", where used in this Article and Act, shall be construed to apply to such official poll record.

After each general primary election the board of election commissioners shall indicate by color code or other means next to the name of each registrant on the list of registered voters in each precinct the primary ballot of a political party that the registrant requested at the general primary election. The board of election commissioners, within 60 days after that general primary election, shall provide a copy of this coded list to the chairman of the county central committee of each established political party or to the chair's duly authorized representative.

Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1983, the board of election commissioners shall provide to the chairman of the county central committee of each established political party or to the chair's duly authorized representative the list of registered voters in each precinct at the time of the general primary election of 1982 and shall indicate on such list by color code or other means next to the name of a registrant the primary ballot of a political party that the registrant requested at the general primary election of 1982.

The board of election commissioners may charge a fee to reimburse the actual cost of duplicating each copy of a list provided under either of the 2 preceding paragraphs.

Where an elector makes application to vote by signing and presenting the certificate provided by this Section, and his registration card is not found in the precinct registry of voters, but his name appears as that of a registered voter in such precinct upon the printed precinct register as corrected or revised by the supplemental list, or upon the consolidated list, if any provided by this Article and whose name has not been erased or withdrawn from such register, the printed precinct register as corrected or revised by the supplemental list, or consolidated list, if any, shall be prima facie evidence of the elector's right to vote upon compliance with the provisions hereinafter set forth in this Section. In such event it shall be the duty of one of the judges of election to require an affidavit by such person and 2 voters residing in the precinct before the judges of election that he is the same person whose name appears upon the printed precinct register as corrected or revised by the supplemental list, or consolidated list, if any, and that he resides in the precinct, stating the street and number of his residence, and upon the presentation of such affidavits, a certificate shall be issued to such elector, and upon the presentation of such certificate and affidavits, he shall be entitled to vote. Any elector whose name does not appear as a registered voter on the printed precinct register or supplemental list but who has a certificate issued by the board of election commissioners as provided in Section 6-43 of this Article, shall be entitled to vote upon the presentation of such certificate accompanied by the affidavits of 2 voters residing in the precinct that the elector is the same person described in such certificate and that he resides in the precinct, stating the street and number of his residence. Forms for all affidavits required hereunder shall be supplied by the board of election commissioners. All affidavits made under this paragraph shall be preserved and returned to the board of election commissioners in the manner provided by this Article and Article 18 of this Act. It shall be the duty of the board of election commissioners, within 30 days after such election, to take the steps provided by Section 6-64 of this Article for the execution of new registration affidavits by electors who have voted under the provisions of this paragraph.

When the board of election commissioners delivers to the judges of election for use at the polls a supplemental or consolidated list of the printed precinct register, it shall give a copy of the supplemental or consolidated list to the chair of a county central committee of an established political party or to the chair's duly authorized representative.

Whenever 2 or more elections occur simultaneously, the election official or officials charged with the duty of providing application certificates may prescribe the form thereof so that a voter is required to execute only one, indicating in which of the elections he desires to vote.

After the signature has been verified, the judges shall determine in which political subdivisions the voter resides by use of the information contained on the voter registration cards or the separate registration lists or other means approved by the State Board of Elections and prepared and supplied by the election authority. The voter's certificate shall be so marked by the judges as to show the respective ballots which the voter is given.

10 ILCS 5/6-67 — Stating Party Affiliation at the Primary

Upon application to vote at a primary election each registered elector shall sign his name or mark and write his address on a certificate substantially the same as that used in the general election except that it shall have a place for party affiliation which is to be filled in by the elector, or by the officer in charge if the elector is unable to write. Such certificates when checked and initialed by the judge in charge, shall constitute the primary poll record. Such certificates at the close of the primary election shall be placed in an envelope, sealed and returned with the ballots. Nothing herein shall be construed to conflict with sections 7-44 and 7-45 of Article 7. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act.

10 ILCS 5/6-67.01 — Registration During Military or Naval Service

The provisions of this Article 6, so far as they require the registration of voters as a condition to their being allowed to vote shall not apply to persons otherwise entitled to vote, who are, at the time of the election, or at any time within 60 days prior to such election have been engaged in the military or naval service of the United States, and who appear personally at the polling place on election day and produce to the judges of election satisfactory evidence thereof, but such persons, if otherwise qualified to vote, shall be permitted to vote at such election without previous registration.

All such persons shall also make an affidavit which shall be in substantially the following form:

The affidavit of any such person shall be supported by the affidavit of a resident and qualified voter of such precinct and ward, which affidavit shall be in substantially the following form:

The provisions of this Article 6, so far as they require the registration of voters as a condition to their being allowed to vote shall not apply to persons otherwise entitled to vote who have made and subscribed to the affidavit provided in paragraph (b) of Section 17-10. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act.

10 ILCS 5/6-68 — Return of Affidavits

All affidavits made before judges of election under the provisions of this Article or of Article 14 of this Act. this link opens in a new browser tab. shall be immediately returned to the office of the board of election commissioners. Such affidavits, before being so returned, shall be enclosed in an envelope provided for that purpose, which shall then be securely sealed with sealing wax or other adhesive material, and each of the judges shall write his name across the seal. No judge of election shall break the seal of, or open any envelope containing affidavits, or shall permit any person to open any such envelope or break the seal thereof while the same is in his custody.

10 ILCS 5/6-69 — Composition of Registrar Team

In the conduct of registrations subsequent to that first provided for under this Article, the board of election commissioners shall have authority to designate its officers and employees to take registrations at its office or at such other places as may be specified by such board under Section 6-51 of this Article. For registration at other places than the office of the board of election commissioners, the board may select 3 officers of registration, one of whom may be an officer or employee of the board of election commissioners, and of the other 2, one shall be a member of the political party represented by a majority of the commissioners and one a member of the political party represented by a minority of such commissioners. To the extent that the third officer is not a permanent officer or employee of the board of election commissioners, the appointment of such officer of registration shall be equally divided between the 2 leading political parties. Judges of election for any precinct within the area served by one place of registration shall be eligible for appointment as officers of registration, but application shall in all cases be made to the circuit court for the appointment and confirmation of such officers of registration, in the manner provided for judges of election by Section 14-5 of Article 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act.

All officers of registration appointed in the manner provided above and all officers and employees of the board of election commissioners designated to take registrations either at the office of the board of election commissioners, or elsewhere, shall be deemed officers of registration; shall take the oath described by Section 6-33 [Editor's Note: There is no Section 6-33] of this Article; shall be considered officers of the circuit court; and shall be subject to the control provided for judges of election by Section 14-5 of Article 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act. The appointment of such registration officers shall be made for the same terms as Judges of election. All penalties imposed by this Act or Article upon judges of election or boards of registry with respect to the registration of voters or revision thereof or with respect to registration records, shall equally apply to deputy registrars, judges of registration and registration officers provided for by this Article.

10 ILCS 5/6-70 — Compensation of Election Commissioners

Such election commissioners and the executive director of the Board of Election Commissioners shall be paid by the county. In counties having a population of 500,000 or more, the city first adopting the provisions of this Act shall pay the salary of the assistant executive director. In all other counties such salary shall be paid by the county. In cities, villages and incorporated towns having a population less than 25,000 as determined by the last federal census, the election commissioners shall receive a salary of not less than $1,800 per annum. If the population is 25,000 or more but less than 40,000 the election commissioners shall receive a salary of not less than $2,400 per annum, to be determined by the county board. If the population is 40,000 or more but less than 70,000 the election commissioners shall receive a salary of not less than $2,100 per annum, to be determined by the county board. If the population is 70,000 or more but less than 100,000 the election commissioners shall receive a salary of not less than $2,700 per annum, to be determined by the county board. If the population is 100,000 or more but less than 2,000,000 the election commissioners shall receive a salary of not less than $3,200 per annum, to be determined by the county board. The chair of a board of election commissioners, in counties with a population of less than 2,000,000, shall be paid by the county an additional amount equal to 10% of his salary as an election commissioner. If the population is less than 25,000 the executive director shall receive a salary of not less than $4,500 per annum. If the population is 25,000 or more but less than 40,000 the executive director shall receive a salary of not less than $8,000 per annum, and in such cities, villages and incorporated towns there may be employed one assistant executive director who shall receive a salary of not less than $6,000 per annum. If the population is 40,000 or more but less than 70,000 the executive director shall receive a salary of not less than $9,500 per annum, and in such cities, villages and incorporated towns there may be employed one assistant executive director who shall receive a salary of not less than $7,500 per annum. If the population is 70,000 or more but less than 100,000 the executive director shall receive a salary of not less than $11,000 per annum, and in such cities, villages and incorporated towns there may be employed one assistant executive director who shall receive a salary of not less than $8,000 per annum. If the population is 100,000 or more but less than 2,000,000 the executive director shall receive a salary of not less than $12,000 per annum, and in such cities, villages and incorporated towns there may be employed one assistant executive director who shall receive a salary of not less than $8,000 per annum. It shall be the duty of the Board of Election Commissioners in such cities, villages and incorporated towns to fix the salary of the executive director and assistant executive director at the time of appointment of the clerk. In cities, villages and incorporated towns with a population greater than 2,000,000 the election commissioners shall receive a salary of not less than $21,000, provided, however, that the chair of the Board of Election Commissioners shall receive a salary, as set by and from time to time changed by the Board of County Commissioners, of not less than $35,000 per annum and shall hold no other office. In cities, villages and incorporated towns with a population greater than 2,000,000, such other election commissioners shall hold no other office. In cities, villages and incorporated towns with a population greater than 2,000,000 the executive director and employees of the Board of Election Commissioners shall serve on a full-time basis and shall hold no other office. In cities, villages and incorporated towns with a population of greater than 2,000,000, no election commissioner, executive director nor employee shall participate in any manner, in any activity or interests of any political party or of any candidate for public office or for nomination thereof, nor participate in any political campaign for the nomination or election of candidates for public office. Violation of any provision hereof shall be cause for removal from office or dismissal, as the case may be; provided, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to interfere with the right of any person to vote for any candidate or upon any issue as his reason and conscience may dictate nor interfere with the duties of his office. All expenses incurred by such Board of Election Commissioners shall be paid by such city.

The salaries and expenditures are to be audited by the chief circuit judge, who may designate an independent external auditor to perform the task, and the salaries and expenditures shall be paid by the county or city treasurer, as the case may be, upon the warrant of the chief circuit judge of any money in the county or city treasury, as the case may be, not otherwise appropriated. It shall also be the duty of the governing authority of those counties and cities, respectively, to make provisions for the prompt payment of the salaries and expenditures.

10 ILCS 5/6-71 — Compensation for Other Registration Officers

In the cities, villages and incorporated towns in counties having a population of 500,000 or more, which are operating under this Article, the compensation of deputy registrars and judges of registration provided for the first registration under this Article and officers of registration appointed in conformity with Section 6-69. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Article for subsequent registration shall be not less than $20 nor more than $30 per day. In cities, villages and incorporated towns in counties having a population of less than 500,000, and operating under this Article, the compensation of the deputy registrars and judges of registration provided for the first registration under this Article, and officers of registration appointed in conformity with Section 6-69 of this Article for subsequent registrations shall be $17.50 per day. The compensation of such deputy registrars, judges of registration and officers of registration, shall be apportioned and paid in the manner provided by Article 14 of this Act for judges of election.

Each judge of registration who has performed all the duties and services required for the first registration under this Article shall be credited with 2 days' service for the 2 days of general registration provided for by this Article. Each deputy registrar who has performed all the duties and services required for the first registration under this Article shall be credited with 4 days' service for the 2 days of general registration and the 2 days of canvass as provided for by this Article.

Officers of registration authorized by Section 6-69 of this Article for registration subsequent to the first registration under this Article shall be credited with one day's service for each registration, and, with the approval of the circuit court, may be credited with an additional day for such other services as the Board of Election Commissioners may require of them, an order of the circuit court in such cases to recite such additional services and to designate the officers of registration from whom such additional services are to be received, provided that in cities, villages and incorporated towns in counties having a population of 500,000 or more, which are operating under this Article, any such officer selected to conduct canvass shall be credited with not less than 2 days' service for each canvass.

The State Board of Elections shall reimburse each board of election commissioners for the amount of the increase in compensation under this Section provided by this amendatory Act from funds appropriated for that purpose.

10 ILCS 5/6-72 — Other Articles Adopted

Whenever this article (together with articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act) is adopted by any village or incorporated town, all its and their provisions shall be applicable and operative, except as in this article or in articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act modified.

10 ILCS 5/6-73 — Board of Election Commissioners of Two Voting Territories Within the Same County

Whenever any city, village or incorporated town may adopt this Article (together with Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act), and which city, village or incorporated town shall lie within any county in which another city shall have previously thereto adopted said Articles of this Act, then in such case the commissioners of election, appointed or which may be appointed for such last mentioned city, shall also be ex-officio commissioners of election for such first mentioned city, village or incorporated town, and shall have and exercise the same powers as if specially appointed for such city, village or town.

10 ILCS 5/6-74 — Establishing Election Authority

The returns of the judges of election of such village or incorporated town, mentioned in the last section, in case of a village or town election for any officer of such village or town, shall be made to the same officer as otherwise required by law, who shall receipt therefor; and all such returns shall be canvassed by the election authority of such village or incorporated town, as established by law, with the same powers of investigation and examination by the election authority as is authorized by this act to the canvassing board of any such city.

10 ILCS 5/6-75 — Authority Over Elections for the Board of Election Commissioners of Two Voting Territories Within the Same County

The returns of the judges of election of such village or incorporated towns, in case of all other elections therein, shall be made to the same officers, as required by this Article or by Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, of returns of elections held in a city, and such returns shall be canvassed and the result declared by the same canvassing board.

10 ILCS 5/6-76 — Administering Oaths

All oaths in writing provided for in this Article or in Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act, must have a jurat, or certificate of the officer taking the same, attached and signed by him, and said election commissioners and said judges of election are hereby empowered to administer all oaths and affirmations required in the administration of the affairs of their several offices.

10 ILCS 5/6-77 — Primary Elections

For the purpose of this Article the term "election" shall also include primary elections held in such city, village or incorporated town.

10 ILCS 5/6-78 — Drinking During Registration

During the hours of registration or revision of registration no person shall bring, take, order or send into, or shall attempt to bring, take or send into any place of registration or revision of registration, any distilled or spirituous liquors whatever; or shall, at any such time and place drink or partake of such liquor.

10 ILCS 5/6-79 — Computerization of Voter Records

• (a) The State Board of Elections shall design a registration record card that, except as otherwise provided in this Section, shall be used in duplicate by all election authorities in the State adopting a computer-based voter registration file as provided in this Section. The Board shall prescribe the form and specifications, including but not limited to the weight of paper, color, and print of the cards. The cards shall contain boxes or spaces for the information required under Section 6-31.1 and 6-35; provided that the cards shall also contain:
  • (i) A space for the person to fill in his or her Illinois driver's license number if the person has a driver's license;
  • (ii) A space for a person without a driver's license to fill in the last four digits of his or her social security number if the person has a social security number.
• (b) The election authority may develop and implement a system to prepare, use, and maintain a computer-based voter registration file that includes a computer-stored image of the signature of each voter. The computer-based voter registration file may be used for all purposes for which the original registration cards are to be used. In the case of voter registration forms received via an online voter registration system, the original registration cards will include the signature received from the Secretary of State database. The electronic file shall be the master file.
• (b-2) The election authority may develop and implement a system to maintain registration cards in digital form using digitized signatures, which may be stored in a computer-based voter registration file under subsection (b) of this Section. The making and signing of any form, including an application to register and a certificate authorizing cancellation of a registration or authorizing a transfer of registration may be by a signature written in ink or by a digitized signature.
• (c) Any system created, used, and maintained under subsection (b) of this Section shall meet the following standards:
  • (1) Access to any computer-based voter registration file shall be limited to those persons authorized by the election authority, and each access to the computer-based voter registration file, other than an access solely for inquiry, shall be recorded.
  • (2) No copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of any computer-based voter registration file that includes any computer-stored image of the signature of any registered voter shall be made available to the public outside of the offices of the election authority.
  • (3) Any copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of any computer-based voter registration file that includes a computer-stored image of the signature of a registered voter shall be produced in such a manner that it cannot be reproduced.
  • (4) Each person desiring to vote shall sign an application for a ballot, and the signature comparison authorized in Articles 14. this link opens in a new browser tab. and 18. this link opens in a new browser tab. o this Code may be made to a copy of the computer-stored image of the signature of the registered voter.
• (d) Before the first election in which the election authority elects to use a voter list produced from the computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters in a computer-based voter registration file for signature comparison in a polling place, the State Board of Elections shall certify that the system used by the election authority complies with the standards set forth in this Section. The State Board of Elections may request a sample poll list intended to be used in a polling place to test the accuracy of the list and the adequacy of the computer-stored images of the signatures of the registered voters.
• (e) With respect to a jurisdiction that has copied all of its voter signatures into a computer-based registration file, all references in this Act or any other Act to the use, other than storage, of paper-based voter registration records shall be deemed to refer to their computer-based equivalents.
• (f) Nothing in this Section prevents an election authority from submitting to the State Board of Elections a duplicate copy of some, as the State Board of Elections shall determine, or all of the data contained in each voter registration record that is part of the electronic master file. The duplicate copy of the registration record shall be maintained by the State Board of Elections under the same terms and limitations applicable to the election authority and shall be of equal legal dignity with the original registration record maintained by the election authority as proof of any fact contained in the voter registration record.

10 ILCS 5/6-100 — Grace Period

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, each election authority shall establish procedures for the registration of voters and for change of address during the period from the close of registration for an election until and including the day of the election. During this grace period, an unregistered qualified elector may register to vote, and a registered voter may submit a change of address form, in person in the office of the election authority, at a permanent polling place established under Section 19A-10. this link opens in a new browser tab., at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to the election, at a polling place on election day, or at a voter registration location specifically designated for this purpose by the election authority.

Grace Period Registration at Nursing Homes & Care Facilities

Grace period registration and changes of address shall also be conducted for eligible residents in connection with voting at facilities under Section 19-12.2. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Code. The election authority shall register that individual, or change a registered voter's address, in the same manner as otherwise provided by this Article for registration and change of address.

Grace Period Voting

If a voter who registers or changes address during this grace period wishes to vote at the election or primary occurring during the grace period.

Grace Period Locations

The election authority shall offer in-person grace period voting at the authority's office, any permanent polling place established under Section 19A-10. this link opens in a new browser tab., and at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to the election, at a polling place on election day, where grace period registration is required by this Section; and may offer in-person grace period voting at additional hours and locations specifically designated for the purpose of grace period voting by the election authority. The election authority may allow grace period voting by mail only if the election authority has no ballots prepared at the authority's office. Grace period voting shall be in a manner substantially similar to voting under Article 19A. this link opens in a new browser tab..

Within one day after a voter casts a grace period ballot, or within one day after the ballot is received by the election authority if the election authority allows grace period voting by mail, the election authority shall transmit by electronic means pursuant to a process established by the State Board of Elections the voter's name, street address, e-mail address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be, to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and that information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees. The name of each person issued a grace period ballot shall also be placed on the appropriate precinct list of persons to whom vote by mail and early ballots have been issued, for use as provided in Sections 17-9. this link opens in a new browser tab. and Section 18-5. this link opens in a new browser tab..

A person who casts a grace period ballot shall not be permitted to revoke that ballot and vote another ballot with respect to that primary or election. Ballots cast by persons who register or change address during the grace period at a location other than their designated polling place on election day must be transmitted to and counted at the election authority's central ballot counting location and shall not be transmitted to and counted at precinct polling places. The grace period ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.

Election Authorities Who Opt Out of In–Precinct Grace Period Registration

In counties with a population of less than 100,000 that do not have electronic poll books, the election authority may opt out of registration in the polling place if the election authority establishes grace period registration and voting at other sites on election day at the following sites:

• (i) the election authority's main office and
• (ii) a polling place in each municipality where 20% or more of the county's residents reside if the election authority's main office is not located in that municipality. The election authority may establish other grace period registration and voting sites on election day provided that the election authority has met the notice requirements of Section 19A-25. this link opens in a new browser tab. for permanent and temporary early voting sites.

10 ILCS 5/6-105 — First Time Voting

A person must vote for the first time in person and not a vote by mail ballot if the person registered to vote by mail, unless the person first provides the appropriate election authority with sufficient proof of identity and the election authority verifies the person's proof of identity. Sufficient proof of identity shall be demonstrated by submission of the person's driver's license number or State identification card number or, if the person does not have either of those, verification by the last 4 digits of the person's social security number, a copy of a current and valid photo identification, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other federal, State, or local government document that shows the person's name and address. A person may also demonstrate sufficient proof of identity by submission of a photo identification issued by a college or university accompanied by either a copy of the applicant's contract or lease for a residence or any postmarked mail delivered to the applicant at his or her current residence address. Persons who apply to register to vote by mail but provide inadequate proof of identity to the election authority shall be notified by the election authority that the registration has not been fully completed and that the person remains ineligible to vote by mail or in person until such proof is presented.