Article 7

Source . this link opens in a new browser tab.

10 ILCS 5/7-1 — Application of Article [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-2 — Recognized Political Parties

A political party, which at the general election for State and county officers then next preceding a primary, polled more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in the State, is hereby declared to be a political party within the State, and shall nominate all candidates provided for in this Article 7 under the provisions hereof, and shall elect precinct, township, ward, and State central committeepersons as herein provided.

A political party, which at the general election for State and county officers then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast within any congressional district, is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within such congressional district, and shall nominate its candidate for Representative in Congress, under the provisions hereof. A political party, which at the general election for State and county officers then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in any county, is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within said county, and shall nominate all county officers in said county under the provisions hereof, and shall elect precinct, township, and ward committeepersons, as herein provided.

A political party, which at the municipal election for city, village, or incorporated town officers then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in any city, village, or incorporated town is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within said city, village, or incorporated town, and shall nominate all city, village, or incorporated town officers in said city, village, or incorporated town under the provisions hereof to the extent and in the cases provided in Section 7-1.

A political party, which at the municipal election for town officers then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in said town, is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within said town, and shall nominate all town officers in said town under the provisions hereof to the extent and in the cases provided in Section 7-1.

A political party, which at the municipal election in any other municipality or political subdivision, (except townships and school districts), for municipal or other officers therein then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in such municipality or political subdivision, is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within said municipality or political subdivision, and shall nominate all municipal or other officers therein under the provisions hereof to the extent and in the cases provided in Section 7-1.

Provided, that no political organization or group shall be qualified as a political party hereunder, or given a place on a ballot, which organization or group is associated, directly or indirectly, with Communist, Fascist, Nazi, or other un-American principles and engages in activities or propaganda designed to teach subservience to the political principles and ideals of foreign nations or the overthrow by violence of the established constitutional form of government of the United States and the State of Illinois.

10 ILCS 5/7-3 — Determining the Total Vote [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-4 — Definitions

The following words and phrases in this Article 7 shall, unless the same be inconsistent with the context, be construed as follows:

• 1. The word "primary", the primary elections provided for in this Article, which are the general primary, the consolidated primary, and for those municipalities which have annual partisan elections for any officer, the municipal primary held 6 weeks prior to the general primary election date in even numbered years.
• 2. The definitions of terms in Section 1-3 of this Code shall apply to this Article.
• 3. The word "precinct", a voting district heretofore or hereafter established by law within which all qualified electors vote at one polling place.
• 4. The words "state office" or "state officer", an office to be filled, or an officer to be voted for, by qualified electors of the entire state, including United States Senator and Congressperson at large.
• 5. The words "congressional office" or "congressional officer", representatives in Congress.
• 6. The words "county office" or "county officer," include an office to be filled or an officer to be voted for, by the qualified electors of the entire county. "County office" or "county officer" also include the assessor and board of appeals and county commissioners and president of county board of Cook County, and county board members and the chair of the county board in counties subject to Division 2-3 of the Counties Code.
• 7. The words "city office" and "village office," and "incorporated town office" or "city officer" and "village officer", and "incorporated town officer", an office to be filled or an officer to be voted for by the qualified electors of the entire municipality, including alderpersons.
• 8. The words "town office" or "town officer", an office to be filled or an officer to be voted for by the qualified electors of an entire town.
• 9. The words "town" and "incorporated town" shall respectively be defined as in Section 1-3 of this Code.
• 10. The words "delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions" include all delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions whether they be elected from the state at large or from congressional districts or selected by State convention unless contrary and non-inclusive language specifically limits the term to one class.
• 11. "Judicial office" means a post held by a judge of the Supreme, Appellate, or Circuit Court.
• "State Central Committeeperson" includes "committeeman" or "committeewoman" for those persons elected or appointed under State Central Committee Alternative B under Section 7-8.

10 ILCS 5/7-5 — Date, Time, Write–In Votes [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-6 — The Expense of the Primary [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-7 — Creating Committees [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-8 — Committees [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-8.01 — The County Board District Committee [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-8.02 — The State's Attorney Committee [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-8.03 — State Central Committees; Discrimination and Harassment Policies [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-9 — County Central Committee; County and State Conventions [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-9 — Vacancies [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-10 — Form of Petition for Nomination [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-10.1 — Petitions [not included.

10 ILCS 5/7-10.2 — Candidate's Name [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-10.3 — Candidates, Delegates, Alternate Delegates [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-11 — Candidate for President of the United States [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-11.1 — Vacancy in an Elective Office [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-12 — Filing Petitions for Nomination

All petitions for nomination shall be filed by mail or in person as follows:

• (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, where the nomination is to be made for a State, congressional, or judicial office, or for any office a nomination for which is made for a territorial division or district which comprises more than one county or is partly in one county and partly in another county or counties (including the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District), then, except as otherwise provided in this Section, such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary, but, in the case of petitions for nomination to fill a vacancy by special election in the office of representative in Congress from this State, such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 85 days and not less than 82 days prior to the date of the primary.
  Where a vacancy occurs in the office of Supreme, Appellate or Circuit Court Judge within the 3-week period preceding the 106th day before a general primary election, petitions for nomination for the office in which the vacancy has occurred shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 92 nor less than 85 days prior to the date of the general primary election.
  Where the nomination is to be made for delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating convention, then such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary; provided, however, that if the rules or policies of a national political party conflict with such requirements for filing petitions for nomination for delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating convention, the chair of the State central committee of such national political party shall notify the Board in writing, citing by reference the rules or policies of the national political party in conflict, and in such case the Board shall direct such petitions to be filed in accordance with the delegate selection plan adopted by the state central committee of such national political party.
• (2) Where the nomination is to be made for a county office or trustee of a sanitary district then such petition shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary.
• (3) Where the nomination is to be made for a municipal or township office, such petitions for nomination shall be filed in the office of the local election official, not more than 99 nor less than 92 days prior to the date of the primary; provided, where a municipality's or township's boundaries are coextensive with or are entirely within the jurisdiction of a municipal board of election commissioners, the petitions shall be filed in the office of such board; and provided, that petitions for the office of multi-township assessor shall be filed with the election authority.
• (4) The petitions of candidates for State central committeeperson shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary.
• (5) Petitions of candidates for precinct, township or ward committeepersons shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary.
• (6) The State Board of Elections and the various election authorities and local election officials with whom such petitions for nominations are filed shall specify the place where filings shall be made and upon receipt shall endorse thereon the day and hour on which each petition was filed. All petitions filed by persons waiting in line as of 8:00 a.m. on the first day for filing, or as of the normal opening hour of the office involved on such day, shall be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. or the normal opening hour, as the case may be. Petitions filed by mail and received after midnight of the first day for filing and in the first mail delivery or pickup of that day shall be deemed as filed as of 8:00 a.m. of that day or as of the normal opening hour of such day, as the case may be. All petitions received thereafter shall be deemed as filed in the order of actual receipt. However, 2 or more petitions filed within the last hour of the filing deadline shall be deemed filed simultaneously. Where 2 or more petitions are received simultaneously, the State Board of Elections or the various election authorities or local election officials with whom such petitions are filed shall break ties and determine the order of filing, by means of a lottery or other fair and impartial method of random selection approved by the State Board of Elections. Such lottery shall be conducted within 9 days following the last day for petition filing and shall be open to the public. Seven days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given by the State Board of Elections to the chair of the State central committee of each established political party, and by each election authority or local election official, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. The State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. The State Board of Elections shall adopt rules and regulations governing the procedures for the conduct of such lottery. All candidates shall be certified in the order in which their petitions have been filed. Where candidates have filed simultaneously, they shall be certified in the order determined by lot and prior to candidates who filed for the same office at a later time.
• (7) The State Board of Elections or the appropriate election authority or local election official with whom such a petition for nomination is filed shall notify the person for whom a petition for nomination has been filed of the obligation to file statements of organization, reports of campaign contributions, and annual reports of campaign contributions and expenditures under Article 9 of this Code. Such notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by paragraph (7) of Section 9-16 of this Code.
• (8) Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid if the candidate named therein fails to file a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act in relation to his candidacy with the appropriate officer by the end of the period for the filing of nomination papers unless he has filed a statement of economic interests in relation to the same governmental unit with that officer within a year preceding the date on which such nomination papers were filed. If the nomination papers of any candidate and the statement of economic interest of that candidate are not required to be filed with the same officer, the candidate must file with the officer with whom the nomination papers are filed a receipt from the officer with whom the statement of economic interests is filed showing the date on which such statement was filed. Such receipt shall be so filed not later than the last day on which nomination papers may be filed.
• (9) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any person for whom a petition for nomination, or for committeeperson or for delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention has been filed may cause his name to be withdrawn by request in writing, signed by him and duly acknowledged before an officer qualified to take acknowledgments of deeds, and filed in the principal or permanent branch office of the State Board of Elections or with the appropriate election authority or local election official, not later than the date of certification of candidates for the consolidated primary or general primary ballot. No names so withdrawn shall be certified or printed on the primary ballot. If petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person with respect to more than one political party, his name shall not be certified nor printed on the primary ballot of any party. If petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or more offices which are incompatible so that the same person could not serve in more than one of such offices if elected, that person must withdraw as a candidate for all but one of such offices within the 5 business days following the last day for petition filing. A candidate in a judicial election may file petitions for nomination for only one vacancy in a subcircuit and only one vacancy in a circuit in any one filing period, and if petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or more vacancies in the same circuit or subcircuit in the same filing period, his or her name shall be certified only for the first vacancy for which the petitions for nomination were filed. If he fails to withdraw as a candidate for all but one of such offices within such time his name shall not be certified, nor printed on the primary ballot, for any office. For the purpose of the foregoing provisions, an office in a political party is not incompatible with any other office.
• (10)
  • (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no primary shall be held for an established political party in any township, municipality, or ward thereof, where the nomination of such party for every office to be voted upon by the electors of such township, municipality, or ward thereof, is uncontested. Whenever a political party's nomination of candidates is uncontested as to one or more, but not all, of the offices to be voted upon by the electors of a township, municipality, or ward thereof, then a primary shall be held for that party in such township, municipality, or ward thereof; provided that the primary ballot shall not include those offices within such township, municipality, or ward thereof, for which the nomination is uncontested. For purposes of this Article, the nomination of an established political party of a candidate for election to an office shall be deemed to be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the nomination of such party for election to such office.
  • (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no primary election shall be held for an established political party for any special primary election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress where the nomination of such political party for said office is uncontested. For the purposes of this Article, the nomination of an established political party of a candidate for election to said office shall be deemed to be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the nomination of such established party for election to said office. This subsection (b) shall not apply if such primary election is conducted on a regularly scheduled election day.
  • (c) Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraph (a) and (b) of this paragraph (10), whenever a person who has not timely filed valid nomination papers and who intends to become a write-in candidate for a political party's nomination for any office for which the nomination is uncontested files a written statement or notice of that intent with the State Board of Elections or the local election official with whom nomination papers for such office are filed, a primary ballot shall be prepared and a primary shall be held for that office. Such statement or notice shall be filed on or before the date established in this Article for certifying candidates for the primary ballot. Such statement or notice shall contain (i) the name and address of the person intending to become a write-in candidate, (ii) a statement that the person is a qualified primary elector of the political party from whom the nomination is sought, (iii) a statement that the person intends to become a write-in candidate for the party's nomination, and (iv) the office the person is seeking as a write-in candidate. An election authority shall have no duty to conduct a primary and prepare a primary ballot for any office for which the nomination is uncontested unless a statement or notice meeting the requirements of this Section is filed in a timely manner.
• (11) If multiple sets of nomination papers are filed a candidate to the same office, the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official where the petitions are filed shall within 2 business days notify the candidate of his or her multiple petition filings and that the candidate has 3 business days after receipt of the notice to notify the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official that he or she may cancel prior sets of petitions. If the candidate notifies the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official, the last set of petitions filed shall be the only petitions to be considered valid by the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official. If the candidate fails to notify the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official then only the first set of petitions filed shall be valid and all subsequent petitions shall be void.
• (12) All nominating petitions shall be available for inspection and shall be preserved for a period of not less than 6 months.

10 ILCS 5/7-12.1 — Objections to Petitions for Nomination [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-13 — Creating A Board for Objections to Petitions for Nomination [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-13.1 — Certification of Candidates-Consolidated Primary [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-14.1 — Four Methods of Choosing Delegates and alternate Delegates to National Nominating Conventions [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-14.2 — Choosing Delegates and alternate Delegates to National Nominating Conventions [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-14a — Filling Judgeships Within The Same District [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-15 — Notice of Primary

At least 60 days prior to each general and consolidated primary, the election authority shall provide public notice, calculated to reach elderly voters and voters with disabilities, of the availability of registration and voting aids under the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, of the availability of assistance in marking the ballot, procedures for voting by a vote by mail ballot, and procedures for early voting by personal appearance.

At least 20 days before the general primary the county clerk of each county, and not more than 30 nor less than 10 days before the consolidated primary the election authority, shall prepare in the manner provided in this Act, a notice of such primary which notice shall state the time and place of holding the primary, the hours during which the polls will be open, the offices for which candidates will be nominated at such primary and the political parties entitled to participate therein, notwithstanding that no candidate of any such political party may be entitled to have his name printed on the primary ballot. Such notice shall also include the list of addresses of precinct polling places for the consolidated primary unless such list is separately published by the election authority not less than 10 days before the consolidated primary.

In counties, municipalities, or towns having fewer than 500,000 inhabitants notice of the general primary shall be published once in two or more newspapers published in the county, municipality or town, as the case may be, or if there is no such newspaper, then in any two or more newspapers published in the county and having a general circulation throughout the community.

In counties, municipalities, or towns having 500,000 or more inhabitants notice of the general primary shall be published at least 15 days prior to the primary by the same authorities and in the same manner as notice of election for general elections are required to be published in counties, municipalities or towns of 500,000 or more inhabitants under this Act.

Notice of the consolidated primary shall be published once in one or more newspapers published in each political subdivision having such primary, and if there is no such newspaper, then published once in a local, community newspaper having general circulation in the subdivision, and also once in a newspaper published in the county wherein the political subdivisions, or portions thereof, having such primary are situated.

10 ILCS 5/7-16 — Printing Primary Ballots [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-17 — Candidate Ballot Name Procedures [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-18 — Ballot Printing Requirements & Notice [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-19 — Primary Ballot Lay Out [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-20 — Marking Ballots for Precincts [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-21 — Specimen Primary Ballots [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-22 — Furnishing Primary Ballot Boxes [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-23 — Furnishing Election Documentation [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-24 — Primary Poll Books [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-25 — Tally Sheet for Each Political Party [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-26 — Election Judges

The judges of general elections for state and county officers are hereby constituted the judges of primary elections in their respective precincts, under the provisions of this Article.

10 ILCS 5/7-27 — Election Judges In the Primary Election

It is hereby made the duty of the respective judges of general elections to act as judges of primary elections in their respective precincts until their successors, as judges of general elections, are duly appointed and qualified.

10 ILCS 5/7-28 — Appointment of Election Judges for the Primary Election

If, at the time for opening of a primary, one of the primary judges be absent, or refuse to act, the judges present shall appoint some qualified primary elector of the precinct to act in his place. If two of the primary judges be absent or refuse to act, the judge present shall fill the vacancies in the same manner, as above provided. If all of the primary judges be absent, or refuse to act, the primary electors present, who reside in the precinct, shall select the appropriate number of themselves to act as primary judges. The judges so selected and appointed shall take the same oath, have the same powers, and perform the same duties and be subject to the same penalties as regularly constituted election judges.

10 ILCS 5/7-30 — Election Judges Oath

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

All persons subscribing the oath and all persons actually serving as primary judges, whether sworn or not, shall be deemed to be and are hereby declared to be officers of the circuit court of their respective counties.

10 ILCS 5/7-31 — Administering the Oath When No Notary Public Is Present [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-32 — The Duty of Election Judges In the Primary Election

The primary judges, except as otherwise provided in this article, shall perform the same duties, have the same powers, and be subject to the same penalties as judges of general elections under this Act.

10 ILCS 5/7-33 — Pay for Election Judges [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-34 — Pollwatchers In A Primary Election

Poll Watcher Requirements

Pollwatchers in a primary election shall be authorized in the following manner:

• (1) Each established political party shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct. Such pollwatchers must be affiliated with the political party for which they are pollwatching and must be a registered voter in Illinois.
• (2) Each candidate shall be entitled to appoint two pollwatchers per precinct. For Federal, State, county, township, and municipal primary elections, the pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois.
• (3) Each organization of citizens within the county or political subdivision, which has among its purposes or interests the investigation or prosecution of election frauds, and which shall have registered its name and address and the names and addresses of its principal officers with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the primary election, shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct. For all primary elections, the pollwatcher must be registered to vote in Illinois.
• (3.5) Each State nonpartisan civic organization within the county or political subdivision shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct, provided that no more than 2 pollwatchers appointed by State nonpartisan civic organizations shall be present in a precinct polling place at the same time. Each organization shall have registered the names and addresses of its principal officers with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the primary election. The pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois. For the purpose of this paragraph, a "State nonpartisan civic organization" means any corporation, unincorporated association, or organization that:
  • (i) as part of its written articles of incorporation, bylaws, or charter or by separate written declaration, has among its stated purposes the provision of voter information and education, the protection of individual voters' rights, and the promotion of free and equal elections;
  • (ii) is organized or primarily conducts its /activities within the State of Illinois; and
  • (iii) continuously maintains an office or business location within the State of Illinois, together with a current listed telephone number (a post office box number without a current listed telephone number is not sufficient).
• (4) Each organized group of proponents or opponents of a ballot proposition, which shall have registered the name and address of its organization or committee and the name and address of its chair with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the primary election, shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct. The pollwatcher must be registered to vote in Illinois.
• (5) In any primary election held to nominate candidates for the offices of a municipality of less than 3,000,000 population that is situated in 2 or more counties, a pollwatcher who is a resident of a county in which any part of the municipality is situated shall be eligible to serve as a pollwatcher in any polling place located within such municipality, provided that such pollwatcher otherwise complies with the respective requirements of subsections (1) through (4) of this Section and is a registered voter whose residence is within Illinois.

Pollwatcher Credentials

All pollwatchers shall be required to have proper credentials. Such credentials shall be printed in sufficient quantities, shall be issued by and under the facsimile signature(s) of the election authority and shall be available for distribution at least 2 weeks prior to the election. Such credentials shall be authorized by the real or facsimile signature of the State or local party official or the candidate or the presiding officer of the civic organization or the chair of the proponent or opponent group, as the case may be.

Poll Watcher Credential Form

Pollwatcher credentials shall be in substantially the following form:

Presenting Poll Watcher Credentials

Pollwatchers must present their credentials to the Judges of Election upon entering the polling place.

Pollwatcher credentials properly executed and signed shall be proof of the qualifications of the pollwatcher authorized thereby. Such credentials are retained by the Judges and returned to the Election Authority at the end of the day of election with the other election materials.

After Presenting Credentials

Once a pollwatcher has surrendered a valid credential, he may leave and reenter the polling place provided that such continuing action does not disrupt the conduct of the election. Pollwatchers may be substituted during the course of the day, but established political parties, candidates, qualified civic organizations and proponents and opponents of a ballot proposition can have only as many pollwatchers at any given time as are authorized in this Article. A substitute must present his signed credential to the judges of election upon entering the polling place. Election authorities must provide a sufficient number of credentials to allow for substitution of pollwatchers.

After Polls Have Closed

After the polls have closed, pollwatchers shall be allowed to remain until the canvass of votes is completed; but may leave and reenter only in cases of necessity, provided that such action is not so continuous as to disrupt the canvass of votes.

Candidate Access to Polling Places

Candidates seeking office in a district or municipality encompassing 2 or more counties shall be admitted to any and all polling places throughout such district or municipality without regard to the counties in which such candidates are registered to vote. Actions of such candidates shall be governed in each polling place by the same privileges and limitations that apply to pollwatchers as provided in this Section. Any such candidate who engages in an activity in a polling place which could reasonably be construed by a majority of the judges of election as campaign activity shall be removed forthwith from such polling place.

Candidate Election Day Credentials Requirement

Candidates seeking office in a district or municipality encompassing 2 or more counties who desire to be admitted to polling places on election day in such district or municipality shall be required to have proper credentials. Such credentials shall be printed in sufficient quantities, shall be issued by and under the facsimile signature of the election authority of the election jurisdiction where the polling place in which the candidate seeks admittance is located, and shall be available for distribution at least 2 weeks prior to the election. Such credentials shall be signed by the candidate.

Candidate Credential Form

Candidate credentials shall be in substantially the following form:

Poll Watcher Duties

Pollwatchers shall be permitted to observe all proceedings and view all reasonably requested records relating to the conduct of the election, provided the secrecy of the ballot is not impinged, and to station themselves in a position in the voting room as will enable them to observe the judges making the signature comparison between the voter application and the voter registration record card; provided, however, that such pollwatchers shall not be permitted to station themselves in such close proximity to the judges of election so as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election and shall not, in any event, be permitted to handle election materials.

Poll Watcher Challenges

Pollwatchers may challenge for cause the voting qualifications of a person offering to vote and may call to the attention of the judges of election any incorrect procedure or apparent violations of this Code.

Overcrowded Polling Place

If a majority of the judges of election determine that the polling place has become too overcrowded with pollwatchers so as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election, the judges shall, by lot, limit such pollwatchers to a reasonable number, except that each candidate and each established or new political party shall be permitted to have at least one pollwatcher present.

Others Allowed In The Polling Place

• Representatives of an election authority, with regard to an election under its jurisdiction,
• the State Board of Elections,
• and law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to
  • a United States Attorney,
  • a State's attorney,
  • the Attorney General,
  • and a State, county, or local police department, in the performance of their official election duties,

shall be permitted at all times to enter and remain in the polling place.

Upon entering the polling place, such representatives shall display their official credentials or other identification to the judges of election.

Police Officers

Uniformed police officers assigned to polling place duty shall follow all lawful instructions of the judges of election.

Poll Watchers at Nursing Homes & Care Facilities

The provisions of this Section shall also apply to supervised casting of vote by mail ballots as provided in Section 19-12.2. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Act.

10 ILCS 5/7-35 — Delivery of Primary Ballots [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-36 — Sealing Ballots For Delivery [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-37 — Supply of Primary Ballots[not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-38 — Use of Polling Places from the General Election

The primaries herein provided for shall be held at the regular polling places now established, or which may hereafter be established, for the purposes of a general election.

10 ILCS 5/7-39 — Proclamation of the Opening of the Polls & the Closing of the Polls

Upon the opening of the polls one of the primary judges shall make proclamation of the same.

And at least thirty (30) minutes before the closing of the polls proclamation shall be made in like manner that the polls will be closed in half an hour.

10 ILCS 5/7-40 — Examination of the Ballot Box

• (a) Before voting begins, the ballot box shall be emptied and shall be opened and shown to those present to be empty, after which it shall be locked and the key delivered to one of the primary judges, and such ballot box shall not be removed from public view from the time it is shown to be empty until after the close of the polls. This paragraph (a) applies whenever permanent type ballot boxes are used, and does not apply when ballot boxes are used in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section

• (b) The election authority charged with providing ballot boxes for the conduct of an election under this Article may provide non-permanent type ballot boxes as authorized under Section 15-1, paragraph (b), and Section 15-4, paragraph (b).

  When such ballot boxes are used, prior to the commencement of voting and before any ballots are deposited therein, the judges shall examine each such sealed ballot box, show it to those present and insure that it is in fact sealed and empty; the sealed slot shall be broken open before those present and the box inspected to insure that it is empty and such ballot box shall not be removed from public view from the time it is so inspected until after the close of the polls. The sealed opening on the side of the box shall not be unsealed or opened until after the close of the polls.

10 ILCS 5/7-41 — Election Materials & Electioneering

• (a) All officers upon whom is imposed by law the duty of designating and providing polling places for general elections, shall provide in each such polling place so designated and provided, a sufficient number of booths for such primary election, which booths shall be provided with shelves, such supplies and pencils as will enable the voter to prepare his ballot for voting and in which voters may prepare their ballots screened from all observation as to the manner in which they do so.

  Such booths shall be within plain view of the election officers and both they and the ballot boxes shall be within plain view of those within the proximity of the voting booths.

  Who Is Allowed In The Voting Booth Area

  No person other than election officers and the challengers allowed by law and those admitted for the purpose of voting, as hereinafter provided, shall be permitted within the proximity of the voting booths, except by authority of the primary officers to keep order and enforce the law.

• (b) The number of such voting booths shall not be less than one to every seventy-five voters or fraction thereof, who voted at the last preceding election in the precinct or election district.
• (c) No person shall do any electioneering or soliciting of votes on primary day within any polling place or within one hundred feet of any polling place, or, at the option of a church or private school, on any of the property of that church or private school that is a polling place.

  Polling Place & Polling Room

  Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small United States national flags, or some other marker a distance of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting, which shall be known as the polling room.
  • If the polling room is located within a building that is a private business, a public or private school, or a church or other organization founded for the purpose of religious worship and the distance of 100 horizontal feet ends within the interior of the building, then the markers shall be placed outside of the building at each entrance used by voters to enter that building on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfare or walkway.
  • If the polling room is located within a public or private building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the polling room used by voters to engage in voting.
  • If the polling room is located in a public or private building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on a floor above or below the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed a distance of 100 feet from the nearest elevator or staircase used by voters on the ground floor to access the floor where the polling room is located.

  The Campaign Free Zone

  The area within where the markers are placed shall be known as a campaign free zone, and electioneering is prohibited pursuant to this subsection.

  Polling Place Signage

  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a church or private school may choose to apply the campaign free zone to its entire property, and, if so, the markers shall be placed near the boundaries on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfares or walkways leading to the entrances used by the voters. At or near the door of each polling place, the election judges shall place signage indicating the proper entrance to the polling place. In addition, the election judges shall ensure that a sign identifying the location of the polling place is placed on a nearby public roadway. The State Board of Elections shall establish guidelines for the placement of polling place signage.

  The Public Forum

  The area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone, whether publicly or privately owned, is a public forum for the time that the polls are open on an election day. At the request of election officers any publicly owned building must be made available for use as a polling place. A person shall have the right to congregate and engage in electioneering on any polling place property while the polls are open beyond the campaign free zone, including but not limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection shall be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in electioneering on all polling place property beyond the campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an election day.

• (d) The regulation of electioneering on polling place property on an election day, including but not limited to the placement of temporary signs, is an exclusive power and function of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate electioneering and any ordinance or local law contrary to subsection (c) is declared void. This is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

10 ILCS 5/7-42 — Absent from Work & School To Vote

• (a) Any person entitled to vote at such primary shall, on the day of such primary, with the consent of his employer be entitled to absent himself from any service or employment in which he is then engaged or employed for a period of two hours between the time of opening and closing the polls. The employer may specify the hours during which said employee may absent himself.
• (b) Beginning the 15th day before the primary election or on the day of the primary election, any student entitled to vote at such primary shall be entitled to be absent from school for a period of 2 hours during the school day in order to vote. The school may specify the hours during which the eligible student may be absent. A student who is absent from school under this subsection (b) is not considered absent for the purpose of calculating enrollment under Section 18-8.15 of the School Code.

10 ILCS 5/7-43 — Requirements To Vote

Every person having resided in this State 6 months and in the precinct 30 days next preceding any primary therein who shall be a citizen of the United States of the age of 18 or more years shall be entitled to vote at such primary.

The following regulations shall be applicable to primaries:

No person shall be entitled to vote at a primary:

• (a) Unless he declares his party affiliations as required by this Article.
• (b) (Blank).
• (c) (Blank).
• (c.5) If that person has participated in the town political party caucus, under Section 45-50 of the Township Code, of another political party by signing an affidavit of voters attending the caucus within 45 days before the first day of the calendar month in which the primary is held.
• (d) (Blank).

In cities, villages and incorporated towns having a board of election commissioners only voters registered as provided by Article 6 of this Act shall be entitled to vote at such primary.

No person shall be entitled to vote at a primary unless he is registered under the provisions of Articles 4, 5 or 6 of this Act, when his registration is required by any of said Articles to entitle him to vote at the election with reference to which the primary is held.

A person

• (i) who filed a statement of candidacy for a partisan office as a qualified primary voter of an established political party or
• (ii) who voted the ballot of an established political party at a general primary election may not file a statement of candidacy as a candidate of a different established political party, a new political party, or as an independent candidate for a partisan office to be filled at the general election immediately following the general primary for which the person filed the statement or voted the ballot.

A person may file a statement of candidacy for a partisan office as a qualified primary voter of an established political party regardless of any prior filing of candidacy for a partisan office or voting the ballot of an established political party at any prior election.

10 ILCS 5/7-44 — Voter Stating Name & Political Party

Any person desiring to vote at a primary shall state his name, residence and party affiliation to the primary judges, one of whom shall thereupon announce the same in a distinct tone of voice, sufficiently loud to be heard by all persons in the polling place. When article 4, 5 or 6 is applicable the Certificate of Registered Voter therein prescribed shall be made and signed and the official poll record shall be made. If the person desiring to vote is not challenged, one of the primary judges shall give to him one, and only one, primary ballot of the political party with which he declares himself affiliated, on the back of which such primary judge shall endorse his initials in such manner that they may be seen when the primary ballot is properly folded. If the person desiring to vote is challenged he shall not receive a primary ballot from the primary judges until he shall have established his right to vote as hereinafter provided. No person who refuses to state his party affiliation shall be allowed to vote at a primary.

A person who declares his party affiliation with a statewide established political party and requests a primary ballot of such party may nonetheless also declare his affiliation with a political party established only within a political subdivision, and may also vote in the primary of such local party on the same election day, provided that such voter may not vote in both such party primaries with respect to offices of the same political subdivision. However, no person declaring his affiliation with a statewide established political party may vote in the primary of any other statewide political party on the same election day.

10 ILCS 5/7-45 — Challenging a Primary Voter

Whenever a person offering to vote at a primary is challenged, and is not personally known to the judges of election to have the qualifications required in this Article to vote, the person so challenged shall make and subscribe an affidavit in the following form, which shall be presented to and retained by the primary judges and returned by them affixed to the primary poll book or with the official poll record:

In addition to such affidavit the person so challenged shall provide to the judges of election proof of residence by producing two forms of identification showing the person's current residence address, provided that such identification may include not more than one piece of mail addressed to the person at his current residence address and postmarked not earlier than 30 days prior to the date of the primary election, or the person shall produce the affidavit of one voter of the precinct, who shall be a qualified voter at such primary, and who shall be personally known or proved to the judges to be a voter in the precinct, which affidavit shall be in the following form:

10 ILCS 5/7-46 — Voting

On receiving from the primary judges a primary ballot of his party, the primary elector shall forthwith and without leaving the polling place, retire alone to one of the voting booths and prepare such primary ballot by marking a cross (X) in the square in front of and opposite the name of each candidate of his choice for each office to be filled, and for delegates and alternate delegates to national nominating conventions, and for committeepersons, if committeepersons are being elected at such primary. A cross (X) in the square in front of the bracket enclosing the names of a team of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor counts as one vote for each of those candidates.

Any primary elector may, instead of voting for any candidate for nomination or for committeeperson or for delegate or alternate delegate to national nominating conventions, whose name is printed on the primary ballot, write in the name of any other person affiliated with such party as a candidate for the nomination for any office, or for committeeperson, or for delegates or alternate delegates to national nominating conventions, and indicate his choice of such candidate or committeeperson or delegate or alternate delegate, by placing to the left of and opposite the name thus written a square and placing in the square a cross (X). A primary elector, however, may not by this method vote separately for Governor and Lieutenant Governor but must write in the names of candidates of his or her choice for both offices and indicate his or her choice of those names by placing a single square to the left of those names and placing in that square a cross (X).

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

10 ILCS 5/7-47 — Ballot To the Ballot Box/Tabulator

Before leaving the booth, the primary elector shall fold his primary ballot in such manner as to conceal the marks thereon. Such voter shall then vote forthwith by handing the primary judge the primary ballot received by such voter. Thereupon the primary judge shall deposit such primary ballot in the ballot box. One of the judges shall thereupon enter in the primary poll book the name of the primary elector, his residence and his party affiliation or shall make the entries on the official poll record as required by articles 4, 5 and 6, if any one of them is applicable.

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

10 ILCS 5/7-47.1 — Curbside Assisted Voting

• (a) In the case of an emergency, as determined by the State Board of Elections, or if the Board determines that all potential polling places have been surveyed by the election authority and that no accessible polling place, as defined by rule of the State Board of Elections, is available within a precinct nor is the election authority able to make a polling place within the precinct temporarily accessible, the Board, upon written application by the election authority, is authorized to grant an exemption from the accessibility requirements of the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (Public Law 98-435). Such exemption shall be valid for a period of 2 years.
• (b) Any temporarily or permanently physically disabled voter who, because of structural features of the building in which the polling place is located, is unable to access or enter the polling place, may request that 2 judges of election of opposite party affiliation deliver a ballot to him or her at the point where he or she is unable to continue forward motion toward the polling place; but, in no case, shall a ballot be delivered to the voter beyond 50 feet of the entrance to the building in which the polling place is located. Such request shall be made to the election authority not later than the close of business at the election authority's office on the day before the election and on a form prescribed by the State Board of Elections. The election authority shall notify the judges of election for the appropriate precinct polling places of such requests.
  Weather permitting, 2 judges of election shall deliver to the disabled voter the ballot which he or she is entitled to vote, a portable voting booth or other enclosure that will allow such voter to mark his or her ballot in secrecy, and a marking device.
• (c) The voter must complete the entire voting process, including the application for ballot from which the judges of election shall compare the voter's signature with the signature on his or her registration record card in the precinct binder.
  After the voter has marked his or her ballot and placed it in the ballot envelope (or folded it in the manner prescribed for paper ballots), the 2 judges of election shall return the ballot to the polling place and give it to the judge in charge of the ballot box who shall deposit it therein.

Poll Watchers

Pollwatchers as provided in Sections 7-34 and 17-23. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Code shall be permitted to accompany the judges and observe the above procedure.

Giving Assistance With the Vote

No assistance may be given to such voter in marking his or her ballot, unless the voter requests assistance and completes the affidavit required by Section 17-14. this link opens in a new browser tab. of this Code.

10 ILCS 5/7-48 — Assistance To Vote

Any primary elector who may declare upon oath, properly witnessed and with his or her signature or mark affixed, that he or she requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, physical disability or inability to read, write or speak the English language, shall, upon request, be assisted in marking his or her primary ballot in the same manner as provided by this Act for general elections.

10 ILCS 5/7-49 — Adjournment

After the opening of the polls at a primary no adjournment shall be had nor recess taken until the canvass of all the votes is completed and the returns carefully enveloped and sealed.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24. this link opens in a new browser tab. or 24A. this link opens in a new browser tab., whichever is applicable.

10 ILCS 5/7-50 — Canvassing In the Polling Place

The votes shall be canvassed in the room or place where the primary is held and the primary judges shall not allow the ballot box or any of the ballots, or the primary poll book, or any of the tally sheets to be removed or carried away from such room or polling place until the canvass of the votes is completed and the returns carefully enveloped and sealed.

10 ILCS 5/7-51 — Defective Ballots

If the primary elector marks more names upon the primary ballot than there are persons to be nominated as candidates for an office, or for State central committeepersons, or precinct committeepersons, or township committeepersons, or ward committeepersons, or delegates or alternate delegates to National nominating conventions, or if for any reason it is impossible to determine the primary elector's choice of a candidate for the nomination for an office, or committeeperson, or delegate, his primary ballot shall not be counted for the nomination for such office or committeeperson.

No primary ballot, without the endorsement of the judge's initials thereon, shall be counted.

No judge shall omit to endorse his initials on a primary ballot, as required by this Article, nor shall any person not authorized so to do initial a primary ballot knowing that he is not so authorized.

Primary ballots not counted shall be marked "defective" on the back thereof; and primary ballots to which objections have been made by either of the primary judges or challengers shall be marked "objected to" on the back thereof; and a memorandum, signed by the primary judges, stating how it was counted, shall be written on the back of each primary ballot so marked; and all primary ballots marked "defective" or "objected to" shall be enclosed in an envelope and securely sealed, and so marked and endorsed as to clearly disclose its contents. The envelope to be used for enclosing ballots marked "defective" or "objected to" shall bear upon its face, in not less than 1 1/2 inch type, the legend: "This envelope is for use after 6:00 P.M. only." The envelope to be used for enclosing ballots spoiled by voters while attempting to vote shall bear upon its face, in not less than 1 1/2 inch type, the legend: "This envelope is for use before 6:00 P.M. only."

All primary ballots not voted, and all that have been spoiled by voters while attempting to vote, shall be returned to the proper election authority by the primary judges, and a receipt taken therefor, and shall be preserved 2 months. Such official shall keep a record of the number of primary ballots delivered for each polling place, and he or they shall also enter upon such record the number and character of primary ballots returned, with the time when and the persons by whom they are returned.

10 ILCS 5/7-52 — Canvassing the Vote

Immediately upon closing the polls, the primary judges shall proceed to canvass the votes in the manner following:

• (1) They shall separate and count the ballots of each political party.
• (2) They shall then proceed to ascertain the number of names entered on the applications for ballot under each party affiliation.
• (3) If the primary ballots of any political party exceed the number of applications for ballot by voters of such political party, the primary ballots of such political party shall be folded and replaced in the ballot box, the box closed, well shaken and again opened and one of the primary judges, who shall be blindfolded, shall draw out so many of the primary ballots of such political party as shall be equal to such excess. Such excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not Counted" and signed by a majority of the judges and shall be placed in the "After 6:00 p.m. Defective Ballots Envelope". The number of excess ballots shall be noted in the remarks section of the Certificate of Results. "Excess" ballots shall not be counted in the total of "defective" ballots.
• (4) The primary judges shall then proceed to count the primary ballots of each political party separately; and as the primary judges shall open and read the primary ballots, 3 of the judges shall carefully and correctly mark upon separate tally sheets the votes which each candidate of the party whose name is written or printed on the primary ballot has received, in a separate column for that purpose, with the name of such candidate, the name of his political party and the name of the office for which he is a candidate for nomination at the head of such column. The same column, however, shall be used for both names of the same team of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

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

10 ILCS 5/7-53 — Filling Out Tally Sheets [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-54 — Securing and Transporting Election Documents

After the votes of a political party have been counted and set down and the tally sheets footed and the entry made in the primary poll books or return, as above provided, all the primary ballots of said political party, except those marked "defective" or "objected to" shall be securely bound, lengthwise and in width, with a soft cord having a minimum tensile strength of 60 pounds separately for each political party in the order in which said primary ballots have been read, and shall thereupon be carefully sealed in an envelope, which envelope shall be endorsed as follows:

Below each endorsement, each primary judge shall write his name.

Immediately thereafter the judges shall designate one of their number to go to the nearest telephone and report to the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners (as the case may be) the results of such primary. Such clerk or board shall keep his or its office open after the close of the polls until he or it has received from each precinct under his or its jurisdiction the report above provided for. Immediately upon receiving such report such clerk or board shall cause the same to be posted in a public place in his or its office for inspection by the public. Immediately after making such report such judge shall return to the polling place.

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

10 ILCS 5/7-55 — Packing and Retaining Election Records

The primary poll books or the official poll record, and the tally sheets with the certificates of the primary judges written thereon, together with the envelopes containing the ballots, including the envelope containing the ballots marked "defective" or "objected to", shall be carefully enveloped and sealed up together, properly endorsed, and the primary judges shall elect 2 judges (one from each of the major political parties), who shall immediately deliver the same to the clerk from whom the primary ballots were obtained, which clerk shall safely keep the same for 2 months, and thereafter shall safely keep the poll books until the next primary.

Each election authority shall keep the office of the election authority, or any receiving stations designated by such authority, open for at least 12 consecutive hours after the polls close, or until the judges of each precinct under the jurisdiction of the election authority have delivered to the election authority all the above materials sealed up together and properly endorsed as provided herein. Materials delivered to the election authority which are not in the condition required by this Section shall not be accepted by the election authority until the judges delivering the same make and sign the necessary corrections. Upon acceptance of the materials by the election authority, the judges delivering the same shall take a receipt signed by the election authority and stamped with the time and date of such delivery. The election judges whose duty it is to deliver any materials as above provided shall, in the event such materials cannot be found when needed, on proper request, produce the receipt which they are to take as above provided.

The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall deliver a copy of each tally sheet to the county chairmen of the two largest political parties.

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

10 ILCS 5/7-56 — Tabulated Statement of Returns [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-56.1 — Abstract of Votes By Precinct[not included] .

10 ILCS 5/7-56.2 — Conduct of Municipal & Special Elections [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-57 — Death of a Candidate

he death of any candidate prior to, or on, the date of the primary shall not affect the canvass of the ballots. If the result of such canvass discloses that such candidate, if he had lived, would have been nominated, such candidate shall be declared nominated.

10 ILCS 5/7-58 — Proclamation of Results [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-59 — Candidate for the Party [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-60 — State Board of Election Certification

Not less than 74 days before the date of the general election, the State Board of Elections shall certify to the county clerks the names of each of the candidates who have been nominated as shown by the proclamation of the State Board of Elections as a canvassing board or who have been nominated to fill a vacancy in nomination and direct the election authority to place upon the official ballot for the general election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification, except as otherwise provided in this Code.

Except as otherwise provided in this Code, not less than 68 days before the date of the general election, each county clerk shall certify the names of each of the candidates for county offices who have been nominated as shown by the proclamation of the county election authority or who have been nominated to fill a vacancy in nomination and declare that the names of such candidates for the respective offices shall be placed upon the official ballot for the general election in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification, except as otherwise provided by this Section. Each county clerk shall place a copy of the certification on file in his or her office and at the same time issue to the State Board of Elections a copy of such certification. In addition, each county clerk in whose county there is a board of election commissioners shall, not less than 68 days before the date of the general election, issue to such board a copy of the certification that has been filed in the county clerk's office, together with a copy of the certification that has been issued to the clerk by the State Board of Elections, with directions to the board of election commissioners to place upon the official ballot for the general election in that election jurisdiction the names of all candidates that are listed on such certifications, in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon such certifications, except as otherwise provided in this Section.

Whenever there are two or more persons nominated by the same political party for multiple offices for any board, the name of the candidate of such party receiving the highest number of votes in the primary election as a candidate for such office, as shown by the official election returns of the primary, shall be certified first under the name of such offices, and the names of the remaining candidates of such party for such offices shall follow in the order of the number of votes received by them respectively at the primary election as shown by the official election results.

No person who is shown by the final proclamation to have been nominated or elected at the primary as a write-in candidate shall have his or her name certified unless such person shall have filed with the certifying office or board within 10 days after the election authority's proclamation a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10, a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1, and a receipt for the filing of a statement of economic interests in relation to the unit of government to which he or she has been elected or nominated.

Each county clerk and board of election commissioners shall determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of established political party candidates for the general election ballot. Such determination shall be made within 30 days following the canvass and proclamation of the results of the general primary in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners and shall be open to the public. Seven days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given, by each such election authority, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each election authority shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the election authority office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. However, a board of election commissioners may elect to place established political party candidates on the general election ballot in the same order determined by the county clerk of the county in which the city under the jurisdiction of such board is located.

Each certification shall indicate, where applicable, the following:

• (1) The political party affiliation of the candidates for the respective offices;
• (2) If there is to be more than one candidate elected to an office from the State, political subdivision or district;
• (3) If the voter has the right to vote for more than one candidate for an office;
• (4) The term of office, if a vacancy is to be filled for less than a full term or if the offices to be filled in a political subdivision are for different terms.

The State Board of Elections or the county clerk, as the case may be, shall issue an amended certification whenever it is discovered that the original certification is in error.

10 ILCS 5/7-60.1 — Certification of Candidates - Consolidated Election

Certification of candidates. Each local election official of a political subdivision in which candidates for the respective local offices are nominated at the consolidated primary shall, no later than 5 days following the canvass and proclamation of the results of the consolidated primary, certify to each election authority whose duty it is to prepare the official ballot for the consolidated election in that political subdivision the names of each of the candidates who have been nominated as shown by the proclamation of the appropriate election authority or who have been nominated to fill a vacancy in nomination and direct the election authority to place upon the official ballot for the consolidated election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification, except as otherwise provided by this Section.

Whenever there are two or more persons nominated by the same political party for multiple offices for any board, the name of the candidate of such party receiving the highest number of votes in the consolidated primary election as a candidate for such consolidated primary, shall be certified first under the name of such office, and the names of the remaining candidates of such party for such offices shall follow in the order of the number of votes received by them respectively at the consolidated primary election as shown by the official election results.

No person who is shown by the election authority's proclamation to have been nominated at the consolidated primary as a write-in candidate shall have his or her name certified unless such person shall have filed with the certifying office or board within 5 days after the election authority's proclamation a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10 and a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1.

Each board of election commissioners of the cities in which established political party candidates for city offices are nominated at the consolidated primary shall determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of the established political party candidates for the consolidated ballot. Such determination shall be made within 5 days following the canvass and proclamation of the results of the consolidated primary and shall be open to the public. Three days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given, by each such election authority, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each election authority shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the election authority office, notice of the time and place of such lottery.

Each local election official of a political subdivision in which established political party candidates for the respective local offices are nominated by primary shall determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of the established political party candidates for the consolidated election ballot and, in the case of certain municipalities having annual elections, on the general primary ballot for election. Such determination shall be made prior to the canvass and proclamation of results of the consolidated primary or special municipal primary, as the case may be, in the office of the local election official and shall be open to the public. Three days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given, by each such local election official, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each local election official shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place notice of such lottery. Immediately thereafter, the local election official shall certify the ballot placement order so determined to the proper election authorities charged with the preparation of the consolidated election, or general primary, ballot for that political subdivision.

Not less than 68 days before the date of the consolidated election, each local election official of a political subdivision in which established political party candidates for the respective local offices have been nominated by caucus or have been nominated because no primary was required to be held shall certify to each election authority whose duty it is to prepare the official ballot for the consolidated election in that political subdivision the names of each of the candidates whose certificates of nomination or nomination papers have been filed in his or her office and direct the election authority to place upon the official ballot for the consolidated election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification. Such local election official shall, prior to certification, determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of the established political party candidates for the consolidated election ballot. Such determination shall be made in the office of the local election official and shall be open to the public. Three days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given by each such local election official to the county chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each local election official shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. The local election official shall certify the ballot placement order so determined as part of his official certification of candidates to the election authorities whose duty it is to prepare the official ballot for the consolidated election in that political subdivision.

The certification shall indicate, where applicable, the following:

• (1) The political party affiliation of the candidates the respective offices;
• (2) If there is to be more than one candidate elected or nominated to an office from the State, political subdivision or district;
• (3) If the voter has the right to vote for more than one candidate for an office;
• (4) The term of office, if a vacancy is to be filled for less than a full term or if the offices to be filled in a political subdivision or district are for different terms.

The local election official shall issue an amended certification whenever it is discovered that the original certification is in error.

10 ILCS 5/7-61 — Special Elections [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-62 — Responsibilities of the Municipal Board of Election Commissioners [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-63 — Contesting the Election [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-64 — Independent Candidates [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-65 — Invalidity [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-66 — Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology Voting Equipment

If the election authority has adopted the use of Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting equipment pursuant to Article 24B of this Code, and the provisions of the Article are in conflict with the provisions of this Article 7, the provisions of Article 24B shall govern the procedures followed by the election authority, its judges of elections, and all employees and agents. In following the provisions of Article 24B, the election authority is authorized to develop and implement procedures to fully utilize Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting equipment authorized by the State Board of Elections as long as the procedure is not in conflict with either Article 24B or the administrative rules of the State Board of Elections.

10 ILCS 5/7-67 — Nominations; Regional Superintendents of Schools.

10 ILCS 5/7-68 — Nominations for special elections [not included].

10 ILCS 5/7-100 — Definition of a Vote

• (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, for the purpose of this Article, a person casts a valid vote on a punch card ballot when:
  • (1) A chad on the card has at least one corner detached from the card;
  • (2) The fibers of paper on at least one edge of the chad are broken in a way that permits unimpeded light to be seen through the card; or
  • (3) An indentation on the chad from the stylus or other object is present and indicates a clearly ascertainable intent of the voter to vote based on the totality of the circumstances, including but not limited to any pattern or frequency of indentations on other ballot positions from the same ballot card.
• (b) Write-in votes shall be counted in a manner consistent with the existing provisions of this Code.
• (c) For purposes of this Section, a "chad" is that portion of a ballot card that a voter punches or perforates with a stylus or other designated marking device to manifest his or her vote for a particular ballot position on a ballot card as defined in subsection (a).
• (d) Prior to the original counting of any punch card ballots, an election judge may not alter a punch card ballot in any manner, including, but not limited to, the removal or manipulation of chads.