Chapter 3. Who Are The People In the Polling Place?, this link opens in a new browser tab.
3.E. Election Judges, this link opens in a new browser tab.
3.E.1. The Majority of Election Judges
In the 2026-2027 Election Cycle the majority of Election Judges in Polling Places and on Special Panels should be Democrats.
Relevant Illinois State Law
"Leading political party" means one of the two political parties whose candidates for governor at the most recent three gubernatorial elections received either the highest or second highest average number of votes. The political party whose candidates for governor received the highest average number of votes shall be known as the first leading political party and the political party whose candidates for governor received the second highest average number of votes shall be known as the second leading political party.
No more than 3 persons of the same political party shall be appointed judges of the same election precinct or election judge panel. The appointment shall be made in the following manner: The county board of commissioners shall select and approve 3 persons as judges of election in each election precinct from a certified list, furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the first leading political party in such precinct; and the county board of commissioners shall also select and approve 2 persons as judges of election in each election precinct from a certified list, furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the second leading political party.
However, if only 3 judges of election serve in each election precinct, no more than 2 persons of the same political party shall be judges of election in the same election precinct; and which political party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political party is entitled to one judge of election shall be determined in the same manner as set forth in the next two preceding sentences with regard to 5 election judges in each precinct.
10 ILCS 5/13-1, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Counties not under
township organization.
No more than 3 persons of the same political party shall be appointed judges in the same election district or undivided precinct.
The election of the judges of election in the various election precincts shall be made in the following manner: The county board shall select and approve 3 of the election judges in each precinct from a certified list furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the first leading political party in such election precinct and shall also select and approve 2 judges of election in each election precinct from a certified list furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the second leading political party in such election precinct.
However, if only 3 judges of election serve in each election precinct, no more than 2 persons of the same political party shall be judges of election in the same election precinct; and which political party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political party is entitled to one judge of election shall be determined in the same manner as set forth in the next two preceding sentences with regard to 5 election judges in each precinct.
10 ILCS 5/13-2, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Counties under
township organization.
If only 3 judges of election serve in each election precinct, no more than 2 persons of the same political party shall be judges of election in the same election precinct, and which political party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political party is entitled to one judge of election shall be determined as set forth in this Section for a county board of election commissioners' selection of 5 election judges in each precinct or in Section 14-4 for a municipal board of election commissioners' selection of election judges in each precinct, whichever is appropriate.
10 ILCS 5/14-3.1, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Jurisdictions Under
Boards of Election Commissioners.
In addition to such precinct judges, the county board of commissioners shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each, who shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for other judges of election. The number of such panels of judges required shall be determined by regulations of the State Board of Elections which shall base the required numbers of special panels on the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction or the number of vote by mail ballots voted at recent elections, or any combination of such factors.
10 ILCS 5/13-1, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Counties not under
township organization.
In addition to such precinct judges, the county board shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each, who shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for other judges of election. The number of such panels of judges required shall be determined by regulations of the State Board of Elections, which shall base the required number of special panels on the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction or the number of absentee ballots voted at recent elections or any combination of such factors.
10 ILCS 5/13-2, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Counties under
township organization.
In addition to such precinct judges, the board of election commissioners shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each, who shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for other judges of election.
10 ILCS 5/14-3.1, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Jurisdictions Under
Boards of Election Commissioners.