3.J. Candidate On the Ballot
A candidate whose name appears on the ballot in that precinct may enter and remain in the Polling Place after identifying themselves to the Election Judges and presenting their credentials.
On Election Day, a candidate must present credentials for each precinct within a Polling Place, or one credential per Voting Center. Credentials are issued by the Election Authority.
A candidate has the same rights, privileges, and restrictions as a poll watcher.
A candidate who engages in activity that a majority of the Election Judges reasonably construe as electioneering shall be removed from the Polling Place.
A candidate may need multiple credentials if the Polling Place contains multiple precincts.
3.J.1. Candidate Credential
Candidate credentials shall be in substantially the following form:
TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:
In accordance with the provisions of the Election Code, I, NAME OF CANDIDATE (name of candidate), hereby certify that I am a candidate for NAME OF OFFICE (name of office) and seek admittance to PRECINCT NUMBER precinct of the WARD NUMBER ward (if applicable) of the TOWNSHIP OR MUNICIPALITY (township or municipality) of COUNTY at the PRIMARY /GENERAL / MUNICIPAL / SPECIAL / CONSOLIDATED election to be held on DATE OF ELECTION (insert date).
(Signature of Candidate)
OFFICE
OFFICE FOR WHICH CANDIDATE SEEKS NOMINATION OR ELECTION
If a candidate is seeking an office that spans more than one jurisdiction (most often more than one county), the candidate must obtain credentials from each Election Authority that has jurisdiction over those Polling Places.
If a candidate is seeking an office that encompasses two or more jurisdictions, the candidate cannot be denied credentials from the Election Authority of the jurisdiction where the candidate is not registered to vote.
- Example One: If a candidate is running for an office in a jurisdiction that extends into two different counties, that candidate will be credentialed in both counties, including the county in which the candidate is not registered to vote.
- Example Two: If a candidate is registered to vote within a jurisdiction with a Local Board of Election and is running for an office for a jurisdiction that extends beyond that Local Board of Elections, the candidate will be issued credentials by both Election Authorities for all precincts within the jurisdiction where the candidate is running for office.