Chapter 6. Before the Polls Open

6.C. Examine The Ballot Box/Tabulator

6.C.5. Observe As the Election Judges Compare the Sample Ballot to the Actual Ballot

The Election Judges for each precinct in the Polling Place shall compare the sample ballot for their precinct to the actual ballot to ensure that every candidate, ballot measure, and Illinois Constitutional question appears on the actual ballot.

Relevant Illinois State Law

Before the opening of the polls the judges of election shall compare the ballots or displays on the marking device used with the specimen ballots furnished and see that the names, numbers and letters thereon agree and shall certify thereto on forms provided by the county clerk or board of election commissioners.

10 ILCS 5/24B-8

"Specimen ballot" means a representation of names of offices and candidates and statements of measures to be voted on which will appear on the official ballot or marking device on election day. The specimen ballot also contains the party and position number where applicable.

10 ILCS 5/24B-2

The election authority shall transmit or cause to be delivered to the primary judges, and to the respective local election officials prior to the consolidated primary, specimen ballots of each political party, substantially in the form of the official primary ballots, to be used at such primary, which specimen ballot shall be printed upon paper of a different texture and color from the official primary ballot.

10 ILCS 5/7-21
Primary

When an electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting system is used, the election authority shall cause to be published, at least 5 days before the day of each general and general primary election, in 2 or more newspapers published in and having a general circulation in the county, a true and legible copy of the specimen ballot. A true legible copy may be in the form of an actual size ballot and shall be published as required by this Section if distributed in 2 or more newspapers published and having a general circulation in the county as an insert. For each election prescribed in Article 2A of this Code, specimen ballots shall be made available for public distribution and shall be supplied to the judges of election for posting in the polling place on the day of election. Notice for the nonpartisan and consolidated elections shall be given as provided in Article 12.

10 ILCS 5/24B-18

10 ILCS 5/24C-18

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