Chapter 6. Before the Polls Open

6.C. Examine The Ballot Box/Tabulator

6.C.9. Confirm Ballot Box/Tabulator Is On Public View

Once the ballot box is publicly shown to be empty, the ballot box or the operational tabulator shall be placed in public view and remain in public view, with no obstructions, until the polls close.

Relevant Illinois State Law

...and such ballot box shall not be removed from public view from the time when it is shown to be empty until after the close of the polls.

10 ILCS 5/7-40(b)
Primaries

...and it shall not be removed from public view from the time when it is shown to be empty until after the close of the polls.

10 ILCS 5/18-3(a)
General, municipal, special,
and consolidated elections.

Regardless of whether a permanent type or a non-permanent type ballot boxes are used, the judges of election shall keep such ballot box constantly in public view during the progress of the election. If any barricade or other obstruction of any kind is, prior to or during such election, interposed, so that all who desire cannot constantly see such ballot box, the judges shall remove such obstruction on request or on their own motion, and if such obstruction is not removed on request, any sheriff or police officer shall remove the same on request. Any court has jurisdiction, on complaint, to issue a warrant to the sheriff of the county to remove such obstruction as a nuisance; and in executing such warrant he may call any person to his assistance, and no other officer of the law or private individual shall interpose or interfere with such removal.

10 ILCS 5/17-3(c)
Jurisdictions with local
Board of Elections.

10 ILCS 5/18-3(c)
Jurisdictions where
the County Clerk is the
election authority.

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