PART 206 POLLWATCHERS : Sections Listing

TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 206 POLLWATCHERS


AUTHORITY: Implementing Section 17-23 of the Election Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 46, par. 17-23) and authorized by Section 1A-8(9) of the Election Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 46, par. 1A-8(9)).

SOURCE: Adopted at 2 Ill. Reg. 25, p. 70, effective July 3, 1978; amended at 3 Ill. Reg. 33, p. 396, effective August 17, 1979; codified at 6 Ill. Reg. 7218.

 

Section 206.10  Credential Issuance and General Rights – Township Primary and General Elections

 

a)         This regulation pertains only to municipal and township primary and general elections.

 

b)         For such elections, challengers and watchers shall hereinafter be classified as "pollwatchers."

 

c)         All pollwatchers' credentials, whether for candidates, political parties, civic organizations, or proponent or opponent proposition groups shall be printed in sufficient quantities and be issued under the facsimile signature of the appropriate election authority to such candidates, political parties, civic organizations and proponent and opponent proposition groups, upon their request.  Only in those instances where the request is clearly unreasonable shall the election authority limit the distribution of credentials to the requesting individuals.

 

d)         All credentials shall be authorized under the real or facsimile signature of the following person:

 

1)         The candidate who has authorized the pollwatcher shall sign the credentials for that candidate pollwatcher.

 

2)         The chairman of the appropriate political party organization shall sign the credentials for political party watchers.

 

3)         The chairman or presiding officer of the civic organization shall sign the credentials for civic organization pollwatchers.

 

4)         The chairman of the proponent or opponent proposition group or committee shall sign the credentials for proponent or opponent proposition groups.

 

e)         Such authorizing signatures shall appear on the face of the credential. Additionally, the pollwatcher shall affix his or her signature on the face thereof, the precinct or ward in which he resides and the county in which he is registered as a voter.

 

f)         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 with the other election materials. Once a pollwatcher has surrendered a valid credential, he may leave and re-enter the polling place provided that such continuing action does not disrupt the conduct of the election.  After the polls have closed, pollwatchers shall be allowed to remain until the canvass of votes is completed; but may leave and re-enter only in cases of necessity, provided that such action is not so continuous as to disrupt the canvass of votes.

 

(Source:  Amended at 3 Ill. Reg. 33, p. 396, effective August 17, 1979)

 

Section 206.30  Qualifications and Allowable Number for School Districts and Community College District Elections

 

a)         For school district or community college district elections, challengers and watchers shall hereinafter be classified as "pollwatchers."

 

b)         The qualifications and allowable number of pollwatchers for such elections shall be:

 

1)         SCHOOL DISTRICTS

 

A)        Candidates are permitted two pollwatchers per precinct.  Such pollwatchers must be registered as voters in the school district in which they are pollwatching.

 

B)        Organized proponents of a ballot proposition are entitled to two pollwatchers per precinct.  Organized opponents of a ballot proposition are entitled to two pollwatchers per precinct.  Such proponent and opponent organizations must be registered with the election authority.  Such proponent and opponent pollwatchers must be registered as voters in the school district in which they are pollwatchers.

 

C)        A qualified civic organization, which has among its purposes the investigation or prosecution of election fraud, is entitled to one pollwatcher per precinct. Such qualified civic organizations must be registered with the election authority.  Such pollwatcher must be registered as a voter in the school district in which he is pollwatching.

 

2)         COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS

 

A)        Candidates are permitted two pollwatchers per precinct.  Such pollwatchers must be registered as voters in the community college district in which they are pollwatching.

 

B)        Organized proponents of a ballot proposition are entitled to two pollwatchers per precinct.  Organized opponents of a ballot proposition are entitled to two pollwatchers per precinct.  Such proponent and opponent organizations must be registered with the election authority.  Such proponent and opponent pollwatchers must be registered as voters in the community college district in which they are pollwatchers.

 

(Source:  Amended at 3 Ill. Reg. 33, p. 396, effective August 17, 1979)

 

Section 206.40  Qualifications and Allowable Number for Park District Elections

 

a)         For park district general elections, challengers and watchers shall hereinafter be classified as "pollwatchers."

 

b)         The qualifications and allowable number of pollwatchers for a park district election shall be:

 

1)         Candidates are permitted two pollwatchers per precinct.  Such pollwatchers must be registered as voters as required by the Election Code in the park district in which they are pollwatching.

 

2)         A qualified civic organization, which has among its purposes the investigation or prosecution of election fraud, is entitled to one pollwatcher per precinct. Such pollwatcher must be registered as a voter as required by the Election Code in the park district in which he is pollwatching.

 

3)         Organized proponents of a ballot proposition are entitled to one pollwatcher per precinct.  Organized opponents of a ballot proposition are entitled to one pollwatcher per precinct.  Such proponent and opponent organizations must be registered with the election authority.  Such proponent and opponent pollwatchers must be registered as voters as required by the Election Code in the park district in which they are pollwatchers.