99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1529

 

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Terry Link

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/7-12  from Ch. 46, par. 7-12
10 ILCS 5/25-7  from Ch. 46, par. 25-7

    Amends the Election Code. In a provision concerning vacancies in the office of Representative in Congress, provides that the Governor shall issue a Writ of Election if the vacancy occurs more than 240 days (instead of 180 days) before the next general election. Provides that the special election shall be held within 180 days (instead of 115 days) after the issuance of the Writ of Election. Provides that petitions for nomination shall be filed not more than 85 and not less than 82 days prior to the date of the special primary election, except that petitions of independent candidates and candidates of new political parties shall be filed not more than 93 and not less than 90 days prior to the date of the special election. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
5Sections 7-12 and 25-7 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/7-12)  (from Ch. 46, par. 7-12)
7    Sec. 7-12. All petitions for nomination shall be filed by
8mail or in person as follows:
9        (1) Where the nomination is to be made for a State,
10    congressional, or judicial office, or for any office a
11    nomination for which is made for a territorial division or
12    district which comprises more than one county or is partly
13    in one county and partly in another county or counties,
14    then, except as otherwise provided in this Section, such
15    petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal
16    office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113
17    and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the
18    primary, but, in the case of petitions for nomination to
19    fill a vacancy by special election in the office of
20    representative in Congress from this State, such petition
21    for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of
22    the State Board of Elections not more than 85 57 days and
23    not less than 82 50 days prior to the date of the primary.

 

 

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1        Where a vacancy occurs in the office of Supreme,
2    Appellate or Circuit Court Judge within the 3-week period
3    preceding the 106th day before a general primary election,
4    petitions for nomination for the office in which the
5    vacancy has occurred shall be filed in the principal office
6    of the State Board of Elections not more than 92 nor less
7    than 85 days prior to the date of the general primary
8    election.
9        Where the nomination is to be made for delegates or
10    alternate delegates to a national nominating convention,
11    then such petition for nomination shall be filed in the
12    principal office of the State Board of Elections not more
13    than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of
14    the primary; provided, however, that if the rules or
15    policies of a national political party conflict with such
16    requirements for filing petitions for nomination for
17    delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating
18    convention, the chairman of the State central committee of
19    such national political party shall notify the Board in
20    writing, citing by reference the rules or policies of the
21    national political party in conflict, and in such case the
22    Board shall direct such petitions to be filed in accordance
23    with the delegate selection plan adopted by the state
24    central committee of such national political party.
25        (2) Where the nomination is to be made for a county
26    office or trustee of a sanitary district then such petition

 

 

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1    shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more
2    than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the
3    primary.
4        (3) Where the nomination is to be made for a municipal
5    or township office, such petitions for nomination shall be
6    filed in the office of the local election official, not
7    more than 99 nor less than 92 days prior to the date of the
8    primary; provided, where a municipality's or township's
9    boundaries are coextensive with or are entirely within the
10    jurisdiction of a municipal board of election
11    commissioners, the petitions shall be filed in the office
12    of such board; and provided, that petitions for the office
13    of multi-township assessor shall be filed with the election
14    authority.
15        (4) The petitions of candidates for State central
16    committeeman shall be filed in the principal office of the
17    State Board of Elections not more than 113 nor less than
18    106 days prior to the date of the primary.
19        (5) Petitions of candidates for precinct, township or
20    ward committeemen shall be filed in the office of the
21    county clerk not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior
22    to the date of the primary.
23        (6) The State Board of Elections and the various
24    election authorities and local election officials with
25    whom such petitions for nominations are filed shall specify
26    the place where filings shall be made and upon receipt

 

 

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1    shall endorse thereon the day and hour on which each
2    petition was filed. All petitions filed by persons waiting
3    in line as of 8:00 a.m. on the first day for filing, or as
4    of the normal opening hour of the office involved on such
5    day, shall be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. or the normal
6    opening hour, as the case may be. Petitions filed by mail
7    and received after midnight of the first day for filing and
8    in the first mail delivery or pickup of that day shall be
9    deemed as filed as of 8:00 a.m. of that day or as of the
10    normal opening hour of such day, as the case may be. All
11    petitions received thereafter shall be deemed as filed in
12    the order of actual receipt. However, 2 or more petitions
13    filed within the last hour of the filing deadline shall be
14    deemed filed simultaneously. Where 2 or more petitions are
15    received simultaneously, the State Board of Elections or
16    the various election authorities or local election
17    officials with whom such petitions are filed shall break
18    ties and determine the order of filing, by means of a
19    lottery or other fair and impartial method of random
20    selection approved by the State Board of Elections. Such
21    lottery shall be conducted within 9 days following the last
22    day for petition filing and shall be open to the public.
23    Seven days written notice of the time and place of
24    conducting such random selection shall be given by the
25    State Board of Elections to the chairman of the State
26    central committee of each established political party, and

 

 

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1    by each election authority or local election official, to
2    the County Chairman of each established political party,
3    and to each organization of citizens within the election
4    jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the
5    next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on
6    the day of election. The State Board of Elections, election
7    authority or local election official shall post in a
8    conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the
9    office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. The
10    State Board of Elections shall adopt rules and regulations
11    governing the procedures for the conduct of such lottery.
12    All candidates shall be certified in the order in which
13    their petitions have been filed. Where candidates have
14    filed simultaneously, they shall be certified in the order
15    determined by lot and prior to candidates who filed for the
16    same office at a later time.
17        (7) The State Board of Elections or the appropriate
18    election authority or local election official with whom
19    such a petition for nomination is filed shall notify the
20    person for whom a petition for nomination has been filed of
21    the obligation to file statements of organization, reports
22    of campaign contributions, and annual reports of campaign
23    contributions and expenditures under Article 9 of this Act.
24    Such notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by
25    paragraph (7) of Section 9-16 of this Code.
26        (8) Nomination papers filed under this Section are not

 

 

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1    valid if the candidate named therein fails to file a
2    statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois
3    Governmental Ethics Act in relation to his candidacy with
4    the appropriate officer by the end of the period for the
5    filing of nomination papers unless he has filed a statement
6    of economic interests in relation to the same governmental
7    unit with that officer within a year preceding the date on
8    which such nomination papers were filed. If the nomination
9    papers of any candidate and the statement of economic
10    interest of that candidate are not required to be filed
11    with the same officer, the candidate must file with the
12    officer with whom the nomination papers are filed a receipt
13    from the officer with whom the statement of economic
14    interests is filed showing the date on which such statement
15    was filed. Such receipt shall be so filed not later than
16    the last day on which nomination papers may be filed.
17        (9) Any person for whom a petition for nomination, or
18    for committeeman or for delegate or alternate delegate to a
19    national nominating convention has been filed may cause his
20    name to be withdrawn by request in writing, signed by him
21    and duly acknowledged before an officer qualified to take
22    acknowledgments of deeds, and filed in the principal or
23    permanent branch office of the State Board of Elections or
24    with the appropriate election authority or local election
25    official, not later than the date of certification of
26    candidates for the consolidated primary or general primary

 

 

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1    ballot. No names so withdrawn shall be certified or printed
2    on the primary ballot. If petitions for nomination have
3    been filed for the same person with respect to more than
4    one political party, his name shall not be certified nor
5    printed on the primary ballot of any party. If petitions
6    for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or
7    more offices which are incompatible so that the same person
8    could not serve in more than one of such offices if
9    elected, that person must withdraw as a candidate for all
10    but one of such offices within the 5 business days
11    following the last day for petition filing. A candidate in
12    a judicial election may file petitions for nomination for
13    only one vacancy in a subcircuit and only one vacancy in a
14    circuit in any one filing period, and if petitions for
15    nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or
16    more vacancies in the same circuit or subcircuit in the
17    same filing period, his or her name shall be certified only
18    for the first vacancy for which the petitions for
19    nomination were filed. If he fails to withdraw as a
20    candidate for all but one of such offices within such time
21    his name shall not be certified, nor printed on the primary
22    ballot, for any office. For the purpose of the foregoing
23    provisions, an office in a political party is not
24    incompatible with any other office.
25        (10)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other
26    statute, no primary shall be held for an established

 

 

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1    political party in any township, municipality, or ward
2    thereof, where the nomination of such party for every
3    office to be voted upon by the electors of such township,
4    municipality, or ward thereof, is uncontested. Whenever a
5    political party's nomination of candidates is uncontested
6    as to one or more, but not all, of the offices to be voted
7    upon by the electors of a township, municipality, or ward
8    thereof, then a primary shall be held for that party in
9    such township, municipality, or ward thereof; provided
10    that the primary ballot shall not include those offices
11    within such township, municipality, or ward thereof, for
12    which the nomination is uncontested. For purposes of this
13    Article, the nomination of an established political party
14    of a candidate for election to an office shall be deemed to
15    be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to
16    be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers
17    seeking the nomination of such party for election to such
18    office.
19        (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other
20    statute, no primary election shall be held for an
21    established political party for any special primary
22    election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the
23    office of representative in the United States Congress
24    where the nomination of such political party for said
25    office is uncontested. For the purposes of this Article,
26    the nomination of an established political party of a

 

 

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1    candidate for election to said office shall be deemed to be
2    uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be
3    nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers
4    seeking the nomination of such established party for
5    election to said office. This subsection (b) shall not
6    apply if such primary election is conducted on a regularly
7    scheduled election day.
8        (c) Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraph (a)
9    and (b) of this paragraph (10), whenever a person who has
10    not timely filed valid nomination papers and who intends to
11    become a write-in candidate for a political party's
12    nomination for any office for which the nomination is
13    uncontested files a written statement or notice of that
14    intent with the State Board of Elections or the local
15    election official with whom nomination papers for such
16    office are filed, a primary ballot shall be prepared and a
17    primary shall be held for that office. Such statement or
18    notice shall be filed on or before the date established in
19    this Article for certifying candidates for the primary
20    ballot. Such statement or notice shall contain (i) the name
21    and address of the person intending to become a write-in
22    candidate, (ii) a statement that the person is a qualified
23    primary elector of the political party from whom the
24    nomination is sought, (iii) a statement that the person
25    intends to become a write-in candidate for the party's
26    nomination, and (iv) the office the person is seeking as a

 

 

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1    write-in candidate. An election authority shall have no
2    duty to conduct a primary and prepare a primary ballot for
3    any office for which the nomination is uncontested unless a
4    statement or notice meeting the requirements of this
5    Section is filed in a timely manner.
6        (11) If multiple sets of nomination papers are filed
7    for a candidate to the same office, the State Board of
8    Elections, appropriate election authority or local
9    election official where the petitions are filed shall
10    within 2 business days notify the candidate of his or her
11    multiple petition filings and that the candidate has 3
12    business days after receipt of the notice to notify the
13    State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority
14    or local election official that he or she may cancel prior
15    sets of petitions. If the candidate notifies the State
16    Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or
17    local election official, the last set of petitions filed
18    shall be the only petitions to be considered valid by the
19    State Board of Elections, election authority or local
20    election official. If the candidate fails to notify the
21    State Board of Elections, election authority or local
22    election official then only the first set of petitions
23    filed shall be valid and all subsequent petitions shall be
24    void.
25        (12) All nominating petitions shall be available for
26    public inspection and shall be preserved for a period of

 

 

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1    not less than 6 months.
2(Source: P.A. 96-1008, eff. 7-6-10; 97-81, eff. 7-5-11;
397-1044, eff. 1-1-13.)
 
4    (10 ILCS 5/25-7)  (from Ch. 46, par. 25-7)
5    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 98-1171)
6    Sec. 25-7. (a) When any vacancy shall occur in the office
7of representative in congress from this state more than 240 180
8days before the next general election, the Governor shall issue
9a writ of election within 5 days after the occurrence of that
10vacancy to the county clerks of the several counties in the
11district where the vacancy exists, appointing a day within 180
12115 days of issuance of the writ to hold a special election to
13fill such vacancy.
14    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section or any
15other law to the contrary, a special election to fill a vacancy
16in the office of representative in congress occurring less than
1760 days following the 2012 general election shall be held as
18provided in this subsection (b). A special primary election
19shall be held on February 26, 2013, and a special election
20shall be held on April 9, 2013.
21    Except as provided in this subsection (b), the provisions
22of Article 7 of this Code are applicable to petitions for the
23special primary election and special election. Petitions for
24nomination in accordance with Article 7 shall be filed in the
25principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than

 

 

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185 54 and not less than 82 50 days prior to the date of the
2special primary election, excluding Saturday and Sunday.
3Petitions for the nomination of independent candidates and
4candidates of new political parties shall be filed in the
5principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than
693 68 and not less than 90 64 days prior to the date of the
7special election, excluding Saturday and Sunday.
8    Except as provided in this subsection, the State Board of
9Elections shall have authority to establish, in conjunction
10with the impacted election authorities, an election calendar
11for the special election and special primary.
12    If an election authority is unable to have a sufficient
13number of ballots printed so that ballots will be available for
14mailing at least 46 days prior to the special primary election
15or special election to persons who have filed an application
16for a ballot under the provisions of Article 20 of this Code,
17the election authority shall, no later than 45 days prior to
18each election, mail to each of those persons a Special Write-in
19Absentee Voter's Blank Ballot in accordance with Section
2016-5.01 of this Code. The election authority shall advise those
21persons that the names of candidates to be nominated or elected
22shall be available on the election authority's website and
23shall provide a phone number the person may call to request the
24names of the candidates for nomination or election.
25(Source: P.A. 97-1134, eff. 12-3-12.)
 

 

 

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1    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 98-1171)
2    Sec. 25-7. (a) When any vacancy shall occur in the office
3of representative in congress from this state more than 240 180
4days before the next general election, the Governor shall issue
5a writ of election within 5 days after the occurrence of that
6vacancy to the county clerks of the several counties in the
7district where the vacancy exists, appointing a day within 180
8115 days of issuance of the writ to hold a special election to
9fill such vacancy.
10    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section or any
11other law to the contrary, a special election to fill a vacancy
12in the office of representative in congress occurring less than
1360 days following the 2012 general election shall be held as
14provided in this subsection (b). A special primary election
15shall be held on February 26, 2013, and a special election
16shall be held on April 9, 2013.
17    Except as provided in this subsection (b), the provisions
18of Article 7 of this Code are applicable to petitions for the
19special primary election and special election. Petitions for
20nomination in accordance with Article 7 shall be filed in the
21principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than
2285 54 and not less than 82 50 days prior to the date of the
23special primary election, excluding Saturday and Sunday.
24Petitions for the nomination of independent candidates and
25candidates of new political parties shall be filed in the
26principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than

 

 

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193 68 and not less than 90 64 days prior to the date of the
2special election, excluding Saturday and Sunday.
3    Except as provided in this subsection, the State Board of
4Elections shall have authority to establish, in conjunction
5with the impacted election authorities, an election calendar
6for the special election and special primary.
7    If an election authority is unable to have a sufficient
8number of ballots printed so that ballots will be available for
9mailing at least 46 days prior to the special primary election
10or special election to persons who have filed an application
11for a ballot under the provisions of Article 20 of this Code,
12the election authority shall, no later than 45 days prior to
13each election, mail to each of those persons a Special Write-in
14Vote by Mail Voter's Blank Ballot in accordance with Section
1516-5.01 of this Code. The election authority shall advise those
16persons that the names of candidates to be nominated or elected
17shall be available on the election authority's website and
18shall provide a phone number the person may call to request the
19names of the candidates for nomination or election.
20(Source: P.A. 97-1134, eff. 12-3-12; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)
 
21    Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
22changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
23that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
24represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
25not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes

 

 

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1made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
2Public Act.
 
3    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
4becoming law.