10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 1 heading) ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

(10 ILCS 5/1-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 1-1)

Sec. 1-1. This Act may be cited as the Election Code. This Act is the general election law of Illinois and any reference in any other Act to "the general election law" or "the general election law of this State" is a reference to this Act, as now or hereafter amended.

(Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 1-2)

Sec. 1-2. The provisions of this Act, so far as they are the same as those of any prior statute, shall be construed as a continuation of such prior provisions, and not as a new enactment.

If in any other statute reference is made to an Act of the General Assembly, or a Section of such an Act, which is continued in this Code, such reference shall be held to refer to the Act or Section thereof so continued in this Code.

(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 1-3)

Sec. 1-3. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Election" includes the submission of all questions of public policy, propositions, and all measures submitted to popular vote, and includes primary elections when so indicated by the context.

2. "Regular election" means the general, general primary, consolidated and consolidated primary elections regularly scheduled in Article 2A. The even numbered year municipal primary established in Article 2A is a regular election only with respect to those municipalities in which a primary is required to be held on such date.

3. "Special election" means an election not regularly recurring at fixed intervals, irrespective of whether it is held at the same time and place and by the same election officers as a regular election.

4. "General election" means the biennial election at which members of the General Assembly are elected. "General primary election", "consolidated election" and "consolidated primary election" mean the respective elections or the election dates designated and established in Article 2A of this Code.

5. "Municipal election" means an election or primary, either regular or special, in cities, villages, and incorporated towns; and "municipality" means any such city, village or incorporated town.

6. "Political or governmental subdivision" means any unit of local government, or school district in which elections are or may be held. "Political or governmental subdivision" also includes, for election purposes, Regional Boards of School Trustees, and Township Boards of School Trustees.

7. The word "township" and the word "town" shall apply interchangeably to the type of governmental organization established in accordance with the provisions of the Township Code. The term "incorporated town" shall mean a municipality referred to as an incorporated town in the Illinois Municipal Code, as now or hereafter amended.

8. "Election authority" means a county clerk or a Board of Election Commissioners.

9. "Election Jurisdiction" means (a) an entire county, in the case of a county in which no city board of election commissioners is located or which is under the jurisdiction of a county board of election commissioners; (b) the territorial jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners; and (c) the territory in a county outside of the jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners. In each instance election jurisdiction shall be determined according to which election authority maintains the permanent registration records of qualified electors.

10. "Local election official" means the clerk or secretary of a unit of local government or school district, as the case may be, the treasurer of a township board of school trustees, and the regional superintendent of schools with respect to the various school officer elections and school referenda for which the regional superintendent is assigned election duties by The School Code, as now or hereafter amended.

11. "Judges of election", "primary judges" and similar terms, as applied to cases where there are 2 sets of judges, when used in connection with duties at an election during the hours the polls are open, refer to the team of judges of election on duty during such hours; and, when used with reference to duties after the closing of the polls, refer to the team of tally judges designated to count the vote after the closing of the polls and the holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 13-6.2 or 14-5.2. In such case, where, after the closing of the polls, any act is required to be performed by each of the judges of election, it shall be performed by each of the tally judges and by each of the holdover judges.

12. "Petition" of candidacy as used in Sections 7-10 and 7-10.1 shall consist of a statement of candidacy, candidate's statement containing oath, and sheets containing signatures of qualified primary electors bound together.

13. "Election district" and "precinct", when used with reference to a 30-day residence requirement, means the smallest constituent territory in which electors vote as a unit at the same polling place in any election governed by this Act.

14. "District" means any area which votes as a unit for the election of any officer, other than the State or a unit of local government or school district, and includes, but is not limited to, legislative, congressional and judicial districts, judicial circuits, county board districts, municipal and sanitary district wards, school board districts, and precincts.

15. "Question of public policy" or "public question" means any question, proposition or measure submitted to the voters at an election dealing with subject matter other than the nomination or election of candidates and shall include, but is not limited to, any bond or tax referendum, and questions relating to the Constitution.

16. "Ordinance providing the form of government of a municipality or county pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution" includes ordinances, resolutions and petitions adopted by referendum which provide for the form of government, the officers or the manner of selection or terms of office of officers of such municipality or county, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4, 6 or 7 of Article VII of the Constitution.

17. "List" as used in Sections 4-11, 4-22, 5-14, 5-29, 6-60, and 6-66 shall include a computer tape or computer disc or other electronic data processing information containing voter information.

18. "Accessible" means accessible to persons with disabilities and elderly individuals for the purpose of voting or registration, as determined by rule of the State Board of Elections.

19. "Elderly" means 65 years of age or older.

20. "Person with a disability" means a person having a temporary or permanent physical disability.

21. "Leading political party" means one of the two political parties whose candidates for governor at the most recent three gubernatorial elections received either the highest or second highest average number of votes. The political party whose candidates for governor received the highest average number of votes shall be known as the first leading political party and the political party whose candidates for governor received the second highest average number of votes shall be known as the second leading political party.

22. "Business day" means any day in which the office of an election authority, local election official or the State Board of Elections is open to the public for a minimum of 7 hours.

23. "Homeless individual" means any person who has a nontraditional residence, including, but not limited to, a shelter, day shelter, park bench, street corner, or space under a bridge.

24. "Signature" means a name signed in ink or in digitized form. This definition does not apply to a nominating or candidate petition or a referendum petition.

25. "Intelligent mail barcode tracking system" means a printed trackable barcode attached to the return business reply envelope for mail-in ballots under Article 19 or Article 20 that allows an election authority to determine the date the envelope was mailed in absence of a postmark.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-3.5)

Sec. 1-3.5. Absentee voting. Any references to absentee ballots, absentee voters, absentee registration, or absentee voting procedures in this Code shall be construed to refer to vote by mail ballots, persons who vote by mail, registration by mail, or voting by mail.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 1-4)

Sec. 1-4. (a) In any case in which this Act prescribes a period of time within which petitions for nomination must be filed, the office in which petitions must be filed shall remain open for the receipt of such petitions until 5:00 P.M. on the last day of the filing period.

(b) For the 2013 consolidated election period, an election authority or local election official shall accept until 104 days before the election at which candidates are to be on the ballot any petitions for nomination or certificate of nomination required by this Code to be filed no earlier than 113 and no later than 106 days before the consolidated election. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, for purposes of this subsection (b) only, signatures and circulator statements on petitions for nomination filed with an election authority or local election official on the final day for filing petitions for nomination shall not be deemed invalid for the sole reason that the petitions were circulated between 90 and 92 days before the last day for filing petitions.

(Source: P.A. 97-1134, eff. 12-3-12.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 1-5)

Sec. 1-5. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 86-873. Repealed by P.A. 89-653, eff. 8-14-96.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-6)

Sec. 1-6. Computing dates of various acts; Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.

(a) If the first or last day fixed by law to do any act required or allowed by this Code falls on a State holiday or a Saturday or a Sunday, the period shall extend through the first business day next following the day otherwise fixed as the first or last day, irrespective of whether any election authority or local election official conducts business on the State holiday, Saturday, or Sunday.

(b) For the purposes of this Section, "State holiday" means New Year's Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, President's Day, Casimir Pulaski's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and any other day from time to time declared by the President of the United States or the Governor of Illinois to be a day during which the agencies of the State of Illinois that are ordinarily open to do business with the public shall be closed for business.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, nominating papers, petitions of objection to nominating papers, certificates of withdrawal of candidacy, and reports of political committees actually received by election authorities and local election officials on a State holiday, a Saturday, or a Sunday shall not be deemed invalid or defective for that reason alone.

(Source: P.A. 102-14, eff. 1-1-22; 102-334, eff. 8-9-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-7)

Sec. 1-7. No straight party voting. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, straight party voting by a single vote is not permitted in Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 89-700, eff. 1-17-97.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-8)

Sec. 1-8. Canvassing boards abolished. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, local canvassing boards are abolished. In this Code or any other law a reference to a local or county canvassing board means (i) for elections in which the political subdivision that is choosing candidates or submitting a public question is located entirely within the jurisdiction of a single election authority, that election authority and (ii) for elections for offices and public questions not listed in Section 22-1 of this Code in which the political subdivision that is choosing candidates or submitting a public question is located within the jurisdiction of 2 or more election authorities, the election authority having jurisdiction over the location at which the political subdivision has its principal office.

(Source: P.A. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-9)

Sec. 1-9. Central counting of grace period, early, vote by mail, and provisional ballots. Notwithstanding any statutory provision to the contrary enacted before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, all grace period ballots, early voting ballots, vote by mail ballots, and provisional ballots to be counted shall be delivered to and counted at an election authority's central ballot counting location and not in precincts. References in this Code enacted before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly to delivery and counting of grace period ballots, early voting ballots, vote by mail ballots, or provisional ballots to or at a precinct polling place or to the proper polling place shall be construed as references to delivery and counting of those ballots to and at the election authority's central ballot counting location.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-9.1)

Sec. 1-9.1. Ballot counting information dissemination. Each election authority maintaining a website must provide 24-hour notice on its website of the date, time, and location of the analysis, processing, and counting of all ballot forms. Each election authority must notify any political party or pollwatcher of the same information 24 hours before the count begins if such political party or pollwatcher has requested to be notified. Notification may be by electronic mail at the address provided by the requester.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-9.2)

Sec. 1-9.2. Uncounted ballot information on website. No later than 48 hours after the closing of polling locations on election day, each election authority maintaining a website shall post the number of ballots that remain uncounted. The posting shall separate the number of ballots yet to be counted into the following categories: ballots cast on election day, early voting ballots, provisional ballots, vote by mail ballots received by the election authority but not counted, and vote by mail ballots sent by the election authority but have not been returned to the election authority. This information shall be updated on the website of the election authority each day until the period for counting provisional and vote by mail ballots has ended. All election authorities, regardless of whether they maintain a website, shall share the same information, separated in the same manner, with the State Board of Elections no later than 48 hours after the closing of polling locations on election day and each business day thereafter until the period for counting provisional and vote by mail ballots has ended.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-10)

Sec. 1-10. Public comment. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the State Board of Elections in evaluating the feasibility of any new voting system shall seek and accept public comment from persons with disabilities, including but not limited to organizations of the blind.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-11)

Sec. 1-11. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 97-766, eff. 7-6-12. Repealed internally, eff. 5-31-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-12)

Sec. 1-12. Public university voting.

(a) Each appropriate election authority shall, in addition to the early voting conducted at locations otherwise required by law, conduct early voting, grace period registration, and grace period voting at the student union on the campus of a public university within the election authority's jurisdiction. The voting required by this subsection (a) to be conducted on campus must be conducted from the 6th day before a general primary or general election until and including the 4th day before a general primary or general election from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and as otherwise required by Article 19A of this Code, except that the voting required by this subsection (a) need not be conducted during a consolidated primary or consolidated election. If an election authority has voting equipment that can accommodate a ballot in every form required in the election authority's jurisdiction, then the election authority shall extend early voting and grace period registration and voting under this Section to any registered voter in the election authority's jurisdiction. However, if the election authority does not have voting equipment that can accommodate a ballot in every form required in the election authority's jurisdiction, then the election authority may limit early voting and grace period registration and voting under this Section to voters in precincts where the public university is located and precincts bordering the university. Each public university shall make the space available at the student union for, and cooperate and coordinate with the appropriate election authority in, the implementation of this subsection (a).

(b) (Blank).

(c) For the purposes of this Section, "public university" means the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Chicago State University, Governors State University, Southern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, and Northeastern Illinois University.

(d) For the purposes of this Section, "student union" means the Student Center at 750 S. Halsted on the University of Illinois-Chicago campus; the Public Affairs Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield or a new building completed after the effective date of this Act housing student government at the University of Illinois at Springfield; the Illini Union at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; the SIUC Student Center at the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale campus; the Morris University Center at the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville campus; the University Union at the Western Illinois University at the Macomb campus; the Holmes Student Center at the Northern Illinois University campus; the University Union at the Eastern Illinois University campus; NEIU Student Union at the Northeastern Illinois University campus; the Bone Student Center at the Illinois State University campus; the Cordell Reed Student Union at the Chicago State University campus; and the Hall of Governors in Building D at the Governors State University campus.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-13)

Sec. 1-13. Forms of signature. The making and signing of any form, including an application to register, a certificate authorizing cancellation of a registration or authorizing a transfer of registration, an application to vote, a provisional ballot, or affidavit, but not including a nominating or candidate petition or a referendum petition, may be by a signature written in ink or in digitized form.

(Source: P.A. 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-15)

Sec. 1-15. Procedures for the disposal of election records. This Code is subject to the provisions of Section 14a of the Local Records Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-475, eff. 8-14-09.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-16)

Sec. 1-16. Election authorities; notices by electronic mail. If an election authority is required by law to send an election-related notice to an individual, that election authority may send that notice solely by electronic mail if the individual provides a current e-mail address to the election authority and authorizes the election authority to send notices by electronic mail. For the purposes of this Section, the term "notice" does not include a ballot or any notice required under Sections 1A-16.5 or 1A-16.7 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 100-464, eff. 8-28-17.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-17)

Sec. 1-17. Election authority voting equipment information. Every 2 years, each election authority shall submit information on the voting equipment used within the jurisdiction of the election authority to the State Board of Elections. The information must include:

(1) the age and functionality of each item of voting equipment; and

(2) a formal letter containing a general description of the status of the voting equipment, the election authority's perceived need for new voting equipment, and the costs associated with obtaining new equipment.

Each election authority must publish the information submitted under this Section online.

(Source: P.A. 100-623, eff. 7-20-18.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-18)

Sec. 1-18. Cybersecurity.

(a) Each election authority maintaining a website shall begin utilizing a ".gov" website address and a ".gov" electronic mail address for each employee within one year of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. The integrity of election authorities' websites and electronic mail addresses shall be protected using electronic mail security products provided by the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology or a third-party vendor.

(b) Each election authority shall perform an organizational risk assessment through the Cyber Navigator Program on a biennial basis.

(c) Each election authority shall begin performing monthly vulnerability scans to defend against cyber breaches within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(d) Each election authority shall begin using endpoint detection and response security tools on all computers utilized by employees within one year of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-19)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2025)

Sec. 1-19. Access to Voting for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Task Force.

(a) The Access to Voting for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Task Force is hereby created to review current laws and make recommendations to improve access to voting for persons with disabilities. Members of the Task Force shall be appointed as follows:

(1) Three members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall serve as chair, and at least one with experience representing or working with persons with physical disabilities and one with experience representing or working with person with neurological or mental disabilities;

(2) Three members appointed by the President of the Senate, including at least one attorney with election law experience;

(3) Three members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, including at least one attorney with election law experience;

(4) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, including at least one attorney with election law experience;

(5) Three members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, including at least one attorney with election law experience.

(b) The Task Force shall hold a minimum of 4 meetings. No later than August 1, 2022, the Task Force shall produce and the State Board of Elections shall publish on its website a report with a summary of the laws and resources available for persons with disabilities seeking to exercise their right to vote. The Task Force shall produce a report with recommendations for changes to current law or recommendations for election authorities submit the report to the Governor and General Assembly no later than December 15, 2022.

(c) The Members shall serve without compensation. If a vacancy occurs on the Task Force, it shall be filled according to the guidelines of the initial appointment. At the discretion of the chair, additional individuals may participate as non-voting members in the meetings of the Task Force.

(d) The State Board of Elections shall provide staff and administrative support to the Task Force.

(e) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 102-668, eff. 11-15-21; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-20)

Sec. 1-20. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 96-1008, eff. 7-6-10. Repealed internally, eff. 3-2-11.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-20.1)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 1-20.1. Task Force to Review Eligibility to Hold Public Office.

(a) The Task Force to Review Eligibility to Hold Public Office is created. The purpose of the Task Force is to review what criminal conduct precludes a person from holding public office in this State and to make recommendations as to what criminal conduct should preclude an individual from holding public office.

(b) The Task Force shall be comprised of the following members:

(1) The president of a statewide bar association or his or her designee, the executive director of a statewide association advocating for the advancement of civil liberties or his or her designee, an executive director of a legal aid organization or statewide association with a practice group dedicated to or focused on returning citizen expungements and sealing of criminal records, all appointed by the Governor.

(2) 4 members of the public, one appointed by each of the following: the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; the President of the Senate; and the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(3) 2 individuals who have been formerly incarcerated, appointed by the Governor.

(4) The Attorney General or his or her designee.

(5) 2 individuals from the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council appointed by the Executive Director.

(6) 2 State Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 2 State Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; 2 State Senators appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 State Senators appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

The members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. All appointments under this subsection must be made within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.

(c) The State Board of Elections shall provide administrative and technical support to the Task Force and be responsible for administering its operations and ensuring that the requirements of the Task Force are met. The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections shall appoint a cochairperson for the Task Force and the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly appoint a cochairperson for the Task Force.

(d) The Task Force shall meet at least 4 times with the first meeting occurring within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections shall designate the day, time, and place for each meeting of the Task Force.

(e) The Task Force shall review what conduct currently precludes an individual from holding public office in this State; the policy rationale for precluding an individual from holding public office based on certain criminal conduct; available research and best practices for restoring returning individuals to full citizenship; and the processes of restoration of eligibility to hold public office in this State. After this review, the Task Force shall make recommendations as to what criminal conduct shall preclude an individual from holding public office in this State.

(f) The Task Force shall produce a report detailing the Task Force's findings and recommendations and needed resources. The Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor by May 1, 2025.

(g) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.

(Source: P.A. 103-562, eff. 11-17-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-21)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2025)

Sec. 1-21. Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force.

(a) The Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force is hereby created for the purposes described in subsection (b). Members of the Task Force shall be appointed as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the Governor;

(2) one member appointed by the Attorney General;

(3) 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate;

(4) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(5) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and

(6) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(b) The Task Force shall study the feasibility of implementing a system of campaign finance that would allow public funds to be used to subsidize campaigns for candidates for judicial office in exchange for voluntary adherence by those campaigns to specified expenditure limitations. In conducting its study, the Task Force shall consider whether implementing such a system of public financing is in the best interest of the State. The Task Force may propose one or more funding sources for the public financing of judicial elections, including, but not limited to, fines, voluntary contributions, surcharges on lobbying activities, and a whistleblower fund. The Task Force shall consider the following factors:

(1) the amount of funds raised by past candidates for judicial office;

(2) the amount of funds expended by past candidates for judicial office;

(3) the disparity in the amount of funds raised by candidates for judicial office of different political parties;

(4) the amount of funds expended with respect to campaigns for judicial office by entities not affiliated with a candidate;

(5) the amount of money contributed to or expended by a committee of a political party to promote a candidate for judicial office;

(6) jurisprudence concerning campaign finance and public financing of political campaigns, both for judicial office and generally; and

(7) any other factors that the Task Force determines are related to the public financing of elections in this State.

The Task Force shall also suggest changes to current law that would be necessary to facilitate public financing of candidates for judicial office.

(c) The Task Force shall complete its study no later than June 30, 2024 and shall report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly as soon as possible after the study is complete.

(d) The members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their duties. If a vacancy occurs on the Task Force, it shall be filled according to the guidelines of the initial appointment.

(e) The State Board of Elections shall provide staff and administrative support to the Task Force.

(f) As used in this Section, "judicial office" means nomination, election, or retention to the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, or the Circuit Court.

(g) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 102-909, eff. 5-27-22; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-22)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 1, 2025)

Sec. 1-22. The Illinois Elections and Infrastructure Integrity Task Force.

(a) The Illinois Elections and Infrastructure Integrity Task Force is created. The Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) 4 members appointed one each by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(2) one member with subject matter expertise regarding cybersecurity, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(3) one member with subject matter expertise regarding voting technology or election integrity, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(4) one member who is an individual with current experience in operational cybersecurity, preferably international operational cybersecurity, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(5) one county clerk, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(6) the Chair of the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago or the Chair's designee;

(7) the county clerk of Cook County;

(8) one election administrator, appointed by the Governor;

(9) the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections or the Executive Director's designee;

(10) the Secretary of State or the Secretary's designee;

(11) the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or the Director's designee;

(12) the Secretary of Innovation and Technology or the Secretary's designee; and

(13) the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee.

(b) The Task Force shall evaluate and make recommendations to prepare for and prevent foreign interference in elections in advance of the 2024 election and all future elections in the State and to prepare for and prevent potential cyberattacks on State infrastructure. In carrying out its duties, the Task Force shall prioritize the security of all Illinois residents and cooperation with other states and with law enforcement to protect United States national sovereignty. The Task Force shall submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than January 1, 2024. The Task Force shall also submit a report evaluating the 2024 election to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than March 1, 2025.

(c) The State Board of Elections shall provide staff and administrative support to the Task Force.

(d) The Task Force is dissolved, and this Section is repealed, on June 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 102-1108, eff. 12-21-22.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-23)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2025)

Sec. 1-23. Ranked-Choice and Voting Systems Task Force.

(a) The Ranked-Choice and Voting Systems Task Force is created. The purpose of the Task Force is to review voting systems and the methods of voting, including ranked-choice voting, that could be authorized by law. The Task Force shall have the following duties:

(1) Engage election officials, interested groups, and members of the public for the purpose of assessing the adoption and implementation of ranked-choice voting in presidential primary elections beginning in 2028.

(2) Review standards used to certify or approve the use of a voting system, including the standards adopted by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the State Board of Elections.

(3) Advise whether the voting system used by Illinois election authorities would be able to accommodate alternative methods of voting, including, but not limited to, ranked-choice voting.

(4) Make recommendations or suggestions for changes to the Election Code or administrative rules for certification of voting systems in Illinois to accommodate alternative methods of voting, including ranked-choice voting.

(b) On or before June 30, 2025, the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings and recommendations. The report shall, at a minimum, detail findings and recommendations related to the duties of the Task Force and the following:

(1) the process used in Illinois to certify voting systems, including which systems can conduct ranked-choice voting; and

(2) information about the voting system used by election authorities, including which election authorities rely on legacy hardware and software for voting and which counties and election authorities rely on equipment for voting that has not exceeded its usable life span but require a software upgrade to accommodate ranked-choice voting. In this paragraph, "legacy hardware and software" means equipment that has exceeded its usable life span.

(c) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) 4 members, appointed by the Senate President, including 2 members of the Senate and 2 members of the public;

(2) 4 members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, including 2 members of the House of Representatives and 2 members of the public;

(3) 4 members, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, including 2 members of the Senate and 2 members of the public;

(4) 4 members, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, including 2 members of the House of Representatives and 2 members of the public;

(5) 4 members, appointed by the Governor, including at least 2 members with knowledge and experience administering elections.

(d) Appointments to the Task Force shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. Members shall serve without compensation.

(e) The Task Force shall meet at the call of a co-chair at least quarterly to fulfill its duties. At the first meeting of the Task Force, the Task Force shall elect one co-chair from the members appointed by the Senate President and one co-chair from the members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(f) The State Board of Elections shall provide administrative support for the Task Force.

(g) This Section is repealed, and the Task Force is dissolved, on July 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23; 103-563, eff. 11-17-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-24)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2025)

Sec. 1-24. 2024 Election Day State holiday. Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the contrary, the 2024 general election shall be a State holiday known as 2024 General Election Day and shall be observed throughout this State. The 2024 general election shall be deemed a legal school holiday for purposes of the School Code. Any school closed under this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly and Section 24-2 of the School Code shall be made available to an election authority as a polling place for 2024 General Election Day. This Section is repealed on January 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2026)

Sec. 1-25. The Security of Remote Vote by Mail Task Force.

(a) The Security of Remote Vote by Mail Task Force is hereby created for the purposes described in subsection (b). Members of the Task Force shall be appointed as follows:

(1) 2 members who identify as a voter with a print disability appointed by the Governor;

(2) 2 members who have experience with absent military and naval service voting appointed by the Governor;

(3) one member with expertise in cybersecurity appointed by the Governor;

(4) one member with expertise in election security appointed by the Governor;

(5) one member with expertise in administering elections appointed by the Governor;

(6) 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate;

(7) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(8) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and

(9) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(b) The Task Force shall study the feasibility of implementing a remote vote by mail system that would allow an election authority to transmit a vote by mail ballot electronically to a voter, and allow the voter to mark, verify, and return the ballot to the election authority electronically. In conducting its study, the Task Force shall consider whether implementing such a system of remote vote by mail is a safe and secure way to vote; what methods of remote voting exist within the United States; and what factors, if any, mitigate security related concerns in relation to implementing a remote vote by mail system. The Task Force shall also suggest changes to current law that would be necessary to implement a remote vote by mail system that would allow an election authority to transmit a vote by mail ballot electronically to a voter, and allow the voter to mark, verify, and return the ballot to the election authority electronically.

(c) The Task Force shall complete its study no later than June 30, 2025 and shall report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly as soon as possible after the study is complete.

(d) The members shall serve without compensation. If a vacancy occurs on the Task Force, it shall be filled according to the guidelines of the initial appointment.

(e) The State Board of Elections shall provide staff and administrative support to the Task Force.

(f) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2026.

(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)