HB4808 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 17080 RJF 32231 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4808

Introduced , by Rep. Mike Fortner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/7-59	from Ch. 46, par. 7-59
10 ILCS 5/17-16.1	from Ch. 46, par. 17-16.1
10 ILCS 5/18-9.1	from Ch. 46, par. 18-9.1

Amends the Election Code. Provides that write-in votes shall be counted only for persons who have filed notarized declarations of intent to be write-in candidates with the proper election authority, authorities, or State Board of Elections no earlier than 120 days prior to the primary or general election, but no later than 70 (rather than 61) days prior to the primary or general election. Provides that declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate shall include specified information. Provides that declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate that do not include the specified information shall not be accepted. Provides that persons intending to become write-in candidates for the Offices of President and Vice President or Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall file one joint declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the State Board of Elections. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 7-59, 17-16.1, and 18-9.1 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/7-59) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-59)

Sec. 7-59. (a) The person receiving the highest number of votes at a primary as a candidate of a party for the nomination for an office shall be the candidate of that party for such office, and his name as such candidate shall be placed on the official ballot at the election then next ensuing; provided, that where there are two or more persons to be nominated for the same office or board, the requisite number of persons receiving the highest number of votes shall be nominated and their names shall be placed on the official ballot at the following election.

Except as otherwise provided by Section 7-8 of this Act, the person receiving the highest number of votes of his party for State central committeeman of his congressional district shall be declared elected State central committeeman from said congressional district.

Unless a national political party specifies that delegates and alternate delegates to a National nominating convention be allocated by proportional selection representation according to the results of a Presidential preference primary, the requisite number of persons receiving the highest number of votes of their party for delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions from the State at large, and the requisite number of persons receiving the highest number of votes of their party for delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions in their respective congressional districts shall be declared elected delegates and alternate delegates to the National nominating conventions of their party.

A political party which elects the members to its State Central Committee by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of Section 7-8 shall select its congressional district delegates and alternate delegates to its national nominating convention by proportional selection representation according to the results of a Presidential preference primary in each congressional district in the manner provided by the rules of the national political party and the State Central Committee, when the rules and policies of the national political party so require.

A political party which elects the members to its State Central Committee by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of Section 7-8 shall select its at large delegates and alternate delegates to its national nominating convention by proportional selection representation according to the results of a Presidential preference primary in the whole State in the manner provided by the rules of the national political party and the State Central Committee, when the rules and policies of the national political party so require.

The person receiving the highest number of votes of his party for precinct committeeman of his precinct shall be declared elected precinct committeeman from said precinct.

The person receiving the highest number of votes of his party for township committeeman of his township or part of a township as the case may be, shall be declared elected township committeeman from said township or part of a township as the case may be. In cities where ward committeemen are elected, the person receiving the highest number of votes of his party for ward committeeman of his ward shall be declared elected ward committeeman from said ward.

When two or more persons receive an equal and the highest number of votes for the nomination for the same office or for committeeman of the same political party, or where more than one person of the same political party is to be nominated as a candidate for office or committeeman, if it appears that more than the number of persons to be nominated for an office or elected committeeman have the highest and an equal number of votes for the nomination for the same office or for election as committeeman, the election authority by which the returns of the primary are canvassed shall decide by lot which of said persons shall be nominated or elected, as the case may be. In such case the election authority shall issue notice in writing to such persons of such tie vote stating therein the place, the day (which shall not be more than 5 days thereafter) and the hour when such nomination or election shall be so determined.

(b) Write-in votes shall be counted only for persons who have filed notarized declarations of intent to be write-in candidates with the proper election authority, or authorities, or State Board of Elections no earlier than 120 days prior to the primary, but no not later than 70 61 days prior to the primary. However, whenever an objection to a candidate's nominating papers or petitions for any office is sustained under Section 10-10 after the 70th 61st day before the election, then write-in votes shall be counted for that candidate if he or she has filed a notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for that office with the proper election authority, or authorities, or State Board of Elections not later than 7 days prior to the election.

Forms for the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall be supplied by the election authorities or the State Board of Elections. Declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate shall include: (A) the name and address of the person intending to become a write-in candidate; (B) the office sought; (C) the date of election; and (D) the notarized signature of the candidate or candidates. Declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate that do not include items (A) through (D) shall not be accepted. Such declaration shall specify the office for which the person seeks nomination or election as a write-in candidate.

Persons intending to become write-in candidates for the Offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall file one joint declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the State Board of Elections.

The election authority or authorities shall deliver a list of all persons who have filed such declarations to the election judges in the appropriate precincts prior to the primary.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, where the number of candidates whose names have been printed on a party's ballot for nomination for or election to an office at a primary is less than the number of persons the party is entitled to nominate for or elect to the office at the primary, a person whose name was not printed on the party's primary ballot as a candidate for nomination for or election to the office, is not nominated for or elected to that office as a result of a write-in vote at the primary unless the number of votes he received equals or exceeds the number of signatures required on a petition for nomination for that office; or unless the number of votes he receives exceeds the number of votes received by at least one of the candidates whose names were printed on the primary ballot for nomination for or election to the same office.

(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply where the number of candidates whose names have been printed on the party's ballot for nomination for or election to the office at the primary equals or exceeds the number of persons the party is entitled to nominate for or elect to the office at the primary.

(Source: P.A. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06; 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-16.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-16.1)

Sec. 17-16.1. Write-in votes shall be counted only for persons who have filed notarized declarations of intent to be write-in candidates with the proper election authority, or authorities, or State Board of Elections no earlier than 120 days prior to the election, but no not later than 70 61 days prior to the election. However, whenever an objection to a candidate's nominating papers or petitions for any office is sustained under Section 10-10 after the 70th 61st day before the election, then write-in votes shall be counted for that candidate if he or she has filed a notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for that office with the proper election authority, or authorities, or State Board of Elections not later than 7 days prior to the election.

Forms for the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall be supplied by the election authorities or the State Board of Elections. Declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate shall include: (A) the name and address of the person intending to become a write-in candidate; (B) the office sought; (C) the date of election; and (D) the notarized signature of the candidate or candidates. Declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate that do not include items (A) through (D) shall not be accepted. Such declaration shall specify the office for which the person seeks election as a write-in candidate.

Persons intending to become write-in candidates for the Offices of President and Vice President or Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall file one joint declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the State Board of Elections. Votes cast for either candidate shall constitute a valid write-in vote for the slate of candidates.

The election authority or authorities shall deliver a list of all persons who have filed such declarations to the election judges in the appropriate precincts prior to the election.

A candidate for whom a nomination paper has been filed as a partisan candidate at a primary election, and who is defeated for his or her nomination at the primary election is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.

A candidate seeking election to an office for which candidates of political parties are nominated by caucus who is a participant in the caucus and who is defeated for his or her nomination at such caucus is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.

A candidate seeking election to an office for which candidates are nominated at a primary election on a nonpartisan basis and who is defeated for his or her nomination at the primary election is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to apply to votes cast under the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 16-5.01.

(Source: P.A. 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)

(10 ILCS 5/18-9.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-9.1)

Sec. 18-9.1. Write-in votes shall be counted only for persons who have filed notarized declarations of intent to be write-in candidates with the proper election authority, or authorities, or State Board of Elections no earlier than 120 days prior to the election, but no not later than 70 61 days prior to the election. However, whenever an objection to a candidate's nominating papers or petitions is sustained under Section 10-10 after the 70th 61st day before the election, then write-in votes shall be counted for that candidate if he or she has filed a notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for that office with the proper election authority, or authorities, or State Board of Elections not later than 7 days prior to the election.

Forms for the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall be supplied by the election authorities or the State Board of Elections. Declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate shall include: (A) the name and address of the person intending to become a write-in candidate; (B) the office sought; (C) the date of election; and (D) the notarized signature of the candidate or candidates. Declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate that do not include items (A) through (D) shall not be accepted. Such declaration shall specify the office for which the person seeks election as a write-in candidate.

Persons intending to become write-in candidates for the Offices of President and Vice President or Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall file one joint declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the State Board of Elections. Votes cast for either candidate shall constitute a valid write-in vote for the slate of candidates.

The election authority or authorities shall deliver a list of all persons who have filed such declarations to the election judges in the appropriate precincts prior to the election.

A candidate for whom a nomination paper has been filed as a partisan candidate at a primary election, and who is defeated for his or her nomination at the primary election, is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.

A candidate seeking election to an office for which candidates of political parties are nominated by caucus who is a participant in the caucus and who is defeated for his or her nomination at such caucus is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.

A candidate seeking election to an office for which candidates are nominated at a primary election on a nonpartisan basis and who is defeated for his or her nomination at the primary election is ineligible to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to apply to votes cast under the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 16-5.01.

(Source: P.A. 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.