HB4505 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18523 SPS 31965 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4505

Introduced 1/26/2026, by Rep. Anne Stava

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/6A-1	from Ch. 46, par. 6A-1
10 ILCS 5/6A-2	from Ch. 46, par. 6A-2

Amends the Election Code. Removes the option for a county in which there is no city, village, or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners to establish a county board of election commissioners by ordinance of the county board. Provides that a vote of approval from 60% of the electors shall be required for the proposition to be approved.

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 6A-1 and 6A-2 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/6A-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 6A-1)

Sec. 6A-1. (a) Any county in which there is no city, village, or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners may establish a county board of election commissioners either (1) by ordinance of the county board or (2) by vote of the electors of the county in accordance with subsection (a) of Section 6A-2.

The fact that some territory in a county is within the corporate limits of a city, village or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners does not prevent that county from establishing a county board of election commissioners in accordance with this Article if no portion of such city, village or incorporated town was within the county at the time of the establishment of the board of election commissioners for such city, village or incorporated town. If such a county establishes a county board of election commissioners pursuant to this Article, the county board of election commissioners shall, with respect to the territory in the county within the corporate limits of the city, village or incorporated town, supersede the board of election commissioners of that city, village or incorporated town.

(b) Any county with a population of more than 700,000 persons as of the 2010 federal decennial census that borders another state and borders no more than 2 other Illinois counties, shall be subject to a county board of election commissioners beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.

(c) Any county with a population of less than 200,000 but more than 175,000 persons as of the 2010 federal decennial census in which a city, village, or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners is located may establish a county board of election commissioners by vote of the electors of the county in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 6A-2. If such a county establishes a county board of election commissioners, the county board of election commissioners, with respect to the territory in the county within the corporate limits of the city, village, or incorporated town, shall supersede the board of election commissioners of that city, village, or incorporated town.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/6A-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 6A-2)

Sec. 6A-2. Submission to voters.

(a) Whenever registered voters in a county described in subsection (a) of Section 6A-1, numbering at least 1,000 or 1/8 of the number voting at the last preceding general election in the county, whichever is less, petition the circuit court to submit to the electors of the county a proposition to establish a county board of election commissioners, the circuit court shall cause such proposition to be submitted to the electors of the county at the next succeeding general election. A vote of approval from 60% of the electors is required for the proposition to be approved.

(b) If the county board of a county described in subsection (c) of Section 6A-1 passes an ordinance or resolution establishing a county board of election commissioners, then the proposition to establish a county board of election commissioners shall be submitted to the electors of that county at the next possible general election. The board shall certify the ordinance or resolution and the proposition to the proper election officials who shall submit the proposition at the next general election in accordance with the general election law.

(c) The proposition shall be submitted in the same manner as provided in Article 6 for the adoption of Articles 6, 14 and 18 by cities, villages and incorporated towns, except that the question shall be stated: "Shall a board of election commissioners be established for .... County?"

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)