SB2764 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16267 SPS 29651 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2764

Introduced 1/13/2026, by Sen. Rachel Ventura

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/7-61	from Ch. 46, par. 7-61
10 ILCS 5/9-30
10 ILCS 5/10-11	from Ch. 46, par. 10-11
10 ILCS 5/19-4	from Ch. 46, par. 19-4
10 ILCS 5/19A-35

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning ballot forfeiture, provides that any civil penalty paid after the State Board of Elections transmits the list of all candidates whose political committees have not paid an assessed civil penalty shall not result in the election authority placing the candidate who paid the civil penalty on the ballot. Provides that, if a candidate forfeits his or her ballot under the provision, then that candidate may not be appointed to fulfill the resulting vacancy. In provisions concerning the making of nominations, provides that any vacancy in nomination occurring after certification shall be filled at least 45 days before the election for which there is a vacancy (rather than within 8 days after the event creating the vacancy). Provides that, unless a candidate has appealed a civil penalty assessment and the Board has not disposed of the appeal by the certification date, the election authority shall not place upon the ballot the name of any candidate appearing on this list for any office in any election. Provides that any civil penalty paid after the Board certifies the ballot (rather than transmits the list of all candidates whose political committees have not paid any civil penalty) shall not result in the election authority placing the candidate who paid the civil penalty on the ballot. In provisions concerning the delivery of ballots, provides that, if a consolidated primary election is required, vote by mail ballots for the consolidated election shall be mailed no later than 5 business days after the completion of the canvass of the consolidated primary election. Makes other changes.

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 7-61, 9-30, 10-11, 19-4, and 19A-35 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/7-61) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-61)

Sec. 7-61. Whenever a special election is necessary, the provisions of this Article are applicable to the nomination of candidates to be voted for at such special election.

In cases where a primary election is required, the officer or board or commission whose duty it is under the provisions of this Code relating to general elections to call an election shall fix a date for the primary for the nomination of candidates to be voted for at such special election. Notice of such primary shall be given at least 15 days prior to the maximum time provided for the filing of petitions for such a primary as provided in Section 7-12.

Any vacancy in nomination under the provisions of this Article 7 occurring on or after the primary and prior to certification of candidates by the certifying board or officer must be filled prior to the date of certification. Any vacancy in nomination occurring after certification but prior to 15 days before the general election shall be filled at least 45 within 8 days before the election for which there is a after the event creating the vacancy. The resolution filling the vacancy shall be sent by U. S. mail or personal delivery to the certifying officer or board within 3 days of the action by which the vacancy was filled; provided, if such resolution is sent by mail and the U. S. postmark on the envelope containing such resolution is dated prior to the expiration of such 3-day limit, the resolution shall be deemed filed within such 3-day limit. Failure to so transmit the resolution within the time specified in this Section shall authorize the certifying officer or board to certify the original candidate. Vacancies shall be filled by the officers of a local municipal or township political party as specified in subsection (h) of Section 7-8, other than a statewide political party, that is established only within a municipality or township and the managing committee (or legislative committee in case of a candidate for State Senator or representative committee in the case of a candidate for State Representative in the General Assembly or State central committee in the case of a candidate for statewide office, including, but not limited to, the office of United States Senator) of the respective political party for the territorial area in which such vacancy occurs.

The resolution to fill a vacancy in nomination shall be duly acknowledged before an officer qualified to take acknowledgments of deeds and shall include, upon its face, the following information:

(a) the name of the original nominee and the office vacated;

(b) the date on which the vacancy occurred;

(c) the name and address of the nominee selected to fill the vacancy and the date of selection.

The resolution to fill a vacancy in nomination shall be accompanied by a Statement of Candidacy, as prescribed in Section 7-10, completed by the selected nominee and a receipt indicating that such nominee has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.

The provisions of Section 10-8 through 10-10.1 relating to objections to certificates of nomination and nomination papers, hearings on objections, and judicial review, shall apply to and govern objections to resolutions for filling a vacancy in nomination.

Any vacancy in nomination occurring 15 days or less than 45 days before the consolidated election or the general election shall not be filled. In this event, the certification of the original candidate shall stand and his name shall appear on the official ballot to be voted at the general election.

A vacancy in nomination occurs when a candidate who has been nominated under the provisions of this Article 7 dies before the election (whether death occurs prior to, on or after the day of the primary), or declines the nomination; provided that nominations may become vacant for other reasons.

If the name of no established political party candidate was printed on the consolidated primary ballot for a particular office and if no person was nominated as a write-in candidate for such office, a vacancy in nomination shall be created which may be filled in accordance with the requirements of this Section. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if the name of no established political party candidate was printed on the general primary ballot for an office nominated under this Article and if no person was nominated as a write-in candidate for such office, a vacancy in nomination shall be filled only by a person designated by the appropriate committee of the political party and only if that designated person files nominating petitions with the number of signatures required for an established party candidate for that office within 75 days after the day of the general primary. The circulation period for those petitions begins on the day the appropriate committee designates that person. The person shall file his or her nominating petitions, statements of candidacy, notice of appointment by the appropriate committee, and receipt of filing his or her statement of economic interests together. These documents shall be filed at the same location as provided in Section 7-12. The electoral boards having jurisdiction under Section 10-9 to hear and pass upon objections to nominating petitions also shall hear and pass upon objections to nomination petitions filed by candidates under this paragraph.

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 such primary election, is ineligible to be listed on the ballot at that general or consolidated election as a candidate of another political party.

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 be listed on the ballot at that general or consolidated election as a candidate of another political party.

In the proceedings to nominate a candidate to fill a vacancy or to fill a vacancy in the nomination, each precinct, township, ward, county, or congressional district, as the case may be, shall, through its representative on such central or managing committee, be entitled to one vote for each ballot voted in such precinct, township, ward, county, or congressional district, as the case may be, by the primary electors of its party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting at which such vacancy is to be filled.

For purposes of this Section, the words "certify" and "certification" shall refer to the act of officially declaring the names of candidates entitled to be printed upon the official ballot at an election and directing election authorities to place the names of such candidates upon the official ballot. "Certifying officers or board" shall refer to the local election official, the election authority, or the State Board of Elections, as the case may be, with whom nomination papers, including certificates of nomination and resolutions to fill vacancies in nomination, are filed and whose duty it is to certify candidates.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-586, eff. 5-3-24.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-30)

Sec. 9-30. Ballot forfeiture. The State Board of Elections shall not certify the name of any person who has not paid a civil penalty imposed against his or her political committee under this Article to appear upon any ballot for any office in any election if the penalty is unpaid by the date required for certification.

The State Board of Elections shall generate a list of all candidates whose political committees have not paid any civil penalty assessed against them under this Article. The list shall note which candidates have civil assessment appeals pending before the Board. Such list shall be transmitted to any election authority whose duty it is to place the name of any such candidate on the ballot. Unless the candidate has appealed the civil penalty assessment and the Board has not disposed of the appeal by the certification date, the The election authority shall not place upon the ballot the name of any candidate appearing on this list for any office in any election. Any civil penalty paid after the Board certifies the ballot shall not result in the election authority placing the candidate who paid the civil penalty on the ballot. If a candidate forfeits placement on the ballot under this Section, then that candidate may not be appointed to fulfill the resulting vacancy while the penalty is unpaid, unless the candidate has requested a hearing and the Board has not disposed of the matter by the date of certification.

Any person who has an unpaid civil penalty imposed against his or her political committee may appeal the civil penalty assessment with the State Board of Elections in accordance with this Article.

(Source: P.A. 96-832, eff. 1-1-11.)

(10 ILCS 5/10-11) (from Ch. 46, par. 10-11)

Sec. 10-11. Any vacancy in the nomination of a new political party candidate occurring prior to the date of certification of candidates for the ballot by the certifying board or officer must be filled prior to the date of certification. The resolution to fill such vacancy shall be sent by U.S. mail or personal delivery to the certifying officer or board within 3 days of the action by which the vacancy was filled; provided, if such resolution is sent by mail and the U.S. postmark on the envelope containing such resolution is dated prior to the expiration of such 3 day limit, the notice or resolution shall be deemed filed within such 3 day limit. Failure to so transmit the notice or resolution within the time specified in this Section shall authorize the certifying officer or board to certify the original candidate. Vacancies shall be filled by the new political party officers.

Any vacancy in nomination occurring after certification but prior to 15 days before a regular election shall be filled by the new political party officers at least 45 within 8 days before the election for which there is a after the event creating the vacancy in the manner heretofore prescribed.

The resolution to fill a vacancy in nomination shall be duly acknowledged before an officer qualified to take acknowledgements of deeds and shall include, upon its face, the following information:

(a) the name of the original nominee and the office vacated;

(b) the date on which the vacancy occurred;

(c) the name and address of the nominee selected to fill the vacancy and the date of selection.

The resolution to fill a vacancy in nomination shall be accompanied by a Statement of Candidacy, as prescribed in Section 10-5, completed by the selected nominee and a receipt indicating that such nominee has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.

The provisions of Sections 10-8 through 10-10.1 relating to objections to certificates of nomination and nomination papers, hearings on objections, and judicial review, shall apply to and govern objections to resolutions for filling a vacancy in nomination.

Any vacancy in nomination occurring 15 days or less than 45 days before a regular election shall not be filled. In this event the certification of the original candidate shall stand and his name shall appear on the official ballot to be voted at the election.

A vacancy in nomination occurs when a candidate who has been nominated under the provisions of Section 10-2 dies before the election, or declines the nomination; provided that nomination may become vacant for other reasons.

However, the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any vacancy in nomination for a municipal office for which the Municipal Code, as now or hereafter amended, provides a different method for filling such vacancy, and the applicable provision of the Municipal Code shall govern in such cases.

Any vacancy in a nomination by caucus of an established political party for a township or municipal office shall be filled in accordance with Section 7-61 of this Code.

For purposes of this Section, the words "certify" and "certification" shall refer to the act of officially declaring the names of candidates entitled to be printed upon the official ballot at an election and directing election authorities to place the names of such candidates upon the official ballot. "Certifying officers or board" shall refer to the local election official, election authority or the State Board of Elections, as the case may be, with whom nomination papers, certificates of nomination papers and resolutions to fill vacancies in nomination are filed and whose duty it is to "certify" candidates.

(Source: P.A. 84-757.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-4)

Sec. 19-4. Mailing or delivery of ballots; time. Immediately upon the receipt of such application either by mail or electronic means, not more than 90 days nor less than 5 days prior to such election, or by personal delivery not more than 90 days nor less than one day prior to such election, at the office of such election authority, it shall be the duty of such election authority to examine the records to ascertain whether or not such applicant is lawfully entitled to vote as requested, including a verification of the applicant's signature on file with the office of the election authority, and if found so to be entitled to vote, to post within one business day thereafter the name, street address, ward and precinct number or township and district number, as the case may be, of such applicant given on a list, the pages of which are to be numbered consecutively to be kept by such election authority for such purpose in a conspicuous, open and public place accessible to the public at the entrance of the office of such election authority, and in such a manner that such list may be viewed without necessity of requesting permission therefor. Within one day after posting the name and other information of an applicant for a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall transmit by electronic means pursuant to a process established by the State Board of Elections that name and other posted information to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and other information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees. Within 2 business days after posting a name and other information on the list within its office, but no sooner than 40 days before an election, the election authority shall mail, postage prepaid, or deliver in person in such office, or deliver via electronic transmission pursuant to Section 19-2.6, an official ballot or ballots if more than one are to be voted at said election. Mail delivery of Temporarily Absent Student ballot applications pursuant to Section 19-12.3 shall be by nonforwardable mail. However, if a consolidated primary election is required for the consolidated election, vote by mail ballots for the consolidated election shall be mailed no later than 5 business days after the completion of the canvass of the consolidated primary election to accommodate the preparation of certain precincts may be delivered to applicants not less than 25 days before the election if so much time is required to have prepared and printed the ballots containing the names of persons nominated for offices at the consolidated primary. The election authority shall enclose with each vote by mail ballot or application written instructions on how voting assistance shall be provided pursuant to Section 17-14 and a document, written and approved by the State Board of Elections, informing the vote by mail voter of the required postage for returning the application and ballot, and enumerating the circumstances under which a person is authorized to vote by vote by mail ballot pursuant to this Article; such document shall also include a statement informing the applicant that if he or she falsifies or is solicited by another to falsify his or her eligibility to cast a vote by mail ballot, such applicant or other is subject to penalties pursuant to Section 29-10 and Section 29-20 of the Election Code. Each election authority shall maintain a list of the name, street address, ward and precinct, or township and district number, as the case may be, of all applicants who have returned vote by mail ballots to such authority, and the name of such vote by mail voter shall be added to such list within one business day from receipt of such ballot. If the vote by mail ballot envelope indicates that the voter was assisted in casting the ballot, the name of the person so assisting shall be included on the list. The list, the pages of which are to be numbered consecutively, shall be kept by each election authority in a conspicuous, open, and public place accessible to the public at the entrance of the office of the election authority and in a manner that the list may be viewed without necessity of requesting permission for viewing.

Each election authority shall maintain a list for each election of the voters to whom it has issued vote by mail ballots. The list shall be maintained for each precinct within the jurisdiction of the election authority. Prior to the opening of the polls on election day, the election authority shall deliver to the judges of election in each precinct the list of registered voters in that precinct to whom vote by mail ballots have been issued by mail.

Each election authority shall maintain a list for each election of voters to whom it has issued temporarily absent student ballots. The list shall be maintained for each election jurisdiction within which such voters temporarily abide. Immediately after the close of the period during which application may be made by mail or electronic means for vote by mail ballots, each election authority shall mail to each other election authority within the State a certified list of all such voters temporarily abiding within the jurisdiction of the other election authority.

In the event that the return address of an application for ballot by a physically incapacitated elector is that of a facility licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, within the jurisdiction of the election authority, and the applicant is a registered voter in the precinct in which such facility is located, the ballots shall be prepared and transmitted to a responsible judge of election no later than 9 a.m. on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday immediately preceding the election as designated by the election authority under Section 19-12.2. Such judge shall deliver in person on the designated day the ballot to the applicant on the premises of the facility from which application was made. The election authority shall by mail notify the applicant in such facility that the ballot will be delivered by a judge of election on the designated day.

All applications for vote by mail ballots shall be available at the office of the election authority for public inspection upon request from the time of receipt thereof by the election authority until 30 days after the election, except during the time such applications are kept in the office of the election authority pursuant to Section 19-7, and except during the time such applications are in the possession of the judges of election.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 30 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act, neither the name nor the address of a program participant under that Act shall be included in any list of registered voters available to the public, including the lists referenced in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-292, eff. 1-1-22; 102-819, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/19A-35)

Sec. 19A-35. Procedure for voting.

(a) Not more than 23 days before the start of the election, the county clerk shall make available to the election official conducting early voting by personal appearance a sufficient number of early ballots, envelopes, and printed voting instruction slips for the use of early voters. However, in odd-numbered years when a consolidated primary election is required, not more than 5 business days after the completion of the canvass of the consolidated primary election, the county clerk shall make available to the election official conducting early voting by personal appearance a sufficient number of early ballots, envelopes, and printed voting instruction slips for the use of early voters. The election official shall receipt for all ballots received and shall return unused or spoiled ballots at the close of the early voting period to the county clerk and must strictly account for all ballots received. The ballots delivered to the election official must include early ballots for each precinct in the election authority's jurisdiction and must include separate ballots for each political subdivision conducting an election of officers or a referendum at that election.

(b) In conducting early voting under this Article, the election judge or official is required to verify the signature of the early voter by comparison with the signature on the official registration card, and the judge or official must verify (i) that the applicant is a registered voter, (ii) the precinct in which the applicant is registered, and (iii) the proper ballots of the political subdivision in which the applicant resides and is entitled to vote before providing an early ballot to the applicant. The election judge or official must verify the applicant's registration from the most recent poll list provided by the election authority, and if the applicant is not listed on that poll list, by telephoning the office of the election authority.

(b-5) A person requesting an early voting ballot to whom a vote by mail ballot was issued may vote early if the person submits that vote by mail ballot to the judges of election or official conducting early voting for cancellation. If the voter is unable to submit the vote by mail ballot, it shall be sufficient for the voter to submit to the judges or official (i) a portion of the vote by mail ballot if the vote by mail ballot was torn or mutilated or (ii) an affidavit executed before the judges or official specifying that (A) the voter never received a vote by mail ballot or (B) the voter completed and returned a vote by mail ballot and was informed that the election authority did not receive that vote by mail ballot.

(b-10) Within one day after a voter casts an early voting ballot, the election authority shall transmit the voter's name, street address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be, to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and that information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees.

(b-15) Immediately after voting an early ballot, the voter shall be instructed whether the voting equipment accepted or rejected the ballot or identified that ballot as under-voted for a statewide constitutional office. A voter whose ballot is identified as under-voted may return to the voting booth and complete the voting of that ballot. A voter whose early voting ballot is not accepted by the voting equipment may, upon surrendering the ballot, request and vote another early voting ballot. The voter's surrendered ballot shall be initialed by the election judge or official conducting the early voting and handled as provided in the appropriate Article governing the voting equipment used.

(c) The sealed early ballots in their carrier envelope shall be delivered by the election authority to the central ballot counting location before the close of the polls on the day of the election.

(Source: P.A. 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)