SB2123eng 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2123 Engrossed SRS093 00124 PLM 00124 b

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 Section 1A-8 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1A-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 1A-8)

Sec. 1A-8. The State Board of Elections shall exercise the following powers and perform the following duties in addition to any powers or duties otherwise provided for by law:

(1) Assume all duties and responsibilities of the State Electoral Board and the Secretary of State as heretofore provided in this Act;

(2) Disseminate information to and consult with election authorities concerning the conduct of elections and registration in accordance with the laws of this State and the laws of the United States;

(3) Furnish to each election authority prior to each primary and general election and any other election it deems necessary, a manual of uniform instructions consistent with the provisions of this Act which shall be used by election authorities in the preparation of the official manual of instruction to be used by the judges of election in any such election. In preparing such manual, the State Board shall consult with representatives of the election authorities throughout the State. The State Board may provide separate portions of the uniform instructions applicable to different election jurisdictions which administer elections under different options provided by law. The State Board may by regulation require particular portions of the uniform instructions to be included in any official manual of instructions published by election authorities. Any manual of instructions published by any election authority shall be identical with the manual of uniform instructions issued by the Board, but may be adapted by the election authority to accommodate special or unusual local election problems, provided that all manuals published by election authorities must be consistent with the provisions of this Act in all respects and must receive the approval of the State Board of Elections prior to publication; provided further that if the State Board does not approve or disapprove of a proposed manual within 60 days of its submission, the manual shall be deemed approved.

(4) Prescribe and require the use of such uniform forms, notices, and other supplies not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as it shall deem advisable which shall be used by election authorities in the conduct of elections and registrations;

(5) Prepare and certify the form of ballot for any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Illinois, or any referendum to be submitted to the electors throughout the State or, when required to do so by law, to the voters of any area or unit of local government of the State;

(6) Require such statistical reports regarding the conduct of elections and registration from election authorities as may be deemed necessary;

(7) Review and inspect procedures and records relating to conduct of elections and registration as may be deemed necessary, and to report violations of election laws to the appropriate State's Attorney;

(8) Recommend to the General Assembly legislation to improve the administration of elections and registration;

(9) Adopt, amend or rescind rules and regulations in the performance of its duties provided that all such rules and regulations must be consistent with the provisions of this Article 1A or issued pursuant to authority otherwise provided by law;

(10) Determine the validity and sufficiency of petitions filed under Article XIV, Section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970;

(11) Maintain in its principal office a research library that includes, but is not limited to, abstracts of votes by precinct for general primary elections and general elections, current precinct maps and current precinct poll lists from all election jurisdictions within the State. The research library shall be open to the public during regular business hours. Such abstracts, maps and lists shall be preserved as permanent records and shall be available for examination and copying at a reasonable cost;

(12) Supervise the administration of the registration and election laws throughout the State;

(13) Obtain from the Department of Central Management Services, under Section 405-250 of the Department of Central Management Services Law (20 ILCS 405/405-250), such use of electronic data processing equipment as may be required to perform the duties of the State Board of Elections and to provide election-related information to candidates, public and party officials, interested civic organizations and the general public in a timely and efficient manner; and

(14) To take such action as may be necessary or required to give effect to directions of the national committee or State central committee of an established political party under Sections 7-8, 7-11 and 7-14.1 or such other provisions as may be applicable pertaining to the selection of delegates and alternate delegates to an established political party's national nominating conventions or, notwithstanding any candidate certification schedule contained within the Election Code, the certification of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate selected by the established party's national nominating convention in 2004.

The Board may by regulation delegate any of its duties or functions under this Article, except that final determinations and orders under this Article shall be issued only by the Board.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority Leader and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the President, the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the Senate and the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1 of "An Act to revise the law in relation to the General Assembly", approved February 25, 1874, as amended, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)

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