100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4866

 

Introduced , by Rep. David S. Olsen

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/11-1  from Ch. 46, par. 11-1
10 ILCS 5/11-2  from Ch. 46, par. 11-2
10 ILCS 5/11-3  from Ch. 46, par. 11-3
10 ILCS 5/11-5  from Ch. 46, par. 11-5

    Amends the Election Code. Provides that each election precinct shall contain 1,200 voters (now, 500 voters in counties, 600 voters in a municipality with a board of election commissioners and fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, or 400 voters in a municipality with a board of election commissioners and more than 500,000 inhabitants). Provides that, in a city with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, if any election precinct casts more than 1,500 votes (now, 800 votes) at 2 consecutive general elections, the state's attorney shall apply to the Circuit Court to compel the board to divide the precinct. Provides that, in a city with more than 500,000 inhabitants, if any election precinct casts more than 1,200 votes (now, 600 votes) at 2 consecutive general elections, the state's attorney shall apply to the Circuit Court to compel the board to divide the precinct. Provides that in counties not under township organization, the election precincts shall remain as now established until changed by the Board of County Commissioners, but said County Board may change (rather than, may, from time to time, change) the boundaries of election precincts and establish new ones, but only to the extent a significant shift in voter population has occurred. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB4866LRB100 20189 MJP 35474 b

1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
5Sections 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and 11-5 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/11-1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-1)
7    Sec. 11-1. In counties not under township organization, the
8election precincts shall remain as now established until
9changed by the Board of County Commissioners, but said County
10Board may, from time to time, change the boundaries of election
11precincts and establish new ones, but only to the extent a
12significant shift in voter population has occurred. In counties
13under township organization, each town shall constitute at
14least one election precinct. Insofar as is practicable, each
15precinct shall be situated within a single congressional,
16legislative and representative district and within a single
17municipal ward. In order to situate each precinct within a
18single district or ward, the County Board shall change the
19boundaries of election precincts after each decennial census as
20soon as is practicable following the completion of
21congressional and legislative redistricting.
22    At any consolidated primary or consolidated election at
23which municipal officers are to be elected, and at any

 

 

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1emergency referendum at which a public question relating to a
2municipality is to be voted on, notwithstanding any other
3provision of this Code, the election authority shall establish
4a polling place within such municipality upon the request of
5the municipal council or board of trustees at least 60 days
6before the election and provided that the municipality provides
7a suitable polling place. To accomplish this purpose, the
8election authority may establish an election precinct
9constituting a single municipality of under 500 population for
10all elections, notwithstanding the minimum precinct size
11otherwise specified herein.
12    Notwithstanding the above, when there are not more than 50
13registered voters in a precinct who are entitled to vote in a
14local government or school district election, the election
15authority having jurisdiction over the precinct is authorized
16to reassign such voters to one or more polling places in
17adjacent precincts, within or without the election authority's
18jurisdiction, for that election. For the purposes of such local
19government or school district election only, the votes of the
20reassigned voters shall be tallied and canvassed as votes from
21the precinct of the polling place to which such voters have
22been reassigned. The election authority having jurisdiction
23over the precinct shall approve all administrative and polling
24place procedures. Such procedures shall take into account voter
25convenience, and ensure that the integrity of the election
26process is maintained and that the secrecy of the ballot is not

 

 

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1violated.
2    Except in the event of a fire, flood or total loss of heat
3in a place fixed or established by any election authority
4pursuant to this Section as a polling place for an election, no
5election authority shall change the location of a polling place
6so established for any precinct after notice of the place of
7holding the election for that precinct has been given as
8required under Article 12 unless the election authority
9notifies all registered voters in the precinct of the change in
10location by first class mail in sufficient time for such notice
11to be received by the registered voters in the precinct at
12least one day prior to the date of the election.
13    The provisions of this Section apply to all precincts,
14including those where voting machines or electronic voting
15systems are used.
16    If, as a result of the redistricting of legislative,
17representative, or congressional districts following a
18decennial census, there exists a census block with only one
19voter that is the only census block in a precinct that is in a
20legislative, representative, or congressional district, then
21the county board, at any meeting of the county board, may
22change the precinct boundaries so that the census block is
23within a precinct that has more than one voter in the
24legislative, representative, or congressional district.
25(Source: P.A. 88-525.)
 

 

 

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1    (10 ILCS 5/11-2)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-2)
2    Sec. 11-2. The County Board in each county, except in
3counties having a population of 3,000,000 inhabitants or over,
4shall, at its regular meeting in June, divide its election
5precincts which contain more than 1,500 800 voters, into
6election districts so that each district shall contain, as near
7as may be practicable, 1,200 500 voters, and not more in any
8case than 1,300 800. Whenever the County Board ascertains that
9any election precinct contains more than 1,300 600 registered
10voters, it may divide such precinct, at its regular meeting in
11June, into election precincts so that each precinct shall
12contain, as nearly as may be practicable, 1,200 500 voters.
13Insofar as is practicable, each precinct shall be situated
14within a single congressional, legislative and representative
15district and in not more than one County Board district and one
16municipal ward. In order to situate each precinct within a
17single district or ward, the County Board shall change the
18boundaries of election precincts after each decennial census as
19soon as is practicable following the completion of
20congressional and legislative redistricting. In determining
21whether a division of precincts should be made, the county
22board may anticipate increased voter registration in any
23precinct in which there is in progress new construction of
24dwelling units which will be occupied by voters more than 30
25days before the next election. Each district shall be composed
26of contiguous territory in as compact form as can be for the

 

 

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1convenience of the electors voting therein. The several county
2boards in establishing districts shall describe them by metes
3and bounds and number them. And so often thereafter as it shall
4appear by the number of votes cast at the general election held
5in November of any year, that any election district or
6undivided election precinct contains more than 1,500 800
7voters, the County Board of the county in which the district or
8precinct may be, shall at its regular meeting in June, or an
9adjourned meeting in July next, after such November election,
10redivide or readjust such election district or election
11precinct, so that no district or election precinct shall
12contain more than the number of votes above specified. If for
13any reason the County Board fails in any year to redivide or
14readjust the election districts or election precinct, then the
15districts or precincts as then existing shall continue until
16the next regular June meeting of the County Board; at which
17regular June meeting or an adjourned meeting in July the County
18Board shall redivide or readjust the election districts or
19election precincts in manner as herein required. When at any
20meeting of the County Board any redivision, readjustment or
21change in name or number of election districts or election
22precincts is made by the County Board, the County Clerk shall
23immediately notify the State Board of Elections of such
24redivision, readjustment or change. The County Board in every
25case shall fix and establish the places for holding elections
26in its respective county and all elections shall be held at the

 

 

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1places so fixed. The polling places shall in all cases be upon
2the ground floor in the front room, the entrance to which is in
3a highway or public street which is at least 40 feet wide, and
4is as near the center of the voting population of the precinct
5as is practicable, and for the convenience of the greatest
6number of electors to vote thereat; provided, however, where
7the County Board is unable to secure a suitable polling place
8within the boundaries of a precinct, it may select a polling
9place at the most conveniently located suitable place outside
10the precinct; but in no case shall an election be held in any
11room used or occupied as a saloon, dramshop, bowling alley or
12as a place of resort for idlers and disreputable persons,
13billiard hall or in any room connected therewith by doors or
14hallways. No person shall be permitted to vote at any election
15except at the polling place for the precinct in which he
16resides, except as otherwise provided in this Section or
17Article 19 of this Act. In counties having a population of
183,000,000 inhabitants or over the County Board shall divide its
19election precincts and shall fix and establish places for
20holding elections as hereinbefore provided during the month of
21January instead of at its regular meeting in June or at an
22adjourned meeting in July.
23    However, in the event that additional divisions of election
24precincts are indicated after a division made by the County
25Board in the month of January, such additional divisions may be
26made by the County Board in counties having a population of

 

 

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13,000,000 inhabitants or over, at the regular meeting in June
2or at adjourned meeting in July. The county board of such
3county may divide or readjust precincts at any meeting of the
4county board when the voter registration in a precinct has
5increased beyond 1,500 800 and an election is scheduled before
6the next regular January or June meeting of the county board.
7    When in any city, village or incorporated town territory
8has been annexed thereto or disconnected therefrom, which
9annexation or disconnection becomes effective after election
10precincts or election districts have been established as above
11provided in this Section, the clerk of the municipality shall
12inform the county clerk thereof as provided in Section 4-21,
135-28.1, or 6-31.1, whichever is applicable. In the event that a
14regular meeting of the County Board is to be held after such
15notification and before any election, the County Board shall,
16at its next regular meeting establish new election precinct
17lines in affected territory. In the event that no regular
18meeting of the County Board is to be held before such election
19the county clerk shall, within 5 days after being so informed,
20call a special meeting of the county board on a day fixed by
21him not more than 20 days thereafter for the purpose of
22establishing election precincts or election districts in the
23affected territory for the ensuing elections.
24    At any consolidated primary or consolidated election at
25which municipal officers are to be elected, and at any
26emergency referendum at which a public question relating to a

 

 

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1municipality is to be voted on, notwithstanding any other
2provision of this Code, the election authority shall establish
3a polling place within such municipality, upon the request of
4the municipal council or board of trustees at least 60 days
5before the election and provided that the municipality provides
6a suitable polling place. To accomplish this purpose, the
7election authority may establish an election precinct
8constituting a single municipality of under 500 population for
9all elections, notwithstanding the minimum precinct size
10otherwise specified herein.
11    Notwithstanding the above, when there are no more than 50
12registered voters in a precinct who are entitled to vote in a
13local government or school district election, the election
14authority having jurisdiction over the precinct is authorized
15to reassign such voters to one or more polling places in
16adjacent precincts, within or without the election authority's
17jurisdiction, for that election. For the purposes of such local
18government or school district election only, the votes of the
19reassigned voters shall be tallied and canvassed as votes from
20the precinct of the polling place to which such voters have
21been reassigned. The election authority having jurisdiction
22over the precinct shall approve all administrative and polling
23place procedures. Such procedures shall take into account voter
24convenience, and ensure that the integrity of the election
25process is maintained and that the secrecy of the ballot is not
26violated.

 

 

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1    Except in the event of a fire, flood or total loss of heat
2in a place fixed or established by any county board or election
3authority pursuant to this Section as a polling place for an
4election, no election authority shall change the location of a
5polling place so established for any precinct after notice of
6the place of holding the election for that precinct has been
7given as required under Article 12 unless the election
8authority notifies all registered voters in the precinct of the
9change in location by first class mail in sufficient time for
10such notice to be received by the registered voters in the
11precinct at least one day prior to the date of the election.
12    The provisions of this Section apply to all precincts,
13including those where voting machines or electronic voting
14systems are used.
15(Source: P.A. 86-867.)
 
16    (10 ILCS 5/11-3)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-3)
17    Sec. 11-3. It shall be the duty of the Board of
18Commissioners established by Article 6 of this Act, within 2
19months after its first organization, to divide the city,
20village or incorporated town which may adopt or is operating
21under Article 6, into election precincts, each of which shall
22be situated within a single congressional, legislative and
23representative district insofar as is practicable and in not
24more than one County Board district and one municipal ward; in
25order to situate each precinct within a single district or

 

 

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1ward, the Board of Election Commissioners shall change the
2boundaries of election precincts after each decennial census as
3soon as is practicable following the completion of
4congressional and legislative redistricting and such precincts
5shall contain as nearly as practicable 1,200 600 qualified
6voters, and in making such division and establishing such
7precincts such board shall take as a basis the poll books, or
8the number of votes cast at the previous presidential election.
9Within 90 days after each presidential election, such board in
10a city with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, village or
11incorporated town shall revise and rearrange such precincts on
12the basis of the votes cast at such election, making such
13precincts to contain, as near as practicable, 1,200 600 actual
14voters; but at any time in all instances where the vote cast at
15any precinct, at any election, equals 1,500 800, there must be
16a rearrangement so as to reduce the vote to the standard of
171,200 600 as near as may be. However, any apartment building in
18which more than 1,200 800 registered voters reside may be made
19a single precinct even though the vote in such precinct exceeds
201,200 800. Within 90 days after each presidential election, a
21board in a city with more than 500,000 inhabitants shall revise
22and rearrange such precincts on the basis of the votes cast at
23such election, making such precincts to contain, as near as
24practicable, 1,200 400 actual voters; but at any time in all
25instances where the vote cast at any precinct, at any election,
26equals 1,500 600, there must be a rearrangement so as to reduce

 

 

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1the vote to the standard of 1,200 400 as near as may be.
2However, any apartment building in which more than 1,200 600
3registered voters reside may be made a single precinct even
4though the vote in such precinct exceeds 1,200 600.
5    Immediately after the annexation of territory to the city,
6village or incorporated town becomes effective the Board of
7Election Commissioners shall revise and rearrange election
8precincts therein to include such annexed territory.
9    Provided, however, that at any election where but one
10candidate is nominated and is to be voted upon at any election
11held in any political subdivision of a city, village or
12incorporated town, the Board of Election Commissioners shall
13have the power in such political subdivision to determine the
14number of voting precincts to be established in such political
15subdivision at such election, without reference to the number
16of qualified voters therein. The precincts in each ward,
17village or incorporated town shall be numbered from one
18upwards, consecutively, with no omission.
19    The provisions of this Section apply to all precincts,
20including those where voting machines or electronic voting
21systems are used.
22(Source: P.A. 84-1308.)
 
23    (10 ILCS 5/11-5)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-5)
24    Sec. 11-5. If any election district or precinct subject to
25the jurisdiction of a county board or a board of election

 

 

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1commissioners in a city with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants,
2village or incorporated town casts more than 1,500 800 votes
3each at two consecutive general November elections for State
4officers, the state's attorney, upon the request of an elector
5in any such district or precinct, shall apply to the Circuit
6Court for relief by mandamus to compel the appropriate board to
7divide such district or precinct as required by law. Any relief
8so granted shall not apply to any election occurring within 60
9days thereafter. If any election precinct subject to the
10jurisdiction of a board of election commissioners in a city
11with more than 500,000 inhabitants casts more than 1,200 600
12votes at each of the two consecutive general November elections
13for State officers, the state's attorney, upon the request of
14an elector in any such precinct, shall apply to the Circuit
15Court for relief by mandamus to compel the appropriate board to
16divide such precinct as required by law. Any relief so granted
17shall not apply to any election occurring within 60 days
18thereafter.
19(Source: P.A. 84-323.)
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.