95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB5299

 

Introduced , by Rep. Elaine Nekritz

 

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

    Amends the Election Code. Requires that precincts be substantially equal in number of registered voters (now, 500 to 800 voters).


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A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section
5 11-2 as follows:
 
6     (10 ILCS 5/11-2)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-2)
7     Sec. 11-2. The County Board in each county, except in
8 counties having a population of 3,000,000 inhabitants or over,
9 shall establish, at its regular meeting in June, divide its
10 election precincts. which contain more than 800 voters, into
11 election districts so that each district shall contain, as near
12 as may be practicable, 500 voters, and not more in any case
13 than 800. Whenever the County Board ascertains that any
14 election precinct contains more than 600 registered voters, it
15 may divide such precinct, at its regular meeting in June, into
16 election precincts so that each precinct shall contain, as
17 nearly as may be practicable, 500 voters. Insofar as is
18 practicable, each precinct shall be situated within a single
19 congressional, legislative and representative district and in
20 not more than one County Board district and one municipal ward.
21 In order to situate each precinct within a single district or
22 ward, the County Board shall change the boundaries of election
23 precincts after each decennial census as soon as is practicable

 

 

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1 following the completion of congressional and legislative
2 redistricting. In determining whether a division of precincts
3 should be made, the county board may anticipate increased voter
4 registration in any precinct in which there is in progress new
5 construction of dwelling units which will be occupied by voters
6 more than 30 days before the next election. Each district shall
7 be substantially equal in number of registered voters and
8 composed of contiguous territory in as compact form as can be
9 for the convenience of the electors voting therein. The several
10 county boards in establishing districts shall describe them by
11 metes and bounds and number them. And so often thereafter as it
12 shall appear by the number of votes cast at the general
13 election held in November of any year, that any election
14 district or undivided election precinct is substantially
15 unequal in voters contains more than 800 voters, the County
16 Board of the county in which the district or precinct may be,
17 shall at its regular meeting in June, or an adjourned meeting
18 in July next, after such November election, redivide or
19 readjust such election district or election precinct, so that
20 no district or election precinct shall contain more than the
21 number of votes above specified. If for any reason the County
22 Board fails in any year to redivide or readjust the election
23 districts or election precinct, then the districts or precincts
24 as then existing shall continue until the next regular June
25 meeting of the County Board; at which regular June meeting or
26 an adjourned meeting in July the County Board shall redivide or

 

 

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1 readjust the election districts or election precincts in manner
2 as herein required. When at any meeting of the County Board any
3 redivision, readjustment or change in name or number of
4 election districts or election precincts is made by the County
5 Board, the County Clerk shall immediately notify the State
6 Board of Elections of such redivision, readjustment or change.
7 The County Board in every case shall fix and establish the
8 places for holding elections in its respective county and all
9 elections shall be held at the places so fixed. The polling
10 places shall in all cases be upon the ground floor in the front
11 room, the entrance to which is in a highway or public street
12 which is at least 40 feet wide, and is as near the center of the
13 voting population of the precinct as is practicable, and for
14 the convenience of the greatest number of electors to vote
15 thereat; provided, however, where the County Board is unable to
16 secure a suitable polling place within the boundaries of a
17 precinct, it may select a polling place at the most
18 conveniently located suitable place outside the precinct; but
19 in no case shall an election be held in any room used or
20 occupied as a saloon, dramshop, bowling alley or as a place of
21 resort for idlers and disreputable persons, billiard hall or in
22 any room connected therewith by doors or hallways. No person
23 shall be permitted to vote at any election except at the
24 polling place for the precinct in which he resides, except as
25 otherwise provided in this Section or Article 19 of this Act.
26 In counties having a population of 3,000,000 inhabitants or

 

 

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1 over the County Board shall divide its election precincts and
2 shall fix and establish places for holding elections as
3 hereinbefore provided during the month of January instead of at
4 its regular meeting in June or at an adjourned meeting in July.
5     However, in the event that additional divisions of election
6 precincts are indicated after a division made by the County
7 Board in the month of January, such additional divisions may be
8 made by the County Board in counties having a population of
9 3,000,000 inhabitants or over, at the regular meeting in June
10 or at adjourned meeting in July. The county board of such
11 county may divide or readjust precincts at any meeting of the
12 county board when the voter registration in a precinct has
13 increased beyond 800 and an election is scheduled before the
14 next regular January or June meeting of the county board.
15     When in any city, village or incorporated town territory
16 has been annexed thereto or disconnected therefrom, which
17 annexation or disconnection becomes effective after election
18 precincts or election districts have been established as above
19 provided in this Section, the clerk of the municipality shall
20 inform the county clerk thereof as provided in Section 4-21,
21 5-28.1, or 6-31.1, whichever is applicable. In the event that a
22 regular meeting of the County Board is to be held after such
23 notification and before any election, the County Board shall,
24 at its next regular meeting establish new election precinct
25 lines in affected territory. In the event that no regular
26 meeting of the County Board is to be held before such election

 

 

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1 the county clerk shall, within 5 days after being so informed,
2 call a special meeting of the county board on a day fixed by
3 him not more than 20 days thereafter for the purpose of
4 establishing election precincts or election districts in the
5 affected territory for the ensuing elections.
6     At any consolidated primary or consolidated election at
7 which municipal officers are to be elected, and at any
8 emergency referendum at which a public question relating to a
9 municipality is to be voted on, notwithstanding any other
10 provision of this Code, the election authority shall establish
11 a polling place within such municipality, upon the request of
12 the municipal council or board of trustees at least 60 days
13 before the election and provided that the municipality provides
14 a suitable polling place. To accomplish this purpose, the
15 election authority may establish an election precinct
16 constituting a single municipality of under 500 population for
17 all elections, notwithstanding the minimum precinct size
18 otherwise specified herein.
19     Notwithstanding the above, when there are no more than 50
20 registered voters in a precinct who are entitled to vote in a
21 local government or school district election, the election
22 authority having jurisdiction over the precinct is authorized
23 to reassign such voters to one or more polling places in
24 adjacent precincts, within or without the election authority's
25 jurisdiction, for that election. For the purposes of such local
26 government or school district election only, the votes of the

 

 

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1 reassigned voters shall be tallied and canvassed as votes from
2 the precinct of the polling place to which such voters have
3 been reassigned. The election authority having jurisdiction
4 over the precinct shall approve all administrative and polling
5 place procedures. Such procedures shall take into account voter
6 convenience, and ensure that the integrity of the election
7 process is maintained and that the secrecy of the ballot is not
8 violated.
9     Except in the event of a fire, flood or total loss of heat
10 in a place fixed or established by any county board or election
11 authority pursuant to this Section as a polling place for an
12 election, no election authority shall change the location of a
13 polling place so established for any precinct after notice of
14 the place of holding the election for that precinct has been
15 given as required under Article 12 unless the election
16 authority notifies all registered voters in the precinct of the
17 change in location by first class mail in sufficient time for
18 such notice to be received by the registered voters in the
19 precinct at least one day prior to the date of the election.
20     The provisions of this Section apply to all precincts,
21 including those where voting machines or electronic voting
22 systems are used.
23 (Source: P.A. 86-867.)