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1 | AN ACT concerning elections.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Lincoln Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Section 1.5. Definitions. As used in this Act: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | (1) "Board" means the State Board of Elections. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | (2) "Fund" means the Citizens' Election Fund established in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Section 2 of this Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | (3) "Depository account" means the single checking account | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | at the depository institution designated as the depository for | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | permitted contributions from natural persons and funds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | received from the Citizens' Election Fund. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | (4) "Immediate family", when used with reference to a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | candidate, includes the candidate's spouse, parents, and | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | dependent children. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | (5) "Personal funds" means funds contributed by a candidate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | or a member of a candidate's immediate family. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | (6) "Natural person" means any one human being. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | (7) "General election cycle" means that period beginning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | with the day after the general primary and concluding the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | December 31 after the general election. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | (8) " General primary election cycle" means that period |
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1 | beginning with January 1 of the year after the general election | ||||||
2 | and leading up to the first Tuesday in February. | ||||||
3 | (9) "Contested general primary election" and "contested | ||||||
4 | general election" mean a primary or a general election in which | ||||||
5 | 2 or more candidates are certified to have their names printed | ||||||
6 | on the ballot by the Board. | ||||||
7 | (10) "Uncontested general primary election" and | ||||||
8 | "uncontested general election" means a primary or a general | ||||||
9 | election in which only one candidate has been certified to have | ||||||
10 | his or her name printed on the ballot by the Board. If a | ||||||
11 | candidate for nomination or election has an opponent who is | ||||||
12 | exempted from filing a disclosure with the Board, as specified | ||||||
13 | by the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act, that race shall also | ||||||
14 | be considered uncontested. | ||||||
15 | (11) "Candidate" means a qualified candidate for any of the | ||||||
16 | following offices: | ||||||
17 | (i) Governor; | ||||||
18 | (ii) Lieutenant Governor; | ||||||
19 | (iii) Attorney General; | ||||||
20 | (iv) Secretary of State; | ||||||
21 | (v) Comptroller; | ||||||
22 | (vi) Treasurer; | ||||||
23 | (vii) State Senator; or | ||||||
24 | (viii) State Representative. | ||||||
25 | (12) "Qualified candidate" means any individual who seeks | ||||||
26 | nomination to public office through a political party or |
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1 | election to a public office as a candidate of a political party | ||||||
2 | or as an independent candidate for public office. A person is | ||||||
3 | considered a candidate only if he or she takes the actions | ||||||
4 | necessary as required by the Election Code to qualify as a | ||||||
5 | candidate for public office and is certified by the State Board | ||||||
6 | of Elections to have his or her name placed on a ballot for | ||||||
7 | election. | ||||||
8 | (13) "Clean election candidate" means a "qualified | ||||||
9 | candidate" for public office who participates in the Citizens' | ||||||
10 | Election Program. | ||||||
11 | (14) "Non-participating candidate" means a "qualified | ||||||
12 | candidate" for public office who opts out or is disqualified | ||||||
13 | from the Citizens' Election Program. | ||||||
14 | (15) "Qualifying report" is a list of all qualifying | ||||||
15 | contributors and the dates and amounts of each of their | ||||||
16 | contributions. Candidates may list more contributions on their | ||||||
17 | qualifying report than are necessary to establish eligibility | ||||||
18 | for receipt of an initial public financing benefit. Any | ||||||
19 | contributors listed on a qualifying report over and above the | ||||||
20 | minimum number necessary to establish eligibility shall be | ||||||
21 | deemed for the purpose of matching funds. | ||||||
22 | (16) "Primary election campaign period" means the period | ||||||
23 | beginning 30 days after the last day prescribed by law for | ||||||
24 | filing nomination papers and ending on the day of the general | ||||||
25 | primary election. | ||||||
26 | (17) "Public financing qualifying period" means, for |
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1 | candidates seeking the nomination of an established party in a | ||||||
2 | general primary election, the period beginning on the first day | ||||||
3 | of July of an odd-numbered year and ending on the day before | ||||||
4 | the beginning of the primary election campaign period. For all | ||||||
5 | other candidates, the period beginning on the first day of July | ||||||
6 | in an odd-numbered year and ending 7 days after the last date | ||||||
7 | for nomination of candidates as set forth in Section 10-6 of | ||||||
8 | the Election Code. | ||||||
9 | Section 2. Citizens' Election Fund. The Citizens' Election | ||||||
10 | Fund is created as a special fund. The fund may contain any | ||||||
11 | moneys required by law to be deposited into the fund. The State | ||||||
12 | Comptroller shall administer the fund. Any balance remaining in | ||||||
13 | the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward | ||||||
14 | in the fund for the next fiscal year. All moneys deposited into | ||||||
15 | the fund shall be used for the purposes of this Act, including | ||||||
16 | but not limited to ensuring compliance with this Act and | ||||||
17 | promoting the income tax checkoff. | ||||||
18 | Section 3. Program established.
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19 | (a) There is established a Citizens' Election Program under | ||||||
20 | which the candidate for nomination to the office of Governor, | ||||||
21 | Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, | ||||||
22 | Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Senator, or State | ||||||
23 | Representative may receive a grant from the Citizens' Election | ||||||
24 | Fund for the candidate's primary campaign for that nomination. |
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1 | (b) Any such candidate committee is eligible to receive | ||||||
2 | such grants for a general primary campaign, if applicable, and | ||||||
3 | a general election campaign if (1) the candidate certifies as a | ||||||
4 | clean election candidate under Section 4, (2) the candidate's | ||||||
5 | committee receives the required amount of qualifying | ||||||
6 | contributions under Section 5, (3) the candidate's committee | ||||||
7 | returns all contributions that do not meet the criteria for | ||||||
8 | qualifying contributions under Section 5 to the Citizens' | ||||||
9 | Election Fund, and (4) the candidate submits an application and | ||||||
10 | the Board approves the application in accordance with the | ||||||
11 | provisions of Sections 7 and 8. | ||||||
12 | Section 4. Participation. | ||||||
13 | (a) In order to participate in the Citizens' Election | ||||||
14 | Program, candidates for nomination or election to the office of | ||||||
15 | Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State | ||||||
16 | Comptroller, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State | ||||||
17 | Senator, or State Representative shall file an affidavit with | ||||||
18 | the Board. The affidavit shall include written certifications | ||||||
19 | (1) that the candidate is determined to abide by contribution | ||||||
20 | restrictions under the Citizens' Election Program set forth in | ||||||
21 | this Act during both the general primary and general election; | ||||||
22 | (2) that the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee for | ||||||
23 | that candidate shall expend any moneys received from the | ||||||
24 | Citizens' Election Fund in accordance with rules adopted by the | ||||||
25 | Board; (3) that the candidate shall repay to the fund moneys up |
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1 | to the amount of the grant plus matching funds received from | ||||||
2 | the Citizens' Election Fund remaining in the candidate's | ||||||
3 | depository account; and (4) stating if the candidate shall be | ||||||
4 | referred to as an established party or new party candidate and | ||||||
5 | the name of such party. A candidate for nomination or election | ||||||
6 | to any such office shall file such affidavit during the | ||||||
7 | specified public financing qualifying period. | ||||||
8 | (b) A candidate who so certifies his or her intent to abide | ||||||
9 | by the contribution restrictions under the Citizens' Election | ||||||
10 | Program set forth in this Act shall be referred to as a "clean | ||||||
11 | election candidate". | ||||||
12 | (c) In addition to reports required to be filed under the | ||||||
13 | Election Code, a candidate who receives a public financing | ||||||
14 | benefit must furnish complete financial records, including | ||||||
15 | receipts and expenditures, on the last day of each month. | ||||||
16 | (d) A clean election candidate may withdraw from | ||||||
17 | participation in the Citizens' Election Program before | ||||||
18 | applying for an initial grant under Section 7 of this Act, by | ||||||
19 | filing an affidavit with the Board, which includes a written | ||||||
20 | certification of such withdrawal. A candidate who files such an | ||||||
21 | affidavit shall be deemed to be a non-participating candidate | ||||||
22 | for the purposes of Sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this Act | ||||||
23 | and shall not be penalized for such withdrawal. No clean | ||||||
24 | election candidate shall withdraw from participation in the | ||||||
25 | Citizens' Election Program after applying for an initial grant | ||||||
26 | under Section 7 of this Act. |
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1 | (e) The campaign treasurer must submit reporting slips and | ||||||
2 | an amount equal to the sum of the contributions collected to | ||||||
3 | the Board throughout the general primary and general election | ||||||
4 | cycles. The 3-part reporting slip, as defined in this | ||||||
5 | subsection, shall include the printed name, registration | ||||||
6 | address, and signature of the contributor, the name of the | ||||||
7 | candidate for whom the contribution is made, the date, and the | ||||||
8 | printed name and signature of the solicitor. If a contribution | ||||||
9 | is received unsolicited, the candidate or contributor or | ||||||
10 | campaign treasurer may sign the contribution form as the | ||||||
11 | solicitor. Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the use of direct | ||||||
12 | mail or the Internet to obtain contributions. A copy of the | ||||||
13 | reporting slip shall be given as a receipt to the contributor, | ||||||
14 | and the candidate's campaign committee shall retain a copy. The | ||||||
15 | candidate must comply with this Act and ensure that the | ||||||
16 | original slip is tendered to the Board, a copy remains with the | ||||||
17 | candidate, and a copy is given to the contributor. Reporting | ||||||
18 | lists shall be received by the campaign treasurer not later | ||||||
19 | than 24 hours immediately preceding each required filing date. | ||||||
20 | (f) A clean election candidate shall only be permitted to | ||||||
21 | use money received from the Citizens' Election Fund for | ||||||
22 | purposes of nomination or election. | ||||||
23 | Section 5. Qualifying contributors. | ||||||
24 | (a) The number of qualifying contributors that the | ||||||
25 | candidate committee of a candidate shall be required to receive |
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1 | during the public financing qualifying period in order to be | ||||||
2 | eligible for grants from the Citizens' Election Fund shall be: | ||||||
3 | (1) In the case of a candidate for nomination or | ||||||
4 | election to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, | ||||||
5 | Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer, or | ||||||
6 | Secretary of State, contributions from 3,500 natural | ||||||
7 | persons, of which 90% must reside in the State, must be | ||||||
8 | received by that candidate in order to qualify for the | ||||||
9 | Citizens' Election Program. The provisions of this | ||||||
10 | subsection shall be subject to the following: (A) the | ||||||
11 | candidate committee shall return the portion of any | ||||||
12 | contribution or contributions from any natural person, | ||||||
13 | including the candidate, that exceeds $500 and such excess | ||||||
14 | portion shall not be considered in calculating the | ||||||
15 | aggregate contribution amount under this subsection, and
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16 | (B) all contributions received by an exploratory committee | ||||||
17 | established by the candidate that meet the criteria for | ||||||
18 | qualifying contributors under this Section shall be | ||||||
19 | considered in tallying contributors; and | ||||||
20 | (2) In the case of a candidate for nomination or | ||||||
21 | election to the office of State Senator for a district, | ||||||
22 | contributions from 1,000 natural persons, of which 90% must | ||||||
23 | reside in the State, must be received by the candidate in | ||||||
24 | order to qualify for the Citizens' Election Program. The | ||||||
25 | provisions of this subsection shall be subject to the | ||||||
26 | following: (A) the candidate committee shall return the |
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1 | portion of any contribution or contributions from any | ||||||
2 | natural person that exceeds $500, and such excess portion | ||||||
3 | shall not be considered in calculating the aggregate | ||||||
4 | contribution amount under this subsection, and (B) all | ||||||
5 | contributions received by an exploratory committee | ||||||
6 | established by the candidate that meet the criteria for | ||||||
7 | qualifying contributors to candidate committees under this | ||||||
8 | Section shall be considered in tallying contributors. | ||||||
9 | (3) In the case of a candidate for nomination or | ||||||
10 | election to the office of State Representative for a | ||||||
11 | district, contributions from 500 natural persons, of which | ||||||
12 | 90% must reside in the State, must be received by the | ||||||
13 | candidate in order to qualify for the Citizens' Election | ||||||
14 | Program. The provisions of this subsection shall be subject | ||||||
15 | to the following: (A) the candidate committee shall return | ||||||
16 | the portion of any contribution or contributions from any | ||||||
17 | natural person that exceeds $500, and such excess portion | ||||||
18 | shall not be considered in calculating the aggregate | ||||||
19 | contribution amount under this subsection, and (B) all | ||||||
20 | contributions received by an exploratory committee | ||||||
21 | established by the candidate that meet the criteria for | ||||||
22 | qualifying contributors to candidate committees under this | ||||||
23 | Section shall be considered in tallying contributors. | ||||||
24 | (4) The following shall not be deemed to be qualifying | ||||||
25 | contributions under subsection (a) of this Section and | ||||||
26 | shall be returned by the campaign treasurer of the |
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1 | candidate committee to the Citizens' Election Fund: (A) a | ||||||
2 | contribution of $5 or more from a natural person who does | ||||||
3 | not provide the full name and complete address of the | ||||||
4 | person; and (B) a contribution from a person who does not | ||||||
5 | reside in the State, in excess of the applicable limit on | ||||||
6 | contributions from out-of-state natural persons in | ||||||
7 | subsection (a) of this Section. | ||||||
8 | (b) Contributions received by clean election candidates | ||||||
9 | over the set qualifying number of contributors specified in | ||||||
10 | subsection (a) would count towards the match defined in Section | ||||||
11 | 12 of this Act. | ||||||
12 | (c) A candidate or a person, who later becomes a candidate, | ||||||
13 | or an agent of that candidate, may not assist another person in | ||||||
14 | qualifying as a candidate for the same office if such a | ||||||
15 | candidacy would result in a greater distribution of funds from | ||||||
16 | the Citizens' Election Fund in a contested election, as | ||||||
17 | specified under Section 8 of this Act. | ||||||
18 | Section 6. Agreement by candidate. An eligible candidate | ||||||
19 | who accepts funds from the Citizens' Election Fund during the | ||||||
20 | primary election campaign period must agree to comply with all | ||||||
21 | requirements of this Act throughout the general election cycle | ||||||
22 | as a precondition to receipt of public funds. An eligible | ||||||
23 | candidate who accepts a public financing benefit during a | ||||||
24 | primary election campaign period may not elect to accept | ||||||
25 | private contributions in violation of this Act during the |
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1 | corresponding general election cycle. | ||||||
2 | Section 7. Application for grants. | ||||||
3 | (a) The application shall include a qualifying report, | ||||||
4 | which demonstrates that the candidate committee has received | ||||||
5 | contributions from the required number of contributors, and a | ||||||
6 | written certification that; | ||||||
7 | (1) The candidate committee has repaid all moneys | ||||||
8 | borrowed on behalf of the campaign, as required by | ||||||
9 | subsection (b) of Section 11 of this Act; | ||||||
10 | (2) The candidate committee has returned any | ||||||
11 | contribution of $5 or more from a natural person who does | ||||||
12 | not include the person's name and address with the | ||||||
13 | contribution; | ||||||
14 | (3) The candidate committee has returned all | ||||||
15 | contributions or portions of contributions that do not meet | ||||||
16 | the criteria for qualifying contributions under Section 5 | ||||||
17 | of this Act and returned all excess qualifying | ||||||
18 | contributions to the Citizens' Election Fund. That | ||||||
19 | contribution shall not count toward the maximum amount that | ||||||
20 | a contributor may contribute. | ||||||
21 | (4) The campaign treasurer of the candidate committee | ||||||
22 | will comply with the provisions of Sections 1 to 17, | ||||||
23 | inclusive, of this Act; | ||||||
24 | (5) All moneys received from natural persons and the | ||||||
25 | Citizens' Election Fund will be deposited upon receipt into |
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1 | the depository account of the candidate committee; | ||||||
2 | (6) The campaign treasurer of the candidate committee | ||||||
3 | will expend all moneys received from the fund in accordance | ||||||
4 | with the general statutes and rules adopted by the Board; | ||||||
5 | and | ||||||
6 | (7) If the candidate withdraws from the campaign, | ||||||
7 | becomes ineligible, or dies during the campaign, the | ||||||
8 | candidate committee of the candidate will return to the | ||||||
9 | Board, for deposit in the fund, all moneys received from | ||||||
10 | the fund, which that candidate committee has not spent or | ||||||
11 | encumbered as of the date of such occurrence. | ||||||
12 | (b) Conditions. | ||||||
13 | (1) A clean election candidate for nomination to the | ||||||
14 | office of Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, | ||||||
15 | Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Senator, or | ||||||
16 | State Representative may apply to the Board for a grant | ||||||
17 | from the Citizens' Election Fund for a general election | ||||||
18 | campaign: | ||||||
19 | (A) After any primary held by such party for | ||||||
20 | nomination for that office, if the Board certifies that | ||||||
21 | the candidate is the party nominee; | ||||||
22 | (B) In the case of an independent candidate, after | ||||||
23 | approval by the Board of such candidate's nominating | ||||||
24 | petition. | ||||||
25 | (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of | ||||||
26 | this subsection, no clean election candidate for |
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1 | nomination or election who changes the candidate's status | ||||||
2 | as an established party or independent candidate or becomes | ||||||
3 | a candidate of a different party, after filing the | ||||||
4 | affidavit required under Section 4 of this Act, shall be | ||||||
5 | eligible to apply for a grant under the Citizens' Election | ||||||
6 | Program for such candidate's general primary campaign for | ||||||
7 | such nomination or general election campaign for such | ||||||
8 | election. | ||||||
9 | (c) The application shall be accompanied by a report of | ||||||
10 | expenditures made and expenses incurred but not yet paid by the | ||||||
11 | candidate committee as of 3 days before the date that the | ||||||
12 | application is signed. The candidate and the campaign treasurer | ||||||
13 | of the candidate committee shall swear to such accounting under | ||||||
14 | penalty of perjury. The Board shall prescribe the form of the | ||||||
15 | application and the cumulative itemized accounting. Both the | ||||||
16 | candidate and the campaign treasurer of the candidate committee | ||||||
17 | shall sign the application. | ||||||
18 | (d) Not later than 3 business days following receipt of any | ||||||
19 | such application, the Board shall review the application, | ||||||
20 | determine whether (1) the candidate committee for the applicant | ||||||
21 | has received contributions from the required number of | ||||||
22 | contributors, (2) in the case of an application for a grant | ||||||
23 | from the fund for a general election campaign, the applicant | ||||||
24 | has met the applicable condition under subsection (b) of this | ||||||
25 | Section for applying for such grant and complied with the | ||||||
26 | provisions of subsections (a) and (c) of this Section, (3) in |
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1 | the case of an application for a grant from the fund for a | ||||||
2 | general election campaign, the applicant has met the applicable | ||||||
3 | condition under subsection (a) of this Section for applying for | ||||||
4 | such moneys and complied with the provisions of subsection (c) | ||||||
5 | of this Section, and (4) in the case of an application by an | ||||||
6 | independent candidate for a grant from the fund for a general | ||||||
7 | election campaign, the applicant qualifies as an eligible | ||||||
8 | independent candidate. If the Board approves an application, | ||||||
9 | the Board shall determine the amount of the grant payable to | ||||||
10 | the candidate committee for the applicant pursuant to Section 8 | ||||||
11 | of this Act from the fund, and notify the State Comptroller and | ||||||
12 | the candidate of such candidate committee, of such amount. As | ||||||
13 | soon as practical, but in no event longer than 7 business days | ||||||
14 | following notification by the Board, the State Comptroller | ||||||
15 | shall draw an order for payment of such amount to the qualified | ||||||
16 | candidate committee from the fund. | ||||||
17 | (e) If a nominated clean election candidate dies, withdraws | ||||||
18 | the candidate's candidacy, or becomes disqualified to hold the | ||||||
19 | office for which the candidate has been nominated after the | ||||||
20 | Board approves the candidate's application for a grant under | ||||||
21 | this Section, the candidate committee of the candidate who is | ||||||
22 | nominated to replace that candidate shall be eligible to | ||||||
23 | receive grants from the fund without complying with the | ||||||
24 | provisions of Section 5 of this Act, if that replacement | ||||||
25 | candidate files an affidavit under Section 4 of this Act | ||||||
26 | certifying the candidate's intent to abide by the contribution |
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1 | limits set forth in this Act and notifies the Board on a form | ||||||
2 | prescribed by the Board. | ||||||
3 | Section 8. Grants.
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4 | (a) Governor. | ||||||
5 | (1) The clean election candidate committee of a | ||||||
6 | candidate for the office of Governor who has a general | ||||||
7 | primary for nomination to that office shall be eligible to | ||||||
8 | receive a grant from the Citizens' Election Fund for the | ||||||
9 | primary campaign in the amount of $1,250,000, that amount | ||||||
10 | to be adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section. | ||||||
11 | (2) If the clean election candidate for the office of | ||||||
12 | Governor has an uncontested general primary election, the | ||||||
13 | amount of the general primary election grant for which the | ||||||
14 | clean election candidate committee for that candidate | ||||||
15 | shall be eligible to receive is $375,000; that amount shall | ||||||
16 | be adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section. | ||||||
17 | (3) The clean election candidate committee for the | ||||||
18 | office of Governor who has been nominated shall be eligible | ||||||
19 | to receive a grant from the fund for the general election | ||||||
20 | campaign in the amount of $3,000,000, that amount to be | ||||||
21 | adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section. | ||||||
22 | (b) Other statewide offices. | ||||||
23 | (1) The clean election candidate committee for the | ||||||
24 | office of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State | ||||||
25 | Comptroller, Secretary of State or State Treasurer who has |
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1 | a general primary election for nomination to that office | ||||||
2 | shall be eligible to receive a grant from the Citizens' | ||||||
3 | Election Fund for the primary campaign in the amount of | ||||||
4 | $425,000; that amount shall be adjusted under subsection | ||||||
5 | (e) of this Section. | ||||||
6 | (2) If the clean election candidate for the office of | ||||||
7 | Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, | ||||||
8 | Secretary of State, or State Treasurer has an uncontested | ||||||
9 | general primary election the amount of the general primary | ||||||
10 | election grant for which the clean election candidate | ||||||
11 | committee for that candidate shall be eligible to receive | ||||||
12 | $375,000; that amount shall be adjusted under subsection | ||||||
13 | (e) of this Section. | ||||||
14 | (3) The clean election candidate committee for the | ||||||
15 | office of Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary | ||||||
16 | of State, or State Treasurer who has been nominated shall | ||||||
17 | be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for the | ||||||
18 | general election campaign in the amount of $1,000,000; that | ||||||
19 | amount shall be adjusted under subsection (e) of this | ||||||
20 | Section. | ||||||
21 | (c) State Senator. | ||||||
22 | (1) The clean election candidate committee of a | ||||||
23 | candidate for the office of State Senator who has a general | ||||||
24 | primary election for nomination to that office shall be | ||||||
25 | eligible to receive a grant from the Citizens' Election | ||||||
26 | Fund for the primary campaign in the amount of $300,000, |
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1 | provided if the vote totals of one established party | ||||||
2 | candidate for Governor from the previous gubernatorial | ||||||
3 | general election in the district served by that office | ||||||
4 | exceeds any other established party's vote totals by at | ||||||
5 | least 20%, the candidate from such party shall receive a | ||||||
6 | grant of $400,000; these amounts shall be adjusted under | ||||||
7 | subsection (e) of this Section. | ||||||
8 | (2) If the clean election candidate for the office of | ||||||
9 | State Senator has an uncontested general primary election, | ||||||
10 | the amount of the general primary grant for which the | ||||||
11 | qualified candidate committee for that candidate shall be | ||||||
12 | eligible to receive is $50,000;that amount shall be | ||||||
13 | adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section. | ||||||
14 | (3) The clean election candidate committee for the | ||||||
15 | office of State Senator who has been nominated shall be | ||||||
16 | eligible to receive a grant from the fund for a contested | ||||||
17 | general election campaign in the amount of $300,000; that | ||||||
18 | amount shall be adjusted under subsection (e) of this | ||||||
19 | Section. | ||||||
20 | (d) State Representative. | ||||||
21 | (1) The clean election candidate committee of a | ||||||
22 | candidate for the office of State Representative who has a | ||||||
23 | general primary election for nomination to that office | ||||||
24 | shall be eligible to receive a grant from the Citizens' | ||||||
25 | Election Fund for the primary campaign in the amount of | ||||||
26 | $150,000, provided if the vote totals of one established |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | party candidate for Governor from the previous general | ||||||
2 | gubernatorial election in the district served by that | ||||||
3 | office exceeds any other established party's vote totals by | ||||||
4 | at least 20%, the candidate from such party shall receive a | ||||||
5 | grant of $200,000; these amounts shall be adjusted under | ||||||
6 | subsection (e) of this Section. | ||||||
7 | (2) If the clean election candidate for the office of | ||||||
8 | State Representative has an uncontested general primary | ||||||
9 | election, the amount of the general primary grant for which | ||||||
10 | the clean election candidate committee for that candidate | ||||||
11 | shall be eligible to receive is $25,000; that amount shall | ||||||
12 | be adjusted under subsection (e) of this Section. | ||||||
13 | (3) The clean election candidate committee for the | ||||||
14 | office of State Representative who has been nominated shall | ||||||
15 | be eligible to receive a grant from the fund for a | ||||||
16 | contested general election campaign in the amount of | ||||||
17 | $150,000; that amount shall be adjusted under subsection | ||||||
18 | (e) of this Section. | ||||||
19 | (e) Beginning on January 1, 2013 and every 2 years | ||||||
20 | thereafter, the Board shall modify the public financing | ||||||
21 | benefits provided for in Section 8 to adjust for the change in | ||||||
22 | the Consumer Price Index, All Items, U. S. City Average, | ||||||
23 | published by the United States Department of Labor for the | ||||||
24 | preceding 2-year period ending on December 31. | ||||||
25 | (f) An independent candidate for the office of Governor, | ||||||
26 | Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Comptroller, Treasurer, State Senator, or State Representative | ||||||
2 | who is not seeking the nomination of an established party, | ||||||
3 | after having received approval by the Board of such candidate's | ||||||
4 | nominating petition and qualifying contributors, shall be | ||||||
5 | eligible to receive a grant from the fund in the amount of | ||||||
6 | three-quarters of the grant allocated to candidates for that | ||||||
7 | office in an uncontested general primary election during the | ||||||
8 | primary election campaign period. | ||||||
9 | (g) Increase in the grants under special circumstances. | ||||||
10 | (1) If the opposing, non-participating candidate's | ||||||
11 | excess expenditures with respect to a clean election | ||||||
12 | candidate for nomination or election exceeds the threshold | ||||||
13 | amount, the initial grant for both the general primary and | ||||||
14 | general election under this Section shall be increased in | ||||||
15 | accordance with the formula in paragraph (3). As used in | ||||||
16 | this subsection, "excess expenditure" means an expenditure | ||||||
17 | made, or obligated to be made, by a nonparticipating | ||||||
18 | candidate who is opposed by one or more clean election | ||||||
19 | candidates in a primary campaign or a general election | ||||||
20 | campaign, which is in excess of the amount of the | ||||||
21 | applicable grant for the clean election candidates for the | ||||||
22 | campaign authorized under Section 8 of this Act.
| ||||||
23 | (2) Threshold amount. | ||||||
24 | (A) In this subsection, the threshold amount with | ||||||
25 | respect to an election period of a candidate described | ||||||
26 | in paragraph (3) is an amount equal to the sum of: |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (i) $100,000; and
| ||||||
2 | (ii) $0.04 multiplied by the voting age | ||||||
3 | population of the district in which the candidates | ||||||
4 | are seeking office. | ||||||
5 | (B) For the purpose of subparagraph (g) (2) (A), | ||||||
6 | the term "voting age population" means the number of | ||||||
7 | adults over the age of 18 found residing in every | ||||||
8 | county in the district or circuit by the U.S. Census | ||||||
9 | Bureau at the last preceding decennial census. | ||||||
10 | (3) If the opposing candidate's personal funds amount | ||||||
11 | is over: | ||||||
12 | (A) 2 times the threshold amount, but not over 4 | ||||||
13 | times the amount, then the match, as specified under | ||||||
14 | subsection (d) of Section 12 of this Act, shall be | ||||||
15 | increased to a 4-to-1 match and the maximum amount of | ||||||
16 | matching funds allocated, as specified under | ||||||
17 | subsection (e) of Section 12 of this Act, shall be | ||||||
18 | multiplied by 1.25. | ||||||
19 | (B) 4 times the threshold amount, but not over 10 | ||||||
20 | times the amount, then the match, as specified under | ||||||
21 | subsection (d) of Section 12 of this Act, shall be | ||||||
22 | increased to a 5-to-1 match and the maximum amount of | ||||||
23 | matching funds allocated, as specified under | ||||||
24 | subsection (e) of Section 12 of this Act, shall be | ||||||
25 | multiplied by 1.5.
| ||||||
26 | (C) 10 times the threshold amount, then the match, |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | as specified under subsection (d) of Section 12 of this | ||||||
2 | Act, shall be increased to a 6-to-1 match and the | ||||||
3 | maximum amount of matching funds allocated, as | ||||||
4 | specified under subsection (e) of Section 12 of this | ||||||
5 | Act, shall be multiplied by 2. | ||||||
6 | (4) If a court of competent jurisdiction prohibits or | ||||||
7 | limits any provision of subsection (g) as | ||||||
8 | unconstitutional, the provision within subsection (g) | ||||||
9 | shall be inoperative.
| ||||||
10 | (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to | ||||||
11 | (g), inclusive, of this Section: | ||||||
12 | (1) The initial grant that a clean election candidate | ||||||
13 | committee for a candidate is eligible to receive under | ||||||
14 | subsections (a) to (g), inclusive, of this Section shall be | ||||||
15 | reduced by the amount of any personal funds that the | ||||||
16 | candidate provides for the candidate's campaign for | ||||||
17 | nomination or election pursuant to subsection (c) of | ||||||
18 | Section 11 of this Act. | ||||||
19 | (2) If a clean election candidate is nominated at a | ||||||
20 | general primary election and does not expend the entire | ||||||
21 | grant for the primary campaign authorized under subsection | ||||||
22 | (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this Section or all moneys that | ||||||
23 | may be received for the general primary campaign under | ||||||
24 | Section 12 of this Act, the amount of the grant for the | ||||||
25 | general election campaign shall be reduced by the total | ||||||
26 | amount of any such unexpended primary campaign grant and |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | moneys. | ||||||
2 | (3) If a clean election candidate has an uncontested | ||||||
3 | general election campaign, the candidate shall be eligible | ||||||
4 | to receive 30% of the applicable general election grant set | ||||||
5 | forth in subsections (a) to (d), inclusive. | ||||||
6 | Section 9. Depository accounts. The deposit of moneys from | ||||||
7 | the Citizens' Election Fund shall be transferred into the | ||||||
8 | depository account of a qualified candidate committee, no | ||||||
9 | contribution, loan, amount of the candidate's own moneys, or | ||||||
10 | any other moneys received by the candidate or the campaign | ||||||
11 | treasurer on behalf of the committee shall be deposited into | ||||||
12 | that depository account, except (1) grants from the fund, (2) | ||||||
13 | any additional moneys from the fund as provided in Section 12 | ||||||
14 | of this Act, and (3) contributions from natural persons under | ||||||
15 | $500. | ||||||
16 | Section 10. General election campaign grants. A qualified | ||||||
17 | candidate committee that received moneys from the Citizens' | ||||||
18 | Election Fund for a general primary campaign and whose | ||||||
19 | candidate is the party nominee shall receive a grant from the | ||||||
20 | fund for a general election campaign. Upon receiving | ||||||
21 | verification from the Board of the results of the votes cast at | ||||||
22 | the primary, the Board shall notify the State Comptroller of | ||||||
23 | the amount payable to such qualified candidate committee | ||||||
24 | pursuant to Section 7 of this Act. As soon as is practical, but |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | in no event longer than 7 business days following notification | ||||||
2 | by the Board, the State Comptroller shall draw an order for | ||||||
3 | payment of the general election campaign grant to that | ||||||
4 | committee from that fund. | ||||||
5 | Section 11. Loans; personal funds; debt.
| ||||||
6 | (a) The candidate committee for a candidate who intends to | ||||||
7 | participate in the Citizens' Election Program may borrow moneys | ||||||
8 | on behalf of a campaign for a general primary or a general | ||||||
9 | election from one or more financial institutions. The amount | ||||||
10 | borrowed shall not constitute a qualifying contribution under | ||||||
11 | Section 5 of this Act. | ||||||
12 | (b) All such loans shall be repaid in full prior to the | ||||||
13 | date such candidate committee applies for a grant from the | ||||||
14 | Citizens' Election Fund pursuant to Section 7 of this Act. A | ||||||
15 | candidate who fails to repay such loans or fails to certify | ||||||
16 | such repayment to the Board shall not be eligible to receive | ||||||
17 | and shall not receive grants from the fund. | ||||||
18 | (c) A candidate who intends to participate in the Citizens' | ||||||
19 | Election Program may provide personal funds for such | ||||||
20 | candidate's campaign for nomination or election in an amount | ||||||
21 | not exceeding the following: (1) for a candidate for the office | ||||||
22 | of Governor, $20,000; (2) for a candidate for the office of | ||||||
23 | Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, | ||||||
24 | State Treasurer, Secretary of the State, $10,000; (3) for a | ||||||
25 | candidate for the office of State Senator, $2,000; or (4) for a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | candidate for the office of State Representative, $1,000: | ||||||
2 | (1) Such personal funds shall not constitute a | ||||||
3 | qualifying contribution under Section 5 of this Act. | ||||||
4 | (2) The initial grant that a qualified candidate | ||||||
5 | committee for a candidate is eligible to receive under | ||||||
6 | Section 8 of this Act shall be reduced by the amount of any | ||||||
7 | personal funds that the candidate provides for the | ||||||
8 | candidate's campaign for nomination or election. | ||||||
9 | (d) A candidate shall not incur obligations beyond funds | ||||||
10 | raised or received in accordance with this Act. | ||||||
11 | Section 12. Matching funds. | ||||||
12 | (a) Clean election candidates shall qualify to receive | ||||||
13 | matching funds from the Citizens' Election Fund for | ||||||
14 | contributions received from natural persons, following receipt | ||||||
15 | of initial Citizens' Election Fund grants during both the | ||||||
16 | primary and general election cycles. | ||||||
17 | (b) Clean election candidates shall receive a match from | ||||||
18 | the Citizens' Election Fund on the portion of any given | ||||||
19 | contribution up to $100 from a natural person, 90% of whom must | ||||||
20 | reside in Illinois. | ||||||
21 | (c) Clean election candidates shall disclose to the Board | ||||||
22 | individual contributions received following receipt of | ||||||
23 | Citizens' Election Fund grants during both the primary and | ||||||
24 | general elections, on a schedule to be adopted by rule. | ||||||
25 | (d) The Board shall direct the State Comptroller to |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | allocate moneys from the Citizens' Election Fund to clean | ||||||
2 | election candidates who have continued to receive | ||||||
3 | contributions following the receipt of initial Citizens' | ||||||
4 | Election Fund grants. The matching funds from the Citizens' | ||||||
5 | Election Fund shall be allocated based upon a 3-to-1 match. | ||||||
6 | (e) Candidates may receive up to 2 times the grant received | ||||||
7 | from the Citizens' Election Fund during both the general | ||||||
8 | primary and general election cycle. | ||||||
9 | (f) Clean election candidates may continue to collect | ||||||
10 | contributions of $500 or less from natural persons, 90% of whom | ||||||
11 | must reside in Illinois, after receiving the maximum amount of | ||||||
12 | matching funds from the Citizens' Election Fund; | ||||||
13 | notwithstanding the aforementioned, no natural person may | ||||||
14 | contribute more than $500 in any given general primary or | ||||||
15 | general election to one clean election candidate. | ||||||
16 | Section 13. Creating rules regarding coordination with | ||||||
17 | candidates.
| ||||||
18 | (a) A contribution includes anything of value provided in | ||||||
19 | coordination with a candidate for the purpose of influencing | ||||||
20 | the outcome of an election. | ||||||
21 | (b) A coordinated activity is anything of value provided in | ||||||
22 | coordination with a candidate (or party or agent) to influence | ||||||
23 | an election, regardless of whether it contains express | ||||||
24 | advocacy, including payments: in consultation with, or at | ||||||
25 | request or suggestion of, a candidate, party, or agent; using |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | candidate-prepared materials; based on information provided by | ||||||
2 | candidate's campaign for purposes of expenditure; by a spender | ||||||
3 | who during that election cycle has raised funds or acted in an | ||||||
4 | official position for a candidate; for communications about | ||||||
5 | campaign plans, directly or through a party; for in-kind | ||||||
6 | professional services, directly or through a party, other than | ||||||
7 | for voter guide mailings; and in coordination with a candidate | ||||||
8 | to influence election regardless of whether the communication | ||||||
9 | contains express advocacy.
| ||||||
10 | Section 14. Contributions in excess of limit. If a | ||||||
11 | contribution is found to be in excess of $500 during the course | ||||||
12 | of either the primary or general election cycle, the candidate | ||||||
13 | shall notify the Board and turn over the excess contribution | ||||||
14 | within 3 business days to the Citizens' Election Fund, | ||||||
15 | otherwise: (1) the committee shall not receive any additional | ||||||
16 | grants or moneys from the fund for the remainder of the | ||||||
17 | election cycle if the Board determines that the candidate or | ||||||
18 | campaign treasurer of that committee had knowledge of the | ||||||
19 | excess contribution, (2) the campaign treasurer shall be | ||||||
20 | subject to penalties under Article 29 of the Election Code, and | ||||||
21 | (3) the candidate of that candidate committee shall be deemed | ||||||
22 | to be a non participating candidate for the purposes of | ||||||
23 | Sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this Act if the Board | ||||||
24 | determines that the candidate or campaign treasurer of that | ||||||
25 | committee had knowledge of the excess expenditure. The Board |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | may waive the provisions of this subsection upon determining | ||||||
2 | that an excess contribution is of minor consequence. The Board | ||||||
3 | shall adopt rules establishing standards for making such | ||||||
4 | determinations. | ||||||
5 | Section 15. Exploratory committee. If a candidate has | ||||||
6 | established an exploratory committee, the campaign treasurer | ||||||
7 | of the committee may distribute to the clean election candidate | ||||||
8 | committee only that portion of such surplus that is | ||||||
9 | attributable to contributions that meet the criteria for | ||||||
10 | permissible contributions defined as $5 to $500 and shall | ||||||
11 | distribute the remainder of such surplus to the Citizens' | ||||||
12 | Election Fund. | ||||||
13 | Section 16. Board duties.
The Board has the following | ||||||
14 | duties: | ||||||
15 | (a) Annually, to issue a report on the status of the | ||||||
16 | Citizens' Election Fund during the previous calendar year. Such | ||||||
17 | report shall include the amount of moneys deposited in the | ||||||
18 | fund, the sources of moneys received by category, the number of | ||||||
19 | contributions, the number of contributors, the amount of moneys | ||||||
20 | expended by category, the recipients of moneys distributed from | ||||||
21 | the fund, and an accounting of the costs incurred by the Board | ||||||
22 | in administering the provisions of Sections 1 to 17, inclusive, | ||||||
23 | of this Act. | ||||||
24 | (b) To establish and administer a program of voluntary |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | trainings on the Citizens' Election Program for candidates and | ||||||
2 | campaign treasurers.
| ||||||
3 | (c) Not later than July 1 of the year preceding a general | ||||||
4 | election, to determine whether the amount of moneys in the fund | ||||||
5 | is sufficient to carry out the purposes of Sections 1 to 17, | ||||||
6 | inclusive, of this Act. If the Board determines that such | ||||||
7 | amount is not sufficient to carry out such purposes, the Board | ||||||
8 | shall, not later than 3 days after such later determination, | ||||||
9 | (1) determine the percentage of the fund's obligations that can | ||||||
10 | be met for such election, (2) recalculate the amount of each | ||||||
11 | payment that each qualified candidate committee is entitled to | ||||||
12 | receive under Section 8 of this Act by multiplying such | ||||||
13 | percentage by the amount that such committee would have been | ||||||
14 | entitled to receive under Sections 1 to 17, inclusive, of this | ||||||
15 | Act if there were a sufficient amount of moneys in the fund, | ||||||
16 | and (3) notify each such committee of such insufficiency, | ||||||
17 | percentage, and applicable recalculation. After a qualified | ||||||
18 | candidate committee under Section 8 of this Act first receives | ||||||
19 | any such recalculated payment, the committee may resume | ||||||
20 | accepting contributions. The Board shall also issue a report on | ||||||
21 | that determination.
| ||||||
22 | Section 17. Application of Act. Candidates may begin | ||||||
23 | participating under this Act on July 1, 2011 for the 2012 | ||||||
24 | general primary and general election cycles, unless the Board | ||||||
25 | declares that the Citizens' Election Fund has insufficient |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | funds. | ||||||
2 | Section 85. The Election Code is amended by changing | ||||||
3 | Sections 9-25.1 and 12A-5 as follows:
| ||||||
4 | (10 ILCS 5/9-25.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-25.1; formerly Ch. | ||||||
5 | 46, pars. 102, 103 and 104)
| ||||||
6 | Sec. 9-25.1. Election interference.
| ||||||
7 | (a) As used in this Section, "public funds" means any funds | ||||||
8 | appropriated
by the Illinois General Assembly or by any | ||||||
9 | political subdivision of the
State of Illinois.
| ||||||
10 | (b) Except as otherwise provided by statute, rule, or | ||||||
11 | ordinance, no No public funds shall be used to urge any elector | ||||||
12 | to vote for or
against any candidate or proposition, or be | ||||||
13 | appropriated for political or
campaign purposes to any | ||||||
14 | candidate or political organization. This Section
shall not | ||||||
15 | prohibit the use of public funds for dissemination of factual
| ||||||
16 | information relative to any proposition appearing on an | ||||||
17 | election ballot,
or for dissemination of information and | ||||||
18 | arguments published and distributed
under law in connection | ||||||
19 | with a proposition to amend the Constitution
of the State of | ||||||
20 | Illinois.
| ||||||
21 | (c) The first time any person violates any provision of | ||||||
22 | this Section, that
person shall be guilty of a Class B | ||||||
23 | misdemeanor. Upon the second or any
subsequent violation of any | ||||||
24 | provision of this Section, the person violating
any provision |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | of this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
| ||||||
2 | (Source: P.A. 87-1052.)
| ||||||
3 | (10 ILCS 5/12A-5)
| ||||||
4 | Sec. 12A-5. Internet Guide.
The Board shall publish, no | ||||||
5 | later than the 45th day before each a general election
in which | ||||||
6 | a
statewide candidate appears on the ballot , an Internet | ||||||
7 | website with the
following
information:
| ||||||
8 | (1) The date and time of the general election.
| ||||||
9 | (2) Requirements for a citizen to qualify as an | ||||||
10 | elector.
| ||||||
11 | (3) The deadline for registering as an elector in the | ||||||
12 | State of Illinois
for
the next
election.
| ||||||
13 | (4) Contact information for local election | ||||||
14 | authorities.
| ||||||
15 | (5) A description of the following offices, when they | ||||||
16 | appear on the
ballot,
including their term of office, basic | ||||||
17 | duties, and base salary: United States
President,
United | ||||||
18 | States Senator, United States Representative, Governor, | ||||||
19 | Lieutenant
Governor,
Attorney
General, Secretary of State, | ||||||
20 | Treasurer, Comptroller, Illinois Supreme Court Judge, and | ||||||
21 | Illinois Appellate Court Judge , State Senator, and State | ||||||
22 | Representative . The Board shall not include information on | ||||||
23 | any office other than the offices listed in this item (5).
| ||||||
24 | (6) The names and party affiliations of qualified | ||||||
25 | candidates for the
following
offices, when these offices |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | appear on the ballot: United States President,
United | ||||||
2 | States
Senator, United States Representative, Governor, | ||||||
3 | Lieutenant Governor, Attorney
General,
Secretary of State, | ||||||
4 | Treasurer, Comptroller, Illinois Supreme Court Judge, and | ||||||
5 | Illinois Appellate Court Judge , State Senator, and State | ||||||
6 | Representative . The Board shall not include information on | ||||||
7 | candidates for any office other than the offices listed in | ||||||
8 | this item (6).
| ||||||
9 | (7) Challenged candidates. Where a candidate's right | ||||||
10 | to appear on the
general
election ballot has been | ||||||
11 | challenged, and any appeal remains pending regarding
those
| ||||||
12 | challenges, the challenged candidate may appear on the | ||||||
13 | Internet Guide, subject
to the
other provisions of Section | ||||||
14 | 12A-10. In this instance, the Board may note that
the
| ||||||
15 | candidate's
candidacy has been challenged and that he or | ||||||
16 | she may be removed from the
ballot prior
to election day. | ||||||
17 | If the candidate is removed from the ballot prior to | ||||||
18 | election
day, the
Board shall remove the candidate's name | ||||||
19 | and other information from the Internet
Guide.
| ||||||
20 | (8) Any personal statement and photograph submitted by | ||||||
21 | a candidate named
in
the
Internet Guide, subject to | ||||||
22 | Sections 12A-10 and 12A-35.
| ||||||
23 | (9) A means by which an elector may determine what type | ||||||
24 | of balloting
equipment
is used by his or her local election | ||||||
25 | authority, and the instructions for
properly
using that
| ||||||
26 | equipment.
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (10) The text of any public question that may appear on | ||||||
2 | the ballot.
| ||||||
3 | (11) A mechanism by which electors may determine in | ||||||
4 | which congressional and judicial districts they reside. | ||||||
5 | The Internet Guide shall allow
visitors to
search for | ||||||
6 | candidates by office (e.g., Governor or United States | ||||||
7 | Senator) and
candidate's name.
| ||||||
8 | (12) Information concerning how to become an election | ||||||
9 | judge.
| ||||||
10 | (13) A list of the clean election candidates in that | ||||||
11 | general election. | ||||||
12 | The Board shall archive the contents of the Internet Guide | ||||||
13 | for a period of at
least 5
years.
| ||||||
14 | In addition, the Board has the discretion to publish a | ||||||
15 | voters' guide before a general primary election in the manner | ||||||
16 | provided in this Article.
| ||||||
17 | (Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.) | ||||||
18 | Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding | ||||||
19 | Section 5.786 as follows: | ||||||
20 | (30 ILCS 105/5.786 new) | ||||||
21 | Sec. 5.786. The Citizens' Election Fund. | ||||||
22 | Section 95. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by | ||||||
23 | adding Section 507YY as follows: |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (35 ILCS 5/507YY new) | ||||||
2 | Sec. 507YY. Citizens' Election Fund. The Department shall | ||||||
3 | print on its standard individual income tax form a provision | ||||||
4 | indicating that if the taxpayer wishes to contribute to the | ||||||
5 | Citizens' Election Fund, he or she may do so by stating the | ||||||
6 | amount of the contribution (not less than $1) on the return and | ||||||
7 | that the contribution will reduce the taxpayer's refund or | ||||||
8 | increase the amount of payment to accompany the return. Failure | ||||||
9 | to remit any amount of increased payment shall reduce the | ||||||
10 | contribution accordingly. This Section shall not apply to any | ||||||
11 | amended return.
| ||||||
12 | Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are | ||||||
13 | severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes. | ||||||
14 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
15 | becoming law. |