97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB2068

 

Introduced 2/22/2011, by Rep. Kay Hatcher

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/7-8  from Ch. 46, par. 7-8

    Amends the Election Code. Provides that at the primary in 2012 and at the general primary election every 4 years thereafter, each primary elector in cities having a population of 250,000 (instead of 200,000) or more, may vote for one candidate of his or her party in his or her ward for ward committeeman. Further provides that at the primary election in 2014 and at the general primary election every 4 years thereafter, each primary elector in counties containing a population of 2,000,000 or more, outside of cities containing a population of 250,000 (instead of 200,000) or more, may vote for one candidate of his or her party for township committeeman and each candidate for township committeeman must be a resident of and in the township or part of a township (which lies outside of a city having a population of 250,000 (instead of 200,000) or more, in counties containing a population of 2,000,000 or more), and in which township or part of a township he seeks to be elected township committeeman. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB2068LRB097 08064 HLH 48187 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 Section
57-8 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/7-8)  (from Ch. 46, par. 7-8)
7    Sec. 7-8. The State central committee shall be composed of
8one or two members from each congressional district in the
9State and shall be elected as follows:
10
State Central Committee
11    (a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this
12amendatory Act of 1983 the State central committee of each
13political party shall certify to the State Board of Elections
14which of the following alternatives it wishes to apply to the
15State central committee of that party.
16    Alternative A. At the primary in 1970 and at the general
17primary election held every 4 years thereafter, each primary
18elector may vote for one candidate of his party for member of
19the State central committee for the congressional district in
20which he resides. The candidate receiving the highest number of
21votes shall be declared elected State central committeeman from
22the district. A political party may, in lieu of the foregoing,
23by a majority vote of delegates at any State convention of such

 

 

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1party, determine to thereafter elect the State central
2committeemen in the manner following:
3    At the county convention held by such political party State
4central committeemen shall be elected in the same manner as
5provided in this Article for the election of officers of the
6county central committee, and such election shall follow the
7election of officers of the county central committee. Each
8elected ward, township or precinct committeeman shall cast as
9his vote one vote for each ballot voted in his ward, township,
10part of a township or precinct in the last preceding primary
11election of his political party. In the case of a county lying
12partially within one congressional district and partially
13within another congressional district, each ward, township or
14precinct committeeman shall vote only with respect to the
15congressional district in which his ward, township, part of a
16township or precinct is located. In the case of a congressional
17district which encompasses more than one county, each ward,
18township or precinct committeeman residing within the
19congressional district shall cast as his vote one vote for each
20ballot voted in his ward, township, part of a township or
21precinct in the last preceding primary election of his
22political party for one candidate of his party for member of
23the State central committee for the congressional district in
24which he resides and the Chairman of the county central
25committee shall report the results of the election to the State
26Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall certify

 

 

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1the candidate receiving the highest number of votes elected
2State central committeeman for that congressional district.
3    The State central committee shall adopt rules to provide
4for and govern the procedures to be followed in the election of
5members of the State central committee.
6    After the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st
7General Assembly, whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of
8Chairman of a State central committee, or at the end of the
9term of office of Chairman, the State central committee of each
10political party that has selected Alternative A shall elect a
11Chairman who shall not be required to be a member of the State
12Central Committee. The Chairman shall be a registered voter in
13this State and of the same political party as the State central
14committee.
15    Alternative B. Each congressional committee shall, within
1630 days after the adoption of this alternative, appoint a
17person of the sex opposite that of the incumbent member for
18that congressional district to serve as an additional member of
19the State central committee until his or her successor is
20elected at the general primary election in 1986. Each
21congressional committee shall make this appointment by voting
22on the basis set forth in paragraph (e) of this Section. In
23each congressional district at the general primary election
24held in 1986 and every 4 years thereafter, the male candidate
25receiving the highest number of votes of the party's male
26candidates for State central committeeman, and the female

 

 

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1candidate receiving the highest number of votes of the party's
2female candidates for State central committeewoman, shall be
3declared elected State central committeeman and State central
4committeewoman from the district. At the general primary
5election held in 1986 and every 4 years thereafter, if all a
6party's candidates for State central committeemen or State
7central committeewomen from a congressional district are of the
8same sex, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes
9shall be declared elected a State central committeeman or State
10central committeewoman from the district, and, because of a
11failure to elect one male and one female to the committee, a
12vacancy shall be declared to exist in the office of the second
13member of the State central committee from the district. This
14vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the congressional
15committee of the political party, and the person appointed to
16fill the vacancy shall be a resident of the congressional
17district and of the sex opposite that of the committeeman or
18committeewoman elected at the general primary election. Each
19congressional committee shall make this appointment by voting
20on the basis set forth in paragraph (e) of this Section.
21    The Chairman of a State central committee composed as
22provided in this Alternative B must be selected from the
23committee's members.
24    Except as provided for in Alternative A with respect to the
25selection of the Chairman of the State central committee, under
26both of the foregoing alternatives, the State central committee

 

 

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1of each political party shall be composed of members elected or
2appointed from the several congressional districts of the
3State, and of no other person or persons whomsoever. The
4members of the State central committee shall, within 41 days
5after each quadrennial election of the full committee, meet in
6the city of Springfield and organize by electing a chairman,
7and may at such time elect such officers from among their own
8number (or otherwise), as they may deem necessary or expedient.
9The outgoing chairman of the State central committee of the
10party shall, 10 days before the meeting, notify each member of
11the State central committee elected at the primary of the time
12and place of such meeting. In the organization and proceedings
13of the State central committee, each State central committeeman
14and State central committeewoman shall have one vote for each
15ballot voted in his or her congressional district by the
16primary electors of his or her party at the primary election
17immediately preceding the meeting of the State central
18committee. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the State central
19committee of any political party, the vacancy shall be filled
20by appointment of the chairmen of the county central committees
21of the political party of the counties located within the
22congressional district in which the vacancy occurs and, if
23applicable, the ward and township committeemen of the political
24party in counties of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants located
25within the congressional district. If the congressional
26district in which the vacancy occurs lies wholly within a

 

 

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1county of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, the ward and township
2committeemen of the political party in that congressional
3district shall vote to fill the vacancy. In voting to fill the
4vacancy, each chairman of a county central committee and each
5ward and township committeeman in counties of 2,000,000 or more
6inhabitants shall have one vote for each ballot voted in each
7precinct of the congressional district in which the vacancy
8exists of his or her county, township, or ward cast by the
9primary electors of his or her party at the primary election
10immediately preceding the meeting to fill the vacancy in the
11State central committee. The person appointed to fill the
12vacancy shall be a resident of the congressional district in
13which the vacancy occurs, shall be a qualified voter, and, in a
14committee composed as provided in Alternative B, shall be of
15the same sex as his or her predecessor. A political party may,
16by a majority vote of the delegates of any State convention of
17such party, determine to return to the election of State
18central committeeman and State central committeewoman by the
19vote of primary electors. Any action taken by a political party
20at a State convention in accordance with this Section shall be
21reported to the State Board of Elections by the chairman and
22secretary of such convention within 10 days after such action.
23
Ward, Township and Precinct Committeemen
24    (b) At the primary in 2012 1972 and at the general primary
25election every 4 years thereafter, each primary elector in
26cities having a population of 250,000 200,000 or over may vote

 

 

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1for one candidate of his or her party in his or her ward for
2ward committeeman. Each candidate for ward committeeman must be
3a resident of and in the ward where he seeks to be elected ward
4committeeman. The one having the highest number of votes shall
5be such ward committeeman of such party for such ward. At the
6primary election in 2014 1970 and at the general primary
7election every 4 years thereafter, each primary elector in
8counties containing a population of 2,000,000 or more, outside
9of cities containing a population of 250,000 200,000 or more,
10may vote for one candidate of his party for township
11committeeman. Each candidate for township committeeman must be
12a resident of and in the township or part of a township (which
13lies outside of a city having a population of 250,000 200,000
14or more, in counties containing a population of 2,000,000 or
15more), and in which township or part of a township he seeks to
16be elected township committeeman. The one having the highest
17number of votes shall be such township committeeman of such
18party for such township or part of a township. At the primary
19in 1970 and at the general primary election every 2 years
20thereafter, each primary elector, except in counties having a
21population of 2,000,000 or over, may vote for one candidate of
22his party in his precinct for precinct committeeman. Each
23candidate for precinct committeeman must be a bona fide
24resident of the precinct where he seeks to be elected precinct
25committeeman. The one having the highest number of votes shall
26be such precinct committeeman of such party for such precinct.

 

 

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1The official returns of the primary shall show the name of the
2committeeman of each political party.
3    Terms of Committeemen. All precinct committeemen elected
4under the provisions of this Article shall continue as such
5committeemen until the date of the primary to be held in the
6second year after their election. Except as otherwise provided
7in this Section for certain State central committeemen who have
82 year terms, all State central committeemen, township
9committeemen and ward committeemen shall continue as such
10committeemen until the date of primary to be held in the fourth
11year after their election. However, a vacancy exists in the
12office of precinct committeeman when a precinct committeeman
13ceases to reside in the precinct in which he was elected and
14such precinct committeeman shall thereafter neither have nor
15exercise any rights, powers or duties as committeeman in that
16precinct, even if a successor has not been elected or
17appointed.
18    (c) The Multi-Township Central Committee shall consist of
19the precinct committeemen of such party, in the multi-township
20assessing district formed pursuant to Section 2-10 of the
21Property Tax Code and shall be organized for the purposes set
22forth in Section 45-25 of the Township Code. In the
23organization and proceedings of the Multi-Township Central
24Committee each precinct committeeman shall have one vote for
25each ballot voted in his precinct by the primary electors of
26his party at the primary at which he was elected.

 

 

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1
County Central Committee
2    (d) The county central committee of each political party in
3each county shall consist of the various township committeemen,
4precinct committeemen and ward committeemen, if any, of such
5party in the county. In the organization and proceedings of the
6county central committee, each precinct committeeman shall
7have one vote for each ballot voted in his precinct by the
8primary electors of his party at the primary at which he was
9elected; each township committeeman shall have one vote for
10each ballot voted in his township or part of a township as the
11case may be by the primary electors of his party at the primary
12election for the nomination of candidates for election to the
13General Assembly immediately preceding the meeting of the
14county central committee; and in the organization and
15proceedings of the county central committee, each ward
16committeeman shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his
17ward by the primary electors of his party at the primary
18election for the nomination of candidates for election to the
19General Assembly immediately preceding the meeting of the
20county central committee.
21
Cook County Board of Review Election District Committee
22    (d-1) Each board of review election district committee of
23each political party in Cook County shall consist of the
24various township committeemen and ward committeemen, if any, of
25that party in the portions of the county composing the board of
26review election district. In the organization and proceedings

 

 

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1of each of the 3 election district committees, each township
2committeeman shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his
3or her township or part of a township, as the case may be, by
4the primary electors of his or her party at the primary
5election immediately preceding the meeting of the board of
6review election district committee; and in the organization and
7proceedings of each of the 3 election district committees, each
8ward committeeman shall have one vote for each ballot voted in
9his or her ward or part of that ward, as the case may be, by the
10primary electors of his or her party at the primary election
11immediately preceding the meeting of the board of review
12election district committee.
13
Congressional Committee
14    (e) The congressional committee of each party in each
15congressional district shall be composed of the chairmen of the
16county central committees of the counties composing the
17congressional district, except that in congressional districts
18wholly within the territorial limits of one county, the
19precinct committeemen, township committeemen and ward
20committeemen, if any, of the party representing the precincts
21within the limits of the congressional district, shall compose
22the congressional committee. A State central committeeman in
23each district shall be a member and the chairman or, when a
24district has 2 State central committeemen, a co-chairman of the
25congressional committee, but shall not have the right to vote
26except in case of a tie.

 

 

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1    In the organization and proceedings of congressional
2committees composed of precinct committeemen or township
3committeemen or ward committeemen, or any combination thereof,
4each precinct committeeman shall have one vote for each ballot
5voted in his precinct by the primary electors of his party at
6the primary at which he was elected, each township committeeman
7shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his township or
8part of a township as the case may be by the primary electors
9of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the
10meeting of the congressional committee, and each ward
11committeeman shall have one vote for each ballot voted in each
12precinct of his ward located in such congressional district by
13the primary electors of his party at the primary election
14immediately preceding the meeting of the congressional
15committee; and in the organization and proceedings of
16congressional committees composed of the chairmen of the county
17central committees of the counties within such district, each
18chairman of such county central committee shall have one vote
19for each ballot voted in his county by the primary electors of
20his party at the primary election immediately preceding the
21meeting of the congressional committee.
22
Judicial District Committee
23    (f) The judicial district committee of each political party
24in each judicial district shall be composed of the chairman of
25the county central committees of the counties composing the
26judicial district.

 

 

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1    In the organization and proceedings of judicial district
2committees composed of the chairmen of the county central
3committees of the counties within such district, each chairman
4of such county central committee shall have one vote for each
5ballot voted in his county by the primary electors of his party
6at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of
7the judicial district committee.
8
Circuit Court Committee
9    (g) The circuit court committee of each political party in
10each judicial circuit outside Cook County shall be composed of
11the chairmen of the county central committees of the counties
12composing the judicial circuit.
13    In the organization and proceedings of circuit court
14committees, each chairman of a county central committee shall
15have one vote for each ballot voted in his county by the
16primary electors of his party at the primary election
17immediately preceding the meeting of the circuit court
18committee.
19
Judicial Subcircuit Committee
20    (g-1) The judicial subcircuit committee of each political
21party in each judicial subcircuit in a judicial circuit divided
22into subcircuits shall be composed of (i) the ward and township
23committeemen of the townships and wards composing the judicial
24subcircuit in Cook County and (ii) the precinct committeemen of
25the precincts composing the judicial subcircuit in any county
26other than Cook County.

 

 

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1    In the organization and proceedings of each judicial
2subcircuit committee, each township committeeman shall have
3one vote for each ballot voted in his township or part of a
4township, as the case may be, in the judicial subcircuit by the
5primary electors of his party at the primary election
6immediately preceding the meeting of the judicial subcircuit
7committee; each precinct committeeman shall have one vote for
8each ballot voted in his precinct or part of a precinct, as the
9case may be, in the judicial subcircuit by the primary electors
10of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the
11meeting of the judicial subcircuit committee; and each ward
12committeeman shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his
13ward or part of a ward, as the case may be, in the judicial
14subcircuit by the primary electors of his party at the primary
15election immediately preceding the meeting of the judicial
16subcircuit committee.
17
Municipal Central Committee
18    (h) The municipal central committee of each political party
19shall be composed of the precinct, township or ward
20committeemen, as the case may be, of such party representing
21the precincts or wards, embraced in such city, incorporated
22town or village. The voting strength of each precinct, township
23or ward committeeman on the municipal central committee shall
24be the same as his voting strength on the county central
25committee.
26    For political parties, other than a statewide political

 

 

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1party, established only within a municipality or township, the
2municipal or township managing committee shall be composed of
3the party officers of the local established party. The party
4officers of a local established party shall be as follows: the
5chairman and secretary of the caucus for those municipalities
6and townships authorized by statute to nominate candidates by
7caucus shall serve as party officers for the purpose of filling
8vacancies in nomination under Section 7-61; for municipalities
9and townships authorized by statute or ordinance to nominate
10candidates by petition and primary election, the party officers
11shall be the party's candidates who are nominated at the
12primary. If no party primary was held because of the provisions
13of Section 7-5, vacancies in nomination shall be filled by the
14party's remaining candidates who shall serve as the party's
15officers.
16
Powers
17    (i) Each committee and its officers shall have the powers
18usually exercised by such committees and by the officers
19thereof, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article.
20The several committees herein provided for shall not have power
21to delegate any of their powers, or functions to any other
22person, officer or committee, but this shall not be construed
23to prevent a committee from appointing from its own membership
24proper and necessary subcommittees.
25    (j) The State central committee of a political party which
26elects it members by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of this

 

 

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1Section shall adopt a plan to give effect to the delegate
2selection rules of the national political party and file a copy
3of such plan with the State Board of Elections when approved by
4a national political party.
5    (k) For the purpose of the designation of a proxy by a
6Congressional Committee to vote in place of an absent State
7central committeeman or committeewoman at meetings of the State
8central committee of a political party which elects its members
9by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of this Section, the proxy
10shall be appointed by the vote of the ward and township
11committeemen, if any, of the wards and townships which lie
12entirely or partially within the Congressional District from
13which the absent State central committeeman or committeewoman
14was elected and the vote of the chairmen of the county central
15committees of those counties which lie entirely or partially
16within that Congressional District and in which there are no
17ward or township committeemen. When voting for such proxy the
18county chairman, ward committeeman or township committeeman,
19as the case may be shall have one vote for each ballot voted in
20his county, ward or township, or portion thereof within the
21Congressional District, by the primary electors of his party at
22the primary at which he was elected. However, the absent State
23central committeeman or committeewoman may designate a proxy
24when permitted by the rules of a political party which elects
25its members by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of this
26Section.

 

 

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1    Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a person is
2ineligible to hold the position of committeeperson in any
3committee established pursuant to this Section if he or she is
4statutorily ineligible to vote in a general election because of
5conviction of a felony. When a committeeperson is convicted of
6a felony, the position occupied by that committeeperson shall
7automatically become vacant.
8(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 95-6, eff. 6-20-07; 95-699,
9eff. 11-9-07.)
 
10    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
11becoming law.