97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB3043

 

Introduced 2/23/2011, by Rep. Daniel Biss

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/12A-2
10 ILCS 5/12A-30 new

    Amends the Election Code. Defines "local ballot insert". Authorizes local election authorities to produce or to arrange with the Board for production of local inserts into the guide to contain information on local candidates, questions, and voting. Permits candidates to submit photographs and personal statements for inclusion in the guide.


LRB097 10883 HLH 51407 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3043LRB097 10883 HLH 51407 b

1    AN ACT concerning voter's guides.
 
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 12A-2 and 12A-10 and by adding Section 12A-30 as
6follows:
 
7    (10 ILCS 5/12A-2)
8    Sec. 12A-2. Definitions. As used in this Article, unless
9the context otherwise requires:
10    "Board" means the State Board of Elections.
11    "Internet Guide" refers to information disseminated by the
12State Board of Elections on a website, pursuant to Section
1312A-5.
14    "Local election authority" means a county clerk or board of
15election commissioners.
16    "Local ballot insert" refers to information disseminated
17by the State Board of Elections through the Internet guide
18pursuant to Section 12A-30.
19    "Public question" or "question" means any question,
20proposition, or referendum submitted to the voters under
21Article 28 of this Code.
22    "Statewide candidate" means any candidate who runs for a
23statewide office, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor,

 

 

HB3043- 2 -LRB097 10883 HLH 51407 b

1Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Comptroller,
2United States President, or United States Senator.
3    "Voters' guide" means any information disseminated by the
4State Board of Elections pursuant to Section 12A-5.
5(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/12A-30 new)
7    Sec. 12A-30. Local ballot inserts.
8    (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the
9Board may choose to enter into intergovernmental agreements
10with local election authorities to include local ballot inserts
11with the voter's guide, which may be accessed through the
12Illinois State Board of Election's voter's guide search engine
13by voters who provide their zip code.
14    (b) Local ballot inserts qualifying for inclusion with the
15voter's guide must include the following information:
16        (1) The names and party affiliations of qualified
17    candidates for United States Representative, Illinois
18    Appellate Court Judge, State Senator, and State
19    Representative.
20        (2) The names and party affiliations of qualified
21    candidates for other offices on the ballot, at the
22    discretion of the local election authority.
23        (3) Personal statements of candidates named in the
24    guide, submitted in accordance with subsection (c).
25        (4) The location of polling places. This list may

 

 

HB3043- 3 -LRB097 10883 HLH 51407 b

1    indicate which polling places are handicapped accessible.
2        (5) The rights of handicapped voters in non-accessible
3    polling places.
4        (6) A change of address form for electors who have
5    moved within the boundaries of the jurisdiction of the
6    local election authority.
7        (7) A judge of elections application.
8        (8) How an elector can qualify for and obtain an
9    absentee ballot.
10        (9) A description of the type of voting equipment used
11    by the local election authority and the instructions for
12    using that equipment.
13        (10) Information on early and absentee voting.
14        (11) Other information at the Board's discretion.
15    (c) The Board may set standards for including candidate
16statements and photographs in the local ballot insert, provided
17that:
18        (1) The standards are substantially similar to the
19    standards for inclusion in the voter's guide.
20        (2) No candidate may appear in a local ballot insert if
21    he or she declines to submit a statement to the voter's
22    guide.
23    (d) The Board may allow a local election authority to
24submit different inserts for different portions of its
25jurisdiction, provided that:
26        (1) Every part of the jurisdiction receives

 

 

HB3043- 4 -LRB097 10883 HLH 51407 b

1    information about the same offices on the ballot.
2        (2) The division follows a rational basis related to
3    the work of the local election authority, such as dividing
4    the jurisdiction along congressional district lines.
5        (3) The division serves to tailor the information
6    included to the individual ballots of voters in different
7    parts of the jurisdiction.
8    (e) The Board may specify the style, format, and design of
9the local insert to ensure uniformity with the voter's guide.