HB3043 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 10883 HLH 51407 b

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.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning voter's guides.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 12A-2 and 12A-10 and by adding Section 12A-30 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/12A-2)

Sec. 12A-2. Definitions. As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Board" means the State Board of Elections.

"Internet Guide" refers to information disseminated by the State Board of Elections on a website, pursuant to Section 12A-5.

"Local election authority" means a county clerk or board of election commissioners.

"Local ballot insert" refers to information disseminated by the State Board of Elections through the Internet guide pursuant to Section 12A-30.

"Public question" or "question" means any question, proposition, or referendum submitted to the voters under Article 28 of this Code.

"Statewide candidate" means any candidate who runs for a statewide office, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Comptroller, United States President, or United States Senator.

"Voters' guide" means any information disseminated by the State Board of Elections pursuant to Section 12A-5.

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

(10 ILCS 5/12A-30 new)

Sec. 12A-30. Local ballot inserts.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Board may choose to enter into intergovernmental agreements with local election authorities to include local ballot inserts with the voter's guide, which may be accessed through the Illinois State Board of Election's voter's guide search engine by voters who provide their zip code.

(b) Local ballot inserts qualifying for inclusion with the voter's guide must include the following information:

(1) The names and party affiliations of qualified candidates for United States Representative, Illinois Appellate Court Judge, State Senator, and State Representative.

(2) The names and party affiliations of qualified candidates for other offices on the ballot, at the discretion of the local election authority.

(3) Personal statements of candidates named in the guide, submitted in accordance with subsection (c).

(4) The location of polling places. This list may indicate which polling places are handicapped accessible.

(5) The rights of handicapped voters in non-accessible polling places.

(6) A change of address form for electors who have moved within the boundaries of the jurisdiction of the local election authority.

(7) A judge of elections application.

(8) How an elector can qualify for and obtain an absentee ballot.

(9) A description of the type of voting equipment used by the local election authority and the instructions for using that equipment.

(10) Information on early and absentee voting.

(11) Other information at the Board's discretion.

(c) The Board may set standards for including candidate statements and photographs in the local ballot insert, provided that:

(1) The standards are substantially similar to the standards for inclusion in the voter's guide.

(2) No candidate may appear in a local ballot insert if he or she declines to submit a statement to the voter's guide.

(d) The Board may allow a local election authority to submit different inserts for different portions of its jurisdiction, provided that:

(1) Every part of the jurisdiction receives information about the same offices on the ballot.

(2) The division follows a rational basis related to the work of the local election authority, such as dividing the jurisdiction along congressional district lines.

(3) The division serves to tailor the information included to the individual ballots of voters in different parts of the jurisdiction.

(e) The Board may specify the style, format, and design of the local insert to ensure uniformity with the voter's guide.