10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/6A-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 6A-2)

Sec. 6A-2. Submission to voters.

(a) Whenever registered voters in a county described in subsection (a) of Section 6A-1, numbering at least 1,000 or 1/8 of the number voting at the last preceding general election in the county, whichever is less, petition the circuit court to submit to the electors of the county a proposition to establish a county board of election commissioners, the circuit court shall cause such proposition to be submitted to the electors of the county at the next succeeding general election.

(b) If the county board of a county described in subsection (c) of Section 6A-1 passes an ordinance or resolution establishing a county board of election commissioners, then the proposition to establish a county board of election commissioners shall be submitted to the electors of that county at the next possible general election. The board shall certify the ordinance or resolution and the proposition to the proper election officials who shall submit the proposition at the next general election in accordance with the general election law.

(c) The proposition shall be submitted in the same manner as provided in Article 6 for the adoption of Articles 6, 14 and 18 by cities, villages and incorporated towns, except that the question shall be stated: "Shall a board of election commissioners be established for .... County?"

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/6A-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 6A-3)

Sec. 6A-3. Commissioners; filling vacancies.

(a) If the county board adopts an ordinance providing for the establishment of a county board of election commissioners, or if a majority of the votes cast on a proposition submitted in accordance with Section 6A-2(a) are in favor of a county board of election commissioners, a county board of election commissioners shall be appointed in the same manner as is provided in Article 6 for boards of election commissioners in cities, villages and incorporated towns, except that the county board of election commissioners shall be appointed by the chair of the county board rather than the circuit court. However, before any appointments are made, the appointing authority shall ascertain whether the county clerk desires to be a member of the county board of election commissioners. If the county clerk so desires, he shall be one of the members of the county board of election commissioners, and the appointing authority shall appoint only 2 other members.

(b) For any county board of election commissioners established under subsection (b) of Section 6A-1, within 30 days after July 29, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-115), the chief judge of the circuit court of the county shall appoint 5 commissioners. At least 4 of those commissioners shall be selected from the 2 major established political parties of the State, with at least 2 from each of those parties. Such appointment shall be entered of record in the office of the County Clerk and the State Board of Elections. Those first appointed shall hold their offices for the period of one, 2, and 3 years respectively, and the judge appointing them shall designate the term for which each commissioner shall hold his or her office, whether for one, 2 or 3 years except that no more than one commissioner from each major established political party may be designated the same term. After the initial term, each commissioner or his or her successor shall be appointed to a 3-year term. No elected official or former elected official who has been out of elected office for less than 2 years may be appointed to the board. Vacancies shall be filled by the chief judge of the circuit court within 30 days of the vacancy in a manner that maintains the foregoing political party representation.

(c) For any county board of election commissioners established under subsection (c) of Section 6A-1, within 30 days after the conclusion of the election at which the proposition to establish a county board of election commissioners is approved by the voters, the municipal board shall apply to the circuit court of the county for the chief judge of the circuit court to appoint 2 additional commissioners, one of whom shall be from each major established political party and neither of whom shall reside within the limits of the municipal board, so that 3 commissioners shall reside within the limits of the municipal board and 2 shall reside within the county but not within the municipality, as it may exist from time to time. Not more than 3 of the commissioners shall be members of the same major established political party. Vacancies shall be filled by the chief judge of the circuit court upon application of the remaining commissioners in a manner that maintains the foregoing geographical and political party representation.

(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/6A-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 6A-4)

Sec. 6A-4. Transfer of records. Upon the opening of an office of a county board of election commissioners, the county clerk and any municipal board of election commissioners in the county shall turn over to such county board all registry books, registration record cards, poll books, tally sheets and ballot boxes and all other books, forms, blanks and stationery of every description in the clerk's or municipal board's possession in any way relating to elections or the holding of elections in the county and any unused appropriations related to elections or the holding of elections in the county. Thereupon, all functions, powers and duties of the county clerk, the county board, or the municipal board relating to elections in that county are transferred to the county board of election commissioners.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/6A-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 6A-5)

Sec. 6A-5. The provisions of Articles 6, 14 and 18 of this Act relating to boards of election commissioners in cities, villages and incorporated towns shall, insofar as they can be made applicable, apply to and govern county boards of election commissioners established pursuant to this Article. A deputy registrar serving as such by virtue of his status as a municipal clerk, or a duly authorized deputy of a municipal clerk, of a municipality the territory of which lies in more than one county, where one such county is governed by a county board of election commissioners established pursuant to this Article, may accept the registration of any qualified resident of the municipality, regardless of which county the resident, municipal clerk or the duly authorized deputy of the municipal clerk lives in. However, the county board, in fixing the compensation of the members of the county board of election commissioners and of the executive director and assistant executive director, is not subject to the limitations of Section 6-70 and may provide for either an annual salary or a per diem compensation.

(Source: P.A. 85-958.)

(10 ILCS 5/6A-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 6A-6)

Sec. 6A-6. Any references in this Act to the county clerk or the county board with respect to the registration of voters, filing of petitions, certification of candidates, preparation of ballots, establishment of election precincts, designation of polling places, or any other matter pertaining to the conduct of elections, shall, as applied to any county having a county board of election commissioners, be construed as referring to the county board of election commissioners.

(Source: P.A. 78-465.)

(10 ILCS 5/6A-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 6A-7)

Sec. 6A-7. Dissolution.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), any county which has established a board of election commissioners may subsequently vote to dissolve such board in the same manner as provided in Article 6 for cities, villages, and incorporated towns, except that the petition to the circuit court to submit to the vote of the electors of the county the proposition to dissolve the board of election commissioners shall be signed by at least 10% of the registered voters of the county.

(b) A county board in a county that has established a county board of election commissioners in accordance with subsection (a) of Section 6A-1 of this Code may, by ordinance or resolution, dissolve the county board of election commissioners and transfer its functions to the county clerk.

(Source: P.A. 100-628, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 7 heading) ARTICLE 7. THE MAKING OF NOMINATIONS BY POLITICAL PARTIES

(10 ILCS 5/7-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-1)

Sec. 7-1. Application of Article.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, the nomination of all candidates for all elective State, congressional, judicial, and county officers, State's Attorneys (whether elected from a single county or from more than one county), city, village, and incorporated town and municipal officers, trustees of sanitary districts, township officers in townships of over 5,000 population coextensive with or included wholly within cities or villages not under the commission form of government, precinct, township, ward, and State central committeepersons, and delegates and alternate delegates to national nominating conventions by all political parties, as defined in Section 7-2 of this Article 7, shall be made in the manner provided in this Article 7 and not otherwise. The nomination of candidates for electors of President and Vice President of the United States shall be made only in the manner provided for in Section 7-9 of this Article.

(b) This Article 7 shall not apply to (i) the nomination of candidates for school elections and township elections, except in those townships specifically mentioned in subsection (a) and except in those cases in which a township central committee determines under Section 6A-2 of the Township Law of 1874 or Section 45-55 of the Township Code that its candidates for township offices shall be nominated by primary in accordance with this Article, (ii) the nomination of park commissioners in park districts organized under the Park District Code, (iii) the nomination of officers of cities and villages organized under special charters, or (iv) the nomination of municipal officers for cities, villages, and incorporated towns with a population of 5,000 or less, except where a city, village, or incorporated town with a population of 5,000 or less has by ordinance determined that political parties shall nominate candidates for municipal office in the city, village, or incorporated town by primary in accordance with this Article. In that event, the municipal clerk shall certify the ordinance to the proper election officials no later than November 15 in the year preceding the consolidated primary election.

(c) The words "township officers" or "township offices" shall be construed, when used in this Article, to include supervisors.

(d) As provided in Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-60 of the Illinois Municipal Code, a village may adopt a system of nonpartisan primary and general elections for the election of village officers.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-2)

Sec. 7-2. A political party, which at the general election for State and county officers then next preceding a primary, polled more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in the State, is hereby declared to be a political party within the State, and shall nominate all candidates provided for in this Article 7 under the provisions hereof, and shall elect precinct, township, ward, and State central committeepersons as herein provided.

A political party, which at the general election for State and county officers then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast within any congressional district, is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within such congressional district, and shall nominate its candidate for Representative in Congress, under the provisions hereof. A political party, which at the general election for State and county officers then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in any county, is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within said county, and shall nominate all county officers in said county under the provisions hereof, and shall elect precinct, township, and ward committeepersons, as herein provided.

A political party, which at the municipal election for city, village, or incorporated town officers then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in any city, village, or incorporated town is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within said city, village, or incorporated town, and shall nominate all city, village, or incorporated town officers in said city, village, or incorporated town under the provisions hereof to the extent and in the cases provided in Section 7-1.

A political party, which at the municipal election for town officers then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in said town, is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within said town, and shall nominate all town officers in said town under the provisions hereof to the extent and in the cases provided in Section 7-1.

A political party, which at the municipal election in any other municipality or political subdivision, (except townships and school districts), for municipal or other officers therein then next preceding a primary, cast more than 5 per cent of the entire vote cast in such municipality or political subdivision, is hereby declared to be a political party within the meaning of this Article, within said municipality or political subdivision, and shall nominate all municipal or other officers therein under the provisions hereof to the extent and in the cases provided in Section 7-1.

Provided, that no political organization or group shall be qualified as a political party hereunder, or given a place on a ballot, which organization or group is associated, directly or indirectly, with Communist, Fascist, Nazi, or other un-American principles and engages in activities or propaganda designed to teach subservience to the political principles and ideals of foreign nations or the overthrow by violence of the established constitutional form of government of the United States and the State of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-3)

Sec. 7-3. In determining the total vote of a political party, whenever required by this Article 7, the test shall be the total vote cast by such political party for its candidate who received the greatest number of votes; provided however, that in applying this section to the vote cast for any candidate for an office for which cumulative voting is permitted, the total vote cast for such candidate shall be divided by that number which equals the greatest number of votes that could lawfully be cast for such candidate by one elector.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-4)

Sec. 7-4. The following words and phrases in this Article 7 shall, unless the same be inconsistent with the context, be construed as follows:

1. The word "primary", the primary elections provided for in this Article, which are the general primary, the consolidated primary, and for those municipalities which have annual partisan elections for any officer, the municipal primary held 6 weeks prior to the general primary election date in even numbered years.

2. The definitions of terms in Section 1-3 of this Code shall apply to this Article.

3. The word "precinct", a voting district heretofore or hereafter established by law within which all qualified electors vote at one polling place.

4. The words "state office" or "state officer", an office to be filled, or an officer to be voted for, by qualified electors of the entire state, including United States Senator and Congressperson at large.

5. The words "congressional office" or "congressional officer", representatives in Congress.

6. The words "county office" or "county officer," include an office to be filled or an officer to be voted for, by the qualified electors of the entire county. "County office" or "county officer" also include the assessor and board of appeals and county commissioners and president of county board of Cook County, and county board members and the chair of the county board in counties subject to Division 2-3 of the Counties Code.

7. The words "city office" and "village office," and "incorporated town office" or "city officer" and "village officer", and "incorporated town officer", an office to be filled or an officer to be voted for by the qualified electors of the entire municipality, including alderpersons.

8. The words "town office" or "town officer", an office to be filled or an officer to be voted for by the qualified electors of an entire town.

9. The words "town" and "incorporated town" shall respectively be defined as in Section 1-3 of this Code.

10. The words "delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions" include all delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions whether they be elected from the state at large or from congressional districts or selected by State convention unless contrary and non-inclusive language specifically limits the term to one class.

11. "Judicial office" means a post held by a judge of the Supreme, Appellate, or Circuit Court.

"State Central Committeeperson" includes "committeeman" or "committeewoman" for those persons elected or appointed under State Central Committee Alternative B under Section 7-8.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-687, eff. 12-17-21; 102-692, eff. 1-7-22.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-5)

Sec. 7-5. (a) Primary elections shall be held on the dates prescribed in Article 2A.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no primary shall be held for an established political party in any township, municipality, or ward thereof, where the nomination of such party for every office to be voted upon by the electors of such township, municipality, or ward thereof, is uncontested. Whenever a political party's nomination of candidates is uncontested as to one or more, but not all, of the offices to be voted upon by the electors of a township, municipality, or ward thereof, then a primary shall be held for that party in such township, municipality, or ward thereof; provided that the primary ballot shall not include those offices within such township, municipality, or ward thereof, for which the nomination is uncontested. For purposes of this Article, the nomination of an established political party of a candidate for election to an office shall be deemed to be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the nomination of such party for election to such office.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no primary election shall be held for an established political party for any special primary election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress where the nomination of such political party for said office is uncontested. For the purposes of this Article, the nomination of an established political party of a candidate for election to said office shall be deemed to be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the nomination of such established party for election to said office. This subsection (c) shall not apply if such primary election is conducted on a regularly scheduled election day.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions in subsection (b) and (c) of this Section whenever a person who has not timely filed valid nomination papers and who intends to become a write-in candidate for a political party's nomination for any office for which the nomination is uncontested files a written statement or notice of that intent with the State Board of Elections or the local election official with whom nomination papers for such office are filed, a primary ballot shall be prepared and a primary shall be held for that office. Such statement or notice shall be filed on or before the date established in this Article for certifying candidates for the primary ballot. Such statement or notice shall contain (i) the name and address of the person intending to become a write-in candidate, (ii) a statement that the person is a qualified primary elector of the political party from whom the nomination is sought, (iii) a statement that the person intends to become a write-in candidate for the party's nomination, and (iv) the office the person is seeking as a write-in candidate. An election authority shall have no duty to conduct a primary and prepare a primary ballot for any office for which the nomination is uncontested, unless a statement or notice meeting the requirements of this Section is filed in a timely manner.

(e) The polls shall be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-6)

Sec. 7-6. The expense of conducting each primary, including the per diem of judges, furnishing, warming, lighting and maintaining the polling place, and all other expenses necessarily incurred in the preparation for or conducting such primary shall be paid in the same manner, and by the same authorities or officers as provided in Sections 17-30 through 17-32 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-7)

Sec. 7-7. For the purpose of making nominations in certain instances as provided in this Article and this Act, the following committees are authorized and shall constitute the central or managing committees of each political party, viz: A State central committee, whose responsibilities include, but are not limited to, filling by appointment vacancies in nomination for statewide offices, including but not limited to the office of United States Senator, a congressional committee for each congressional district, a county central committee for each county, a municipal central committee for each city, incorporated town or village, a ward committeeperson for each ward in cities containing a population of 500,000 or more; a township committeeperson for each township or part of a township that lies outside of cities having a population of 200,000 or more, in counties having a population of 2,000,000 or more; a precinct committeeperson for each precinct in counties having a population of less than 2,000,000; a county board district committee for each county board district created under Division 2-3 of the Counties Code; a State's Attorney committee for each group of 2 or more counties which jointly elect a State's Attorney; a Superintendent of Multi-County Educational Service Region committee for each group of 2 or more counties which jointly elect a Superintendent of a Multi-County Educational Service Region; a judicial subcircuit committee in a judicial circuit divided into subcircuits for each judicial subcircuit in that circuit; and a board of review election district committee for each Cook County Board of Review election district.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-8)

Sec. 7-8. The State central committee shall be composed of one or two members from each congressional district in the State and shall be elected as follows: State Central Committee (a) Within 30 days after January 1, 1984 (the effective date of Public Act 83-33), the State central committee of each political party shall certify to the State Board of Elections which of the following alternatives it wishes to apply to the State central committee of that party.

Alternative A. At the primary in 1970 and at the general primary election held every 4 years thereafter, each primary elector may vote for one candidate of his party for member of the State central committee for the congressional district in which he resides. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected State central committeeperson from the district. A political party may, in lieu of the foregoing, by a majority vote of delegates at any State convention of such party, determine to thereafter elect the State central committeepersons in the manner following:

At the county convention held by such political party, State central committeepersons shall be elected in the same manner as provided in this Article for the election of officers of the county central committee, and such election shall follow the election of officers of the county central committee. Each elected ward, township or precinct committeeperson shall cast as his vote one vote for each ballot voted in his ward, township, part of a township or precinct in the last preceding primary election of his political party. In the case of a county lying partially within one congressional district and partially within another congressional district, each ward, township or precinct committeeperson shall vote only with respect to the congressional district in which his ward, township, part of a township or precinct is located. In the case of a congressional district which encompasses more than one county, each ward, township or precinct committeeperson residing within the congressional district shall cast as his vote one vote for each ballot voted in his ward, township, part of a township or precinct in the last preceding primary election of his political party for one candidate of his party for member of the State central committee for the congressional district in which he resides and the Chair of the county central committee shall report the results of the election to the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall certify the candidate receiving the highest number of votes elected State central committeeperson for that congressional district.

The State central committee shall adopt rules to provide for and govern the procedures to be followed in the election of members of the State central committee.

After August 6, 1999 (the effective date of Public Act 91-426), whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Chair of a State central committee, or at the end of the term of office of Chair, the State central committee of each political party that has selected Alternative A shall elect a Chair who shall not be required to be a member of the State Central Committee. The Chair shall be a registered voter in this State and of the same political party as the State central committee.

Alternative B. Each congressional committee shall, within 30 days after the adoption of this alternative, appoint a person of a different gender than that of the incumbent member for that congressional district to serve as an additional member of the State central committee until the member's successor is elected at the general primary election in 1986. Each congressional committee shall make this appointment by voting on the basis set forth in paragraph (e) of this Section. In each congressional district at the general primary election held in 1986 and every 4 years thereafter, the person receiving the highest number of votes for State central committeeperson, and the person of a different gender receiving the highest number of votes, shall be declared elected State central committeepersons from the district. At the general primary election held in 1986 and every 4 years thereafter, if all a party's candidates for State central committeeperson from a congressional district are of the same gender, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected a State central committeeperson from the district, and, because of a failure to elect 2 persons from different genders to the committee, a vacancy shall be declared to exist in the office of the second member of the State central committee from the district. This vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the congressional committee of the political party, and the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall be a resident of the congressional district and of a different gender than the committeeperson elected at the general primary election. Each congressional committee shall make this appointment by voting on the basis set forth in paragraph (e) of this Section.

The Chair of a State central committee composed as provided in this Alternative B must be selected from the committee's members.

Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, a State central committee organized under Alternative B shall include as an honorary member any person affiliated with the same political party and serving as the Governor, President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Except as provided for in Alternative A with respect to the selection of the Chair of the State central committee and for in Alternative B with respect to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, under both of the foregoing alternatives, the State central committee of each political party shall be composed of members elected or appointed from the several congressional districts of the State, and of no other person or persons whomsoever. The members of the State central committee shall, within 41 days after each quadrennial election of the full committee, meet in the city of Springfield and organize by electing a Chair, and may at such time elect such officers from among their own number (or otherwise), as they may deem necessary or expedient. The outgoing chair of the State central committee of the party shall, 10 days before the meeting, notify each member of the State central committee elected at the primary of the time and place of such meeting. In the organization and proceedings of the State central committee, the 2 elected or appointed committeepersons shall each have one vote for each ballot voted in their congressional district by the primary electors of the committeepersons' party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the State central committee. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the State central committee of any political party, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the chairmen of the county central committees of the political party of the counties located within the congressional district in which the vacancy occurs and, if applicable, the ward and township committeepersons of the political party in counties of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants located within the congressional district. If the congressional district in which the vacancy occurs lies wholly within a county of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, the ward and township committeepersons of the political party in that congressional district shall vote to fill the vacancy. In voting to fill the vacancy, each chair of a county central committee and each ward and township committeeperson in counties of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants shall have one vote for each ballot voted in each precinct of the congressional district in which the vacancy exists of the chair's or committeeperson's county, township, or ward cast by the primary electors of the chair's or committeeperson's party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting to fill the vacancy in the State central committee. The person appointed to fill the vacancy shall be a resident of the congressional district in which the vacancy occurs, shall be a qualified voter, and, in a committee composed as provided in Alternative B, shall be of the same gender as the appointee's predecessor. A political party may, by a majority vote of the delegates of any State convention of such party, determine to return to the election of State central committeepersons by the vote of primary electors. Any action taken by a political party at a State convention in accordance with this Section shall be reported to the State Board of Elections by the chair and secretary of such convention within 10 days after such action. Ward, Township and Precinct Committeepersons (b) At the primary in 1972 and at the general primary election every 4 years thereafter, each primary elector in cities having a population of 200,000 or over may vote for one candidate of his party in his ward for ward committeeperson. Each candidate for ward committeeperson must be a resident of and in the ward where he seeks to be elected ward committeeperson. The one having the highest number of votes shall be such ward committeeperson of such party for such ward. At the primary election in 1970 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 200,000 or more, may vote for one candidate of his party for township committeeperson. Each candidate for township committeeperson must be a resident of and in the township or part of a township (which lies outside of a city having a population 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 committeeperson. The one having the highest number of votes shall be such township committeeperson of such party for such township or part of a township. At the primary in 1970 and at the general primary election every 2 years thereafter, each primary elector, except in counties having a population of 2,000,000 or over, may vote for one candidate of his party in his precinct for precinct committeeperson. Each candidate for precinct committeeperson must be a bona fide resident of the precinct where he seeks to be elected precinct committeeperson. The one having the highest number of votes shall be such precinct committeeperson of such party for such precinct. The official returns of the primary shall show the name of the committeeperson of each political party.

Terms of Committeepersons. All precinct committeepersons elected under the provisions of this Article shall continue as such committeepersons until the date of the primary to be held in the second year after their election. Except as otherwise provided in this Section for certain State central committeepersons who have 2 year terms, all State central committeepersons, township committeepersons and ward committeepersons shall continue as such committeepersons until the date of primary to be held in the fourth year after their election. However, a vacancy exists in the office of precinct committeeperson when a precinct committeeperson ceases to reside in the precinct in which he was elected and such precinct committeeperson shall thereafter neither have nor exercise any rights, powers or duties as committeeperson in that precinct, even if a successor has not been elected or appointed.

(c) The Multi-Township Central Committee shall consist of the precinct committeepersons of such party, in the multi-township assessing district formed pursuant to Section 2-10 of the Property Tax Code and shall be organized for the purposes set forth in Section 45-25 of the Township Code. In the organization and proceedings of the Multi-Township Central Committee each precinct committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his precinct by the primary electors of his party at the primary at which he was elected. County Central Committee (d) The county central committee of each political party in each county shall consist of the various township committeepersons, precinct committeepersons and ward committeepersons, if any, of such party in the county. In the organization and proceedings of the county central committee, each precinct committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his precinct by the primary electors of his party at the primary at which he was elected; each township committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his township or part of a township as the case may be by the primary electors of his party at the primary election for the nomination of candidates for election to the General Assembly immediately preceding the meeting of the county central committee; and in the organization and proceedings of the county central committee, each ward committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his ward by the primary electors of his party at the primary election for the nomination of candidates for election to the General Assembly immediately preceding the meeting of the county central committee. Cook County Board of Review Election District Committee (d-1) Each board of review election district committee of each political party in Cook County shall consist of the various township committeepersons and ward committeepersons, if any, of that party in the portions of the county composing the board of review election district. In the organization and proceedings of each of the 3 election district committees, each township committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in the committeeperson's township or part of a township, as the case may be, by the primary electors of the committeeperson's party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the board of review election district committee; and in the organization and proceedings of each of the 3 election district committees, each ward committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in the committeeperson's ward or part of that ward, as the case may be, by the primary electors of the committeeperson's party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the board of review election district committee. Congressional Committee (e) The congressional committee of each party in each congressional district shall be composed of the chairmen of the county central committees of the counties composing the congressional district, except that in congressional districts wholly within the territorial limits of one county, the precinct committeepersons, township committeepersons and ward committeepersons, if any, of the party representing the precincts within the limits of the congressional district, shall compose the congressional committee. A State central committeeperson in each district shall be a member and the chair or, when a district has 2 State central committeepersons, a co-chairperson of the congressional committee, but shall not have the right to vote except in case of a tie.

In the organization and proceedings of congressional committees composed of precinct committeepersons or township committeepersons or ward committeepersons, or any combination thereof, each precinct committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his precinct by the primary electors of his party at the primary at which he was elected, each township committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his township or part of a township as the case may be by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the congressional committee, and each ward committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in each precinct of his ward located in such congressional district by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the congressional committee; and in the organization and proceedings of congressional committees composed of the chairmen of the county central committees of the counties within such district, each chair of such county central committee shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his county by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the congressional committee. Judicial District Committee (f) The judicial district committee of each political party in each judicial district shall be composed of the chair of the county central committees of the counties composing the judicial district.

In the organization and proceedings of judicial district committees composed of the chairmen of the county central committees of the counties within such district, each chair of such county central committee shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his county by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the judicial district committee. Circuit Court Committee (g) The circuit court committee of each political party in each judicial circuit outside Cook County shall be composed of the chairmen of the county central committees of the counties composing the judicial circuit.

In the organization and proceedings of circuit court committees, each chair of a county central committee shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his county by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the circuit court committee. Judicial Subcircuit Committee (g-1) The judicial subcircuit committee of each political party in each judicial subcircuit in a judicial circuit divided into subcircuits shall be composed of (i) the ward and township committeepersons of the townships and wards composing the judicial subcircuit in Cook County and (ii) the precinct committeepersons of the precincts composing the judicial subcircuit in any county other than Cook County.

In the organization and proceedings of each judicial subcircuit committee, each township committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his township or part of a township, as the case may be, in the judicial subcircuit by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the judicial subcircuit committee; each precinct committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his precinct or part of a precinct, as the case may be, in the judicial subcircuit by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the judicial subcircuit committee; and each ward committeeperson shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his ward or part of a ward, as the case may be, in the judicial subcircuit by the primary electors of his party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the judicial subcircuit committee. Municipal Central Committee (h) The municipal central committee of each political party shall be composed of the precinct, township or ward committeepersons, as the case may be, of such party representing the precincts or wards, embraced in such city, incorporated town or village. The voting strength of each precinct, township or ward committeeperson on the municipal central committee shall be the same as his voting strength on the county central committee.

For political parties, other than a statewide political party, established only within a municipality or township, the municipal or township managing committee shall be composed of the party officers of the local established party. The party officers of a local established party shall be as follows: the chair and secretary of the caucus for those municipalities and townships authorized by statute to nominate candidates by caucus shall serve as party officers for the purpose of filling vacancies in nomination under Section 7-61; for municipalities and townships authorized by statute or ordinance to nominate candidates by petition and primary election, the party officers shall be the party's candidates who are nominated at the primary. If no party primary was held because of the provisions of Section 7-5, vacancies in nomination shall be filled by the party's remaining candidates who shall serve as the party's officers. Powers (i) Each committee and its officers shall have the powers usually exercised by such committees and by the officers thereof, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article. The several committees herein provided for shall not have power to delegate any of their powers, or functions to any other person, officer or committee, but this shall not be construed to prevent a committee from appointing from its own membership proper and necessary subcommittees.

(j) The State central committee of a political party which elects its members by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of this Section shall adopt a plan to give effect to the delegate selection rules of the national political party and file a copy of such plan with the State Board of Elections when approved by a national political party.

(k) For the purpose of the designation of a proxy by a Congressional Committee to vote in place of an absent State central committeeperson at meetings of the State central committee of a political party which elects its members by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of this Section, the proxy shall be appointed by the vote of the ward and township committeepersons, if any, of the wards and townships which lie entirely or partially within the Congressional District from which the absent State central committeeperson was elected and the vote of the chairmen of the county central committees of those counties which lie entirely or partially within that Congressional District and in which there are no ward or township committeepersons. When voting for such proxy, the county chair, ward committeeperson or township committeeperson, as the case may be, shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his county, ward or township, or portion thereof within the Congressional District, by the primary electors of his party at the primary at which he was elected. However, the absent State central committeeperson may designate a proxy when permitted by the rules of a political party which elects its members by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of this Section.

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a person is ineligible to hold the position of committeeperson in any committee established pursuant to this Section if he or she is statutorily ineligible to vote in a general election because of conviction of a felony. When a committeeperson is convicted of a felony, the position occupied by that committeeperson shall automatically become vacant.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 7-1-23; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-8.01) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-8.01)

Sec. 7-8.01. The county board district committee of each political party in each county board district created pursuant to "An Act relating to the composition and election of county boards in certain counties", enacted by the 76th General Assembly, shall consist of the precinct committeepersons of the precincts included in the county board district.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-8.02) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-8.02)

Sec. 7-8.02. The State's Attorney committee for each group of counties which jointly elect a State's Attorney and the Superintendent of Multi-County Educational Service Region committee for each group of counties which jointly elect a Superintendent of a Multi-County Educational Service Region shall consist of the chairmen of the county central committees of the counties composing such group of counties. In the organization and proceedings of a State's Attorney or Superintendent of Multi-County Educational Service Region committee, each chair of a county central committee shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his or her county by the primary electors of his or her party at the last primary of an even-numbered year.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-8.03)

Sec. 7-8.03. State central committees; discrimination and harassment policies. No later than 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, each State central committee of an established statewide political party shall establish and maintain a policy that includes, at a minimum: (i) a prohibition on discrimination and harassment; (ii) details on how an individual can report an allegation of discrimination or harassment; (iii) a prohibition on retaliation for reporting discrimination or harassment allegations; and (iv) the consequences of a violation of the prohibition on sexual harassment and the consequences for knowingly making a false report.

A State central committee, or its appropriate designee, shall notify the Board of the adoption of the required policies.

The requirements of this Section shall not prohibit a political committee from considering political affiliation, as permitted by law and the United States Constitution, when hiring or retaining a person as an employee, consultant, independent contractor, or volunteer.

(Source: P.A. 100-588, eff. 6-8-18.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-9)

Sec. 7-9. County central committee; county and State conventions.

(a) For a State central committee organized under Alternative A, on the 29th day next succeeding the primary at which committeepersons are elected, the county central committee of each political party shall meet within the county and proceed to organize by electing from its own number a chair and either from its own number, or otherwise, such other officers as such committee may deem necessary or expedient. For a State central committee organized under Alternative B, on a date that is not earlier than the 29th day after, nor later than the 50th day after, the date of the primary at which committeepersons are elected, the county central committee of each political party shall meet within the county and proceed to organize by electing from its own number a chair and either from its own number, or otherwise, such other officers as such committee may deem necessary or expedient. Such meeting of the county central committee shall be known as the county convention.

The chair of each county committee shall, within 10 days after the organization, forward to the State Board of Elections, the names and post office addresses of the officers, precinct committeepersons and representative committeepersons elected by his political party.

The county convention of each political party shall choose delegates to the State convention of its party, if the party chooses to hold a State convention; but in any county having within its limits any city having a population of 200,000, or over the delegates from such city shall be chosen by wards, the ward committeepersons from the respective wards choosing the number of delegates to which such ward is entitled on the basis prescribed in paragraph (e) of this Section such delegates to be members of the delegation to the State convention from such county. In all counties containing a population of 2,000,000 or more outside of cities having a population of 200,000 or more, the delegates from each of the townships or parts of townships as the case may be shall be chosen by townships or parts of townships as the case may be, the township committeepersons from the respective townships or parts of townships as the case may be choosing the number of delegates to which such townships or parts of townships as the case may be are entitled, on the basis prescribed in paragraph (e) of this Section such delegates to be members of the delegation to the State convention from such county.

Each member of the State Central Committee of a political party which elects its members by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of Section 7-8 shall be a delegate to the State Convention, if the party chooses to hold a State convention, ex officio.

Each member of the State Central Committee of a political party which elects its members by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of Section 7-8 may appoint 2 delegates to the State Convention, if the party chooses to hold a State convention, who must be residents of the member's Congressional District.

(b) State conventions may be held within 180 days after the general primary in the year 2000 and every 4 years thereafter. In the year 1998, and every 4 years thereafter, the chair of a State central committee may issue a call for a State convention within 180 days after the general primary.

The State convention of each political party, if the party chooses to hold a State convention, has power to make nominations of candidates of its political party for the electors of President and Vice President of the United States, and to adopt any party platform, and, to the extent determined by the State central committee as provided in Section 7-14, to choose and select delegates and alternate delegates at large to national nominating conventions. The State Central Committee may adopt rules to provide for and govern the procedures of the State convention.

(c) The chair and secretary of each State convention, if the party chooses to hold a State convention, shall, within 2 days thereafter, transmit to the State Board of Elections of this State a certificate setting forth the names and addresses of all persons nominated by such State convention for electors of President and Vice President of the United States, and of any persons selected by the State convention for delegates and alternate delegates at large to national nominating conventions; and the names of such candidates so chosen by such State convention for electors of President and Vice President of the United States, shall be caused by the State Board of Elections to be printed upon the official ballot at the general election, in the manner required by law, and shall be certified to the various county clerks of the proper counties in the manner as provided in Section 7-60 of this Article 7 for the certifying of the names of persons nominated by any party for State offices. If and as long as this Act prescribes that the names of such electors be not printed on the ballot, then the names of such electors shall be certified in such manner as may be prescribed by the parts of this Act applicable thereto.

(d) Each convention, if the party chooses to hold a State convention, may perform all other functions inherent to such political organization and not inconsistent with this Article.

(e) At least 33 days before the date of a State convention, if the party chooses to hold a State convention, the chair of the State central committee of each political party shall file in the principal office of the State Board of Elections a call for the State convention. Such call shall state, among other things, the time and place (designating the building or hall) for holding the State convention. Such call shall be signed by the chair and attested by the secretary of the committee. In such convention each county shall be entitled to one delegate for each 500 ballots voted by the primary electors of the party in such county at the primary to be held next after the issuance of such call; and if in such county, less than 500 ballots are so voted or if the number of ballots so voted is not exactly a multiple of 500, there shall be one delegate for such group which is less than 500, or for such group representing the number of votes over the multiple of 500, which delegate shall have 1/500 of one vote for each primary vote so represented by him. The call for such convention shall set forth this paragraph (e) of Section 7-9 in full and shall direct that the number of delegates to be chosen be calculated in compliance herewith and that such number of delegates be chosen.

(f) All precinct, township and ward committeepersons when elected as provided in this Section shall serve as though elected at large irrespective of any changes that may be made in precinct, township or ward boundaries and the voting strength of each committeeperson shall remain as provided in this Section for the entire time for which he is elected.

(g) The officers elected at any convention provided for in this Section shall serve until their successors are elected as provided in this Act.

(h) A special meeting of any central committee may be called by the chair, or by not less than 25% of the members of such committee, by giving 5 days notice to members of such committee in writing designating the time and place at which such special meeting is to be held and the business which it is proposed to present at such special meeting.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, whenever a vacancy exists in the office of precinct committeeperson because no one was elected to that office or because the precinct committeeperson ceases to reside in the precinct or for any other reason, the chair of the county central committee of the appropriate political party may fill the vacancy in such office by appointment of a qualified resident of the county and the appointed precinct committeeperson shall serve as though elected; however, for a State central committee organized under Alternative A, no such appointment may be made between the general primary election and the 30th day after the general primary election and for a State central committee organized under Alternative B, no such appointment may be made between the general primary election and the county convention following the general primary election.

(j) If the number of Congressional Districts in the State of Illinois is reduced as a result of reapportionment of Congressional Districts following a federal decennial census, the State Central Committeemen and Committeewomen of a political party which elects its State Central Committee by either Alternative A or by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of Section 7-8 who were previously elected shall continue to serve as if no reapportionment had occurred until the expiration of their terms.

(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-9.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-9.1)

Sec. 7-9.1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, whenever a vacancy exists in the office of delegate to a State or national nominating convention by reason of death or for any other reason, then the alternate receiving the highest vote shall succeed to the vacated office and exercise all the rights and prerogatives and discharge all the duties of the office. The vacated office of alternate shall be filled by the congressional committee of the district.

(b) Vacancies, whether temporary or permanent, in the office of delegate to the national nominating convention of a political party whose State Central Committee uses Alternative B of Section 7-14.1 shall be filled by alternate delegates in the following order:

1. Alternates from the same District with same Presidential preference;

2. Alternates from other Districts with same Presidential preference;

3. Alternate at-large delegates with same Presidential preference;

4. Alternates from the same District with different Presidential preference;

5. Alternates from other Districts with different Presidential preference;

6. Alternate at-large delegates with different Presidential preference.

Unpledged delegates shall be replaced by unpledged alternates.

Each delegate shall certify in writing the order of his succession of alternates to the chair of the State's delegation.

The delegation shall, as soon as practicable, fill a vacancy in the position of alternate delegate by choosing, in accord with its rules, a person of the same Presidential preference and from the same political subdivision.

The alternate succeeding to the vacated office shall exercise all the rights and prerogatives of the office and discharge all the duties of the office.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-10)

Sec. 7-10. Form of petition for nomination. The name of no candidate for nomination, or State central committeeperson, or township committeeperson, or precinct committeeperson, or ward committeeperson or candidate for delegate or alternate delegate to national nominating conventions, shall be printed upon the primary ballot unless a petition for nomination has been filed in his behalf as provided in this Article in substantially the following form:

We, the undersigned, members of and affiliated with the .... party and qualified primary electors of the .... party, in the .... of ...., in the county of .... and State of Illinois, do hereby petition that the following named person or persons shall be a candidate or candidates of the .... party for the nomination for (or in case of committeepersons for election to) the office or offices hereinafter specified, to be voted for at the primary election to be held on (insert date).

Name.................. Address.......................

State of Illinois)

) ss.

County of........)

I, ...., do hereby certify that I reside at No. .... street, in the .... of ...., county of ...., and State of ....., that I am 18 years of age or older, that I am a citizen of the United States, and that the signatures on this sheet were signed in my presence, and are genuine, and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the persons so signing were at the time of signing the petitions qualified voters of the .... party, and that their respective residences are correctly stated, as above set forth. ......................... Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date). .........................

Each sheet of the petition other than the statement of candidacy and candidate's statement shall be of uniform size and shall contain above the space for signatures an appropriate heading giving the information as to name of candidate or candidates, in whose behalf such petition is signed; the office, the political party represented and place of residence; and the heading of each sheet shall be the same.

Such petition shall be signed by qualified primary electors residing in the political division for which the nomination is sought in their own proper persons only and opposite the signature of each signer, his residence address shall be written or printed. The residence address required to be written or printed opposite each qualified primary elector's name shall include the street address or rural route number of the signer, as the case may be, as well as the signer's county, and city, village or town, and state. However, the county or city, village or town, and state of residence of the electors may be printed on the petition forms where all of the electors signing the petition reside in the same county or city, village or town, and state. Standard abbreviations may be used in writing the residence address, including street number, if any. At the bottom of each sheet of such petition shall be added a circulator statement signed by a person 18 years of age or older who is a citizen of the United States, stating the street address or rural route number, as the case may be, as well as the county, city, village or town, and state; and certifying that the signatures on that sheet of the petition were signed in his or her presence and certifying that the signatures are genuine; and either (1) indicating the dates on which that sheet was circulated, or (2) indicating the first and last dates on which the sheet was circulated, or (3) for elections where the petition circulation period is 90 days, certifying that none of the signatures on the sheet were signed more than 90 days preceding the last day for the filing of the petition, or (4) for the 2022 general primary election only, certify that the signatures on the sheet were signed during the period of January 13, 2022 through March 14, 2022 or certify that the signatures on the sheet were signed during the period of January 13, 2022 through the date on which this statement was sworn or affirmed to and certifying that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the persons so signing were at the time of signing the petitions qualified voters of the political party for which a nomination is sought. Such statement shall be sworn to before some officer authorized to administer oaths in this State.

Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no petition sheet shall be circulated more than 90 days preceding the last day provided in Section 7-12 for the filing of such petition.

The person circulating the petition, or the candidate on whose behalf the petition is circulated, may strike any signature from the petition, provided that:

(1) the person striking the signature shall initial the petition at the place where the signature is struck; and

(2) the person striking the signature shall sign a certification listing the page number and line number of each signature struck from the petition. Such certification shall be filed as a part of the petition.

Such sheets before being filed shall be neatly fastened together in book form, by placing the sheets in a pile and fastening them together at one edge in a secure and suitable manner, and the sheets shall then be numbered consecutively. The sheets shall not be fastened by pasting them together end to end, so as to form a continuous strip or roll. All petition sheets which are filed with the proper local election officials, election authorities or the State Board of Elections shall be the original sheets which have been signed by the voters and by the circulator thereof, and not photocopies or duplicates of such sheets. Each petition must include as a part thereof, a statement of candidacy for each of the candidates filing, or in whose behalf the petition is filed. This statement shall set out the address of such candidate, the office for which he is a candidate, shall state that the candidate is a qualified primary voter of the party to which the petition relates and is qualified for the office specified (in the case of a candidate for State's Attorney it shall state that the candidate is at the time of filing such statement a licensed attorney-at-law of this State), shall state that he has filed (or will file before the close of the petition filing period) a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, shall request that the candidate's name be placed upon the official ballot, and shall be subscribed and sworn to by such candidate before some officer authorized to take acknowledgment of deeds in the State and shall be in substantially the following form: Statement of Candidacy

State of Illinois)

) ss.

County of .......)

I, ...., being first duly sworn, say that I reside at .... Street in the city (or village) of ...., in the county of ...., State of Illinois; that I am a qualified voter therein and am a qualified primary voter of the .... party; that I am a candidate for nomination (for election in the case of committeeperson and delegates and alternate delegates) to the office of .... to be voted upon at the primary election to be held on (insert date); that I am legally qualified (including being the holder of any license that may be an eligibility requirement for the office I seek the nomination for) to hold such office and that I have filed (or I will file before the close of the petition filing period) a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and I hereby request that my name be printed upon the official primary ballot for nomination for (or election to in the case of committeepersons and delegates and alternate delegates) such office. Signed ...................... Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ...., who is to me personally known, on (insert date). Signed .................... (Official Character) (Seal, if officer has one.)

The petitions, when filed, shall not be withdrawn or added to, and no signatures shall be revoked except by revocation filed in writing with the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official with whom the petition is required to be filed, and before the filing of such petition. Whoever forges the name of a signer upon any petition required by this Article is deemed guilty of a forgery and on conviction thereof shall be punished accordingly.

A candidate for the offices listed in this Section must obtain the number of signatures specified in this Section on his or her petition for nomination.

(a) Statewide office or delegate to a national nominating convention. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if a candidate seeks to run for statewide office or as a delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention elected from the State at-large, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least 5,000 but not more than 10,000 signatures.

(b) Congressional office or congressional delegate to a national nominating convention. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if a candidate seeks to run for United States Congress or as a congressional delegate or alternate congressional delegate to a national nominating convention elected from a congressional district, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified primary electors of his or her party in his or her congressional district. In the first primary election following a redistricting of congressional districts, a candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least 600 signatures of qualified primary electors of the candidate's political party in his or her congressional district.

(c) County office. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if a candidate seeks to run for any countywide office, including, but not limited to, county board chairperson or county board member, elected on an at-large basis, in a county other than Cook County, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified electors of his or her party who cast votes at the last preceding general election in his or her county. If a candidate seeks to run for county board member elected from a county board district, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified primary electors of his or her party in the county board district. In the first primary election following a redistricting of county board districts or the initial establishment of county board districts, a candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified electors of his or her party in the entire county who cast votes at the last preceding general election divided by the total number of county board districts comprising the county board; provided that in no event shall the number of signatures be less than 25.

(d) County office; Cook County only.

(1) If a candidate seeks to run for countywide office in Cook County, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified electors of his or her party who cast votes at the last preceding general election in Cook County.

(2) If a candidate seeks to run for Cook County Board Commissioner, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified primary electors of his or her party in his or her county board district. In the first primary election following a redistricting of Cook County Board of Commissioners districts, a candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified electors of his or her party in the entire county who cast votes at the last preceding general election divided by the total number of county board districts comprising the county board; provided that in no event shall the number of signatures be less than 25.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if a candidate seeks to run for Cook County Board of Review Commissioner, which is elected from a district pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 5-5 of the Property Tax Code, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the total number of registered voters in his or her board of review district in the last general election at which a commissioner was regularly scheduled to be elected from that board of review district. In no event shall the number of signatures required be greater than the requisite number for a candidate who seeks countywide office in Cook County under subsection (d)(1) of this Section. In the first primary election following a redistricting of Cook County Board of Review districts, a candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least 4,000 signatures or at least the number of signatures required for a countywide candidate in Cook County, whichever is less, of the qualified electors of his or her party in the district.

(e) Municipal or township office. If a candidate seeks to run for municipal or township office, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified primary electors of his or her party in the municipality or township. If a candidate seeks to run for alderperson of a municipality, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified primary electors of his or her party of the ward. In the first primary election following redistricting of wards or trustee districts of a municipality or the initial establishment of wards or districts, a candidate's petition for nomination must contain the number of signatures equal to at least 0.5% of the total number of votes cast for the candidate of that political party who received the highest number of votes in the entire municipality at the last regular election at which an officer was regularly scheduled to be elected from the entire municipality, divided by the number of wards or districts. In no event shall the number of signatures be less than 25.

(f) State central committeeperson. If a candidate seeks to run for State central committeeperson, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least 100 signatures of the primary electors of his or her party of his or her congressional district.

(g) Sanitary district trustee. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if a candidate seeks to run for trustee of a sanitary district in which trustees are not elected from wards, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the primary electors of his or her party from the sanitary district. If a candidate seeks to run for trustee of a sanitary district in which trustees are elected from wards, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the primary electors of his or her party in the ward of that sanitary district. In the first primary election following redistricting of sanitary districts elected from wards, a candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the signatures of 150 qualified primary electors of his or her ward of that sanitary district.

(h) Judicial office. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if a candidate seeks to run for judicial office in a district, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain the number of signatures equal to 0.4% of the number of votes cast in that district for the candidate for his or her political party for the office of Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected, but in no event less than 500 signatures. If a candidate seeks to run for judicial office in a circuit or subcircuit, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain the number of signatures equal to 0.25% of the number of votes cast for the judicial candidate of his or her political party who received the highest number of votes at the last general election at which a judicial officer from the same circuit or subcircuit was regularly scheduled to be elected, but in no event less than 1,000 signatures in circuits and subcircuits located in the First Judicial District or 500 signatures in every other Judicial District.

(i) Precinct, ward, and township committeeperson. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if a candidate seeks to run for precinct committeeperson, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least 10 signatures of the primary electors of his or her party for the precinct. If a candidate seeks to run for ward committeeperson, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain no less than the number of signatures equal to 10% of the primary electors of his or her party of the ward, but no more than 16% of those same electors; provided that the maximum number of signatures may be 50 more than the minimum number, whichever is greater. If a candidate seeks to run for township committeeperson, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain no less than the number of signatures equal to 5% of the primary electors of his or her party of the township, but no more than 8% of those same electors; provided that the maximum number of signatures may be 50 more than the minimum number, whichever is greater.

(j) State's attorney or regional superintendent of schools for multiple counties. If a candidate seeks to run for State's attorney or regional Superintendent of Schools who serves more than one county, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the primary electors of his or her party in the territory comprising the counties.

(k) Any other office. If a candidate seeks any other office, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the registered voters of the political subdivision, district, or division for which the nomination is made or 25 signatures, whichever is greater.

For purposes of this Section the number of primary electors shall be determined by taking the total vote cast, in the applicable district, for the candidate for that political party who received the highest number of votes, statewide, at the last general election in the State at which electors for President of the United States were elected. For political subdivisions, the number of primary electors shall be determined by taking the total vote cast for the candidate for that political party who received the highest number of votes in the political subdivision at the last regular election at which an officer was regularly scheduled to be elected from that subdivision. For wards or districts of political subdivisions, the number of primary electors shall be determined by taking the total vote cast for the candidate for that political party who received the highest number of votes in the ward or district at the last regular election at which an officer was regularly scheduled to be elected from that ward or district.

A "qualified primary elector" of a party may not sign petitions for or be a candidate in the primary of more than one party.

The changes made to this Section by Public Act 93-574 are declarative of existing law, except for item (3) of subsection (d).

Petitions of candidates for nomination for offices herein specified, to be filed with the same officer, may contain the names of 2 or more candidates of the same political party for the same or different offices. In the case of the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, a joint petition including one candidate for each of those offices must be filed.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-687, eff. 12-17-21; 102-692, eff. 1-7-22.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-10.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-10.1)

Sec. 7-10.1. Each petition or certificate of nomination shall include as a part thereof, a statement for each of the candidates filing, or in whose behalf the petition or certificate of nomination is filed, said statement shall be subscribed and sworn to by such candidate or nominee before some officer authorized to take acknowledgment of deeds in this State and shall be in substantially the following form:

United States of America )

) ss

State of Illinois )

I, .... do swear that I am a citizen of the United States and the State of Illinois, that I am not affiliated directly or indirectly with any communist organization or any communist front organization, or any foreign political agency, party, organization or government which advocates the overthrow of constitutional government by force or other means not permitted under the Constitution of the United States or the constitution of this State; that I do not directly or indirectly teach or advocate the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this State or any unlawful change in the form of the governments thereof by force or any unlawful means. ....................... Subscribed and sworn to by me on (insert date). ....................... (Notary Public) My commission expires: .....

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-10.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-10.2)

Sec. 7-10.2. In the designation of the name of a candidate on a petition for nomination or certificate of nomination the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof, may be used in addition to the candidate's surname. If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition or certificate for that office, whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate's name on the petition or certificate must be followed by "formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)" and (ii) the petition or certificate must be accompanied by the candidate's affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the period specified in (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate's name for the ballot or removing the candidate's name from the ballot, as appropriate, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's or parents' surname, marriage or civil union to assume a spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or civil union or declaration of invalidity of marriage or civil union to assume a former surname or a name change that conforms the candidate's name to his or her gender identity. No other designation such as a political slogan, as defined by Section 7-17, title or degree, or nickname suggesting or implying possession of a title, degree or professional status, or similar information may be used in connection with the candidate's surname.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-10.3) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-10.3)

Sec. 7-10.3. (A) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (C) of this Section, a candidate for delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention shall file with the State Board of Elections at the time of filing the statement of candidacy described in Section 7-10, a statement declaring the name of his preference for President of the United States or that he is uncommitted.

(B) If more candidates for delegate or alternate delegate in a congressional district than have been allocated to that district file statements designating the same presidential candidate as their preference for President of the United States, the presidential candidate so designated or his authorized representative may, within 10 days after the last day for filing such statements, file an affidavit designating which of such candidates he wants to be listed on the ballot as being committed to the presidential candidate. Candidates for delegate or alternate delegate not designated on an affidavit by the presidential candidate shall be listed on the ballot as uncommitted. In no event may the designated person's filing of the affidavit leave fewer candidates listed on the ballot as being committed to him than the number of delegates or alternate delegates allocated to the district.

(C) The State central committee of a political party may choose to file a statement with the State Board of Elections not less than 30 days prior to the first day for filing the statement of candidacy described in Section 7-10, specifying that a candidate for delegate or alternate delegate shall not be required to file an official declaration statement pursuant to this Section.

If the State central committee of a political party specifies that any such official declaration statement is not required to be filed by the candidates for delegates and alternate delegates to the national nominating convention of any such political party, then no such declaration statement shall be required to be made.

(Source: P.A. 85-903.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-11) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-11)

Sec. 7-11. Any candidate for President of the United States may have his name printed upon the primary ballot of his political party by filing in the office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the general primary, in any year in which a Presidential election is to be held, a petition signed by not less than 3000 or more than 5000 primary electors, members of and affiliated with the party of which he is a candidate, and no candidate for President of the United States, who fails to comply with the provisions of this Article shall have his name printed upon any primary ballot: Provided, however, that if the rules or policies of a national political party conflict with such requirements for filing petitions for President of the United States in a presidential preference primary, the Chair of the State central committee of such national political party shall notify the State Board of Elections in writing, citing by reference the rules or policies of the national political party in conflict, and in such case the Board shall direct such petitions to be filed in accordance with the delegate selection plan adopted by the state central committee of such national political party. Provided, further, unless rules or policies of a national political party otherwise provide, the vote for President of the United States, as herein provided for, shall be for the sole purpose of securing an expression of the sentiment and will of the party voters with respect to candidates for nomination for said office, and the vote of the state at large shall be taken and considered as advisory to the delegates and alternates at large to the national conventions of respective political parties; and the vote of the respective congressional districts shall be taken and considered as advisory to the delegates and alternates of said congressional districts to the national conventions of the respective political parties.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-11.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-11.1)

Sec. 7-11.1. Whenever a vacancy in any elective county office is to be filled by election pursuant to Section 25-11 of this Code or Section 2-6003 of the Counties Code, nominations shall be made and any vacancy in nomination for a county office shall be filled pursuant to this Section:

(1) If the vacancy in office occurs before the first date provided in Section 7-12 for filing nomination papers for the primary in the next even numbered year following the commencement of the term, nominations for the election for filling such vacancy shall be made pursuant to this Article 7 as provided for other county offices.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3.5), if the vacancy in office occurs during the time provided in Section 7-12 for filing nomination papers for county offices for the primary in the next even-numbered year following commencement of the term of office in which such vacancy occurs, the time for filing nomination papers for such office for the primary shall not be more than 91 days and not less than 85 days prior to the date of the primary election.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3.5), if the vacancy in office occurs after the last day provided in Section 7-12 for filing nomination papers for any elective county office a vacancy in nomination shall be deemed to have occurred and the county central committee or the appropriate county board district committee of each established political party shall nominate, by resolution, a candidate to fill such vacancy in nomination for election to such office at such general election. In the nomination proceedings to fill such vacancy in nomination, each member of the county central committee, or the county board district committee, as the case may be, shall have the voting strength as set forth in Sections 7-8 and 7-8.01, respectively. The name of the candidate so nominated shall not appear on the ballot at the general primary election. Such vacancy in nomination shall be filled prior to the date of certification of candidates for the general election.

(3.5) If the vacancy in the Office of President of the Cook County Board occurs on or after the first day provided in Section 7-12 for filing nomination papers for the primary in the next even-numbered year following the commencement of the term, a vacancy in nomination shall be deemed to have occurred and the county central committee of each established political party shall nominate, by resolution, a candidate to fill such vacancy in nomination for the election to such office at such general election. In the nomination proceedings to fill such vacancy in nomination, each member of the county central committee shall have the voting strength as set forth in Section 7-8. The office shall not appear on the ballot at the general primary election. Any vacancy in nomination occurring on or after the primary and prior to certification must be filled prior to the date of certification. Any vacancy in nomination occurring after certification but prior to 15 days before the general election shall be filled within 8 days after the event creating the vacancy in nomination.

(4) The resolution to fill the vacancy shall be duly acknowledged before an officer qualified to take acknowledgments of deeds and shall include, upon its face, the following information:

(a) the name of the original nominee and the office vacated;

(b) the date on which the vacancy occurred;

(c) the name and address of the nominee selected to fill the vacancy and the date of selection.

The resolution to fill the vacancy shall be accompanied by a Statement of Candidacy, as prescribed in Section 7-10, completed by the selected nominee and a receipt indicating that such nominee has filed a Statement of Economic Interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.

The provisions of Sections 10-8 through 10-10.1 relating to objections to nomination papers, hearings on objections and judicial review, shall also apply to and govern objections to nomination papers and resolutions for filling vacancies in nomination filed pursuant to this Section.

Unless otherwise specified herein, the nomination and election provided for in this Section shall be governed by this Code.

(Source: P.A. 101-188, eff. 8-2-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-12) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-12)

Sec. 7-12. All petitions for nomination shall be filed by mail or in person as follows:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, where the nomination is to be made for a State, congressional, or judicial office, or for any office a nomination for which is made for a territorial division or district which comprises more than one county or is partly in one county and partly in another county or counties (including the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District), then, except as otherwise provided in this Section, such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary, but, in the case of petitions for nomination to fill a vacancy by special election in the office of representative in Congress from this State, such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 85 days and not less than 82 days prior to the date of the primary.

Where a vacancy occurs in the office of Supreme, Appellate or Circuit Court Judge within the 3-week period preceding the 106th day before a general primary election, petitions for nomination for the office in which the vacancy has occurred shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 92 nor less than 85 days prior to the date of the general primary election.

Where the nomination is to be made for delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating convention, then such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary; provided, however, that if the rules or policies of a national political party conflict with such requirements for filing petitions for nomination for delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating convention, the chair of the State central committee of such national political party shall notify the Board in writing, citing by reference the rules or policies of the national political party in conflict, and in such case the Board shall direct such petitions to be filed in accordance with the delegate selection plan adopted by the state central committee of such national political party.

(2) Where the nomination is to be made for a county office or trustee of a sanitary district then such petition shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary.

(3) Where the nomination is to be made for a municipal or township office, such petitions for nomination shall be filed in the office of the local election official, not more than 99 nor less than 92 days prior to the date of the primary; provided, where a municipality's or township's boundaries are coextensive with or are entirely within the jurisdiction of a municipal board of election commissioners, the petitions shall be filed in the office of such board; and provided, that petitions for the office of multi-township assessor shall be filed with the election authority.

(4) The petitions of candidates for State central committeeperson shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary.

(5) Petitions of candidates for precinct, township or ward committeepersons shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the date of the primary.

(6) The State Board of Elections and the various election authorities and local election officials with whom such petitions for nominations are filed shall specify the place where filings shall be made and upon receipt shall endorse thereon the day and hour on which each petition was filed. All petitions filed by persons waiting in line as of 8:00 a.m. on the first day for filing, or as of the normal opening hour of the office involved on such day, shall be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. or the normal opening hour, as the case may be. Petitions filed by mail and received after midnight of the first day for filing and in the first mail delivery or pickup of that day shall be deemed as filed as of 8:00 a.m. of that day or as of the normal opening hour of such day, as the case may be. All petitions received thereafter shall be deemed as filed in the order of actual receipt. However, 2 or more petitions filed within the last hour of the filing deadline shall be deemed filed simultaneously. Where 2 or more petitions are received simultaneously, the State Board of Elections or the various election authorities or local election officials with whom such petitions are filed shall break ties and determine the order of filing, by means of a lottery or other fair and impartial method of random selection approved by the State Board of Elections. Such lottery shall be conducted within 9 days following the last day for petition filing and shall be open to the public. Seven days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given by the State Board of Elections to the chair of the State central committee of each established political party, and by each election authority or local election official, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. The State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. The State Board of Elections shall adopt rules and regulations governing the procedures for the conduct of such lottery. All candidates shall be certified in the order in which their petitions have been filed. Where candidates have filed simultaneously, they shall be certified in the order determined by lot and prior to candidates who filed for the same office at a later time.

(7) The State Board of Elections or the appropriate election authority or local election official with whom such a petition for nomination is filed shall notify the person for whom a petition for nomination has been filed of the obligation to file statements of organization, reports of campaign contributions, and annual reports of campaign contributions and expenditures under Article 9 of this Code. Such notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by paragraph (7) of Section 9-16 of this Code.

(8) Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid if the candidate named therein fails to file a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act in relation to his candidacy with the appropriate officer by the end of the period for the filing of nomination papers unless he has filed a statement of economic interests in relation to the same governmental unit with that officer within a year preceding the date on which such nomination papers were filed. If the nomination papers of any candidate and the statement of economic interest of that candidate are not required to be filed with the same officer, the candidate must file with the officer with whom the nomination papers are filed a receipt from the officer with whom the statement of economic interests is filed showing the date on which such statement was filed. Such receipt shall be so filed not later than the last day on which nomination papers may be filed.

(9) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any person for whom a petition for nomination, or for committeeperson or for delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention has been filed may cause his name to be withdrawn by request in writing, signed by him and duly acknowledged before an officer qualified to take acknowledgments of deeds, and filed in the principal or permanent branch office of the State Board of Elections or with the appropriate election authority or local election official, not later than the date of certification of candidates for the consolidated primary or general primary ballot. No names so withdrawn shall be certified or printed on the primary ballot. If petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person with respect to more than one political party, his name shall not be certified nor printed on the primary ballot of any party. If petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or more offices which are incompatible so that the same person could not serve in more than one of such offices if elected, that person must withdraw as a candidate for all but one of such offices within the 5 business days following the last day for petition filing. A candidate in a judicial election may file petitions for nomination for only one vacancy in a subcircuit and only one vacancy in a circuit in any one filing period, and if petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or more vacancies in the same circuit or subcircuit in the same filing period, his or her name shall be certified only for the first vacancy for which the petitions for nomination were filed. If he fails to withdraw as a candidate for all but one of such offices within such time his name shall not be certified, nor printed on the primary ballot, for any office. For the purpose of the foregoing provisions, an office in a political party is not incompatible with any other office.

(10)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no primary shall be held for an established political party in any township, municipality, or ward thereof, where the nomination of such party for every office to be voted upon by the electors of such township, municipality, or ward thereof, is uncontested. Whenever a political party's nomination of candidates is uncontested as to one or more, but not all, of the offices to be voted upon by the electors of a township, municipality, or ward thereof, then a primary shall be held for that party in such township, municipality, or ward thereof; provided that the primary ballot shall not include those offices within such township, municipality, or ward thereof, for which the nomination is uncontested. For purposes of this Article, the nomination of an established political party of a candidate for election to an office shall be deemed to be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the nomination of such party for election to such office.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no primary election shall be held for an established political party for any special primary election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress where the nomination of such political party for said office is uncontested. For the purposes of this Article, the nomination of an established political party of a candidate for election to said office shall be deemed to be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the nomination of such established party for election to said office. This subsection (b) shall not apply if such primary election is conducted on a regularly scheduled election day.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraph (a) and (b) of this paragraph (10), whenever a person who has not timely filed valid nomination papers and who intends to become a write-in candidate for a political party's nomination for any office for which the nomination is uncontested files a written statement or notice of that intent with the State Board of Elections or the local election official with whom nomination papers for such office are filed, a primary ballot shall be prepared and a primary shall be held for that office. Such statement or notice shall be filed on or before the date established in this Article for certifying candidates for the primary ballot. Such statement or notice shall contain (i) the name and address of the person intending to become a write-in candidate, (ii) a statement that the person is a qualified primary elector of the political party from whom the nomination is sought, (iii) a statement that the person intends to become a write-in candidate for the party's nomination, and (iv) the office the person is seeking as a write-in candidate. An election authority shall have no duty to conduct a primary and prepare a primary ballot for any office for which the nomination is uncontested unless a statement or notice meeting the requirements of this Section is filed in a timely manner.

(11) If multiple sets of nomination papers are filed for a candidate to the same office, the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official where the petitions are filed shall within 2 business days notify the candidate of his or her multiple petition filings and that the candidate has 3 business days after receipt of the notice to notify the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official that he or she may cancel prior sets of petitions. If the candidate notifies the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official, the last set of petitions filed shall be the only petitions to be considered valid by the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official. If the candidate fails to notify the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official then only the first set of petitions filed shall be valid and all subsequent petitions shall be void.

(12) All nominating petitions shall be available for public inspection and shall be preserved for a period of not less than 6 months.

(Source: P.A. 101-523, eff. 8-23-19; 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-687, eff. 12-17-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-12.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-12.1)

Sec. 7-12.1. The provisions of Sections 10-8 through 10-10.1 relating to objections to certificates of nomination and nomination papers, hearings on objections, and judicial review, shall also apply to and govern objections to petitions for nomination filed under this Article, except as otherwise provided in Section 7-13 for cases to which it is applicable.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 597.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-13) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-13)

Sec. 7-13. The board of election commissioners in cities of 500,000 or more population having such board, shall constitute an electoral board for the hearing and passing upon objections to nomination petitions for ward committeepersons.

Except as otherwise provided in this Code, such objections shall be filed in the office of the county clerk within 5 business days after the last day for filing nomination papers. The objection shall state the name and address of the objector, who may be any qualified elector in the ward, the specific grounds of objection and the relief requested of the electoral board. Upon the receipt of the objection, the county clerk shall forthwith transmit such objection and the petition of the candidate to the board of election commissioners. The board of election commissioners shall forthwith notify the objector and candidate objected to of the time and place for hearing hereon. After a hearing upon the validity of such objections, the board shall certify to the county clerk its decision stating whether or not the name of the candidate shall be printed on the ballot and the county clerk in his or her certificate to the board of election commissioners shall leave off of the certificate the name of the candidate for ward committeeperson that the election commissioners order not to be printed on the ballot. However, the decision of the board of election commissioners is subject to judicial review as provided in Section 10-10.1.

The county electoral board composed as provided in Section 10-9 shall constitute an electoral board for the hearing and passing upon objections to nomination petitions for precinct and township committeepersons. Such objections shall be filed in the office of the county clerk within 5 business days after the last day for filing nomination papers. The objection shall state the name and address of the objector who may be any qualified elector in the precinct or in the township or part of a township that lies outside of a city having a population of 500,000 or more, the specific grounds of objection and the relief requested of the electoral board. Upon the receipt of the objection the county clerk shall forthwith transmit such objection and the petition of the candidate to the chair of the county electoral board. The chair of the county electoral board shall forthwith notify the objector, the candidate whose petition is objected to and the other members of the electoral board of the time and place for hearing thereon. After hearing upon the validity of such objections the board shall certify its decision to the county clerk stating whether or not the name of the candidate shall be printed on the ballot, and the county clerk, in his or her certificate to the board of election commissioners, shall leave off of the certificate the name of the candidate ordered by the board not to be printed on the ballot, and the county clerk shall also refrain from printing on the official primary ballot, the name of any candidate whose name has been ordered by the electoral board not to be printed on the ballot. However, the decision of the board is subject to judicial review as provided in Section 10-10.1.

In such proceedings the electoral boards have the same powers as other electoral boards under the provisions of Section 10-10 of this Code and their decisions are subject to judicial review under Section 10-10.1.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-13.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-13.1)

Sec. 7-13.1. Certification of Candidates-Consolidated primary. Not less than 68 days before the date of the consolidated primary, each local election official of each political subdivision required to nominate candidates for the respective offices by primary shall certify to each election authority whose duty it is to prepare the official ballot for the consolidated primary in such political subdivision the names of all candidates in whose behalf nomination papers have been filed in the office of such local election official and direct the election authority to place upon the official ballot for the consolidated primary election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification. However, subject to appeal, the names of candidates whose nomination papers have been held invalid by the appropriate electoral board provided in Section 10-9 of this Code shall not be so certified. The certification shall be modified as necessary to comply with the requirements of any other statute or any ordinance adopted pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution prescribing specific provisions for nonpartisan elections, including without limitation Articles 3, 4 and 5 of "The Municipal Code".

The names of candidates shall be listed on the certification for the respective offices in the order in which the candidates have filed their nomination papers, or as determined by lot, or as otherwise specified by statute.

In every instance where applicable, the following shall also be indicated in the certification:

(1) Where there is to be more than one candidate elected to an office from a political subdivision or district;

(2) Where a voter has the right to vote for more than one candidate for an office;

(3) The terms of the office to be on the ballot, when a vacancy is to be filled for less than a full term, or when offices of a particular subdivision to be on the ballot at the same election are to be filled for different terms;

(4) The territory in which a candidate is required by law to reside, when such residency requirement is not identical to the territory of the political subdivision from which the candidate is to be elected or nominated;

(5) Where a candidate's nominating papers or petitions have been objected to and the objection has been sustained by the electoral board established in Section 10-10, the words "OBJECTION SUSTAINED" shall be placed under the title of the office being sought by the candidate and the name of the aggrieved candidate shall not appear; and

(6) Where a candidate's nominating papers or petitions have been objected to and the decision of the electoral board established in Section 10-10 is either unknown or known to be in judicial review, the words "OBJECTION PENDING" shall be placed under the title of the office being sought by the candidate and next to the name of the candidate.

The local election official shall issue an amended certification whenever it is discovered that the original certification is in error.

(Source: P.A. 95-699, eff. 11-9-07; 96-1008, eff. 7-6-10.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-14) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-14)

Sec. 7-14. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, not less than 68 days before the date of the general primary the State Board of Elections shall meet and shall examine all petitions filed under this Article 7, in the office of the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall then certify to the county clerk of each county, the names of all candidates whose nomination papers or certificates of nomination have been filed with the Board and direct the county clerk to place upon the official ballot for the general primary election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification.

The State Board of Elections shall, in its certificate to the county clerk, certify the names of the offices, and the names of the candidates in the order in which the offices and names shall appear upon the primary ballot; such names to appear in the order in which petitions have been filed in the office of the State Board of Elections except as otherwise provided in this Article.

Not less than 62 days before the date of the general primary, each county clerk shall certify the names of all candidates whose nomination papers have been filed with such clerk and declare that the names of such candidates for the respective offices shall be placed upon the official ballot for the general primary in the order in which such nomination papers were filed with the clerk, or as determined by lot, or as otherwise specified by statute. Each county clerk shall place a copy of the certification on file in his or her office and at the same time issue to the board of election commissioners a copy of the certification that has been filed in the county clerk's office, together with a copy of the certification that has been issued to the clerk by the State Board of Elections, with directions to the board of election commissioners to place upon the official ballot for the general primary in that election jurisdiction the names of all candidates that are listed on such certification in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon such certifications.

The certification shall indicate, where applicable, the following:

(1) The political party affiliation of the candidates for the respective offices;

(2) If there is to be more than one candidate elected or nominated to an office from the State, political subdivision or district;

(3) If the voter has the right to vote for more than one candidate for an office;

(4) The term of office, if a vacancy is to be filled for less than a full term or if the offices to be filled in a political subdivision or district are for different terms.

The State Board of Elections or the county clerk, as the case may be, shall issue an amended certification whenever it is discovered that the original certification is in error.

Subject to appeal, the names of candidates whose nomination papers have been held invalid by the appropriate electoral board provided in Section 10-9 of this Code shall not be certified.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-14.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-14.1)

Sec. 7-14.1. Delegates and alternate delegates to national nominating conventions shall be chosen according to one of the following alternative methods of allocating delegates for election. The State central committee of each political party established pursuant to this Article 7 shall certify to the State Board of Elections, not less than 30 days prior to the first date for filing of petitions for election as delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention, which of the following alternatives it wishes to be utilized in allocating the delegates and alternate delegates to which Illinois will be entitled at its national nominating convention. The State Board of Elections shall meet promptly and, not less than 20 days prior to the first date for filing of such petitions, shall publish and certify to the county clerk in each county the number of delegates or alternate delegates to be elected from each congressional district or from the State at large or State convention of a political party, as the case may be, according to the method chosen by each State central committee. If a State central committee fails to certify to the State Board of Elections its choice of one of the following methods prior to the aforementioned meeting of the State Board of Elections, the State Board of Elections shall certify delegates for that political party pursuant to whichever of the alternatives below was used by that political party pursuant to whichever of the alternatives below was used by that political party in the most recent year in which delegates were selected, subject to any subsequent amendments.

Prior to the aforementioned meeting of the State Board of Elections at which the Board shall publish and certify to the county clerk the number of delegates or alternate delegates to be elected from each congressional district or the State at large or State convention, the Secretary of State shall ascertain from the call of the national convention of each political party the number of delegates and alternate delegates to which Illinois will be entitled at the respective national nominating conventions. The Secretary of State shall report the number of delegates and alternate delegates to which Illinois will be entitled at the respective national nominating conventions to the State Board of Elections convened as aforesaid to be utilized by the State Board of Elections in calculating the number of delegates and alternates to be elected from each congressional district in the State at large or State convention, as the case may be.

Alternative A: The State Board of Elections shall allocate the number of delegates and alternate delegates to which the State is entitled among the congressional districts in the State.

1. Of the number of delegates to which the State is entitled, 10, plus those remaining unallocated under paragraph 2, shall be delegates at large. The State central committee of the appropriate political party shall determine whether the delegates at large shall be (a) elected in the primary from the State at large, (b) selected by the State convention, or (c) chosen by a combination of these 2 methods. If the State central committee determines that all or a specified number of the delegates at large shall be elected in the primary, the committee shall file with the Board a report of such determination at the same time it certifies the alternative it wishes to use in allocating its delegates.

2. All delegates other than the delegates at large shall be elected from the congressional districts. Two delegates shall be allocated from this number to each district. After reserving 10 delegates to be delegates at large and allocating 2 delegates to each district, the Board shall allocate the remaining delegates to the congressional districts pursuant to the following formula:

(a) For each district, the number of remaining delegates shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the vote cast in the congressional district for the party's nominee in the last Presidential election, and the denominator of which is the vote cast in the State for the party's nominee in the last Presidential election.

(b) The Board shall first allocate to each district a number of delegates equal to the whole number in the product resulting from the multiplication procedure in subparagraph (a).

(c) The Board shall then allocate any remaining delegates, one to each district, in the order of the largest fractional remainder in the product resulting from the multiplication procedure in subparagraph (a), omitting those districts for which that product is less than 1.875.

(d) The Board shall then allocate any remaining delegates, one to each district, in the order of the largest fractional remainder in the product resulting from the multiplication procedure in subparagraph (a), among those districts for which that product is at least one but less than 1.875.

(e) Any delegates remaining unallocated shall be delegates at large and shall be selected as determined by the State central committee under paragraph 1 of this Alternative A.

3. The alternate delegates at large shall be allocated in the same manner as the delegates at large. The alternate delegates other than the alternate delegates at large shall be allocated in the same manner as the delegates other than the delegates at large.

Alternative B: the chair of the State central committee shall file with the State Board of Elections a statement of the number of delegates and alternate delegates to which the State is entitled and the number of such delegates and alternate delegates to be elected from congressional districts. The State Board of Elections shall allocate such number of delegates and alternate delegates, as the case may be, among the congressional districts in the State for election from the congressional districts.

The Board shall utilize the sum of 1/3 of each of the following formulae to determine the number of delegates and alternate delegates, as the case may be, to be elected from each congressional district:

(1) Formula 1 shall be determined by multiplying paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) together as follows:

(a) The fraction derived by dividing the population of the district by the population of the State and adding to that fraction the following: 1/2 of the fraction calculated by dividing the total district vote for the party's candidate in the most recent presidential election by the total statewide vote for that candidate in that election, plus 1/2 of the fraction calculated by dividing the total district vote for the party's candidate in the second most recent Presidential election by the total statewide vote for that candidate in that election;

(b) 1/2;

(c) The number of delegates or alternate delegates, as the case may be, to which the State is entitled at the party's national nominating convention.

(2) Formula 2 shall be determined by multiplying paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) together as follows:

(a) The fraction calculated by dividing the total numbers of votes in the district for the party's candidate in the most recent Gubernatorial election by the total statewide vote for that candidate in that election, plus, the fraction calculated by dividing the total district vote for the party's candidate in the most recent presidential election by the total statewide vote for that candidate in that election;

(b) 1/2;

(c) The number of delegates or alternate delegates, as the case may be, to which the State is entitled at the party's national nominating convention.

(3) Formula 3 shall be determined by multiplying paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) together as follows:

(a) 1/2 of the fraction calculated by dividing the total district vote for the party's candidate in the most recent presidential election by the total statewide vote for that candidate in that election, plus 1/2 of the fraction calculated by dividing the total district vote for the party's candidate in the second most recent presidential election by the total statewide vote for that candidate in that election. This sum shall be added to the fraction calculated by dividing the total voter registration of the party in the district by the total voter registration of the party in the State as of January 1 of the year prior to the year in which the national nominating convention is held;

(b) 1/2;

(c) The number of delegates or alternate delegates, as the case may be, to which the State is entitled at the party's national nominating convention.

Fractional numbers of delegates and alternate delegates shall be rounded upward in rank order to the next whole number, largest fraction first, until the total number of delegates and alternate delegates, respectively, to be so chosen have been allocated.

The remainder of the delegates and alternate delegates shall be selected as determined by the State central committee of the party and shall be certified to the State Board of Elections by the chair of the State central committee.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to all aspects of the selection of delegates and alternate delegates to a national nominating convention under Alternative B, this Code shall be superseded by the delegate selection rules and policies of the national political party including, but not limited to, the development of an affirmative action plan.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-14.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-14.2)

Sec. 7-14.2. Delegates and alternate delegates to national conventions other than national nominating conventions shall be chosen according to procedures established by the appropriate State central committee of a political party established pursuant to this Article 7, which may include the procedure prescribed by Section 7-14.1 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 80-1122.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-14a) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-14a)

Sec. 7-14a. Where there are 2 or more additional judgeships created in any judicial district or circuit, to be filled at the same general election and to be elected from the same district, circuit or county, each such additional judgeship shall be designated by the State Board of Elections by a letter of the alphabet beginning with the letter "A". Such designation shall be made no later than one day prior to the first day for filing of nominating petitions for such additional judgeships. Each candidate for such additional judgeship shall specify to the State Board of Elections upon the filing of his nominating petitions the judgeship for which he seeks nomination. Such candidates shall be nominated and elected for the judgeships which they have designated.

(Source: P.A. 85-903.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-15) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-15)

Sec. 7-15. At least 60 days prior to each general and consolidated primary, the election authority shall provide public notice, calculated to reach elderly voters and voters with disabilities, of the availability of registration and voting aids under the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, of the availability of assistance in marking the ballot, procedures for voting by a vote by mail ballot, and procedures for early voting by personal appearance. At least 20 days before the general primary the county clerk of each county, and not more than 30 nor less than 10 days before the consolidated primary the election authority, shall prepare in the manner provided in this Act, a notice of such primary which notice shall state the time and place of holding the primary, the hours during which the polls will be open, the offices for which candidates will be nominated at such primary and the political parties entitled to participate therein, notwithstanding that no candidate of any such political party may be entitled to have his name printed on the primary ballot. Such notice shall also include the list of addresses of precinct polling places for the consolidated primary unless such list is separately published by the election authority not less than 10 days before the consolidated primary.

In counties, municipalities, or towns having fewer than 500,000 inhabitants notice of the general primary shall be published once in two or more newspapers published in the county, municipality or town, as the case may be, or if there is no such newspaper, then in any two or more newspapers published in the county and having a general circulation throughout the community.

In counties, municipalities, or towns having 500,000 or more inhabitants notice of the general primary shall be published at least 15 days prior to the primary by the same authorities and in the same manner as notice of election for general elections are required to be published in counties, municipalities or towns of 500,000 or more inhabitants under this Act.

Notice of the consolidated primary shall be published once in one or more newspapers published in each political subdivision having such primary, and if there is no such newspaper, then published once in a local, community newspaper having general circulation in the subdivision, and also once in a newspaper published in the county wherein the political subdivisions, or portions thereof, having such primary are situated.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-16) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-16)

Sec. 7-16. Each election authority in each county shall prepare and cause to be printed the primary ballot of each political party for each precinct in his respective jurisdiction.

Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the election authority shall, at least 45 days prior to the date of the primary election, have a sufficient number of ballots printed so that such ballots will be available for mailing 45 days prior to the primary election to persons who have filed application for a ballot under the provisions of Article 20 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-17) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-17)

Sec. 7-17. Candidate ballot name procedures.

(a) Each election authority in each county shall cause to be printed upon the general primary ballot of each party for each precinct in his jurisdiction the name of each candidate whose petition for nomination or for committeeperson has been filed in the office of the county clerk, as herein provided; and also the name of each candidate whose name has been certified to his office by the State Board of Elections, and in the order so certified, except as hereinafter provided.

It shall be the duty of the election authority to cause to be printed upon the consolidated primary ballot of each political party for each precinct in his jurisdiction the name of each candidate whose name has been certified to him, as herein provided and which is to be voted for in such precinct.

(b) In the designation of the name of a candidate on the primary ballot the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof, may be used in addition to the candidate's surname. If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition for nomination, nomination papers, or certificate of nomination for that office, whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate's name on the primary ballot must be followed by "formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)" and (ii) the petition, papers, or certificate must be accompanied by the candidate's affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the period specified in (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate's name for the ballot or removing the candidate's name from the ballot, as appropriate, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's or parents' surname, marriage or civil union to assume a spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or civil union or declaration of invalidity of marriage or civil union to assume a former surname or a name change that conforms the candidate's name to his or her gender identity. No other designation such as a political slogan, title, or degree, or nickname suggesting or implying possession of a title, degree or professional status, or similar information may be used in connection with the candidate's surname. For purposes of this Section, a "political slogan" is defined as any word or words expressing or connoting a position, opinion, or belief that the candidate may espouse, including but not limited to, any word or words conveying any meaning other than that of the personal identity of the candidate. A candidate may not use a political slogan as part of his or her name on the ballot, notwithstanding that the political slogan may be part of the candidate's name.

(c) The State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an election authority shall remove any candidate's name designation from a ballot that is inconsistent with subsection (b) of this Section. In addition, the State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an election authority shall not certify to any election authority any candidate name designation that is inconsistent with subsection (b) of this Section.

(d) If the State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an election authority removes a candidate's name designation from a ballot under subsection (c) of this Section, then the aggrieved candidate may seek appropriate relief in circuit court.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-18) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-18)

Sec. 7-18. The primary ballot of each political party shall be separately printed upon paper of uniform quality, texture and size, but the primary ballot of no two political parties shall be of the same color or tint.

The election authority shall, at least 15 days prior to the date of the primary, post in a conspicuous place in his office an announcement of the color of the primary ballots of the respective parties, and, in the case of the general primary, shall also publish such announcement for at least 1 week in at least 2 newspapers of general circulation published in the county. In the case of the consolidated primary, the election authority shall publish such announcement at the same time and in the manner provided for notice of the consolidated primary in Section 7-15 of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 81-963.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-19) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-19)

Sec. 7-19. The primary ballot of each political party for each precinct shall be arranged and printed substantially in the manner following:

1. Designating words. At the top of the ballot shall be printed in large capital letters, words designating the ballot, if a Republican ballot, the designating words shall be: "REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BALLOT"; if a Democratic ballot the designating words shall be: "DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BALLOT"; and in like manner for each political party.

2. Order of Names, Directions to Voters, etc. Beginning not less than one inch below designating words, the name of each office to be filled shall be printed in capital letters. Such names may be printed on the ballot either in a single column or in 2 or more columns and in the following order, to-wit:

President of the United States, State offices, congressional offices, delegates and alternate delegates to be elected from the State at large to National nominating conventions, delegates and alternate delegates to be elected from congressional districts to National nominating conventions, member or members of the State central committee, trustees of sanitary districts, county offices, judicial officers, city, village and incorporated town offices, town offices, or of such of the said offices as candidates are to be nominated for at such primary, and precinct, township or ward committeepersons. If two or more columns are used, the foregoing offices to and including member of the State central committee shall be listed in the left-hand column and Senatorial offices, as defined in Section 8-3, shall be the first offices listed in the second column.

Below the name of each office shall be printed in small letters the directions to voters: "Vote for one"; "Vote for not more than two"; "Vote for not more than three". If no candidate or candidates file for an office and if no person or persons file a declaration as a write-in candidate for that office, then below the title of that office the election authority instead shall print "No Candidate".

Next to the name of each candidate for delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention shall appear either (a) the name of the candidate's preference for President of the United States or the word "uncommitted" or (b) no official designation, depending upon the action taken by the State central committee pursuant to Section 7-10.3 of this Act.

Below the name of each office shall be printed in capital letters the names of all candidates, arranged in the order in which their petitions for nominations were filed, except as otherwise provided in Sections 7-14 and 7-17 of this Article. Opposite and in front of the name of each candidate shall be printed a square and all squares upon the primary ballot shall be of uniform size. The names of each team of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, however, shall be printed within a bracket, and a single square shall be printed in front of the bracket. Spaces between the names of candidates under each office shall be uniform and sufficient spaces shall separate the names of candidates for one office from the names of candidates for another office, to avoid confusion and to permit the writing in of the names of other candidates.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this Section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-20) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-20)

Sec. 7-20. On the back or outside of the primary ballot of each precinct, so as to appear when folded, shall be printed the words "Primary Ballot," followed by designation of said precinct, the date of the primary and a facsimile of the signature of the election authority who furnished the ballots.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-21) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-21)

Sec. 7-21. The election authority shall transmit or cause to be delivered to the primary judges, and to the respective local election officials prior to the consolidated primary, specimen ballots of each political party, substantially in the form of the official primary ballots, to be used at such primary, which specimen ballot shall be printed upon paper of a different texture and color from the official primary ballot. In units of local government having fewer than 500,000 inhabitants the election authority shall have published in two or more newspapers published in the county, municipality or town, as the case may be, or if there is no such newspaper, then in any two or more newspapers published in the county and having general circulation throughout the community, at least 5 days prior to the general primary, a true copy of the specimen ballot, and the primary judges shall post one of each such specimen ballots at the polling place. In counties, municipalities or towns having 500,000 or more inhabitants the primary judges shall post not less than 5 of each such specimen ballots in the precinct, and one of each such specimen ballots at the polling place. For the consolidated primary, the local election official shall have the duty to make such publication with respect to the ballots for his unit of local government, and may make his publication as part of the announcement heretofore required.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-22) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-22)

Sec. 7-22. Primary ballot boxes shall be furnished by the same authorities and in the same manner and shall be of the same style and description as ballot boxes furnished for the purpose of general elections, under the provisions of this Act.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-23) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-23)

Sec. 7-23. All necessary primary poll books, official poll records, tally sheets, return blanks, stationery and other necessary primary supplies shall be furnished by the same authorities upon whom is imposed the duty of furnishing such supplies at general elections, by this Act.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-24) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-24)

Sec. 7-24. The primary poll books shall be substantially in the following form:

Primary poll books of the primary held in the .... precinct of the county of .... on (insert date).

This is to certify that the above and foregoing is a correct list of primary voters at a primary held on (insert date) in the .... precinct, in .... county, and State of Illinois. That at the primary the undersigned judges served as required by law and are entitled to pay therefor.

Dated (insert date).

............................ ............................

............................ ............................

............................ ............................

Judges of primary

The primary poll books shall otherwise be in form and shall contain the same certificates as nearly as may be as the poll books used in the general election and shall be signed and attested in the same manner, as nearly as may be, as the poll books used for the purpose of general elections. If Article 4, 5 or 6 of this Act applies to any such primary the official poll record provided for in such applicable Article shall be used in lieu of poll books.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-25) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-25)

Sec. 7-25. The tally sheets for each political party participating in the primary election shall be substantially in the following form:

"Tally sheet for ....(name of political party) for the .... precinct, in the county of .... for a primary held on the .... day of .... A.D. ....."

The names of candidates for nomination and for State central committeepersons, township, and precinct and ward committeepersons, and delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions, shall be placed on the tally sheets of each political party by the primary judges, in the order in which they appear on the ballot.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-26) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-26)

Sec. 7-26. The judges of general elections for state and county officers are hereby constituted the judges of primary elections in their respective precincts, under the provisions of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-27) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-27)

Sec. 7-27. It is hereby made the duty of the respective judges of general elections to act as judges of primary elections in their respective precincts until their successors, as judges of general elections, are duly appointed and qualified.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-28) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-28)

Sec. 7-28. If, at the time for opening of a primary, one of the primary judges be absent, or refuse to act, the judges present shall appoint some qualified primary elector of the precinct to act in his place. If two of the primary judges be absent or refuse to act, the judge present shall fill the vacancies in the same manner, as above provided. If all of the primary judges be absent, or refuse to act, the primary electors present, who reside in the precinct, shall select the appropriate number of themselves to act as primary judges. The judges so selected and appointed shall take the same oath, have the same powers, and perform the same duties and be subject to the same penalties as regularly constituted election judges.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1450.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-30) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-30)

Sec. 7-30. Previous to any vote being taken, the primary judges shall severally subscribe and take an oath or affirmation in the following form, to-wit:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and will faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of primary judge, according to the best of my ability, and that I have resided in this State for 30 days, (and only in the case of a primary judge in counties of less than 500,000 inhabitants, have resided in this precinct for the 30 days next preceding this primary), (and in the case of a registered voter, am entitled to vote at this primary)."

All persons subscribing the oath and all persons actually serving as primary judges, whether sworn or not, shall be deemed to be and are hereby declared to be officers of the circuit court of their respective counties.

(Source: P.A. 91-352, eff. 1-1-00; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-31) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-31)

Sec. 7-31. In case there is no notary public present at the opening of a primary, or in case such notary public is appointed one of the primary judges, the primary judges may administer the oath or affirmation to each other.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 1135.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-32) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-32)

Sec. 7-32. The primary judges, except as otherwise provided in this article, shall perform the same duties, have the same powers, and be subject to the same penalties as judges of general elections under this Act.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1450.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-33) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-33)

Sec. 7-33. Primary judges shall receive the same pay, and shall be paid by the same authorities and in the same manner as judges of general elections under this Act.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 1450.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-34) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-34)

Sec. 7-34. Pollwatchers in a primary election shall be authorized in the following manner:

(1) Each established political party shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct. Such pollwatchers must be affiliated with the political party for which they are pollwatching and must be a registered voter in Illinois.

(2) Each candidate shall be entitled to appoint two pollwatchers per precinct. For Federal, State, county, township, and municipal primary elections, the pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois.

(3) Each organization of citizens within the county or political subdivision, which has among its purposes or interests the investigation or prosecution of election frauds, and which shall have registered its name and address and the names and addresses of its principal officers with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the primary election, shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct. For all primary elections, the pollwatcher must be registered to vote in Illinois.

(3.5) Each State nonpartisan civic organization within the county or political subdivision shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct, provided that no more than 2 pollwatchers appointed by State nonpartisan civic organizations shall be present in a precinct polling place at the same time. Each organization shall have registered the names and addresses of its principal officers with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the primary election. The pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois. For the purpose of this paragraph, a "State nonpartisan civic organization" means any corporation, unincorporated association, or organization that:

(i) as part of its written articles of incorporation, bylaws, or charter or by separate written declaration, has among its stated purposes the provision of voter information and education, the protection of individual voters' rights, and the promotion of free and equal elections;

(ii) is organized or primarily conducts its activities within the State of Illinois; and

(iii) continuously maintains an office or business location within the State of Illinois, together with a current listed telephone number (a post office box number without a current listed telephone number is not sufficient).

(4) Each organized group of proponents or opponents of a ballot proposition, which shall have registered the name and address of its organization or committee and the name and address of its chair with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the primary election, shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct. The pollwatcher must be registered to vote in Illinois.

(5) In any primary election held to nominate candidates for the offices of a municipality of less than 3,000,000 population that is situated in 2 or more counties, a pollwatcher who is a resident of a county in which any part of the municipality is situated shall be eligible to serve as a pollwatcher in any polling place located within such municipality, provided that such pollwatcher otherwise complies with the respective requirements of subsections (1) through (4) of this Section and is a registered voter whose residence is within Illinois.

All pollwatchers shall be required to have proper credentials. Such credentials shall be printed in sufficient quantities, shall be issued by and under the facsimile signature(s) of the election authority and shall be available for distribution at least 2 weeks prior to the election. Such credentials shall be authorized by the real or facsimile signature of the State or local party official or the candidate or the presiding officer of the civic organization or the chair of the proponent or opponent group, as the case may be.

Pollwatcher credentials shall be in substantially the following form:

POLLWATCHER CREDENTIALS TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:

In accordance with the provisions of the Election Code, the undersigned hereby appoints ........... (name of pollwatcher) at .......... (address) in the county of ..........., .......... (township or municipality) of ........... (name), State of Illinois and who is duly registered to vote from this address, to act as a pollwatcher in the ........... precinct of the .......... ward (if applicable) of the ........... (township or municipality) of ........... at the ........... election to be held on (insert date).

........................ (Signature of Appointing Authority)

........................ TITLE (party official, candidate,

civic organization president,

proponent or opponent group chair)

Under penalties provided by law pursuant to Section 29-10 of the Election Code, the undersigned pollwatcher certifies that he or she resides at .............. (address) in the county of ........., ......... (township or municipality) of .......... (name), State of Illinois, and is duly registered to vote in Illinois.

........................... ..........................

(Precinct and/or Ward in (Signature of Pollwatcher)

Which Pollwatcher Resides)

Pollwatchers must present their credentials to the Judges of Election upon entering the polling place. Pollwatcher credentials properly executed and signed shall be proof of the qualifications of the pollwatcher authorized thereby. Such credentials are retained by the Judges and returned to the Election Authority at the end of the day of election with the other election materials. Once a pollwatcher has surrendered a valid credential, he may leave and reenter the polling place provided that such continuing action does not disrupt the conduct of the election. Pollwatchers may be substituted during the course of the day, but established political parties, candidates, qualified civic organizations and proponents and opponents of a ballot proposition can have only as many pollwatchers at any given time as are authorized in this Article. A substitute must present his signed credential to the judges of election upon entering the polling place. Election authorities must provide a sufficient number of credentials to allow for substitution of pollwatchers. After the polls have closed, pollwatchers shall be allowed to remain until the canvass of votes is completed; but may leave and reenter only in cases of necessity, provided that such action is not so continuous as to disrupt the canvass of votes.

Candidates seeking office in a district or municipality encompassing 2 or more counties shall be admitted to any and all polling places throughout such district or municipality without regard to the counties in which such candidates are registered to vote. Actions of such candidates shall be governed in each polling place by the same privileges and limitations that apply to pollwatchers as provided in this Section. Any such candidate who engages in an activity in a polling place which could reasonably be construed by a majority of the judges of election as campaign activity shall be removed forthwith from such polling place.

Candidates seeking office in a district or municipality encompassing 2 or more counties who desire to be admitted to polling places on election day in such district or municipality shall be required to have proper credentials. Such credentials shall be printed in sufficient quantities, shall be issued by and under the facsimile signature of the election authority of the election jurisdiction where the polling place in which the candidate seeks admittance is located, and shall be available for distribution at least 2 weeks prior to the election. Such credentials shall be signed by the candidate.

Candidate credentials shall be in substantially the following form:

CANDIDATE CREDENTIALS TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:

In accordance with the provisions of the Election Code, I ...... (name of candidate) hereby certify that I am a candidate for ....... (name of office) and seek admittance to ....... precinct of the ....... ward (if applicable) of the ....... (township or municipality) of ....... at the ....... election to be held on (insert date).

......................... .......................

(Signature of Candidate) OFFICE FOR WHICH

CANDIDATE SEEKS

NOMINATION OR

ELECTION

Pollwatchers shall be permitted to observe all proceedings and view all reasonably requested records relating to the conduct of the election, provided the secrecy of the ballot is not impinged, and to station themselves in a position in the voting room as will enable them to observe the judges making the signature comparison between the voter application and the voter registration record card; provided, however, that such pollwatchers shall not be permitted to station themselves in such close proximity to the judges of election so as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election and shall not, in any event, be permitted to handle election materials. Pollwatchers may challenge for cause the voting qualifications of a person offering to vote and may call to the attention of the judges of election any incorrect procedure or apparent violations of this Code.

If a majority of the judges of election determine that the polling place has become too overcrowded with pollwatchers so as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election, the judges shall, by lot, limit such pollwatchers to a reasonable number, except that each candidate and each established or new political party shall be permitted to have at least one pollwatcher present.

Representatives of an election authority, with regard to an election under its jurisdiction, the State Board of Elections, and law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to a United States Attorney, a State's attorney, the Attorney General, and a State, county, or local police department, in the performance of their official election duties, shall be permitted at all times to enter and remain in the polling place. Upon entering the polling place, such representatives shall display their official credentials or other identification to the judges of election.

Uniformed police officers assigned to polling place duty shall follow all lawful instructions of the judges of election.

The provisions of this Section shall also apply to supervised casting of vote by mail ballots as provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-35) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-35)

Sec. 7-35. The election authority shall cause to be delivered to the primary judges of each precinct not less than 12 hours before the time fixed for the opening of the polls, the official primary ballot of each political party, and the number thereof for each political party in each precinct shall be 100 for each 50 votes cast in said precinct by said political party at the last preceding general primary election.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-36) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-36)

Sec. 7-36. The official primary ballots shall be put in separate sealed packages with marks on the outside thereof clearly designating the precinct for which they are intended, and the number of ballots enclosed for each political party and a receipt therefor shall be given by the primary judge to whom such ballots are delivered, which receipt shall be filed by the proper election authority in his office.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-37) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-37)

Sec. 7-37. The election authority shall provide and retain in his office until after the primary, an ample supply of extra primary ballots for each political party in each precinct, and if, at any time before or during the primary, ballots of any precinct shall be lost, destroyed or exhausted, on written application, signed by the primary judges of said precinct, or any of them, he shall immediately cause to be delivered to said primary judges such supply of extra ballots as may be required to comply with the provision of this article.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-38) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-38)

Sec. 7-38. The primaries herein provided for shall be held at the regular polling places now established, or which may hereafter be established, for the purposes of a general election.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-39) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-39)

Sec. 7-39. Upon the opening of the polls one of the primary judges shall make proclamation of the same. And at least thirty (30) minutes before the closing of the polls proclamation shall be made in like manner that the polls will be closed in half an hour.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-40) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-40)

Sec. 7-40. (a) Before voting begins, the ballot box shall be emptied and shall be opened and shown to those present to be empty, after which it shall be locked and the key delivered to one of the primary judges, and such ballot box shall not be removed from public view from the time it is shown to be empty until after the close of the polls. This paragraph (a) applies whenever permanent type ballot boxes are used, and does not apply when ballot boxes are used in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.

(b) The election authority charged with providing ballot boxes for the conduct of an election under this Article may provide non-permanent type ballot boxes as authorized under Section 15-1, paragraph (b), and Section 15-4, paragraph (b). When such ballot boxes are used, prior to the commencement of voting and before any ballots are deposited therein, the judges shall examine each such sealed ballot box, show it to those present and insure that it is in fact sealed and empty; the sealed slot shall be broken open before those present and the box inspected to insure that it is empty and such ballot box shall not be removed from public view from the time it is so inspected until after the close of the polls. The sealed opening on the side of the box shall not be unsealed or opened until after the close of the polls.

(Source: P.A. 77-6.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-41) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-41)

Sec. 7-41. (a) All officers upon whom is imposed by law the duty of designating and providing polling places for general elections, shall provide in each such polling place so designated and provided, a sufficient number of booths for such primary election, which booths shall be provided with shelves, such supplies and pencils as will enable the voter to prepare his ballot for voting and in which voters may prepare their ballots screened from all observation as to the manner in which they do so. Such booths shall be within plain view of the election officers and both they and the ballot boxes shall be within plain view of those within the proximity of the voting booths. No person other than election officers and the challengers allowed by law and those admitted for the purpose of voting, as hereinafter provided, shall be permitted within the proximity of the voting booths, except by authority of the primary officers to keep order and enforce the law.

(b) The number of such voting booths shall not be less than one to every seventy-five voters or fraction thereof, who voted at the last preceding election in the precinct or election district.

(c) No person shall do any electioneering or soliciting of votes on primary day within any polling place or within one hundred feet of any polling place, or, at the option of a church or private school, on any of the property of that church or private school that is a polling place. Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small United States national flags, or some other marker a distance of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting, which shall be known as the polling room. If the polling room is located within a building that is a private business, a public or private school, or a church or other organization founded for the purpose of religious worship and the distance of 100 horizontal feet ends within the interior of the building, then the markers shall be placed outside of the building at each entrance used by voters to enter that building on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfare or walkway. If the polling room is located within a public or private building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the polling room used by voters to engage in voting. If the polling room is located in a public or private building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on a floor above or below the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed a distance of 100 feet from the nearest elevator or staircase used by voters on the ground floor to access the floor where the polling room is located. The area within where the markers are placed shall be known as a campaign free zone, and electioneering is prohibited pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a church or private school may choose to apply the campaign free zone to its entire property, and, if so, the markers shall be placed near the boundaries on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfares or walkways leading to the entrances used by the voters. At or near the door of each polling place, the election judges shall place signage indicating the proper entrance to the polling place. In addition, the election judges shall ensure that a sign identifying the location of the polling place is placed on a nearby public roadway. The State Board of Elections shall establish guidelines for the placement of polling place signage.

The area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone, whether publicly or privately owned, is a public forum for the time that the polls are open on an election day. At the request of election officers any publicly owned building must be made available for use as a polling place. A person shall have the right to congregate and engage in electioneering on any polling place property while the polls are open beyond the campaign free zone, including but not limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection shall be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in electioneering on all polling place property beyond the campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an election day.

(d) The regulation of electioneering on polling place property on an election day, including but not limited to the placement of temporary signs, is an exclusive power and function of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate electioneering and any ordinance or local law contrary to subsection (c) is declared void. This is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(Source: P.A. 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-42) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-42)

Sec. 7-42. (a) Any person entitled to vote at such primary shall, on the day of such primary, with the consent of his employer, be entitled to absent himself from any service or employment in which he is then engaged or employed for a period of 2 hours between the time of opening and closing the polls. The employer may specify the hours during which said employee may absent himself.

(b) Beginning the 15th day before the primary election or on the day of the primary election, any student entitled to vote at such primary shall be entitled to be absent from school for a period of 2 hours during the school day in order to vote. The school may specify the hours during which the eligible student may be absent. A student who is absent from school under this subsection (b) is not considered absent for the purpose of calculating enrollment under Section 18-8.15 of the School Code.

(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-43) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-43)

Sec. 7-43. Every person having resided in this State 6 months and in the precinct 30 days next preceding any primary therein who shall be a citizen of the United States of the age of 18 or more years shall be entitled to vote at such primary.

The following regulations shall be applicable to primaries:

No person shall be entitled to vote at a primary:

(a) Unless he declares his party affiliations as required by this Article.

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank).

(c.5) If that person has participated in the town political party caucus, under Section 45-50 of the Township Code, of another political party by signing an affidavit of voters attending the caucus within 45 days before the first day of the calendar month in which the primary is held.

(d) (Blank).

In cities, villages, and incorporated towns having a board of election commissioners, only voters registered as provided by Article 6 of this Code shall be entitled to vote at such primary.

No person shall be entitled to vote at a primary unless he is registered under the provisions of Article 4, 5, or 6 of this Code, when his registration is required by any of said Articles to entitle him to vote at the election with reference to which the primary is held.

A person (i) who filed a statement of candidacy for a partisan office as a qualified primary voter of an established political party or (ii) who voted the ballot of an established political party at a general primary election may not file a statement of candidacy as a candidate of a different established political party, a new political party, or as an independent candidate for a partisan office to be filled at the general election immediately following the general primary for which the person filed the statement or voted the ballot. A person may file a statement of candidacy for a partisan office as a qualified primary voter of an established political party regardless of any prior filing of candidacy for a partisan office or voting the ballot of an established political party at any prior election.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-44) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-44)

Sec. 7-44. Any person desiring to vote at a primary shall state his name, residence and party affiliation to the primary judges, one of whom shall thereupon announce the same in a distinct tone of voice, sufficiently loud to be heard by all persons in the polling place. When article 4, 5 or 6 is applicable the Certificate of Registered Voter therein prescribed shall be made and signed and the official poll record shall be made. If the person desiring to vote is not challenged, one of the primary judges shall give to him one, and only one, primary ballot of the political party with which he declares himself affiliated, on the back of which such primary judge shall endorse his initials in such manner that they may be seen when the primary ballot is properly folded. If the person desiring to vote is challenged he shall not receive a primary ballot from the primary judges until he shall have established his right to vote as hereinafter provided. No person who refuses to state his party affiliation shall be allowed to vote at a primary.

A person who declares his party affiliation with a statewide established political party and requests a primary ballot of such party may nonetheless also declare his affiliation with a political party established only within a political subdivision, and may also vote in the primary of such local party on the same election day, provided that such voter may not vote in both such party primaries with respect to offices of the same political subdivision. However, no person declaring his affiliation with a statewide established political party may vote in the primary of any other statewide political party on the same election day.

(Source: P.A. 81-1535.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-45) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-45)

Sec. 7-45. Whenever a person offering to vote at a primary is challenged, and is not personally known to the judges of election to have the qualifications required in this Article to vote, the person so challenged shall make and subscribe an affidavit in the following form, which shall be presented to and retained by the primary judges and returned by them affixed to the primary poll book or with the official poll record:

State of Illinois)

)ss.

County of .......)

I, ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States, of the age of 18 years or over, and am qualified to vote under and by virtue of the Constitution and laws of the State of Illinois, and am a legally qualified voter of the precinct; that I now reside at ....(insert street and number, if any) in this precinct, and am a member of and affiliated with the .... party; that I have not voted at a primary of another political party within a period of 23 calendar months prior to the calendar month in which this primary is being held; and that I voted at the .... city, village, incorporated town, or town primary, with the .... political party at the .... election held in ...., .... which the .... political party was entitled at such primary to make nominations of candidates for city, village, incorporated town or town offices only, and for no other offices, and that the name or names of no candidate or candidates of the .... political party (the political party with which the primary elector declares himself affiliated) were, at such city, village, incorporated town or town primary, printed on the primary ballot; that I have not signed the petition for nomination of a candidate of a political party with which I am not affiliated, and that I have not signed the nominating papers of an independent candidate for any office for which office candidates for nomination are voted for at this primary. ......................... Subscribed and sworn to before me, this .... day of ...., .... ......................... Judge of Primary In addition to such affidavit the person so challenged shall provide to the judges of election proof of residence by producing two forms of identification showing the person's current residence address, provided that such identification may include not more than one piece of mail addressed to the person at his current residence address and postmarked not earlier than 30 days prior to the date of the primary election, or the person shall produce the affidavit of one voter of the precinct, who shall be a qualified voter at such primary, and who shall be personally known or proved to the judges to be a voter in the precinct, which affidavit shall be in the following form:

State of Illinois)

)ss.

County of........)

I,...., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a voter of this precinct and entitled to vote at this primary; that I am acquainted with ....(name of the party challenged), whose right to vote at this primary has been challenged; that I know him or her to be an actual bona fide resident of this precinct, and that he has resided herein 30 days, and I verily believe he or she has resided in this State 30 days next preceding this primary; that I verily believe he or she is a member of and affiliated with the .... party. ......................... Subscribed and sworn to before me, this .... day of ...., .... ......................... Judge of Primary (Source: P.A. 86-867.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-46) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-46)

Sec. 7-46. On receiving from the primary judges a primary ballot of his party, the primary elector shall forthwith and without leaving the polling place, retire alone to one of the voting booths and prepare such primary ballot by marking a cross (X) in the square in front of and opposite the name of each candidate of his choice for each office to be filled, and for delegates and alternate delegates to national nominating conventions, and for committeepersons, if committeepersons are being elected at such primary. A cross (X) in the square in front of the bracket enclosing the names of a team of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor counts as one vote for each of those candidates.

Any primary elector may, instead of voting for any candidate for nomination or for committeeperson or for delegate or alternate delegate to national nominating conventions, whose name is printed on the primary ballot, write in the name of any other person affiliated with such party as a candidate for the nomination for any office, or for committeeperson, or for delegates or alternate delegates to national nominating conventions, and indicate his choice of such candidate or committeeperson or delegate or alternate delegate, by placing to the left of and opposite the name thus written a square and placing in the square a cross (X). A primary elector, however, may not by this method vote separately for Governor and Lieutenant Governor but must write in the names of candidates of his or her choice for both offices and indicate his or her choice of those names by placing a single square to the left of those names and placing in that square a cross (X).

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-47) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-47)

Sec. 7-47. Before leaving the booth, the primary elector shall fold his primary ballot in such manner as to conceal the marks thereon. Such voter shall then vote forthwith by handing the primary judge the primary ballot received by such voter. Thereupon the primary judge shall deposit such primary ballot in the ballot box. One of the judges shall thereupon enter in the primary poll book the name of the primary elector, his residence and his party affiliation or shall make the entries on the official poll record as required by articles 4, 5 and 6, if any one of them is applicable.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 2220.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-47.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-47.1)

Sec. 7-47.1. (a) In the case of an emergency, as determined by the State Board of Elections, or if the Board determines that all potential polling places have been surveyed by the election authority and that no accessible polling place, as defined by rule of the State Board of Elections, is available within a precinct nor is the election authority able to make a polling place within the precinct temporarily accessible, the Board, upon written application by the election authority, is authorized to grant an exemption from the accessibility requirements of the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (Public Law 98-435). Such exemption shall be valid for a period of 2 years.

(b) Any temporarily or permanently physically disabled voter who, because of structural features of the building in which the polling place is located, is unable to access or enter the polling place, may request that 2 judges of election of opposite party affiliation deliver a ballot to him or her at the point where he or she is unable to continue forward motion toward the polling place; but, in no case, shall a ballot be delivered to the voter beyond 50 feet of the entrance to the building in which the polling place is located. Such request shall be made to the election authority not later than the close of business at the election authority's office on the day before the election and on a form prescribed by the State Board of Elections. The election authority shall notify the judges of election for the appropriate precinct polling places of such requests.

Weather permitting, 2 judges of election shall deliver to the disabled voter the ballot which he or she is entitled to vote, a portable voting booth or other enclosure that will allow such voter to mark his or her ballot in secrecy, and a marking device.

(c) The voter must complete the entire voting process, including the application for ballot from which the judges of election shall compare the voter's signature with the signature on his or her registration record card in the precinct binder.

After the voter has marked his or her ballot and placed it in the ballot envelope (or folded it in the manner prescribed for paper ballots), the 2 judges of election shall return the ballot to the polling place and give it to the judge in charge of the ballot box who shall deposit it therein.

Pollwatchers as provided in Sections 7-34 and 17-23 of this Code shall be permitted to accompany the judges and observe the above procedure.

No assistance may be given to such voter in marking his or her ballot, unless the voter requests assistance and completes the affidavit required by Section 17-14 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 84-808.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-48) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-48)

Sec. 7-48. Any primary elector who may declare upon oath, properly witnessed and with his or her signature or mark affixed, that he or she requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, physical disability or inability to read, write or speak the English language, shall, upon request, be assisted in marking his or her primary ballot in the same manner as provided by this Act for general elections.

(Source: P.A. 84-808.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-49) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-49)

Sec. 7-49. After the opening of the polls at a primary no adjournment shall be had nor recess taken until the canvass of all the votes is completed and the returns carefully enveloped and sealed.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 2220.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-50) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-50)

Sec. 7-50. The votes shall be canvassed in the room or place where the primary is held and the primary judges shall not allow the ballot box or any of the ballots, or the primary poll book, or any of the tally sheets to be removed or carried away from such room or polling place until the canvass of the votes is completed and the returns carefully enveloped and sealed.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-51) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-51)

Sec. 7-51. If the primary elector marks more names upon the primary ballot than there are persons to be nominated as candidates for an office, or for State central committeepersons, or precinct committeepersons, or township committeepersons, or ward committeepersons, or delegates or alternate delegates to National nominating conventions, or if for any reason it is impossible to determine the primary elector's choice of a candidate for the nomination for an office, or committeeperson, or delegate, his primary ballot shall not be counted for the nomination for such office or committeeperson.

No primary ballot, without the endorsement of the judge's initials thereon, shall be counted.

No judge shall omit to endorse his initials on a primary ballot, as required by this Article, nor shall any person not authorized so to do initial a primary ballot knowing that he is not so authorized.

Primary ballots not counted shall be marked "defective" on the back thereof; and primary ballots to which objections have been made by either of the primary judges or challengers shall be marked "objected to" on the back thereof; and a memorandum, signed by the primary judges, stating how it was counted, shall be written on the back of each primary ballot so marked; and all primary ballots marked "defective" or "objected to" shall be enclosed in an envelope and securely sealed, and so marked and endorsed as to clearly disclose its contents. The envelope to be used for enclosing ballots marked "defective" or "objected to" shall bear upon its face, in not less than 1 1/2 inch type, the legend: "This envelope is for use after 6:00 P.M. only." The envelope to be used for enclosing ballots spoiled by voters while attempting to vote shall bear upon its face, in not less than 1 1/2 inch type, the legend: "This envelope is for use before 6:00 P.M. only."

All primary ballots not voted, and all that have been spoiled by voters while attempting to vote, shall be returned to the proper election authority by the primary judges, and a receipt taken therefor, and shall be preserved 2 months. Such official shall keep a record of the number of primary ballots delivered for each polling place, and he or they shall also enter upon such record the number and character of primary ballots returned, with the time when and the persons by whom they are returned.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-52) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-52)

Sec. 7-52. Immediately upon closing the polls, the primary judges shall proceed to canvass the votes in the manner following:

(1) They shall separate and count the ballots of each political party.

(2) They shall then proceed to ascertain the number of names entered on the applications for ballot under each party affiliation.

(3) If the primary ballots of any political party exceed the number of applications for ballot by voters of such political party, the primary ballots of such political party shall be folded and replaced in the ballot box, the box closed, well shaken and again opened and one of the primary judges, who shall be blindfolded, shall draw out so many of the primary ballots of such political party as shall be equal to such excess. Such excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not Counted" and signed by a majority of the judges and shall be placed in the "After 6:00 p.m. Defective Ballots Envelope". The number of excess ballots shall be noted in the remarks section of the Certificate of Results. "Excess" ballots shall not be counted in the total of "defective" ballots.

(4) The primary judges shall then proceed to count the primary ballots of each political party separately; and as the primary judges shall open and read the primary ballots, 3 of the judges shall carefully and correctly mark upon separate tally sheets the votes which each candidate of the party whose name is written or printed on the primary ballot has received, in a separate column for that purpose, with the name of such candidate, the name of his political party and the name of the office for which he is a candidate for nomination at the head of such column. The same column, however, shall be used for both names of the same team of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this Section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 96-1018, eff. 1-1-11; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-53) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-53)

Sec. 7-53. As soon as the ballots of a political party shall have been read and the votes of the political party counted, as provided in the last above section, the 3 judges in charge of the tally sheets shall foot up the tally sheets so as to show the total number of votes cast for each candidate of the political party and for each candidate for State Central committeeperson and precinct committeeperson, township committeeperson or ward committeeperson, and delegate and alternate delegate to National nominating conventions, and certify the same to be correct. Thereupon, the primary judges shall set down in a certificate of results on the tally sheet, under the name of the political party, the name of each candidate voted for upon the primary ballot, written at full length, the name of the office for which he is a candidate for nomination or for committeeperson, or delegate or alternate delegate to National nominating conventions, the total number of votes which the candidate received, and they shall also set down the total number of ballots voted by the primary electors of the political party in the precinct. The certificate of results shall be made substantially in the following form: ................ Party At the primary election held in the .... precinct of the (1) *township of ...., or (2) *City of ...., or (3) *.... ward in the city of .... on (insert date), the primary electors of the .... party voted .... ballots, and the respective candidates whose names were written or printed on the primary ballot of the .... party, received respectively the following votes:

*Fill in either (1), (2) or (3).

And so on for each candidate.

We hereby certify the above and foregoing to be true and correct.

Dated (insert date). ................................... Name Address ................................... Name Address................................... Name Address................................... Name Address ................................... Name Address

Judges of Primary

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this Section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 and Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-54) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-54)

Sec. 7-54. After the votes of a political party have been counted and set down and the tally sheets footed and the entry made in the primary poll books or return, as above provided, all the primary ballots of said political party, except those marked "defective" or "objected to" shall be securely bound, lengthwise and in width, with a soft cord having a minimum tensile strength of 60 pounds separately for each political party in the order in which said primary ballots have been read, and shall thereupon be carefully sealed in an envelope, which envelope shall be endorsed as follows:

"Primary ballots of the.... party of the.... precinct of the county of.... and State of Illinois."

Below each endorsement, each primary judge shall write his name.

Immediately thereafter the judges shall designate one of their number to go to the nearest telephone and report to the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners (as the case may be) the results of such primary. Such clerk or board shall keep his or its office open after the close of the polls until he or it has received from each precinct under his or its jurisdiction the report above provided for. Immediately upon receiving such report such clerk or board shall cause the same to be posted in a public place in his or its office for inspection by the public. Immediately after making such report such judge shall return to the polling place.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 81-1433.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-55) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-55)

Sec. 7-55. The primary poll books or the official poll record, and the tally sheets with the certificates of the primary judges written thereon, together with the envelopes containing the ballots, including the envelope containing the ballots marked "defective" or "objected to", shall be carefully enveloped and sealed up together, properly endorsed, and the primary judges shall elect 2 judges (one from each of the major political parties), who shall immediately deliver the same to the clerk from whom the primary ballots were obtained, which clerk shall safely keep the same for 2 months, and thereafter shall safely keep the poll books until the next primary. Each election authority shall keep the office of the election authority, or any receiving stations designated by such authority, open for at least 12 consecutive hours after the polls close, or until the judges of each precinct under the jurisdiction of the election authority have delivered to the election authority all the above materials sealed up together and properly endorsed as provided herein. Materials delivered to the election authority which are not in the condition required by this Section shall not be accepted by the election authority until the judges delivering the same make and sign the necessary corrections. Upon acceptance of the materials by the election authority, the judges delivering the same shall take a receipt signed by the election authority and stamped with the time and date of such delivery. The election judges whose duty it is to deliver any materials as above provided shall, in the event such materials cannot be found when needed, on proper request, produce the receipt which they are to take as above provided.

The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall deliver a copy of each tally sheet to the county chairmen of the two largest political parties.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 and Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-56) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-56)

Sec. 7-56. As soon as complete returns are delivered to the proper election authority, the returns shall be canvassed for all primary elections as follows. The election authority acting as the canvassing board pursuant to Section 1-8 of this Code shall also open and canvass the returns of a primary. Upon the completion of the canvass of the returns by the election authority, the election authority shall make a tabulated statement of the returns for each political party separately, stating in appropriate columns and under proper headings, the total number of votes cast in said county for each candidate for nomination or election by said party, including candidates for President of the United States and for State central committeepersons, and for delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions, and for precinct committeepersons, township committeepersons, and for ward committeepersons. Within 2 days after the completion of said canvass by the election authority, the county clerk shall mail to the State Board of Elections a certified copy of such tabulated statement of returns. The election authority shall also determine and set down as to each precinct the number of ballots voted by the primary electors of each party at the primary.

In the case of the nomination or election of candidates for offices, including President of the United States and the State central committeepersons, and delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions, certified tabulated statement of returns for which are filed with the State Board of Elections, said returns shall be canvassed by the election authority. And, provided, further, that within 5 days after said returns shall be canvassed by the said Board, the Board shall cause to be published in one daily newspaper of general circulation at the seat of the State government in Springfield a certified statement of the returns filed in its office, showing the total vote cast in the State for each candidate of each political party for President of the United States, and showing the total vote for each candidate of each political party for President of the United States, cast in each of the several congressional districts in the State.

Within 48 hours of conducting a canvass, as required by this Code, of the consolidated primary, the election authority shall deliver an original certificate of results to each local election official, with respect to whose political subdivisions nominations were made at such primary, for each precinct in his jurisdiction in which such nominations were on the ballot. Such original certificate of results need not include any offices or nominations for any other political subdivisions.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-56.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-56.1)

Sec. 7-56.1. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall, upon request, and by mail if so requested, furnish free of charge to any candidate for State office, including State Senator and Representative in the General Assembly, whose name appeared upon the primary ballot within the jurisdiction of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, a copy of the abstract of votes by precinct for all candidates for the office for which such person was a candidate. Such abstract shall be furnished no later than 2 days after the receipt of the request or 8 days after the completing of the canvass, whichever is later.

(Source: P.A. 78-775.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-56.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-56.2)

Sec. 7-56.2. The provisions of this Article 7 governing the conduct of primaries for the nomination of officers of units of local government at the consolidated primary of odd numbered years, shall also govern the conduct of those municipal primaries held in even numbered years 6 weeks before the date of the general primary election pursuant to Article 2A of this Code. In applying the provisions of this Article to those even numbered year municipal elections, references to the "election" shall be construed to refer to the municipal election to be held on the day of the general primary, and references to the "consolidated primary" shall be construed to refer to the municipal primary of the even numbered year.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-57) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-57)

Sec. 7-57. The death of any candidate prior to, or on, the date of the primary shall not affect the canvass of the ballots. If the result of such canvass discloses that such candidate, if he had lived, would have been nominated, such candidate shall be declared nominated.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-58) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-58)

Sec. 7-58. Each county clerk or board of election commissioners shall, upon completion of the canvassing of the returns, make and transmit to the State Board of Elections and to each election authority whose duty it is to print the official ballot for the election for which the nomination is made a proclamation of the results of the primary. The proclamation shall state the name of each candidate of each political party so nominated or elected, as shown by the returns, together with the name of the office for which he or she was nominated or elected, including precinct, township and ward committeepersons, and including in the case of the State Board of Elections, candidates for State central committeepersons, and delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions. If a notice of contest is filed, the election authority shall, within one business day after receiving a certified copy of the court's judgment or order, amend its proclamation accordingly and proceed to file an amended proclamation with the appropriate election authorities and with the State Board of Elections.

The State Board of Elections shall issue a certificate of election to each of the persons shown by the returns and the proclamation thereof to be elected State central committeepersons, and delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions; and the county clerk shall issue a certificate of election to each person shown by the returns to be elected precinct, township or ward committeeperson. The certificate issued to such precinct committeeperson shall state the number of ballots voted in his or her precinct by the primary electors of his or her party at the primary at which he or she was elected. The certificate issued to such township committeeperson shall state the number of ballots voted in his or her township or part of a township, as the case may be, by the primary electors of his or her party at the primary at which he or she was elected. The certificate issued to such ward committeeperson shall state the number of ballots voted in his or her ward by the primary electors of his or her party at the primary at which he or she was elected.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-59) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-59)

Sec. 7-59. (a) The person receiving the highest number of votes at a primary as a candidate of a party for the nomination for an office shall be the candidate of that party for such office, and his name as such candidate shall be placed on the official ballot at the election then next ensuing; provided that where there are 2 or more persons to be nominated for the same office or board, the requisite number of persons receiving the highest number of votes shall be nominated, and their names shall be placed on the official ballot at the following election.

Except as otherwise provided by Section 7-8 of this Code, the person receiving the highest number of votes of his party for State central committeeperson of his congressional district shall be declared elected State central committeeperson from said congressional district.

Unless a national political party specifies that delegates and alternate delegates to a National nominating convention be allocated by proportional selection representation according to the results of a Presidential preference primary, the requisite number of persons receiving the highest number of votes of their party for delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions from the State at large, and the requisite number of persons receiving the highest number of votes of their party for delegates and alternate delegates to National nominating conventions in their respective congressional districts shall be declared elected delegates and alternate delegates to the National nominating conventions of their party.

A political party which elects the members to its State Central Committee by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of Section 7-8 shall select its congressional district delegates and alternate delegates to its national nominating convention by proportional selection representation according to the results of a Presidential preference primary in each congressional district in the manner provided by the rules of the national political party and the State Central Committee, when the rules and policies of the national political party so require.

A political party which elects the members to its State Central Committee by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of Section 7-8 shall select its at large delegates and alternate delegates to its national nominating convention by proportional selection representation according to the results of a Presidential preference primary in the whole State in the manner provided by the rules of the national political party and the State Central Committee, when the rules and policies of the national political party so require.

The person receiving the highest number of votes of his party for precinct committeeperson of his precinct shall be declared elected precinct committeeperson from said precinct.

The person receiving the highest number of votes of his party for township committeeperson of his township or part of a township as the case may be, shall be declared elected township committeeperson from said township or part of a township as the case may be. In cities where ward committeepersons are elected, the person receiving the highest number of votes of his party for ward committeeperson of his ward shall be declared elected ward committeeperson from said ward.

When 2 or more persons receive an equal and the highest number of votes for the nomination for the same office or for committeeperson of the same political party, or where more than one person of the same political party is to be nominated as a candidate for office or committeeperson, if it appears that more than the number of persons to be nominated for an office or elected committeeperson have the highest and an equal number of votes for the nomination for the same office or for election as committeeperson, the election authority by which the returns of the primary are canvassed shall decide by lot which of said persons shall be nominated or elected, as the case may be. In such case the election authority shall issue notice in writing to such persons of such tie vote stating therein the place, the day (which shall not be more than 5 days thereafter) and the hour when such nomination or election shall be so determined.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, write-in votes shall be counted only for persons who have filed notarized declarations of intent to be write-in candidates with the proper election authority or authorities not later than 61 days prior to the primary. However, whenever an objection to a candidate's nominating papers or petitions for any office is sustained under Section 10-10 after the 61st day before the election, then write-in votes shall be counted for that candidate if he or she has filed a notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for that office with the proper election authority or authorities not later than 7 days prior to the election.

Forms for the declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall be supplied by the election authorities. Such declaration shall specify the office for which the person seeks nomination or election as a write-in candidate.

The election authority or authorities shall deliver a list of all persons who have filed such declarations to the election judges in the appropriate precincts prior to the primary.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, where the number of candidates whose names have been printed on a party's ballot for nomination for or election to an office at a primary is less than the number of persons the party is entitled to nominate for or elect to the office at the primary, a person whose name was not printed on the party's primary ballot as a candidate for nomination for or election to the office, is not nominated for or elected to that office as a result of a write-in vote at the primary unless the number of votes he received equals or exceeds the number of signatures required on a petition for nomination for that office; or unless the number of votes he receives exceeds the number of votes received by at least one of the candidates whose names were printed on the primary ballot for nomination for or election to the same office.

(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply where the number of candidates whose names have been printed on the party's ballot for nomination for or election to the office at the primary equals or exceeds the number of persons the party is entitled to nominate for or elect to the office at the primary.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-60) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-60)

Sec. 7-60. Not less than 74 days before the date of the general election, the State Board of Elections shall certify to the county clerks the names of each of the candidates who have been nominated as shown by the proclamation of the State Board of Elections as a canvassing board or who have been nominated to fill a vacancy in nomination and direct the election authority to place upon the official ballot for the general election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification, except as otherwise provided in this Code.

Except as otherwise provided in this Code, not less than 68 days before the date of the general election, each county clerk shall certify the names of each of the candidates for county offices who have been nominated as shown by the proclamation of the county election authority or who have been nominated to fill a vacancy in nomination and declare that the names of such candidates for the respective offices shall be placed upon the official ballot for the general election in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification, except as otherwise provided by this Section. Each county clerk shall place a copy of the certification on file in his or her office and at the same time issue to the State Board of Elections a copy of such certification. In addition, each county clerk in whose county there is a board of election commissioners shall, not less than 68 days before the date of the general election, issue to such board a copy of the certification that has been filed in the county clerk's office, together with a copy of the certification that has been issued to the clerk by the State Board of Elections, with directions to the board of election commissioners to place upon the official ballot for the general election in that election jurisdiction the names of all candidates that are listed on such certifications, in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon such certifications, except as otherwise provided in this Section.

Whenever there are two or more persons nominated by the same political party for multiple offices for any board, the name of the candidate of such party receiving the highest number of votes in the primary election as a candidate for such office, as shown by the official election returns of the primary, shall be certified first under the name of such offices, and the names of the remaining candidates of such party for such offices shall follow in the order of the number of votes received by them respectively at the primary election as shown by the official election results.

No person who is shown by the final proclamation to have been nominated or elected at the primary as a write-in candidate shall have his or her name certified unless such person shall have filed with the certifying office or board within 10 days after the election authority's proclamation a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10, a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1, and a receipt for the filing of a statement of economic interests in relation to the unit of government to which he or she has been elected or nominated.

Each county clerk and board of election commissioners shall determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of established political party candidates for the general election ballot. Such determination shall be made within 30 days following the canvass and proclamation of the results of the general primary in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners and shall be open to the public. Seven days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given, by each such election authority, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each election authority shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the election authority office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. However, a board of election commissioners may elect to place established political party candidates on the general election ballot in the same order determined by the county clerk of the county in which the city under the jurisdiction of such board is located.

Each certification shall indicate, where applicable, the following:

(1) The political party affiliation of the candidates for the respective offices;

(2) If there is to be more than one candidate elected to an office from the State, political subdivision or district;

(3) If the voter has the right to vote for more than one candidate for an office;

(4) The term of office, if a vacancy is to be filled for less than a full term or if the offices to be filled in a political subdivision are for different terms.

The State Board of Elections or the county clerk, as the case may be, shall issue an amended certification whenever it is discovered that the original certification is in error.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-60.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-60.1)

Sec. 7-60.1. Certification of candidates - consolidated election. Each local election official of a political subdivision in which candidates for the respective local offices are nominated at the consolidated primary shall, no later than 5 days following the canvass and proclamation of the results of the consolidated primary, certify to each election authority whose duty it is to prepare the official ballot for the consolidated election in that political subdivision the names of each of the candidates who have been nominated as shown by the proclamation of the appropriate election authority or who have been nominated to fill a vacancy in nomination and direct the election authority to place upon the official ballot for the consolidated election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification, except as otherwise provided by this Section.

Whenever there are two or more persons nominated by the same political party for multiple offices for any board, the name of the candidate of such party receiving the highest number of votes in the consolidated primary election as a candidate for such consolidated primary, shall be certified first under the name of such office, and the names of the remaining candidates of such party for such offices shall follow in the order of the number of votes received by them respectively at the consolidated primary election as shown by the official election results.

No person who is shown by the election authority's proclamation to have been nominated at the consolidated primary as a write-in candidate shall have his or her name certified unless such person shall have filed with the certifying office or board within 5 days after the election authority's proclamation a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10 and a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1.

Each board of election commissioners of the cities in which established political party candidates for city offices are nominated at the consolidated primary shall determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of the established political party candidates for the consolidated ballot. Such determination shall be made within 5 days following the canvass and proclamation of the results of the consolidated primary and shall be open to the public. Three days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given, by each such election authority, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each election authority shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the election authority office, notice of the time and place of such lottery.

Each local election official of a political subdivision in which established political party candidates for the respective local offices are nominated by primary shall determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of the established political party candidates for the consolidated election ballot and, in the case of certain municipalities having annual elections, on the general primary ballot for election. Such determination shall be made prior to the canvass and proclamation of results of the consolidated primary or special municipal primary, as the case may be, in the office of the local election official and shall be open to the public. Three days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given, by each such local election official, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each local election official shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place notice of such lottery. Immediately thereafter, the local election official shall certify the ballot placement order so determined to the proper election authorities charged with the preparation of the consolidated election, or general primary, ballot for that political subdivision.

Not less than 68 days before the date of the consolidated election, each local election official of a political subdivision in which established political party candidates for the respective local offices have been nominated by caucus or have been nominated because no primary was required to be held shall certify to each election authority whose duty it is to prepare the official ballot for the consolidated election in that political subdivision the names of each of the candidates whose certificates of nomination or nomination papers have been filed in his or her office and direct the election authority to place upon the official ballot for the consolidated election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification. Such local election official shall, prior to certification, determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of the established political party candidates for the consolidated election ballot. Such determination shall be made in the office of the local election official and shall be open to the public. Three days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given by each such local election official to the county chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each local election official shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. The local election official shall certify the ballot placement order so determined as part of his official certification of candidates to the election authorities whose duty it is to prepare the official ballot for the consolidated election in that political subdivision.

The certification shall indicate, where applicable, the following:

(1) The political party affiliation of the candidates for the respective offices;

(2) If there is to be more than one candidate elected or nominated to an office from the State, political subdivision or district;

(3) If the voter has the right to vote for more than one candidate for an office;

(4) The term of office, if a vacancy is to be filled for less than a full term or if the offices to be filled in a political subdivision or district are for different terms.

The local election official shall issue an amended certification whenever it is discovered that the original certification is in error.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-61) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-61)

Sec. 7-61. Whenever a special election is necessary, the provisions of this Article are applicable to the nomination of candidates to be voted for at such special election.

In cases where a primary election is required, the officer or board or commission whose duty it is under the provisions of this Code relating to general elections to call an election shall fix a date for the primary for the nomination of candidates to be voted for at such special election. Notice of such primary shall be given at least 15 days prior to the maximum time provided for the filing of petitions for such a primary as provided in Section 7-12.

Any vacancy in nomination under the provisions of this Article 7 occurring on or after the primary and prior to certification of candidates by the certifying board or officer must be filled prior to the date of certification. Any vacancy in nomination occurring after certification but prior to 15 days before the general election shall be filled within 8 days after the event creating the vacancy. The resolution filling the vacancy shall be sent by U. S. mail or personal delivery to the certifying officer or board within 3 days of the action by which the vacancy was filled; provided, if such resolution is sent by mail and the U. S. postmark on the envelope containing such resolution is dated prior to the expiration of such 3-day limit, the resolution shall be deemed filed within such 3-day limit. Failure to so transmit the resolution within the time specified in this Section shall authorize the certifying officer or board to certify the original candidate. Vacancies shall be filled by the officers of a local municipal or township political party as specified in subsection (h) of Section 7-8, other than a statewide political party, that is established only within a municipality or township and the managing committee (or legislative committee in case of a candidate for State Senator or representative committee in the case of a candidate for State Representative in the General Assembly or State central committee in the case of a candidate for statewide office, including, but not limited to, the office of United States Senator) of the respective political party for the territorial area in which such vacancy occurs.

The resolution to fill a vacancy in nomination shall be duly acknowledged before an officer qualified to take acknowledgments of deeds and shall include, upon its face, the following information:

(a) the name of the original nominee and the office vacated;

(b) the date on which the vacancy occurred;

(c) the name and address of the nominee selected to fill the vacancy and the date of selection.

The resolution to fill a vacancy in nomination shall be accompanied by a Statement of Candidacy, as prescribed in Section 7-10, completed by the selected nominee and a receipt indicating that such nominee has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.

The provisions of Section 10-8 through 10-10.1 relating to objections to certificates of nomination and nomination papers, hearings on objections, and judicial review, shall apply to and govern objections to resolutions for filling a vacancy in nomination.

Any vacancy in nomination occurring 15 days or less before the consolidated election or the general election shall not be filled. In this event, the certification of the original candidate shall stand and his name shall appear on the official ballot to be voted at the general election.

A vacancy in nomination occurs when a candidate who has been nominated under the provisions of this Article 7 dies before the election (whether death occurs prior to, on or after the day of the primary), or declines the nomination; provided that nominations may become vacant for other reasons.

If the name of no established political party candidate was printed on the consolidated primary ballot for a particular office and if no person was nominated as a write-in candidate for such office, a vacancy in nomination shall be created which may be filled in accordance with the requirements of this Section. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, if the name of no established political party candidate was printed on the general primary ballot for a particular office and if no person was nominated as a write-in candidate for such office, a vacancy in nomination shall be filled only by a person designated by the appropriate committee of the political party and only if that designated person files nominating petitions with the number of signatures required for an established party candidate for that office within 75 days after the day of the general primary. The circulation period for those petitions begins on the day the appropriate committee designates that person. The person shall file his or her nominating petitions, statements of candidacy, notice of appointment by the appropriate committee, and receipt of filing his or her statement of economic interests together. These documents shall be filed at the same location as provided in Section 7-12. The electoral boards having jurisdiction under Section 10-9 to hear and pass upon objections to nominating petitions also shall hear and pass upon objections to nomination petitions filed by candidates under this paragraph.

A candidate for whom a nomination paper has been filed as a partisan candidate at a primary election, and who is defeated for his or her nomination at such primary election, is ineligible to be listed on the ballot at that general or consolidated election as a candidate of another political party.

A candidate seeking election to an office for which candidates of political parties are nominated by caucus who is a participant in the caucus and who is defeated for his or her nomination at such caucus is ineligible to be listed on the ballot at that general or consolidated election as a candidate of another political party.

In the proceedings to nominate a candidate to fill a vacancy or to fill a vacancy in the nomination, each precinct, township, ward, county, or congressional district, as the case may be, shall, through its representative on such central or managing committee, be entitled to one vote for each ballot voted in such precinct, township, ward, county, or congressional district, as the case may be, by the primary electors of its party at the primary election immediately preceding the meeting at which such vacancy is to be filled.

For purposes of this Section, the words "certify" and "certification" shall refer to the act of officially declaring the names of candidates entitled to be printed upon the official ballot at an election and directing election authorities to place the names of such candidates upon the official ballot. "Certifying officers or board" shall refer to the local election official, the election authority, or the State Board of Elections, as the case may be, with whom nomination papers, including certificates of nomination and resolutions to fill vacancies in nomination, are filed and whose duty it is to certify candidates.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-62) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-62)

Sec. 7-62. In cities having a board of election commissioners, the duties herein imposed upon the county, city, incorporated town or village clerk, as the case may be, shall be discharged by the board of election commissioners in the same manner, as near as may be, and to the same extent and with like effect that the similar duties imposed by this Article are discharged by the county, city, incorporated town or village clerk, as the case may be; and the ballots for the nomination of all candidates to be voted for in such city shall be printed by the board of election commissioners and the returns of the primary held in such city shall be made to such board of election commissioners.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-63) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-63)

Sec. 7-63. Any candidate whose name appears upon the primary ballot of any political party may contest the election of the candidate or candidates nominated for the office for which he or she was a candidate by his or her political party, upon the face of the returns, by filing with the clerk of the circuit court a petition in writing, setting forth the grounds of contest, which petition shall be verified by the affidavit of the petitioner or other person, and which petition shall be filed within 10 days after the completion of the canvass of the returns by the election authority making the final canvass of returns. The contestant shall also file with that election authority (and if for the nomination for an office, certified tabulated statements of the returns of which are to be filed with the State Board of Elections, also with the election authorities in whose jurisdiction the election was held), a notice of the pendency of the contest.

If the contest relates to an office involving more than one county, the venue of the contest is (a) in the county in which the alleged grounds of the contest exist or (b) if grounds for the contest are alleged to exist in more than one county, then in any of those counties or in the county in which any defendant resides.

Authority and jurisdiction are hereby vested in the circuit court, to hear and determine primary contests. When a petition to contest a primary is filed in the office of the clerk of the court, the petition shall forthwith be presented to a judge thereof, who shall note thereon the date of presentation, and shall note thereon the day when the petition will be heard, which shall not be more than 10 days thereafter.

Summons shall forthwith issue to each defendant named in the petition and shall be served for the same manner as is provided for other civil cases. Summons may be issued and served in any county in the State. The case may be heard and determined by the circuit court at any time not less than 5 days after service of process, and shall have preference in the order of hearing to all other cases. The petitioner shall give security for all costs.

Any defendant may file a counterclaim in the same manner as in other civil cases.

The court shall ascertain and declare by a judgment to be entered of record, the result of such election. The judgment of the court shall be appealable as in other civil cases. A certified copy of the judgment shall forthwith be made by the clerk of the court and transmitted to the election authority canvassing the returns for such office, and in case of contest, if for nomination for an office, tabulated statements of returns for which are filed with the State Board of Elections, also in the office of the election authorities having jurisdiction. The proper election authority or authorities, as the case may be, shall correct the returns or the tabulated statement of returns in accordance with the judgment.

(Source: P.A. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06.)