65 ILCS 5/ Illinois Municipal Code.

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-20-35) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-20-35)

Sec. 3.1-20-35. Determining terms.

(a) Alderpersons elected at the first election for city officers after the election of alderpersons for the initial terms provided for in Section 2-2-11 shall draw lots to determine which alderpersons in each ward shall hold office for a 4 year term, and until a successor is elected and has qualified, and which alderpersons in each ward shall hold office for a 2 year term, and until a successor is elected and has qualified. All alderpersons thereafter elected shall hold office for a term of 4 years, and until their successors are elected and have qualified, except in cities that adopt a 2 year term under Section 3.1-10-65 and except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1-20-20.

(b) If a city that has had the minority representation plan has voted not to retain the plan, then at the first election for city officers following the vote 2 alderpersons shall be elected from each ward in the city and their terms shall be staggered in the manner set forth in subsection (a). The tenure of these alderpersons and their successors shall be the same as that stated in subsection (a).

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

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-20-40) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-20-40)

Sec. 3.1-20-40. Other officers; election rather than appointment. Instead of providing for the appointment of the following officers as provided in Section 3.1-30-5, the city council, in its discretion, may provide by ordinance passed by a two-thirds vote of all the alderpersons elected for the election by the electors of the city of a city collector, a city marshal, a city superintendent of streets, a corporation counsel, a city comptroller, or any of them, and any other officers which the city council considers necessary or expedient. By ordinance or resolution, to take effect at the end of the current fiscal year, the city council, by a like vote, may discontinue any office so created and devolve the duties of that office on any other city officer. After discontinuance of an office, no officer filling that office before its discontinuance shall have any claim against the city for salary alleged to accrue after the date of discontinuance.

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

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-20-45)

Sec. 3.1-20-45. Nonpartisan primary elections; uncontested office. A city incorporated under this Code that elects municipal officers at nonpartisan primary and general elections shall conduct the elections as provided in the Election Code, except that no office for which nomination is uncontested shall be included on the primary ballot and no primary shall be held for that office. For the purposes of this Section, an office is uncontested when not more than 4 persons to be nominated for each office have timely filed valid nominating papers seeking nomination for the election to that office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a person (i) who has not timely filed valid nomination papers and (ii) who intends to become a write-in candidate for nomination for any office for which nomination is uncontested files a written statement or notice of that intent with the proper election official with whom the nomination papers for that office are filed, no primary ballot shall be printed. Where no primary is held, a person intending to become a write-in candidate at the general primary election shall refile a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the general election with the appropriate election authority or authorities.

If there is a primary election, then candidates shall be placed on the ballot for the next succeeding general municipal election in the following manner:

(1) If one officer is to be elected, then the 2 candidates who receive the highest number of votes shall be placed on the ballot for the next succeeding general municipal election.

(2) If 2 alderpersons are to be elected at large, then the 4 candidates who receive the highest number of votes shall be placed on the ballot for the next succeeding general municipal election.

(3) If 3 alderpersons are to be elected at large, then the 6 candidates who receive the highest number of votes shall be placed on the ballot for the next succeeding general municipal election.

The name of a write-in candidate may not be placed on the ballot for the next succeeding general municipal election unless he or she receives a number of votes in the primary election that equals or exceeds the number of signatures required on a petition for nomination for that office or that 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.

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

(65 ILCS 5/Art. 3.1 Div. 25 heading) DIVISION 25. ELECTED VILLAGE AND INCORPORATED TOWN OFFICERS

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-5) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-5)

Sec. 3.1-25-5. Trustees; terms. In each village incorporated under this Code, the electors of the village shall elect 6 trustees. The term of office of the trustees shall be 4 years and until their successors are elected and have qualified. Trustees elected at the first election for village officers after a village is incorporated, however, shall by lot designate one-half of their number, whose terms shall be 2 years and until their successors are elected and have qualified.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-10) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-10)

Sec. 3.1-25-10. Village board; composition; referendum. Any village board of a village of under 5,000 population incorporated under this Code may by resolution provide for a referendum on the question of whether the board of trustees shall be comprised of 4 members rather than 6 members. The referendum shall be held in accordance with the general election law. If a majority of those voting on the question vote in favor of reducing the number of trustees from 6 to 4, the number of trustees shall be reduced to 4. In order to provide for the transition from 6 member boards to 4 member boards, 2 trustees shall be elected at the general municipal election in each odd numbered year after the adoption of the referendum when trustees are elected for 4 year terms and at the general municipal election in each year after the adoption of the referendum when trustees are elected for 2 year terms. Any village that changes from a 6 member board to a 4 member board may thereafter return to a 6 member board by the same procedure.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-15) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-15)

Sec. 3.1-25-15. President and trustees; general election.

(a) The election for the president in villages shall be held at the general municipal election in accordance with the general election law.

(b) The election for trustees in villages shall be held in accordance with the general election law, except as provided in Section 3.1-25-70.

(c) The day upon which the elections provided for in this Section are to be held is subject to the provisions of the general election law.

(d) Every village or incorporated town incorporated and existing under a special Act that has, before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992, held a general municipal election in even numbered years may continue to do so. Every village or incorporated town may also hold annual municipal elections if it is necessary to comply with the provisions of Section 3.1-25-70.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-20) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-20)

Sec. 3.1-25-20. Primary election. A village incorporated under this Code shall nominate and elect candidates for president and trustees in nonpartisan primary and general elections as provided in Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55 until the electors of the village vote to require the partisan election of the president and trustees at a referendum in the manner provided in Section 3.1-25-65 after January 1, 1992. The provisions of Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55 shall apply to all villages incorporated under this Code that have operated under those Sections without the adoption of those provisions by the referendum provided in Section 3.1-25-60 as well as those villages that have adopted those provisions by the referendum provided in Section 3.1-25-60 until the electors of those villages vote to require the partisan election of the president and trustees in the manner provided in Section 3.1-25-65. Villages that have nominated and elected candidates for president and trustees in partisan elections prior to January 1, 1992, may continue to hold partisan elections without conducting a referendum in the manner provided in Section 3.1-25-65. All candidates for nomination to be voted for at all general municipal elections at which a president or trustees, or both, are to be elected under this Article shall be nominated from the village at large by a primary election.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no primary shall be held in any village when the nomination for every office to be voted upon by the electors of the village is uncontested. If the nomination of candidates is uncontested as to one or more, but not all, of the offices to be voted upon by the electors of the village, then a primary must be held in the village, provided that the primary ballot shall not include those offices in the village for which the nomination is uncontested. For the purposes of this Section, an office is uncontested when not more than the number of persons to be nominated to the office have timely filed valid nominating papers seeking nomination for election to that office.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, when a person (i) who has not timely filed valid nomination papers and (ii) who intends to become a write-in candidate for nomination for any office for which nomination is uncontested files a written statement or notice of that intent with the proper election official with whom the nomination papers for that office are filed, a primary ballot must be prepared and a primary must be held for the office. The statement or notice must be filed on or before the 61st day before the consolidated primary election. The statement must contain (i) the name and address of the person intending to become a write-in candidate, (ii) a statement that the person intends to become a write-in candidate, and (iii) the office the person is seeking as a write-in candidate. An election authority has no duty to conduct a primary election or prepare a primary ballot unless a statement meeting the requirements of this paragraph is filed in a timely manner.

Only the names of those persons nominated in the manner prescribed in Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-65 shall be placed on the ballot at the general municipal election. The village clerk shall certify the offices to be filled and the candidates for those offices to the proper election authority as provided in the general election law. A primary for those offices, if required, shall be held in accordance with the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 91-57, eff. 6-30-99.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-30) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-30)

Sec. 3.1-25-30. Petition of candidacy. The petition in the nomination papers shall contain a number of signatures of electors residing within the same village as the candidate equal to at least 1% of the total vote cast at the last preceding election in the village for president. The petition shall be in substantially the form provided in the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-35) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-35)

Sec. 3.1-25-35. Primary ballots. The proper election authority, in accordance with the general election law, shall have the primary ballots printed in the same manner, in the same number, and within the same time as ballots are printed under the general election law, except as otherwise provided in this Code. If the office of president is to be filled in the succeeding general municipal election, the names of the candidates for president shall be placed first on the primary ballots, in substantially the form specified in this Section. Following these names shall appear the names of the candidates for trustees in substantially the form specified in this Section. The primary ballots shall comply with the general election law, except as otherwise provided in this Code. The ballots shall designate no party, platform, political principle, appellation, or mark, nor shall any circle be printed at the head of the primary ballots.

The primary ballots shall be in substantially the following form: OFFICIAL PRIMARY BALLOT CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATION

FOR (PRESIDENT AND)

TRUSTEES OF (NAME OF VILLAGE)

AT THE PRIMARY ELECTION. FOR PRESIDENT (VOTE FOR ONE) HENRY WHITE

JAMES SMITH

LARRY FRANG

RALPH WILSON FOR TRUSTEES (VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN (NUMBER)) THOMAS WILLIAMS

WILLIAM BURKE

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

EDWARD STUART

MARY KURTIS

G.E. HAUSMANN

ARTHUR ROBBINS

MARK TANDY

HARRY BROWN

JOSEPH TROUT

IMMANUEL KANT

ROBERT BUCK

GEORGE MILLER

SARAH TOLLER

(Source: P.A. 95-862, eff. 8-19-08.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-40) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-40)

Sec. 3.1-25-40. Ballots.

(a) If the office of president is to be filled, only the names of the 4 candidates receiving the highest number of votes for president shall be placed on the ballot for president at the next succeeding general municipal election. The names of candidates in a number equal to 4 times the number of trustee positions to be filled receiving the highest number of votes for trustee, or the names of all candidates if less than 4 times the number of trustee positions to be filled, shall be placed on the ballot for that office at the municipal election.

(b) An elector, however, at either a primary election or a general municipal election held under Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55, may write in the names of the candidates of that elector's choice in accordance with the general election law. If, however, the name of only one candidate for a particular office appeared on the primary ballot, the name of the person having the largest number of write-in votes shall not be placed upon the ballot at the general municipal election unless the number of votes received in the primary election by that person was at least 10% of the number of votes received by the candidate for the same office whose name appeared on the primary ballot.

(c) If a nominee at a general primary election dies or withdraws before the general municipal election, there shall be placed on the ballot the name of the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes, and so on in case of the death or withdrawal of more than one nominee.

(d) If in the application of this Section there occurs the condition provided for in Section 3.1-25-45, there shall be placed on the ballot the name of the candidate who was not chosen by lot under that Section where one of 2 tied candidates had been placed on the ballot before the death or withdrawal occurred. If, however, in the application of this Section, the candidate with the next highest number of votes cannot be determined because of a tie among 2 or more candidates, the successor nominee whose name shall be placed on the ballot shall be determined by lot as provided in Section 3.1-25-45.

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

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-45) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-45)

Sec. 3.1-25-45. Nomination; determination by lot. If, upon the canvass of the returns of the primary election specified in Section 3.1-25-20, the canvassing board finds that there are tied candidates for president or trustee so that the appropriate number of candidates receiving the highest number of votes cannot be determined, the canvassing board shall determine by lot which of the tied candidates shall be nominated for the positions for which they are tied. In these cases the canvassing board shall issue to the tied candidates written notice of the tie vote, stating in the notice the place, the day (which shall not be more than 5 days thereafter), and the hour when the nomination is to be so determined.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-50) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-50)

Sec. 3.1-25-50. General election; ballot positions. On the ballots for the general municipal election, if the office of president is to be filled, the names of the nominees for president shall be placed first, in substantially the form specified in this Section. Following these names, the names of the nominees for trustees shall appear under each office, in substantially the form specified in this Section.

The ballots shall be in the form provided by the general election law, except as otherwise provided in this Code, but they shall designate no party, platform, political principle, appellation, or mark, nor shall any circle be printed at the head of the ballots. The ballots shall be in substantially the following form: OFFICIAL BALLOT NOMINEES FOR (PRESIDENT AND) TRUSTEES OF (NAME OF

VILLAGE) AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT (VOTE FOR ONE) JAMES SMITH

LARRY FRANG FOR TRUSTEES (VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN (NUMBER)) EDWARD STUART

ROBERT BUCK

GEORGE MILLER

WILLIAM BURKE

ARTHUR ROBBINS

HARRY BROWN

(Source: P.A. 95-862, eff. 8-19-08.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-55) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-55)

Sec. 3.1-25-55. General election; election contests. All general municipal elections under Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-50 shall be held, conducted, and contested under the general election law, except that the contest of the election of president and trustees shall be conducted in the circuit court and the board of trustees shall not be the judge of the election and qualification of its members.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-60) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-60)

Sec. 3.1-25-60. Referendum to require primary elections. Any village incorporated under this Code that has not adopted the provisions of Section 3.1-25-45 or Articles 4, 5, or 6 of this Code may, by a vote of the electors of the village as provided in this Section, elect to require candidates for president and trustees to run in primary elections as provided in Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55.

The question of requiring candidates for president and trustees to run in primary elections as provided in Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55 shall be certified by the village clerk to the proper election authority, who shall submit the proposition to the electors of the village upon a resolution adopted by the council or upon petition filed with the village clerk and signed by electors of the village equal in number to at least 10% of the number of votes cast for the candidates for president at the last preceding general municipal election. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

Shall candidates for president and trustees of (name of village) be elected in nonpartisan primary and general elections?

If a majority of the electors in the village voting on the question vote in the affirmative, candidates for president and trustees of the village shall be elected as provided in Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-65) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-65)

Sec. 3.1-25-65. Referendum to discontinue primary elections. Any village operating under the provisions of Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55 may by referendum elect to have the president and trustees nominated and elected at partisan primary and general elections.

The question may be submitted to the electors of the village by the council or upon a petition signed by electors of the village equal in number to at least 10% of the number of votes cast for candidates for president at the last preceding general municipal election. The question shall be certified by the village clerk to the proper election authorities, who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

Shall candidates for president and trustees of (name of village) no longer be elected in nonpartisan primary and general elections?

If a majority of the electors in the village voting on the question vote in the affirmative, candidates for president and trustees shall no longer be elected as provided in Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-70) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-70)

Sec. 3.1-25-70. Trustees under special Acts.

(a) In every village and incorporated town incorporated and existing under any special Act that, before June 4, 1909, pursuant to any special Act, annually elected members of its legislative body, the electors in the village or incorporated town, instead of the legislative body now provided for by law, shall elect 6 trustees. They shall hold their offices until their respective successors are elected and have qualified. At the first meeting of this board of 6 trustees, the terms of office of the trustees shall be staggered, and thereafter shall be for the same length of time as provided for alderpersons in Section 3.1-20-35.

(b) The electors of the village or incorporated town may, however, adopt a 2 year term for their trustees as provided in Section 3.1-10-65. If this 2 year term is adopted, then at the next general municipal election in the adopting village or incorporated town, 3 trustees shall be elected, and they shall hold their offices for terms of one year each. In the next succeeding year, and in each year thereafter, 3 trustees shall be elected in the adopting village or incorporated town, and they shall hold their offices for terms of 2 years each.

(c) A village or incorporated town that, before January 1, 1942, has adopted a 2 year term for its trustees and is now electing 3 trustees each year shall continue to elect 3 trustees each year for a term of 2 years each. A village or incorporated town that, before January 1, 1942, has adopted a 2 year term for its trustees but is not now electing 3 trustees each year shall elect 3 trustees at the next general municipal election in that municipality, and they shall hold their offices for terms of one year each. In the next succeeding year, and in each year thereafter, 3 trustees shall be elected, and they shall hold their offices for terms of 2 years each.

(d) This Section shall not apply to or change the method of election of the members of the legislative body of incorporated towns that have superseded civil townships.

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

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-75) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-75)

Sec. 3.1-25-75. Districts; election of trustees.

(a) After a village with a population of 5,000 or more adopts the provisions of this Section in the manner prescribed in Section 3.1-25-80, the board of trustees by ordinance shall divide and, whenever necessary thereafter, shall redistrict the village into 6 compact and contiguous districts of approximately equal population as required by law. This redistricting shall be completed not less than 30 days before the first day for the filing of nominating petitions for the next succeeding election of village officers held in accordance with the general election law.

(b) Each of the districts shall be represented by one trustee who shall have been an actual resident of the district for at least 6 months immediately before his or her election in the first election after a redistricting, unless the trustee is a resident of a newly incorporated municipality. Only the electors of a district shall elect the trustee from that district.

(c) The provisions of this Code relating to terms of office of alderpersons in cities shall also apply to the terms of office of trustees under this Section.

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

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-80) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-25-80)

Sec. 3.1-25-80. Referendum; districting and election of trustees. If a petition signed by not less than 5% of the electors of a village with a population of 5,000 or more requests that the question of districting the village and electing trustees, one from each district, be submitted to the electors of the village, this question shall be certified by the municipal clerk to the proper election authority, who shall submit the proposition at the next general state or municipal election in the village. The petition shall be presented in accordance with the general election law.

The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

Shall the village be divided into 6 districts with one trustee elected from each district?

If the question receives the favorable vote of a majority of all votes cast on the proposition, the board of trustees shall proceed to district the village, and the election of trustees for the village thereafter shall be in accordance with Section 3.1-25-75.

(Source: P.A. 87-1119.)