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91_HB2269 LRB9104704MWgc 1 AN ACT to amend the Election Code by changing Sections 2 7-15, 12-1, 17-9, 18-5, 24A-10, 24A-15.1, 24B-10, and 3 24B-15.1 and by adding Article 19A. 4 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 5 represented in the General Assembly: 6 Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing 7 Sections 7-15, 12-1, 17-9, 18-5, 24A-10, 24A-15.1, 24B-10, 8 and 24B-15.1 and by adding Article 19A as follows: 9 (10 ILCS 5/7-15) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-15) 10 Sec. 7-15. At least 60 days prior to each general and 11 consolidated primary, the election authority shall provide 12 public notice, calculated to reach elderly and handicapped 13 voters, of the availability of registration and voting aids 14 under the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 15 Handicapped Act, of the availability of assistance in marking 16 the ballot,andprocedures for voting by absentee ballot, and 17 procedures for early voting by personal appearance. At least 18 20 days before the general primary the county clerk of each 19 county, and not more than 30 nor less than 10 days before the 20 consolidated primary the election authority, shall prepare in 21 the manner provided in this Act, a notice of such primary 22 which notice shall state the time and place of holding the 23 primary, the hours during which the polls will be open, the 24 offices for which candidates will be nominated at such 25 primary and the political parties entitled to participate 26 therein, notwithstanding that no candidate of any such 27 political party may be entitled to have his name printed on 28 the primary ballot. Such notice shall also include the list 29 of addresses of precinct polling places for the consolidated 30 primary unless such list is separately published by the 31 election authority not less than 10 days before the -2- LRB9104704MWgc 1 consolidated primary. 2 In counties, municipalities, or towns having fewer than 3 500,000 inhabitants notice of the general primary shall be 4 published once in two or more newspapers published in the 5 county, municipality or town, as the case may be, or if there 6 is no such newspaper, then in any two or more newspapers 7 published in the county and having a general circulation 8 throughout the community. 9 In counties, municipalities, or towns having 500,000 or 10 more inhabitants notice of the general primary shall be 11 published at least 15 days prior to the primary by the same 12 authorities and in the same manner as notice of election for 13 general elections are required to be published in counties, 14 municipalities or towns of 500,000 or more inhabitants under 15 this Act. 16 Notice of the consolidated primary shall be published 17 once in one or more newspapers published in each political 18 subdivision having such primary, and if there is no such 19 newspaper, then published once in a local, community 20 newspaper having general circulation in the subdivision, and 21 also once in a newspaper published in the county wherein the 22 political subdivisions, or portions thereof, having such 23 primary are situated. 24 (Source: P.A. 84-808.) 25 (10 ILCS 5/12-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 12-1) 26 Sec. 12-1. At least 60 days prior to each general and 27 consolidated election, the election authority shall provide 28 public notice, calculated to reach elderly and handicapped 29 voters, of the availability of registration and voting aids 30 under the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 31 Handicapped Act, of the availability of assistance in marking 32 the ballot,andprocedures for voting by absentee ballot, and 33 procedures for voting early by personal appearance. -3- LRB9104704MWgc 1 At least 30 days before any general election, and at 2 least 20 days before any special congressional election, the 3 county clerk shall publish a notice of the election in 2 or 4 more newspapers published in the county, city, village, 5 incorporated town or town, as the case may be, or if there is 6 no such newspaper, then in any 2 or more newspapers published 7 in the county and having a general circulation throughout the 8 community. The notice may be substantially as follows: 9 Notice is hereby given that on (give date), at (give the 10 place of holding the election and the name of the precinct or 11 district) in the county of (name county), an election will be 12 held for (give the title of the several offices to be 13 filled), which election will be open at 6:00 a.m. and 14 continued open until 7:00 p.m. of that day. 15 Dated at .... on (insert date).this .... day of ....,1619...17 (Source: P.A. 90-358, eff. 1-1-98; revised 10-20-98.) 18 (10 ILCS 5/17-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-9) 19 Sec. 17-9. Any person desiring to vote shall give his 20 name and, if required to do so, his residence to the judges 21 of election, one of whom shall thereupon announce the same in 22 a loud and distinct tone of voice, clear, and audible; the 23 judges of elections shall check each application for ballot 24 against the list of voters registered in that precinct to 25 whom absentee or early ballots have been issued for that 26 election, which shall be provided by the election authority 27 and which list shall be available for inspection by 28 pollwatchers. A voter applying to vote in the precinct on 29 election day whose name appears on the list as having been 30 issued an absentee or early ballot shall not be permitted to 31 vote in the precinct unless that voter submits to the judges 32 of election, for cancellation or revocation, his absentee or 33 early ballot. In the case that the voter's absentee or early -4- LRB9104704MWgc 1 ballot is not present in the polling place, it shall be 2 sufficient for any such voter to submit to the judges of 3 election in lieu of his absentee or early ballot, either a 4 portion of such ballot if torn or mutilated, an affidavit 5 executed before the judges of election specifying that the 6 voter never received an absentee or early ballot, or an 7 affidavit executed before the judges of election specifying 8 that the voter desires to cancel or revoke any absentee or 9 early ballot that may have been cast in the voter's name. All 10 applicable provisions of Articles 4, 5 or 6 shall be complied 11 with and if such name is found on the register of voters by 12 the officer having charge thereof, he shall likewise repeat 13 said name, and the voter shall be allowed to enter within the 14 proximity of the voting booths, as above provided. One of 15 the judges shall give the voter one, and only one of each 16 ballot to be voted at the election, on the back of which 17 ballots such judge shall indorse his initials in such manner 18 that they may be seen when each such ballot is properly 19 folded, and the voter's name shall be immediately checked on 20 the register list. In those election jurisdictions where 21 perforated ballot cards are utilized of the type on which 22 write-in votes can be cast above the perforation, the 23 election authority shall provide a space both above and below 24 the perforation for the judge's initials, and the judge shall 25 endorse his or her initials in both spaces. Whenever a 26 proposal for a constitutional amendment or for the calling of 27 a constitutional convention is to be voted upon at the 28 election, the separate blue ballot or ballots pertaining 29 thereto shall, when being handed to the voter, be placed on 30 top of the other ballots to be voted at the election in such 31 manner that the legend appearing on the back thereof, as 32 prescribed in Section 16-6 of this Act, shall be plainly 33 visible to the voter. At all elections, when a registry may 34 be required, if the name of any person so desiring to vote at -5- LRB9104704MWgc 1 such election is not found on the register of voters, he or 2 she shall not receive a ballot until he or she shall have 3 complied with the law prescribing the manner and conditions 4 of voting by unregistered voters. If any person desiring to 5 vote at any election shall be challenged, he or she shall not 6 receive a ballot until he or she shall have established his 7 right to vote in the manner provided hereinafter; and if he 8 or she shall be challenged after he has received his ballot, 9 he shall not be permitted to vote until he or she has fully 10 complied with such requirements of the law upon being 11 challenged. Besides the election officer, not more than 2 12 voters in excess of the whole number of voting booths 13 provided shall be allowed within the proximity of the voting 14 booths at one time. The provisions of this Act, so far as 15 they require the registration of voters as a condition to 16 their being allowed to vote shall not apply to persons 17 otherwise entitled to vote, who are, at the time of the 18 election, or at any time within 60 days prior to such 19 election have been engaged in the military or naval service 20 of the United States, and who appear personally at the 21 polling place on election day and produce to the judges of 22 election satisfactory evidence thereof, but such persons, if 23 otherwise qualified to vote, shall be permitted to vote at 24 such election without previous registration. 25 All such persons shall also make an affidavit which shall 26 be in substantially the following form: 27 State of Illinois,) 28 ) ss. 29 County of ........) 30 ............... Precinct .......... Ward 31 I, ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a 32 citizen of the United States, of the age of 18 years or over, 33 and that within the past 60 days prior to the date of this 34 election at which I am applying to vote, I have been engaged -6- LRB9104704MWgc 1 in the .... (military or naval) service of the United States; 2 and I am qualified to vote under and by virtue of the 3 Constitution and laws of the State of Illinois, and that I am 4 a legally qualified voter of this precinct and ward except 5 that I have, because of such service, been unable to register 6 as a voter; that I now reside at .... (insert street and 7 number, if any) in this precinct and ward; that I have 8 maintained a legal residence in this precinct and ward for 30 9 days and in this State 30 days next preceding this election. 10 ......................... 11 Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).this12.... day of...., 19...13 ......................... 14 Judge of Election. 15 The affidavit of any such person shall be supported by 16 the affidavit of a resident and qualified voter of any such 17 precinct and ward, which affidavit shall be in substantially 18 the following form: 19 State of Illinois,) 20 ) ss. 21 County of ........) 22 ........... Precinct ........... Ward 23 I, ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I am a 24 resident of this precinct and ward and entitled to vote at 25 this election; that I am acquainted with .... (name of the 26 applicant); that I verily believe him to be an actual bona 27 fide resident of this precinct and ward and that I verily 28 believe that he or she has maintained a legal residence 29 therein 30 days and in this State 30 days next preceding this 30 election. 31 ......................... 32 Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).this33.... day of...., 19...34 ......................... -7- LRB9104704MWgc 1 Judge of Election. 2 All affidavits made under the provisions of this Section 3 shall be enclosed in a separate envelope securely sealed, and 4 shall be transmitted with the returns of the elections to the 5 county clerk or to the board of election commissioners, who 6 shall preserve the said affidavits for the period of 6 7 months, during which period such affidavits shall be deemed 8 public records and shall be freely open to examination as 9 such. 10 (Source: P.A. 89-653, eff. 8-14-96; revised 10-20-98.) 11 (10 ILCS 5/18-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-5) 12 Sec. 18-5. Any person desiring to vote and whose name is 13 found upon the register of voters by the person having charge 14 thereof, shall then be questioned by one of the judges as to 15 his nativity, his term of residence at present address, 16 precinct, State and United States, his age, whether 17 naturalized and if so the date of naturalization papers and 18 court from which secured, and he shall be asked to state his 19 residence when last previously registered and the date of the 20 election for which he then registered. The judges of 21 elections shall check each application for ballot against the 22 list of voters registered in that precinct to whom absentee 23 and early ballots have been issued for that election, which 24 shall be provided by the election authority and which list 25 shall be available for inspection by pollwatchers. A voter 26 applying to vote in the precinct on election day whose name 27 appears on the list as having been issued an absentee or 28 early ballot shall not be permitted to vote in the precinct 29 unless that voter submits to the judges of election, for 30 cancellation or revocation, his absentee or early ballot. In 31 the case that the voter's absentee or early ballot is not 32 present in the polling place, it shall be sufficient for any 33 such voter to submit to the judges of election in lieu of his -8- LRB9104704MWgc 1 absentee or early ballot, either a portion of such ballot if 2 torn or mutilated, an affidavit executed before the judges of 3 election specifying that the voter never received an absentee 4 or early ballot, or an affidavit executed before the judges 5 of election specifying that the voter desires to cancel or 6 revoke any absentee or early ballot that may have been cast 7 in the voter's name. If such person so registered shall be 8 challenged as disqualified, the party challenging shall 9 assign his reasons therefor, and thereupon one of the judges 10 shall administer to him an oath to answer questions, and if 11 he shall take the oath he shall then be questioned by the 12 judge or judges touching such cause of challenge, and 13 touching any other cause of disqualification. And he may also 14 be questioned by the person challenging him in regard to his 15 qualifications and identity. But if a majority of the judges 16 are of the opinion that he is the person so registered and a 17 qualified voter, his vote shall then be received accordingly. 18 But if his vote be rejected by such judges, such person may 19 afterward produce and deliver an affidavit to such judges, 20 subscribed and sworn to by him before one of the judges, in 21 which it shall be stated how long he has resided in such 22 precinct, and state; that he is a citizen of the United 23 States, and is a duly qualified voter in such precinct, and 24 that he is the identical person so registered. In addition to 25 such an affidavit, the person so challenged shall provide to 26 the judges of election proof of residence by producing 2 27 forms of identification showing the person's current 28 residence address, provided that such identification to the 29 person at his current residence address and postmarked not 30 earlier than 30 days prior to the date of the election, or 31 the person shall procure a witness personally known to the 32 judges of election, and resident in the precinct (or 33 district), or who shall be proved by some legal voter of such 34 precinct or district, known to the judges to be such, who -9- LRB9104704MWgc 1 shall take the oath following, viz: 2 I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a resident of 3 this election precinct (or district), and entitled to vote at 4 this election, and that I have been a resident of this State 5 for 30 days last past, and am well acquainted with the person 6 whose vote is now offered; that he is an actual and bona fide 7 resident of this election precinct (or district), and has 8 resided herein 30 days, and as I verily believe, in this 9 State, 30 days next preceding this election. 10 The oath in each case may be administered by one of the 11 judges of election, or by any officer, resident in the 12 precinct or district, authorized by law to administer oaths. 13 Also supported by an affidavit by a registered voter residing 14 in such precinct, stating his own residence, and that he 15 knows such person; and that he does reside at the place 16 mentioned and has resided in such precinct and state for the 17 length of time as stated by such person, which shall be 18 subscribed and sworn to in the same way. Whereupon the vote 19 of such person shall be received, and entered as other votes. 20 But such judges, having charge of such registers, shall state 21 in their respective books the facts in such case, and the 22 affidavits, so delivered to the judges, shall be preserved 23 and returned to the office of the commissioners of election. 24 Blank affidavits of the character aforesaid shall be sent out 25 to the judges of all the precincts, and the judges of 26 election shall furnish the same on demand and administer the 27 oaths without criticism. Such oaths, if administered by any 28 other officer than such judge of election, shall not be 29 received. Whenever a proposal for a constitutional amendment 30 or for the calling of a constitutional convention is to be 31 voted upon at the election, the separate blue ballot or 32 ballots pertaining thereto shall be placed on top of the 33 other ballots to be voted at the election in such manner that 34 the legend appearing on the back thereof, as prescribed in -10- LRB9104704MWgc 1 Section 16-6 of this Act, shall be plainly visible to the 2 voter, and in this fashion the ballots shall be handed to the 3 voter by the judge. 4 The voter shall, upon quitting the voting booth, deliver 5 to one of the judges of election all of the ballots, properly 6 folded, which he received. The judge of election to whom the 7 voter delivers his ballots shall not accept the same unless 8 all of the ballots given to the voter are returned by him. If 9 a voter delivers less than all of the ballots given to him, 10 the judge to whom the same are offered shall advise him in a 11 voice clearly audible to the other judges of election that 12 the voter must return the remainder of the ballots. The 13 statement of the judge to the voter shall clearly express the 14 fact that the voter is not required to vote such remaining 15 ballots but that whether or not he votes them he must fold 16 and deliver them to the judge. In making such statement the 17 judge of election shall not indicate by word, gesture or 18 intonation of voice that the unreturned ballots shall be 19 voted in any particular manner. No new voter shall be 20 permitted to enter the voting booth of a voter who has failed 21 to deliver the total number of ballots received by him until 22 such voter has returned to the voting booth pursuant to the 23 judge's request and again quit the booth with all of the 24 ballots required to be returned by him. Upon receipt of all 25 such ballots the judges of election shall enter the name of 26 the voter, and his number, as above provided in this section, 27 and the judge to whom the ballots are delivered shall 28 immediately put the ballots into the ballot box. If any voter 29 who has failed to deliver all the ballots received by him 30 refuses to return to the voting booth after being advised by 31 the judge of election as herein provided, the judge shall 32 inform the other judges of such refusal, and thereupon the 33 ballot or ballots returned to the judge shall be deposited in 34 the ballot box, the voter shall be permitted to depart from -11- LRB9104704MWgc 1 the polling place, and a new voter shall be permitted to 2 enter the voting booth. 3 The judge of election who receives the ballot or ballots 4 from the voter shall announce the residence and name of such 5 voter in a loud voice. The judge shall put the ballot or 6 ballots received from the voter into the ballot box in the 7 presence of the voter and the judges of election, and in 8 plain view of the public. The judges having charge of such 9 registers shall then, in a column prepared thereon, in the 10 same line of, the name of the voter, mark "Voted" or the 11 letter "V". 12 No judge of election shall accept from any voter less 13 than the full number of ballots received by such voter 14 without first advising the voter in the manner above provided 15 of the necessity of returning all of the ballots, nor shall 16 any such judge advise such voter in a manner contrary to that 17 which is herein permitted, or in any other manner violate the 18 provisions of this section; provided, that the acceptance by 19 a judge of election of less than the full number of ballots 20 delivered to a voter who refuses to return to the voting 21 booth after being properly advised by such judge shall not be 22 a violation of this Section. 23 (Source: P.A. 89-653, eff. 8-14-96.) 24 (10 ILCS 5/Art. 19A heading new) 25 ARTICLE 19A. EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE 26 (10 ILCS 5/19A-5 new) 27 Sec. 19A-5. Issuance of ballots; voting booth. 28 (a) If a request is made to vote early by a registered 29 voter in person, the election authority shall issue a ballot 30 for early voting to the voter. The ballot must be voted on 31 the premises of the election authority and returned to the 32 election authority. -12- LRB9104704MWgc 1 (b) On the dates for early voting prescribed in Section 2 19A-15, each election authority shall provide a voting booth, 3 with suitable equipment for voting, on the premises of the 4 election authority for use by registered voters who are 5 issued ballots for early voting in accordance with this 6 Section. 7 (c) The election authority must maintain a list for each 8 election of the voters to whom it has issued early ballots. 9 The list must be maintained for each precinct within the 10 election authority's jurisdiction. Before the opening of the 11 polls on election day, the election authority shall deliver 12 to the judges of election in each precinct the list of 13 registered voters to whom early ballots have been issued. 14 (10 ILCS 5/19A-10 new) 15 Sec. 19A-10. Permanent polling places for early voting. 16 (a) An election authority may establish permanent 17 polling places for early voting by personal appearance at 18 locations throughout the election authority's jurisdiction. 19 Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), any person 20 entitled to vote early by personal appearance may do so at 21 any polling place for early voting. 22 (b) If it is impractical for the election authority to 23 provide at each polling place for early voting a ballot in 24 every form required in the election authority's jurisdiction, 25 the election authority may: 26 (1) provide appropriate forms of ballots to the 27 office of the municipal clerk in a municipality not 28 having a board of election commissioners; the township 29 clerk; or in counties not under township organization, 30 the road district clerk; and 31 (2) limit voting at that polling place to 32 registered voters in that municipality, township, or road 33 district. -13- LRB9104704MWgc 1 (10 ILCS 5/19A-15 new) 2 Sec. 19A-15. Period for early voting; hours. 3 (a) The period for early voting by personal appearance 4 begins the third Saturday preceding a general primary, 5 consolidated primary, consolidated, or general election and 6 extends through the Friday before election day, Sundays and 7 holidays excepted. 8 (b) The election authority may include any Sunday or 9 holiday that falls within the period for early voting. 10 (c) A permanent polling place for early voting must 11 remain open during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 12 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 13 p.m. on Saturdays. If the election authority includes a 14 Sunday or holiday that falls within the period for early 15 voting, the permanent polling place must remain open during 16 the hours that the election authority and municipal clerk, 17 township clerk, or road district clerk establish. 18 (10 ILCS 5/19A-20 new) 19 Sec. 19A-20. Temporary branch polling places. 20 (a) In addition to permanent polling places for early 21 voting, the election authority may establish temporary branch 22 polling places for early voting. 23 (b) The provisions of subsection (c) of Section 19A-15 24 do not apply to a temporary polling place. Voting at a 25 temporary branch polling place may be conducted on any one or 26 more days and during any hours within the period for early 27 voting by personal appearance that are determined by the 28 election authority. 29 (c) The schedules for conducting voting do not need to 30 be uniform among the temporary branch polling places. 31 (d) The legal rights and remedies which inure to the 32 owner or lessor of private property are not impaired or 33 otherwise affected by the leasing of the property for use as -14- LRB9104704MWgc 1 a temporary branch polling place for early voting, except to 2 the extent necessary to conduct early voting at that 3 location. 4 (10 ILCS 5/19A-25 new) 5 Sec. 19A-25. Schedule of locations and times for early 6 voting. 7 (a) The election authority shall publish during the 8 week before the period for early voting and at least once 9 each week during the period for early voting in a newspaper 10 of general circulation in the election authority's 11 jurisdiction a schedule stating: 12 (1) the location of each permanent and temporary 13 polling place for early voting and the precincts served 14 by each location; and 15 (2) the dates and hours that early voting will be 16 conducted at each location. 17 (b) The election authority shall post a copy of the 18 schedule at the office of the municipal clerk, the township 19 clerk, or road district clerk. The schedule must be posted 20 continuously for a period beginning not later than the 5th 21 day before the first day of the period for early voting by 22 personal appearance and ending on the last day of that 23 period. 24 (c) The election authority must make copies of the 25 schedule available to the public in reasonable quantities 26 without charge during the period of posting. 27 (d) No additional polling places for early voting may be 28 established after the schedule is published under this 29 Section. 30 (10 ILCS 5/19A-25 new) 31 Sec. 19A-25. Voting machines, automatic tabulating 32 equipment, and precinct tabulation optical scan technology -15- LRB9104704MWgc 1 voting equipment. 2 (a) In all jurisdictions in which voting machines are 3 used, the provisions of this Code that are not inconsistent 4 with this Article relating to the furnishing of ballot boxes, 5 printing and furnishing ballots and supplies, the canvassing 6 of ballots, and the making of returns, apply with full force 7 and effect to the extent necessary to make this Article 8 effective, provided that the number of ballots to be printed 9 shall be in the discretion of the election authority. 10 (b) If the election authority has adopted the use of 11 automatic tabulating equipment under Article 24A of this 12 Code, and the provisions of that Article are in conflict with 13 the provisions of this Article 19A, the provisions of Article 14 24A shall govern the procedures followed by the election 15 authority, its judges of election, and all employees and 16 agents. 17 (c) If the election authority has adopted the use of 18 precinct tabulation optical scan technology voting equipment 19 under Article 24B of this Code, and the provisions of that 20 Article are in conflict with the provisions of this Article 21 19A, the provisions of Article 24B shall govern the 22 procedures followed by the election authority, its judges of 23 election, and all employees and agents. 24 (10 ILCS 5/19A-30 new) 25 Sec. 19A-30. Appointment of election officials. 26 (a) The election authority must appoint an employee to 27 serve as the election official in charge of each polling 28 place for early voting. 29 (b) The election authority may also appoint as many 30 addition election officials as it deems necessary for the 31 proper conduct of the election. 32 (10 ILCS 5/19A-35 new) -16- LRB9104704MWgc 1 Sec. 19A-35. Procedure for voting. 2 (a) Not more than 23 days before the start of early 3 voting, the county clerk shall make available to the election 4 authority conducting early voting by personal appearance a 5 sufficient number of early ballots, envelopes, and printed 6 voting instruction slips for the use of early voters. The 7 election authority shall receipt for all ballots received and 8 shall return unused or spoiled ballots at the close of the 9 early voting period to the county clerk and must strictly 10 account for all ballots received. The ballots delivered to 11 the election authority must include early ballots for each 12 precinct in the election authority's jurisdiction and must 13 include separate ballots for each political subdivision 14 conducting an election of officers or a referendum at that 15 election. 16 (b) In conducting early voting under this Article, the 17 election official is not required to verify the signature of 18 the early voter by comparison with the signature on the 19 official registration card, however, the official must verify 20 (i) the identity of the applicant, (ii) that the applicant is 21 a registered voter, (iii) the precinct in which the applicant 22 is registered, and (iv) the proper ballots of the political 23 subdivision in which the applicant resides and is entitled to 24 vote before providing an early ballot to the applicant. The 25 election official must verify the applicant's registration 26 from the most recent poll list provided by the election 27 authority, and if the applicant is not listed on that poll 28 list, by telephoning the office of the election authority. 29 (c) The sealed early ballots in their carrier envelope 30 shall be delivered by the election officials to the proper 31 polling place before the close of the polls on the day of the 32 election. 33 (10 ILCS 5/19A-40 new) -17- LRB9104704MWgc 1 Sec. 19A-40. Enclosure of ballots in envelope. 2 It is be the duty of the election authority to fold the 3 ballot or ballots in the manner specified by the statute for 4 folding ballots prior to their deposit in the ballot box, and 5 to enclose the ballot or ballots in an envelope unsealed to 6 be furnished by him, which envelope shall bear upon the face 7 thereof the name, official title, and post office address of 8 the election authority, and upon the other side a printed 9 certification in substantially the following form: 10 I state that I am a resident of the .... precinct of the 11 (1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in 12 the city of .... residing at .... in that city or town in the 13 county of .... and State of Illinois, that I have lived at 14 that address for .... months last past; that I am lawfully 15 entitled to vote in that precinct at the .... election to be 16 held on .... . 17 *fill in either (1), (2) or (3). 18 I further state that I personally marked the enclosed 19 ballot in secret. 20 Under penalties of perjury as provided by law pursuant to 21 Section 29-10 of the Election Code, the undersigned certifies 22 that the statements set forth in this certification are true 23 and correct. 24 ....................... 25 If the ballot enclosed is to be voted at a primary 26 election, the certification shall designate the name of the 27 political party with which the voter is affiliated. 28 In addition to the above, the election authority shall 29 provide printed slips giving full instructions regarding the 30 manner of marking and returning the ballot in order that the 31 same may be counted, and shall furnish one of the printed 32 slips to each of such applicants at the same time the ballot 33 is delivered to him or her. The instructions shall include 34 the following statement: "In signing the certification on the -18- LRB9104704MWgc 1 early ballot envelope, you are attesting that you personally 2 marked this early ballot in secret. If your are physically 3 unable to mark the ballot, a friend or relative may assist 4 you. Federal and State laws prohibit your employer, your 5 employer's agent, or an officer or agent of your union form 6 assisting physically disabled voters." 7 In addition to the above, if a ballot to be provided to a 8 voter pursuant to this Section contains a public question 9 described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6 and the territory 10 concerning which the question is to be submitted is not 11 described on the ballot due to the space limitations of the 12 ballot, the election authority shall provide a printed copy 13 of a notice of the public question, which shall include a 14 description of the territory in the manner required by 15 Section 16-7. The notice shall be furnished to the voter at 16 the same time the ballot is delivered to the voter. 17 (10 ILCS 5/19A-45 new) 18 Sec. 19A-45. Certification. The voter shall make and 19 subscirbe the certification provided for on the return 20 envelope of the ballot, and the ballot or ballots shall be 21 folded by the voter in the manner required to be folded 22 before depositing the ballot in the ballot box, and shall be 23 deposited in the envelope and the envelope securely sealed. 24 The voter shall then endorse his or her certificate on the 25 back of the envelope and the envelope shall be returned to 26 the election official conducting the early voting. 27 (10 ILCS 5/19A-50 new) 28 Sec. 19A-50. Receipt of ballots. Upon receipt of the 29 voter's ballot, the election official shall enclose the 30 unopened ballot in a large or carrier envelope that shall be 31 securely sealed and endorsed with the name and official title 32 of the election official and the words, "This envelope -19- LRB9104704MWgc 1 contains a ballot and must be opened on election day", 2 together with the number and description of the precinct in 3 which the ballot is to be voted, and the election authority 4 shall safely keep the envelope in its office until delivered 5 to the judges of election as provided in Section 19A-35. 6 (10 ILCS 5/19A-55 new) 7 Sec. 19A-55. Casting the ballots. 8 At the close of the regular balloting and at the close of 9 the polls the judges of election of each voting precinct 10 shall proceed to cast the early voter's ballot separately, 11 and as each early voter's ballot is taken shall open the 12 outer or carrier envelope, announce the early voter's name, 13 and compare the signature upon the official registration card 14 with the signature upon the certification on the ballot 15 envelope. In case the judges find the certification properly 16 executed, that the signatures correspond, that the applicant 17 is a duly qualified voter in the precinct, and the voter has 18 not been present and voted on the election day, they shall 19 open the envelope containing the early voter's ballot in a 20 manner that does not to deface or destroy the certification 21 thereon, or mark or tear the ballots therein and take out the 22 ballot or ballots therein contained without unfolding or 23 permitting the same to be unfolded or examined, and having 24 endorsed the ballot in like manner as other ballots are 25 required to be endorsed, shall deposit the same in the proper 26 ballot box or boxes and enter the early voter's name in the 27 poll book the same as if he or she had voted on election day. 28 The judges shall place the early ballot certification 29 envelopes in a separate envelope as per the direction of the 30 election authority. The envelope containing the early ballot 31 certification envelopes shall be returned to the election 32 authority and preserved in like manner as the official poll 33 record. -20- LRB9104704MWgc 1 In case the signatures do not correspond, or that the 2 applicant is not a duly qualified voter in the precinct or 3 that the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and 4 resealed, or that the voter has voted on election day, the 5 previously cast vote shall not be allowed, but without 6 opening the early voter's envelope the judge of the election 7 shall mark across the face thereof, "Rejected", giving the 8 reason therefor. 9 In case the ballot envelope contains more than one ballot 10 of any kind, the ballots shall not be counted, but shall be 11 marked "Rejected", giving the reason therefor. 12 The early voters' envelopes and affidavits and the early 13 voters' envelope with its contents unopened, when the early 14 vote is rejected, shall be retained and preserved in the 15 manner as now provided for the retention and preservation of 16 official ballots rejected at the election. 17 (10 ILCS 5/19A-60 new) 18 Sec. 19A-60. Pollwatchers. Pollwatchers may be 19 appointed to observe early voting by personal appearance at 20 each permanent and temporary polling place where early voting 21 is conducted. The pollwatchers shall qualify and be 22 appointed in the same manner as provided in Sections 7-34 and 23 17-23, except that each candidate, political party, or 24 organization of citizens may appoint only one pollwatcher for 25 each location where early voting by personal appearance is 26 conducted. Pollwatchers must be residents of the county and 27 possess valid pollwatcher credentials. 28 In the polling place on election day, pollwatchers are 29 permitted to be present during the casting of the early 30 ballots and the vote of an early voter may be challenged for 31 cause the same as if the voter were present and voted on 32 election day. The judges of election, or a majority of them, 33 have the power and authority to hear and determine the -21- LRB9104704MWgc 1 legality of the early ballot, provided, however, that if a 2 challenge to any early voter's right to vote is sustained, 3 notice of the challenge must be given by the judges of 4 election by mail addressed to the voter's place of residence. 5 6 (10 ILCS 5/19A-65 new) 7 Sec. 19A-65. Death of voter before opening of polls. 8 Whenever due proof is made to the judges of election that any 9 voter who has marked an early ballot as provided in this 10 Article has died before the opening of the polls on the date 11 of the election, the ballot of the deceased voter shall be 12 returned by the judges of election in the same manner 13 provided for rejected ballots; but the casting of the ballot 14 of a deceased voter shall not invalidate the election. 15 (10 ILCS 5/19A-70 new) 16 Sec. 19A-70. Advertising or campaigning in proximity of 17 polling place; penalty. During the period prescribed in 18 Section 19A-15 for early voting by personal appearance, no 19 advertising pertaining to any candidate or proposition to be 20 voted on may be displayed in or within 100 feet of any 21 polling place used by voters under this Article. No person 22 may engage in electioneering in or within 100 feet of any 23 polling place used by voters under this Article. 24 Any person who violates this Section may be punished for 25 contempt of court. 26 (10 ILCS 5/24A-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 24A-10) 27 Sec. 24A-10. (1) In an election jurisdiction which has 28 adopted an electronic voting system, the election official in 29 charge of the election shall select one of the 3 following 30 procedures for receiving, counting, tallying, and return of 31 the ballots: -22- LRB9104704MWgc 1 (a) Two ballot boxes shall be provided for each polling 2 place. The first ballot box is for the depositing of votes 3 cast on the electronic voting system; and the second ballot 4 box is for all votes cast on paper ballots, including 5 absentee paper and early paper ballots and any other paper 6 ballots required to be voted other than on the electronic 7 voting system. Ballots, except absentee and early ballots for 8 candidates and propositions which are listed on the 9 electronic voting system, deposited in the second ballot box 10 shall be counted, tallied, and returned as is elsewhere 11 provided in "The Election Code," as amended, for the counting 12 and handling of paper ballots. Immediately after the closing 13 of the polls the absentee and early ballots delivered to the 14 precinct judges of election by the election official in 15 charge of the election shall be examined to determine that 16 such ballots comply with Sections 19-9, 19A-55, and 20-9 of 17 "The Election Code," as amended, and are entitled to be 18 deposited in the ballot box provided therefor; those entitled 19 to be deposited in this ballot box shall be initialed by the 20 precinct judges of election and deposited therein. Those not 21 entitled to be deposited in this ballot box shall be marked 22 "Rejected" and disposed of as provided in Sections 19-9, 23 19A-55, and 20-9. The precinct judges of election shall then 24 open the second ballot box and examine all paper absentee and 25 early ballots which are in the ballot box to determine 26 whether the absentee and early ballots bear the initials of a 27 precinct judge of election. If any absentee or early ballot 28 is not so initialed, it shall be marked on the back 29 "Defective," initialed as to such label by all judges 30 immediately under such word "Defective," and not counted, but 31 placed in the envelope provided for that purpose labeled 32 "Defective Ballots Envelope." The judges of election, 33 consisting in each case of at least one judge of election of 34 each of the two major political parties, shall examine the -23- LRB9104704MWgc 1 paper absentee and early ballots which were in such ballot 2 box and properly initialed so as to determine whether the 3 same contain write-in votes. Write-in votes, not causing an 4 overvote for an office otherwise voted for on the paper 5 absentee or early ballot, and otherwise properly voted, shall 6 be counted, tallied and recorded on the tally sheet provided 7 for such record. A write-in vote causing an overvote for an 8 office shall not be counted for that office, but the precinct 9 judges shall mark such paper or early absentee ballot 10 "Objected To" on the back thereof and write on its back the 11 manner in which such ballot is counted and initial the same. 12 An overvote for one office shall invalidate only the vote or 13 count of that particular office. After counting, tallying and 14 recording the write-in votes on absentee and early ballots, 15 the judges of election, consisting in each case of at least 16 one judge of election of each of the two major political 17 parties, shall make a true duplicate ballot of the remaining 18 valid votes on each paper absentee or early ballot which was 19 in the ballot box and properly initialed, by using the 20 electronic voting system used in the precinct and one of the 21 marking devices of the precinct so as to transfer the 22 remaining valid votes of the voter on the paper absentee 23 ballot to an official ballot or a ballot card of that kind 24 used in the precinct at that election. The original paper 25 absentee or early ballot shall be clearly labeled "Absentee 26 Ballot" or "Early Ballot", as the case may be, and the ballot 27 card so produced "Duplicate Absentee Ballot," or "Duplicate 28 Early Ballot", as the case may be, and each shall bear the 29 same serial number which shall be placed thereon by the 30 judges of election, commencing with number 1 and continuing 31 consecutively for the ballots of that kind in that precinct. 32 The judges of election shall initial the "Duplicate Absentee 33 Ballot" and "Duplicate Early Ballot" ballots or ballot cards 34 and shall place them in the first ballot box provided for -24- LRB9104704MWgc 1 return of the ballots to be counted at the central counting 2 location in lieu of the paper absentee and early ballots. The 3 paper absentee and early ballots shall be placed in an 4 envelope provided for that purpose labeled "Duplicate 5 Ballots." 6 As soon as the absentee and early ballots have been 7 deposited in the first ballot box, the judges of election 8 shall make out a slip indicating the number of persons who 9 voted in the precinct at the election. Such slip shall be 10 signed by all the judges of election and shall be inserted by 11 them in the first ballot box. The judges of election shall 12 thereupon immediately lock the first ballot box; provided, 13 that if such box is not of a type which may be securely 14 locked, such box shall be sealed with filament tape provided 15 for such purpose which shall be wrapped around the box 16 lengthwise and crosswise, at least twice each way, and in 17 such manner that the seal completely covers the slot in the 18 ballot box, and each of the judges shall sign such seal. 19 Thereupon two of the judges of election, of different 20 political parties, shall forthwith and by the most direct 21 route transport both ballot boxes to the counting location 22 designated by the county clerk or board of election 23 commissioners. 24 Before the ballots of a precinct are fed to the 25 electronic tabulating equipment, the first ballot box shall 26 be opened at the central counting station by the two precinct 27 transport judges. Upon opening a ballot box, such team shall 28 first count the number of ballots in the box. If 2 or more 29 are folded together so as to appear to have been cast by the 30 same person, all of the ballots so folded together shall be 31 marked and returned with the other ballots in the same 32 condition, as near as may be, in which they were found when 33 first opened, but shall not be counted. If the remaining 34 ballots are found to exceed the number of persons voting in -25- LRB9104704MWgc 1 the precinct as shown by the slip signed by the judges of 2 election, the ballots shall be replaced in the box, and the 3 box closed and well shaken and again opened and one of the 4 precinct transport judges shall publicly draw out so many 5 ballots unopened as are equal to such excess. 6 Such excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not Counted" 7 and signed by the two precinct transport judges and shall be 8 placed in the "After 7:00 p.m. Defective Ballots Envelope". 9 The number of excess ballots shall be noted in the remarks 10 section of the Certificate of Results. "Excess" ballots shall 11 not be counted in the total of "defective" ballots. 12 The precinct transport judges shall then examine the 13 remaining ballots for write-in votes and shall count and 14 tabulate the write-in vote; or 15 (b) A single ballot box, for the deposit of all votes 16 cast, shall be used. All ballots which are not to be 17 tabulated on the electronic voting system shall be counted, 18 tallied, and returned as elsewhere provided in "The Election 19 Code," as amended, for the counting and handling of paper 20 ballots. 21 All ballots to be processed and tabulated with the 22 electronic voting system shall be processed as follows: 23 Immediately after the closing of the polls the absentee 24 and early ballots delivered to the precinct judges of 25 election by the election official in charge of the election 26 shall be examined to determine that such ballots comply with 27 Sections 19-9, 19A-55, and 20-9 of "The Election Code," as 28 amended, and are entitled to be deposited in the ballot box; 29 those entitled to be deposited in the ballot box shall be 30 initialed by the precinct judges of election and deposited in 31 the ballot box. Those not entitled to be deposited in the 32 ballot box shall be marked "Rejected" and disposed of as 33 provided in said Sections 19-9, 19A-55, and 20-9. The 34 precinct judges of election then shall open the ballot box -26- LRB9104704MWgc 1 and canvass the votes polled to determine that the number of 2 ballots therein agree with the number of voters voting as 3 shown by the applications for ballot or if the same do not 4 agree the judges of election shall make such ballots agree 5 with the applications for ballot in the manner provided by 6 Section 17-18 of "The Election Code." The judges of election 7 shall then examine all paper absentee and early ballots, 8 ballot cards and ballot card envelopes which are in the 9 ballot box to determine whether the paper ballots, ballot 10 cards and ballot card envelopes bear the initials of a 11 precinct judge of election. If any paper ballot, ballot card 12 or ballot card envelope is not initialed, it shall be marked 13 on the back "Defective," initialed as to such label by all 14 judges immediately under such word "Defective," and not 15 counted, but placed in the envelope provided for that purpose 16 labeled "Defective Ballots Envelope." The judges of election, 17 consisting in each case of at least one judge of election of 18 each of the two major political parties, shall examine the 19 paper absentee and early ballots which were in the ballot box 20 and properly initialed so as to determine whether the same 21 contain write-in votes. Write-in votes, not causing an 22 overvote for an office otherwise voted for on the paper 23 absentee or early ballot, and otherwise properly voted, shall 24 be counted, tallied and recorded on the tally sheet provided 25 for such record. A write-in vote causing an overvote for an 26 office shall not be counted for that office, but the precinct 27 judges shall mark such paper absentee or early ballot 28 "Objected To" on the back thereof and write on its back the 29 manner in which such ballot is counted and initial the same. 30 An overvote for one office shall invalidate only the vote or 31 count of that particular office. After counting, tallying and 32 recording the write-in votes on absentee and early ballots, 33 the judges of election, consisting in each case of at least 34 one judge of election of each of the two major political -27- LRB9104704MWgc 1 parties, shall make a true duplicate ballot of the remaining 2 valid votes on each paper absentee and early ballot which was 3 in the ballot box and properly initialed, by using the 4 electronic voting system used in the precinct and one of the 5 marking devices of the precinct so as to transfer the 6 remaining valid votes of the voter on the paper absentee or 7 early ballot to an official ballot or a ballot card of that 8 kind used in the precinct at that election. The original 9 paper absentee ballot shall be clearly labeled "Absentee 10 Ballot" or "Early Ballot", as the case may be, and the ballot 11 card so produced "Duplicate Absentee Ballot," or "Duplicate 12 Early Ballot", as the case may be, and each shall bear the 13 same serial number which shall be placed thereon by the 14 judges of election, commencing with number 1 and continuing 15 consecutively for the ballots of that kind in that precinct. 16 The judges of election shall initial the "Duplicate Absentee 17 Ballot" and "Duplicate Early Ballot" ballots or ballot cards, 18 and shall place them in the box for return of the ballots 19 with all other ballots or ballot cards to be counted at the 20 central counting location in lieu of the paper absentee and 21 early ballots. The paper absentee and early ballots shall be 22 placed in an envelope provided for that purpose labeled 23 "Duplicate Ballots." 24 When an electronic voting system is used which utilizes a 25 ballot card, before separating the remaining ballot cards 26 from their respective covering envelopes, the judges of 27 election shall examine the ballot card envelopes for write-in 28 votes. When the voter has voted a write-in vote, the judges 29 of election shall compare the write-in vote with the votes on 30 the ballot card to determine whether such write-in results in 31 an overvote for any office. In case of an overvote for any 32 office, the judges of election, consisting in each case of at 33 least one judge of election of each of the two major 34 political parties, shall make a true duplicate ballot of all -28- LRB9104704MWgc 1 votes on such ballot card except for the office which is 2 overvoted, by using the ballot label booklet of the precinct 3 and one of the marking devices of the precinct so as to 4 transfer all votes of the voter except for the office 5 overvoted, to an official ballot card of that kind used in 6 the precinct at that election. The original ballot card and 7 envelope upon which there is an overvote shall be clearly 8 labeled "Overvoted Ballot", and each shall bear the same 9 serial number which shall be placed thereon by the judges of 10 election, commencing with number 1 and continuing 11 consecutively for the ballots of that kind in that precinct. 12 The judges of election shall initial the "Duplicate Overvoted 13 Ballot" ballot cards and shall place them in the box for 14 return of the ballots. The "Overvoted Ballot" ballots and 15 their envelopes shall be placed in the "Duplicate Ballots" 16 envelope. Envelopes bearing write-in votes marked in the 17 place designated therefor and bearing the initials of a 18 precinct judge of election and not resulting in an overvote 19 and otherwise complying with the election laws as to marking 20 shall be counted, tallied, and their votes recorded on a 21 tally sheet provided by the election official in charge of 22 the election. The ballot cards and ballot card envelopes 23 shall be separated and all except any defective or overvoted 24 shall be placed separately in the box for return of the 25 ballots, along with all "Duplicate Absentee 26 Ballots,","Duplicate Early Ballots", and "Duplicate Overvoted 27 Ballots." The judges of election shall examine the ballots 28 and ballot cards to determine if any is damaged or defective 29 so that it cannot be counted by the automatic tabulating 30 equipment. If any ballot or ballot card is damaged or 31 defective so that it cannot properly be counted by the 32 automatic tabulating equipment, the judges of election, 33 consisting in each case of at least one judge of election of 34 each of the two major political parties, shall make a true -29- LRB9104704MWgc 1 duplicate ballot of all votes on such ballot card by using 2 the ballot label booklet of the precinct and one of the 3 marking devices of the precinct. The original ballot or 4 ballot card and envelope shall be clearly labeled "Damaged 5 Ballot" and the ballot or ballot card so produced "Duplicate 6 Damaged Ballot," and each shall bear the same number which 7 shall be placed thereon by the judges of election, commencing 8 with number 1 and continuing consecutively for the ballots of 9 that kind in the precinct. The judges of election shall 10 initial the "Duplicate Damaged Ballot" ballot or ballot 11 cards, and shall place them in the box for return of the 12 ballots. The "Damaged Ballot" ballots or ballot cards and 13 their envelopes shall be placed in the "Duplicated Ballots" 14 envelope. A slip indicating the number of voters voting in 15 person, number of absentee votes deposited in the ballot box, 16 and the total number of voters of the precinct who voted at 17 the election shall be made out, signed by all judges of 18 election, and inserted in the box for return of the ballots. 19 The tally sheets recording the write-in votes shall be placed 20 in this box. The judges of election thereupon immediately 21 shall securely lock the ballot box or other suitable box 22 furnished for return of the ballots by the election official 23 in charge of the election; provided that if such box is not 24 of a type which may be securely locked, such box shall be 25 sealed with filament tape provided for such purpose which 26 shall be wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise, at 27 least twice each way. A separate adhesive seal label signed 28 by each of the judges of election of the precinct shall be 29 affixed to the box so as to cover any slot therein and to 30 identify the box of the precinct; and if such box is sealed 31 with filament tape as provided herein rather than locked, 32 such tape shall be wrapped around the box as provided herein, 33 but in such manner that the separate adhesive seal label 34 affixed to the box and signed by the judges may not be -30- LRB9104704MWgc 1 removed without breaking the filament tape and disturbing the 2 signature of the judges. Thereupon, 2 of the judges of 3 election, of different major political parties, forthwith 4 shall by the most direct route transport the box for return 5 of the ballots and enclosed ballots and returns to the 6 central counting location designated by the election official 7 in charge of the election. If, however, because of the lack 8 of adequate parking facilities at the central counting 9 location or for any other reason, it is impossible or 10 impracticable for the boxes from all the polling places to be 11 delivered directly to the central counting location, the 12 election official in charge of the election may designate 13 some other location to which the boxes shall be delivered by 14 the 2 precinct judges. While at such other location the boxes 15 shall be in the care and custody of one or more teams, each 16 consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the two major 17 political parties, designated for such purpose by the 18 election official in charge of elections from recommendations 19 by the appropriate political party organizations. As soon as 20 possible, the boxes shall be transported from such other 21 location to the central counting location by one or more 22 teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the 2 23 major political parties, designated for such purpose by the 24 election official in charge of elections from recommendations 25 by the appropriate political party organizations. 26 The "Defective Ballots" envelope, and "Duplicated 27 Ballots" envelope each shall be securely sealed and the flap 28 or end thereof of each signed by the precinct judges of 29 election and returned to the central counting location with 30 the box for return of the ballots, enclosed ballots and 31 returns. 32 At the central counting location, a team of tally judges 33 designated by the election official in charge of the election 34 shall check the box returned containing the ballots to -31- LRB9104704MWgc 1 determine that all seals are intact, and thereupon shall open 2 the box, check the voters' slip and compare the number of 3 ballots so delivered against the total number of voters of 4 the precinct who voted, remove the ballots or ballot cards 5 and deliver them to the technicians operating the automatic 6 tabulating equipment. Any discrepancies between the number 7 of ballots and total number of voters shall be noted on a 8 sheet furnished for that purpose and signed by the tally 9 judges; or 10 (c) A single ballot box, for the deposit of all votes 11 cast, shall be used. Immediately after the closing of the 12 polls the judges of election shall examine the absentee and 13 early ballots received by the precinct judges of election 14 from the election authority of voters in that precinct to 15 determine that they comply with the provisions of Sections 16 19-9, 19A-55, 20-8, and 20-9 of the Election Code, as 17 amended, and are entitled to be deposited in the ballot box; 18 those entitled to be deposited in the ballot box shall be 19 initialed by the precinct judges and deposited in the ballot 20 box. Those not entitled to be deposited in the ballot box, 21 in accordance with Sections 19-9, 19A-55, 20-8, and 20-9 of 22 the Election Code, as amended, shall be marked "Rejected" and 23 preserved in the manner provided in The Election Code for the 24 retention and preservation of official ballots rejected at 25 such election. Immediately upon the completion of the 26 absentee and early balloting, the precinct judges of election 27 shall securely lock the ballot box; provided that if such box 28 is not of a type which may be securely locked, such box shall 29 be sealed with filament tape provided for such purpose which 30 shall be wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise, at 31 least twice each way. A separate adhesive seal label signed 32 by each of the judges of election of the precinct shall be 33 affixed to the box so as to cover any slot therein and to 34 identify the box of the precinct; and if such box is sealed -32- LRB9104704MWgc 1 with filament tape as provided herein rather than locked, 2 such tape shall be wrapped around the box as provided herein, 3 but in such manner that the separate adhesive seal label 4 affixed to the box and signed by the judges may not be 5 removed without breaking the filament tape and disturbing the 6 signature of the judges. Thereupon, 2 of the judges of 7 election, of different major political parties, shall 8 forthwith by the most direct route transport the box for 9 return of the ballots and enclosed absentee and early ballots 10 and returns to the central counting location designated by 11 the election official in charge of the election. If however, 12 because of the lack of adequate parking facilities at the 13 central counting location or for some other reason, it is 14 impossible or impracticable for the boxes from all the 15 polling places to be delivered directly to the central 16 counting location, the election official in charge of the 17 election may designate some other location to which the boxes 18 shall be delivered by the 2 precinct judges. While at such 19 other location the boxes shall be in the care and custody of 20 one or more teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each 21 of the two major political parties, designated for such 22 purpose by the election official in charge of elections from 23 recommendations by the appropriate political party 24 organizations. As soon as possible, the boxes shall be 25 transported from such other location to the central counting 26 location by one or more teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 27 2 from each of the 2 major political parties, designated for 28 such purpose by the election official in charge of the 29 election from recommendations by the appropriate political 30 party organizations. 31 At the central counting location there shall be one or 32 more teams of tally judges who possess the same 33 qualifications as tally judges in election jurisdictions 34 using paper ballots. The number of such teams shall be -33- LRB9104704MWgc 1 determined by the election authority. Each team shall 2 consist of 5 tally judges, 3 selected and approved by the 3 county board from a certified list furnished by the chairman 4 of the county central committee of the party with the 5 majority of members on the county board and 2 selected and 6 approved by the county board from a certified list furnished 7 by the chairman of the county central committee of the party 8 with the second largest number of members on the county 9 board. At the central counting location a team of tally 10 judges shall open the ballot box and canvass the votes polled 11 to determine that the number of ballot sheets therein agree 12 with the number of voters voting as shown by the applications 13 for ballot and for absentee and early ballot; and, if the 14 same do not agree, the tally judges shall make such ballots 15 agree with the number of applications for ballot in the 16 manner provided by Section 17-18 of the Election Code. The 17 tally judges shall then examine all ballot sheets which are 18 in the ballot box to determine whether they bear the initials 19 of the precinct judge of election. If any ballot is not 20 initialed, it shall be marked on the back "Defective", 21 initialed as to such label by all tally judges immediately 22 under such word "Defective", and not counted, but placed in 23 the envelope provided for that purpose labeled "Defective 24 Ballots Envelope". Write-in votes, not causing an overvote 25 for an office otherwise voted for on the absentee and early 26 ballot sheet, and otherwise properly voted, shall be counted, 27 tallied and recorded by the central counting location judges 28 on the tally sheet provided for such record. A write-in vote 29 causing an overvote for an office shall not be counted for 30 that office, but the tally judges shall mark such absentee 31 ballot sheet "Objected To" on the back thereof and write on 32 its back the manner in which such ballot is counted and 33 initial the same. An overvote for one office shall 34 invalidate only the vote or count of that particular office. -34- LRB9104704MWgc 1 At the central counting location, a team of tally judges 2 designated by the election official in charge of the election 3 shall deliver the ballot sheets to the technicians operating 4 the automatic tabulating equipment. Any discrepancies 5 between the number of ballots and total number of voters 6 shall be noted on a sheet furnished for that purpose and 7 signed by the tally judges. 8 (2) Regardless of which procedure described in 9 subsection (1) of this Section is used, the judges of 10 election designated to transport the ballots, properly signed 11 and sealed as provided herein, shall ensure that the ballots 12 are delivered to the central counting station no later than 13 12 hours after the polls close. At the central counting 14 station a team of tally judges designated by the election 15 official in charge of the election shall examine the ballots 16 so transported and shall not accept ballots for tabulating 17 which are not signed and sealed as provided in subsection (1) 18 of this Section until the judges transporting the same make 19 and sign the necessary corrections. Upon acceptance of the 20 ballots by a team of tally judges at the central counting 21 station, the election judges transporting the same shall take 22 a receipt signed by the election official in charge of the 23 election and stamped with the date and time of acceptance. 24 The election judges whose duty it is to transport any ballots 25 shall, in the event such ballots cannot be found when needed, 26 on proper request, produce the receipt which they are to take 27 as above provided. 28 (Source: P.A. 83-1362.) 29 (10 ILCS 5/24A-15.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 24A-15.1) 30 Sec. 24A-15.1. Except as herein provided, discovery 31 recounts and election contests shall be conducted as 32 otherwise provided for in "The Election Code", as amended. 33 The automatic tabulating equipment shall be tested prior to -35- LRB9104704MWgc 1 the discovery recount or election contest as provided in 2 Section 24A-9, and then the official ballots or ballot cards 3 shall be recounted on the automatic tabulating equipment. In 4 addition, (1) the ballot or ballot cards shall be checked for 5 the presence or absence of judges' initials and other 6 distinguishing marks, and (2) the ballots marked "Rejected", 7 "Defective", Objected to",and"Absentee Ballot", and "Early 8 Ballot" shall be examined to determine the propriety of the 9 such labels, and (3) the "Duplicate Absentee Ballots", 10 "Duplicate Early Ballots", "Duplicate Overvoted Ballots" and 11 "Duplicate Damaged Ballots" shall be compared with their 12 respective originals to determine the correctness of the 13 duplicates. 14 Any person who has filed a petition for discovery recount 15 may request that a redundant count be conducted in those 16 precincts in which the discovery recount is being conducted. 17 The additional costs of such a redundant count shall be borne 18 by the requesting party. 19 The log of the computer operator and all materials 20 retained by the election authority in relation to vote 21 tabulation and canvass shall be made available for any 22 discovery recount or election contest. 23 (Source: P.A. 82-1014.) 24 (10 ILCS 5/24B-10) 25 Sec. 24B-10. Receiving, Counting, Tallying and Return of 26 Ballots; Acceptance of Ballots by Election Authority. 27 (a) In an election jurisdiction which has adopted an 28 electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting 29 system, the election official in charge of the election shall 30 select one of the 3 following procedures for receiving, 31 counting, tallying, and return of the ballots: 32 (1) Two ballot boxes shall be provided for each 33 polling place. The first ballot box is for the -36- LRB9104704MWgc 1 depositing of votes cast on the electronic voting system; 2 and the second ballot box is for all votes cast on other 3 ballots, including absentee paper and early paper ballots 4 and any other paper ballots required to be voted other 5 than on the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology 6 electronic voting system. Ballots, except absentee and 7 early ballots for candidates and propositions which are 8 listed on the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology 9 electronic voting system, deposited in the second ballot 10 box shall be counted, tallied, and returned as is 11 elsewhere provided in this Code for the counting and 12 handling of paper ballots. Immediately after the closing 13 of the polls the absentee and early ballots delivered to 14 the precinct judges of election by the election official 15 in charge of the election shall be examined to determine 16 that the ballots comply with Sections 19-9, 19A-55, and 17 20-9 of this Code and are entitled to be inserted into 18 the counting equipment and deposited into the ballot box 19 provided; those entitled to be deposited in this ballot 20 box shall be initialed by the precinct judges of election 21 and deposited. Those not entitled to be deposited in this 22 ballot box shall be marked "Rejected" and disposed of as 23 provided in Sections 19-9, 19A-55, and 20-9. The 24 precinct judges of election shall then open the second 25 ballot box and examine all paper absentee and early 26 ballots which are in the ballot box to determine whether 27 the absentee or early ballots bear the initials of a 28 precinct judge of election. If any absentee or early 29 ballot is not so initialed, it shall be marked on the 30 back "Defective", initialed as to the label by all judges 31 immediately under the word "Defective", and not counted, 32 but placed in the envelope provided for that purpose 33 labeled "Defective Ballots Envelope". The judges of 34 election, consisting in each case of at least one judge -37- LRB9104704MWgc 1 of election of each of the 2 major political parties, 2 shall examine the paper absentee and early ballots which 3 were in such ballot box and properly initialed to 4 determine whether the same contain write-in votes. 5 Write-in votes, not causing an overvote for an office 6 otherwise voted for on the paper absentee or early 7 ballot, and otherwise properly voted, shall be counted, 8 tallied and recorded on the tally sheet provided for the 9 record. A write-in vote causing an overvote for an 10 office shall not be counted for that office, but the 11 precinct judges shall mark such paper absentee or early 12 ballot "Objected To" on the back and write on its back 13 the manner in which the ballot is counted and initial the 14 same. An overvote for one office shall invalidate only 15 the vote or count of that particular office. After 16 counting, tallying and recording the write-in votes on 17 absentee and early ballots, the judges of election, 18 consisting in each case of at least one judge of election 19 of each of the 2 major political parties, shall make a 20 true duplicate ballot of the remaining valid votes on 21 each paper absentee and early ballot which was in the 22 ballot box and properly initialed, by using the 23 electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology 24 voting system used in the precinct and one of the marking 25 devices of the precinct to transfer the remaining valid 26 votes of the voter on the paper absentee or early ballot 27 to an official ballot or a ballot card of that kind used 28 in the precinct at that election. The original paper 29 absentee ballot shall be clearly labeled "Absentee 30 Ballot" or "Early Ballot", as the case may be, and the 31 ballot card so produced "Duplicate Absentee Ballot" or 32 "Duplicate Early Ballot", as the case may be, and each 33 shall bear the same serial number which shall be placed 34 thereon by the judges of election, beginning with number -38- LRB9104704MWgc 1 1 and continuing consecutively for the ballots of that 2 kind in that precinct. The judges of election shall 3 initial the "Duplicate Absentee Ballot" and "Duplicate 4 Early Ballot" ballots and shall place them in the first 5 ballot box provided for return of the ballots to be 6 counted at the central counting location in lieu of the 7 paper absentee and early ballots. The paper absentee and 8 early ballots shall be placed in an envelope provided for 9 that purpose labeled "Duplicate Ballots". 10 As soon as the absentee and early ballots have been 11 deposited in the first ballot box, the judges of election 12 shall make out a slip indicating the number of persons 13 who voted in the precinct at the election. The slip 14 shall be signed by all the judges of election and shall 15 be inserted by them in the first ballot box. The judges 16 of election shall thereupon immediately lock the first 17 ballot box; provided, that if the box is not of a type 18 which may be securely locked, the box shall be sealed 19 with filament tape provided for the purpose that shall be 20 wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least 21 twice each way, and in a manner that the seal completely 22 covers the slot in the ballot box, and each of the judges 23 shall sign the seal. Two of the judges of election, of 24 different political parties, shall by the most direct 25 route transport both ballot boxes to the counting 26 location designated by the county clerk or board of 27 election commissioners. 28 Before the ballots of a precinct are fed to the 29 electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology 30 tabulating equipment, the first ballot box shall be 31 opened at the central counting station by the 2 precinct 32 transport judges. Upon opening a ballot box, the team 33 shall first count the number of ballots in the box. If 2 34 or more are folded together to appear to have been cast -39- LRB9104704MWgc 1 by the same person, all of the ballots folded together 2 shall be marked and returned with the other ballots in 3 the same condition, as near as may be, in which they were 4 found when first opened, but shall not be counted. If 5 the remaining ballots are found to exceed the number of 6 persons voting in the precinct as shown by the slip 7 signed by the judges of election, the ballots shall be 8 replaced in the box, and the box closed and well shaken 9 and again opened and one of the precinct transport judges 10 shall publicly draw out so many ballots unopened as are 11 equal to the excess. 12 The excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not 13 Counted" and signed by the 2 precinct transport judges 14 and shall be placed in the "After 7:00 p.m. Defective 15 Ballots Envelope". The number of excess ballots shall be 16 noted in the remarks section of the Certificate of 17 Results. "Excess" ballots shall not be counted in the 18 total of "defective" ballots. 19 The precinct transport judges shall then examine the 20 remaining ballots for write-in votes and shall count and 21 tabulate the write-in vote. 22 (2) A single ballot box, for the deposit of all 23 votes cast, shall be used. All ballots which are not to 24 be tabulated on the electronic voting system shall be 25 counted, tallied, and returned as elsewhere provided in 26 this Code for the counting and handling of paper ballots. 27 All ballots to be processed and tabulated with the 28 electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology 29 voting system shall be processed as follows: 30 Immediately after the closing of the polls the 31 absentee and early ballots delivered to the precinct 32 judges of election by the election official in charge of 33 the election shall be examined to determine that such 34 ballots comply with Sections 19-9, 19A-55, and 20-9 of -40- LRB9104704MWgc 1 this Code and are entitled to be deposited in the ballot 2 box; those entitled to be deposited in the ballot box 3 shall be initialed by the precinct judges of election and 4 deposited in the ballot box. Those not entitled to be 5 deposited in the ballot box shall be marked "Rejected" 6 and disposed of as provided in Sections 19-9, 19A-55, and 7 20-9. The precinct judges of election then shall open 8 the ballot box and canvass the votes polled to determine 9 that the number of ballots agree with the number of 10 voters voting as shown by the applications for ballot, or 11 if the same do not agree the judges of election shall 12 make such ballots agree with the applications for ballot 13 in the manner provided by Section 17-18 of this Code. 14 The judges of election shall then examine all paper 15 absentee and early ballots and ballot envelopes which are 16 in the ballot box to determine whether the ballots and 17 ballot envelopes bear the initials of a precinct judge of 18 election. If any ballot or ballot envelope is not 19 initialed, it shall be marked on the back "Defective", 20 initialed as to the label by all judges immediately under 21 the word "Defective", and not counted, but placed in the 22 envelope provided for that purpose labeled "Defective 23 Ballots Envelope". The judges of election, consisting in 24 each case of at least one judge of election of each of 25 the 2 major political parties, shall examine the paper 26 absentee and early ballots which were in the ballot box 27 and properly initialed to determine whether the same 28 contain write-in votes. Write-in votes, not causing an 29 overvote for an office otherwise voted for on the paper 30 absentee or early ballot, and otherwise properly voted, 31 shall be counted, tallied and recorded on the tally sheet 32 provided for the record. A write-in vote causing an 33 overvote for an office shall not be counted for that 34 office, but the precinct judges shall mark the paper -41- LRB9104704MWgc 1 absentee or early ballot "Objected To" on the back and 2 write on its back the manner the ballot is counted and 3 initial the same. An overvote for one office shall 4 invalidate only the vote or count of that particular 5 office. After counting, tallying and recording the 6 write-in votes on absentee and early ballots, the judges 7 of election, consisting in each case of at least one 8 judge of election of each of the 2 major political 9 parties, shall make a true duplicate ballot of the 10 remaining valid votes on each paper absentee and early 11 ballot which was in the ballot box and properly 12 initialed, by using the electronic voting system used in 13 the precinct and one of the marking devices of the 14 precinct to transfer the remaining valid votes of the 15 voter on the paper absentee or early ballot to an 16 official ballot of that kind used in the precinct at 17 that election. The original paper absentee or early 18 ballot shall be clearly labeled "Absentee Ballot" or 19 "Early Ballot", as the case may be, and the ballot so 20 produced "Duplicate Absentee Ballot" or "Duplicate Early 21 Ballot", as the case may be, and each shall bear the same 22 serial number which shall be placed thereon by the judges 23 of election, commencing with number 1 and continuing 24 consecutively for the ballots of that kind in that 25 precinct. The judges of election shall initial the 26 "Duplicate Absentee Ballot" and "Duplicate Early Ballot" 27 ballots and shall place them in the box for return of the 28 ballots with all other ballots to be counted at the 29 central counting location in lieu of the paper absentee 30 and early ballots. The paper absentee ballots shall be 31 placed in an envelope provided for that purpose labeled 32 "Duplicate Ballots". 33 In case of an overvote for any office, the judges of 34 election, consisting in each case of at least one judge -42- LRB9104704MWgc 1 of election of each of the 2 major political parties, 2 shall make a true duplicate ballot of all votes on the 3 ballot except for the office which is overvoted, by using 4 the ballot of the precinct and one of the marking devices 5 of the precinct to transfer all votes of the voter except 6 for the office overvoted, to an official ballot of that 7 kind used in the precinct at that election. The original 8 ballot upon which there is an overvote shall be clearly 9 labeled "Overvoted Ballot", and each shall bear the same 10 serial number which shall be placed thereon by the judges 11 of election, beginning with number 1 and continuing 12 consecutively for the ballots of that kind in that 13 precinct. The judges of election shall initial the 14 "Duplicate Overvoted Ballot" ballots and shall place them 15 in the box for return of the ballots. The "Overvoted 16 Ballot" ballots shall be placed in the "Duplicate 17 Ballots" envelope. The ballots except any defective or 18 overvoted ballot shall be placed separately in the box 19 for return of the ballots, along with all "Duplicate 20 Absentee Ballots", "Duplicate Early Ballots", and 21 "Duplicate Overvoted Ballots". The judges of election 22 shall examine the ballots to determine if any is damaged 23 or defective so that it cannot be counted by the 24 automatic tabulating equipment. If any ballot is damaged 25 or defective so that it cannot properly be counted by the 26 automatic tabulating equipment, the judges of election, 27 consisting in each case of at least one judge of election 28 of each of the 2 major political parties, shall make a 29 true duplicate ballot of all votes on such ballot by 30 using the ballot of the precinct and one of the marking 31 devices of the precinct. The original ballot and ballot 32 envelope shall be clearly labeled "Damaged Ballot" and 33 the ballot so produced "Duplicate Damaged Ballot", and 34 each shall bear the same number which shall be placed -43- LRB9104704MWgc 1 thereon by the judges of election, commencing with number 2 1 and continuing consecutively for the ballots of that 3 kind in the precinct. The judges of election shall 4 initial the "Duplicate Damaged Ballot" ballot and shall 5 place them in the box for return of the ballots. The 6 "Damaged Ballot" ballots shall be placed in the 7 "Duplicated Ballots" envelope. A slip indicating the 8 number of voters voting in person, number of absentee and 9 early votes deposited in the ballot box, and the total 10 number of voters of the precinct who voted at the 11 election shall be made out, signed by all judges of 12 election, and inserted in the box for return of the 13 ballots. The tally sheets recording the write-in votes 14 shall be placed in this box. The judges of election 15 immediately shall securely lock the ballot box or other 16 suitable box furnished for return of the ballots by the 17 election official in charge of the election; provided 18 that if the box is not of a type which may be securely 19 locked, the box shall be sealed with filament tape 20 provided for the purpose which shall be wrapped around 21 the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least twice each 22 way. A separate adhesive seal label signed by each of 23 the judges of election of the precinct shall be affixed 24 to the box to cover any slot therein and to identify the 25 box of the precinct; and if the box is sealed with 26 filament tape as provided rather than locked, such tape 27 shall be wrapped around the box as provided, but in such 28 manner that the separate adhesive seal label affixed to 29 the box and signed by the judges may not be removed 30 without breaking the filament tape and disturbing the 31 signature of the judges. Two of the judges of election, 32 of different major political parties, shall by the most 33 direct route transport the box for return of the ballots 34 and enclosed ballots and returns to the central counting -44- LRB9104704MWgc 1 location designated by the election official in charge of 2 the election. If, however, because of the lack of 3 adequate parking facilities at the central counting 4 location or for any other reason, it is impossible or 5 impracticable for the boxes from all the polling places 6 to be delivered directly to the central counting 7 location, the election official in charge of the election 8 may designate some other location to which the boxes 9 shall be delivered by the 2 precinct judges. While at 10 the other location the boxes shall be in the care and 11 custody of one or more teams, each consisting of 4 12 persons, 2 from each of the 2 major political parties, 13 designated for such purpose by the election official in 14 charge of elections from recommendations by the 15 appropriate political party organizations. As soon as 16 possible, the boxes shall be transported from the other 17 location to the central counting location by one or more 18 teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the 2 19 major political parties, designated for the purpose by 20 the election official in charge of elections from 21 recommendations by the appropriate political party 22 organizations. 23 The "Defective Ballots" envelope, and "Duplicated 24 Ballots" envelope each shall be securely sealed and the 25 flap or end of each envelope signed by the precinct 26 judges of election and returned to the central counting 27 location with the box for return of the ballots, enclosed 28 ballots and returns. 29 At the central counting location, a team of tally 30 judges designated by the election official in charge of 31 the election shall check the box returned containing the 32 ballots to determine that all seals are intact, and shall 33 open the box, check the voters' slip and compare the 34 number of ballots so delivered against the total number -45- LRB9104704MWgc 1 of voters of the precinct who voted, remove the ballots 2 and deliver them to the technicians operating the 3 automatic tabulating equipment. Any discrepancies 4 between the number of ballots and total number of voters 5 shall be noted on a sheet furnished for that purpose and 6 signed by the tally judges. 7 (3) A single ballot box, for the deposit of all 8 votes cast, shall be used. Immediately after the closing 9 of the polls the judges of election shall examine the 10 absentee and early ballots received by the precinct 11 judges of election from the election authority of voters 12 in that precinct to determine that they comply with the 13 provisions of Sections 19-9, 19A-55, 20-8, and 20-9 of 14 this Code and are entitled to be deposited in the ballot 15 box; those entitled to be deposited in the ballot box 16 shall be initialed by the precinct judges and deposited 17 in the ballot box. Those not entitled to be deposited in 18 the ballot box, in accordance with Sections 19-9, 19A-55, 19 20-8, and 20-9 of this Code shall be marked "Rejected" 20 and preserved in the manner provided in this Code for the 21 retention and preservation of official ballots rejected 22 at such election. Immediately upon the completion of the 23 absentee and early balloting, the precinct judges of 24 election shall securely lock the ballot box; provided 25 that if such box is not of a type which may be securely 26 locked, the box shall be sealed with filament tape 27 provided for the purpose which shall be wrapped around 28 the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least twice each 29 way. A separate adhesive seal label signed by each of 30 the judges of election of the precinct shall be affixed 31 to the box to cover any slot therein and to identify the 32 box of the precinct; and if the box is sealed with 33 filament tape as provided rather than locked, such tape 34 shall be wrapped around the box as provided, but in a -46- LRB9104704MWgc 1 manner that the separate adhesive seal label affixed to 2 the box and signed by the judges may not be removed 3 without breaking the filament tape and disturbing the 4 signature of the judges. Two of the judges of election, 5 of different major political parties, shall by the most 6 direct route transport the box for return of the ballots 7 and enclosed absentee and early ballots and returns to 8 the central counting location designated by the election 9 official in charge of the election. If however, because 10 of the lack of adequate parking facilities at the central 11 counting location or for some other reason, it is 12 impossible or impracticable for the boxes from all the 13 polling places to be delivered directly to the central 14 counting location, the election official in charge of the 15 election may designate some other location to which the 16 boxes shall be delivered by the 2 precinct judges. While 17 at the other location the boxes shall be in the care and 18 custody of one or more teams, each consisting of 4 19 persons, 2 from each of the 2 major political parties, 20 designated for the purpose by the election official in 21 charge of elections from recommendations by the 22 appropriate political party organizations. As soon as 23 possible, the boxes shall be transported from the other 24 location to the central counting location by one or more 25 teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the 2 26 major political parties, designated for the purpose by 27 the election official in charge of the election from 28 recommendations by the appropriate political party 29 organizations. 30 At the central counting location there shall be one 31 or more teams of tally judges who possess the same 32 qualifications as tally judges in election jurisdictions 33 using paper ballots. The number of the teams shall be 34 determined by the election authority. Each team shall -47- LRB9104704MWgc 1 consist of 5 tally judges, 3 selected and approved by the 2 county board from a certified list furnished by the 3 chairman of the county central committee of the party 4 with the majority of members on the county board and 2 5 selected and approved by the county board from a 6 certified list furnished by the chairman of the county 7 central committee of the party with the second largest 8 number of members on the county board. At the central 9 counting location a team of tally judges shall open the 10 ballot box and canvass the votes polled to determine that 11 the number of ballot sheets therein agree with the number 12 of voters voting as shown by the applications for ballot 13 and for absentee and early ballot; and, if the same do 14 not agree, the tally judges shall make such ballots agree 15 with the number of applications for ballot in the manner 16 provided by Section 17-18 of this Code. The tally judges 17 shall then examine all ballot sheets that are in the 18 ballot box to determine whether they bear the initials of 19 the precinct judge of election. If any ballot is not 20 initialed, it shall be marked on the back "Defective", 21 initialed as to that label by all tally judges 22 immediately under the word "Defective", and not counted, 23 but placed in the envelope provided for that purpose 24 labeled "Defective Ballots Envelope". Write-in votes, 25 not causing an overvote for an office otherwise voted for 26 on the absentee or early ballot sheet, and otherwise 27 properly voted, shall be counted, tallied, and recorded 28 by the central counting location judges on the tally 29 sheet provided for the record. A write-in vote causing 30 an overvote for an office shall not be counted for that 31 office, but the tally judges shall mark the absentee or 32 early ballot sheet "Objected To" and write the manner in 33 which the ballot is counted on its back and initial the 34 sheet. An overvote for one office shall invalidate only -48- LRB9104704MWgc 1 the vote or count for that particular office. 2 At the central counting location, a team of tally 3 judges designated by the election official in charge of 4 the election shall deliver the ballot sheets to the 5 technicians operating the automatic Precinct Tabulation 6 Optical Scan Technology tabulating equipment. Any 7 discrepancies between the number of ballots and total 8 number of voters shall be noted on a sheet furnished for 9 that purpose and signed by the tally judges. 10 (b) Regardless of which procedure described in 11 subsection (a) of this Section is used, the judges of 12 election designated to transport the ballots properly signed 13 and sealed, shall ensure that the ballots are delivered to 14 the central counting station no later than 12 hours after the 15 polls close. At the central counting station, a team of 16 tally judges designated by the election official in charge of 17 the election shall examine the ballots so transported and 18 shall not accept ballots for tabulating which are not signed 19 and sealed as provided in subsection (a) of this Section 20 until the judges transporting the ballots make and sign the 21 necessary corrections. Upon acceptance of the ballots by a 22 team of tally judges at the central counting station, the 23 election judges transporting the ballots shall take a receipt 24 signed by the election official in charge of the election and 25 stamped with the date and time of acceptance. The election 26 judges whose duty it is to transport any ballots shall, in 27 the event the ballots cannot be found when needed, on proper 28 request, produce the receipt which they are to take as above 29 provided. 30 (Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.) 31 (10 ILCS 5/24B-15.1) 32 Sec. 24B-15.1. Discovery, Recounts and Election 33 Contests. Except as provided, discovery recounts and -49- LRB9104704MWgc 1 election contests shall be conducted as otherwise provided 2 for in this Code. The automatic Precinct Tabulation Optical 3 Scan Technology tabulating equipment shall be tested prior to 4 the discovery recount or election contest as provided in 5 Section 24B-9, and then the official ballots shall be 6 recounted on the automatic tabulating equipment. In 7 addition, (a) the ballots shall be checked for the presence 8 or absence of judges' initials and other distinguishing 9 marks, and (b) the ballots marked "Rejected", "Defective", 10 "Objected To", "Early Ballot", and "Absentee Ballot" shall be 11 examined to determine the propriety of the labels, and (c) 12 the "Duplicate Absentee Ballots", "Duplicate Early Ballots", 13 "Duplicate Overvoted Ballots" and "Duplicate Damaged Ballots" 14 shall be compared with their respective originals to 15 determine the correctness of the duplicates. 16 Any person who has filed a petition for discovery recount 17 may request that a redundant count be conducted in those 18 precincts in which the discovery recount is being conducted. 19 The additional costs of a redundant count shall be borne by 20 the requesting party. 21 The log of the computer operator and all materials 22 retained by the election authority in relation to vote 23 tabulation and canvass shall be made available for any 24 discovery recount or election contest. 25 (Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.) 26 Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding 27 Section 8.23 as follows: 28 (30 ILCS 805/8.23 new) 29 Sec. 8.23. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 30 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required 31 for the implementation of any mandate created by this 32 amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.