State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_HB3795

 
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 1        AN ACT concerning voters' guides.

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

 4        Section  5.  The  Election  Code  is  amended  by  adding
 5    Article 12A as follows:

 6        (10 ILCS 5/Art. 12A heading new)

 7                ARTICLE 12A.  INTERNET VOTERS' GUIDE

 8        (10 ILCS 5/12A-1 new)
 9        Sec.  12A-1.  Definitions.   As  used  in  this  Article,
10    unless the context otherwise requires:
11        "Board" means the State Board of Elections.
12        "Election authority" means a county  clerk  or  Board  of
13    Election Commissioners.
14        "Electoral  district"  means  a  county, municipality, or
15    district as defined in Section 1-3 of this Code.
16        "Public  question"  or  "question"  means  any  question,
17    proposition, or measure submitted to the voters under Article
18    28 of this Code,  except  that  "public  question"  does  not
19    include questions relating to the Constitution.

20        (10 ILCS 5/12A-5 new)
21        Sec.  12A-5.   Joint  posting of State and county voters'
22    guide.  Notwithstanding any other law to  the  contrary,  the
23    State  Board  of  Elections  and  a  county may enter into an
24    intergovernmental    agreement    as    provided    in    the
25    Intergovernmental Cooperation Act under which the  Board  and
26    the  election  authority  of  the  county  may jointly post a
27    voters'  guide  for  any  election  as  provided  under  this
28    Article.
 
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 1        (10 ILCS 5/12A-10 new)
 2        Sec. 12A-10.  Disposition of fees.  The  Board  must  pay
 3    fees  received  under  this  Article into the General Revenue
 4    Fund.

 5        (10 ILCS 5/12A-15 new)
 6        Sec. 12A-15.  Statements included in voters' guide.
 7        (a)  The Board must prepare and post on  its  World  Wide
 8    Web  site  for  the  general  primary  election  and  general
 9    election  State  voters'  guide  a  statement  containing the
10    following information:
11             (1)  Requirements for a citizen  to  qualify  as  an
12        elector.
13             (2)  When   an  elector  is  required  to  register,
14        re-register, or transfer a registration.
15             (3)  How an elector may obtain an absentee ballot.
16        (b)  The Board may include with  the  voters'  guide  the
17    following information:
18             (1)  Voter registration forms.
19             (2)  Elector instructions, including the right of an
20        elector to request a second ballot if the first ballot is
21        spoiled,  the right of an elector to take into the voting
22        booth a sample ballot marked in advance, and the right of
23        an elector to  seek  the  assistance  of  the  judges  of
24        election  or someone of the elector's own choosing, other
25        than the elector's employer or agent of that employer  or
26        officer  or  agent of the elector's union, in marking the
27        ballot.

28        (10 ILCS 5/12A-20 new)
29        Sec. 12A-20.  Content of statements and arguments.
30        (a)  Statements and arguments submitted for inclusion  in
31    a  voters'  guide  by a candidate, political party, political
32    committee, or person supporting or opposing a public question
 
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 1    must consist only of words or numbers.
 2        (b)  The Board  must  specify  on  any  instructions  for
 3    filing  a  statement,  argument,  or  other  material  in the
 4    voters' guide that the statement, argument, or  material  may
 5    be excluded under Section 12A-30.

 6        (10 ILCS 5/12A-25 new)
 7        Sec.  12A-25.  Names of persons or organizations excluded
 8    from arguments and statements; exceptions.
 9        (a)  Except  as  provided  in  subsection  (b)  of   this
10    Section,  the  Board  may  not post the name of any person or
11    organization in  any  argument  supporting  or  opposing  any
12    public  question or any statement of any candidate, political
13    party, or political committee  filed  for  inclusion  in  the
14    voters'  guide,  if the name of the person or organization is
15    cited as supporting or endorsing the argument or statement.
16        (b)  The  Board  may  post  the  name  of  a  person   or
17    organization  in  an  argument  or  statement  submitted  for
18    inclusion in the voters' guide as supporting or endorsing the
19    argument or statement if:
20             (1)  not  later  than  the  deadline  for  filing an
21        argument or statement with the Board, the Board  receives
22        a  statement  signed  by  the person, or by an authorized
23        person on behalf of an  organization,  stating  that  the
24        person  consents  to the use of the name of the person or
25        organization; or
26             (2)  the name of a person or  organization  is  used
27        with  a  quotation  made  by  the person on behalf of the
28        person or  by  an  authorized  person  on  behalf  of  an
29        organization,  the  quotation  was  disseminated  to  the
30        public  prior  to  its  inclusion  in  the  argument,  or
31        statement  and  the quotation is identified by its source
32        and date.
33        (c)  A person may not  submit  a  false  signature  under
 
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 1    subsection (b) of this Section.

 2        (10 ILCS 5/12A-30 new)
 3        Sec. 12A-30.  Type of material to be excluded from guide;
 4    liability for libel; procedure of material excluded.
 5        (a)  The  Board  must  reject any statement, argument, or
 6    other matter offered for filing  and  posting  in  a  voters'
 7    guide that:
 8             (1)  contains  any  obscene,  profane, or defamatory
 9        language;
10             (2)  incites or advocates hatred, abuse, or violence
11        toward any person or group; or
12             (3)  contains any language that may not  legally  be
13        circulated through the mails.
14        (b)  Nothing  in  this  Article  makes  the author of any
15    statement or argument  exempt  from  any  civil  or  criminal
16    action  because  of  any  defamatory  statements  offered for
17    posting or contained  in  the  voters'  guide.   The  persons
18    writing,  signing,  or  offering  a statement or argument for
19    filing are deemed its authors and publishers.
20        (c)  The Board must, by rule, establish  a  procedure  to
21    notify  a  person who offered a statement, argument, or other
22    matter that was rejected  under  this  Section.   Subject  to
23    voters' guide deadlines, the procedure must require the Board
24    to:
25             (1)  make  reasonable  attempts to notify the person
26        of the rejection; and
27             (2)  allow the person, if notified  under  paragraph
28        (1)  of  this subsection, to revise the statement so that
29        it does not violate the provisions of this Section.

30        (10 ILCS 5/12A-35 new)
31        Sec. 12A-35.  Filing portrait and  statement  by  or  for
32    candidate; format of statement.
 
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 1        (a)  Not  later  than  the  98th  day  before the general
 2    primary election, any candidate for nomination  for  election
 3    at  the  general  primary  election  to  the office of United
 4    States  Senator,  United  States  Representative,   Governor,
 5    Lieutenant  Governor,  Attorney  General, Secretary of State,
 6    State Comptroller, or State Treasurer, or an agent on  behalf
 7    of  the  candidate, may file with the Board a portrait of the
 8    candidate and a typewritten  statement  of  the  reasons  the
 9    candidate should be nominated or elected.
10        (b)  Not  later  than  the  68th  day  before the general
11    election, any candidate for election at the general  election
12    to  the  office  of President or Vice President of the United
13    States, United States Senator, United States  Representative,
14    Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of
15    State,  State Comptroller, or State Treasurer, or an agent on
16    behalf of the candidate, may file with the Board  a  portrait
17    of  the  candidate and a typewritten statement of the reasons
18    the candidate should be elected.
19        (c)  The Board must, by rule, establish  the  format  and
20    length of the statement permitted under this Section.
21        (d)  A  portrait  or  statement  filed under this Section
22    must be accompanied by a telephone  or  electronic  facsimile
23    transmission  machine  number  where  the  candidate  may  be
24    contacted for purposes of Section 12A-50.

25        (10 ILCS 5/12A-40 new)
26        Sec. 12A-40.  Portrait requirements.
27        (a)  A  candidate  may  not  submit  for inclusion in the
28    voters' guide a portrait that was taken  more  than  2  years
29    before the date the portrait is filed with the Board.
30        (b)  A  portrait  submitted  for inclusion in the voters'
31    guide must:
32             (1)  be  a  conventional  photograph  with  a  plain
33        background;
 
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 1             (2)  show the face or the head, neck, and  shoulders
 2        of the candidate; and
 3             (3)  be   prepared  and  processed  for  posting  as
 4        prescribed by the Board.
 5        (c)  A portrait submitted for inclusion  in  the  voters'
 6    guide may not:
 7             (1)  include the hands or anything held in the hands
 8        of the candidate;
 9             (2)  show  the  candidate wearing a judicial robe, a
10        hat, or a military, police, or fraternal uniform; and
11             (3)  show   the   uniform   or   insignia   of   any
12        organization.

13        (10 ILCS 5/12A-45 new)
14        Sec.  12A-45.  Format  of  candidate's  statement.    The
15    candidate's  statement  must  begin  with  a  summary  of the
16    following:   occupation,   educational    and    occupational
17    background, and prior governmental experience.

18        (10 ILCS 5/12A-50 new)
19        Sec.  12A-50.  Board's  review  of candidate portrait and
20    statement; procedure for revision.
21        (a)  If a candidate files a portrait and statement  under
22    Section  12A-35 for inclusion in the voters' guide, the Board
23    must review the portrait and statement  to  ensure  that  the
24    portrait complies with the requirements of Section 12A-40 and
25    that the statement complies with the requirements of Sections
26    12A-30 and 12A-45.
27        (b)  Review by the Board under this Section is limited to
28    determining  whether  the  portrait and statement comply with
29    the requirements of Sections 12A-30, 12A-40, and  12A-45  and
30    may not include any determination relating to the accuracy or
31    truthfulness of materials filed.
32        (c)  The  Board  must  review each portrait and statement
 
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 1    not later than 3 business days  following  the  deadline  for
 2    filing a portrait and statement under Section 12A-35.  If the
 3    Board   determines  that  the  portrait  or  statement  of  a
 4    candidate must  be  revised  in  order  to  comply  with  the
 5    requirements of Sections 12A-30, 12A-40, or 12A-45, the Board
 6    must  attempt to contact the candidate not later than the 5th
 7    business day after the deadline for  filing  a  portrait  and
 8    statement under Section 12A-35.  A candidate contacted by the
 9    Board  under  this  Section  may  file  a revised portrait or
10    statement no later than the 7th business  day  following  the
11    deadline  for  filing  a portrait and statement under Section
12    12A-35.
13        (d)  If the Board is required to  attempt  to  contact  a
14    candidate  under  subsection  (c)  of this Section, the Board
15    must attempt to contact the  candidate  by  telephone  or  by
16    using an electronic transmission facsimile machine.
17        (e)  If  the Board is unable to contact a candidate or if
18    the candidate does not file a revised portrait or statement:
19             (1)  If a portrait  does  not  comply  with  Section
20        12A-40, the Board may modify the portrait.  The candidate
21        shall   pay   the  expense  of  any  modification  before
22        publication of the portrait in the voters' guide.  If the
23        portrait  cannot  be  modified  to  comply  with  Section
24        12A-40, the portrait may not be printed  in  the  voters'
25        guide.
26             (2)  If  a  statement  does  not comply with Section
27        12A-45, the statement may not be printed in  the  voters'
28        guide.
29             (3)  If  a  statement  does  not comply with Section
30        12A-30, the Board  must  edit  the  statement  to  remove
31        language that does not comply with Section 12A-30.
32        (f)  If  the  portrait  or statement of a candidate filed
33    under Section 12A-35 does not comply with  a  requirement  of
34    Sections  12A-30,  12A-40,  or  12A-45 and the Board does not
 
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 1    attempt to contact the candidate by the deadline specified in
 2    subsection (c) of this  Section,  for  purposes  of  Sections
 3    12A-30,  12A-40,  and  12A-45 only, the portrait or statement
 4    shall be printed as filed.
 5        (g)  A candidate revising a portrait or  statement  under
 6    this  Section  may  make  only  those  revisions necessary to
 7    comply with Sections 12A-30, 12A-40, and 12A-45.
 8        (h)  The Board may by rule define the term  "contact"  as
 9    used in this Section.

10        (10 ILCS 5/12A-55 new)
11        Sec.  12A-55.  Fees  for  space  in voters' guide; use of
12    space.
13        (a)  At  the  time  of  filing  materials  under  Section
14    12A-35, each candidate for nomination or election to  any  of
15    the following offices must pay to the Board the following fee
16    for inclusion in the voters' guide:
17             (1)  President  or  Vice  President  of  the  United
18        States,   United   States   Senator,   or  United  States
19        Representative, $500.
20             (2)  Governor,   Lieutenant    Governor,    Attorney
21        General,  Secretary of State, State Comptroller, or State
22        Treasurer, $300.
23        (b)  The space allotted to each candidate  must  be  used
24    for  the  portrait  and statement filed under Section 12A-35.
25    If a portrait is not  filed,  the  statement  may  cover  the
26    entire  allotted  space.   The  length  of  the  statement is
27    limited to not more than 900 words.

28        (10 ILCS 5/12A-60 new)
29        Sec. 12A-60.  Identification of  portrait  or  statement.
30    On  each  allotted  space  of  the voters' guide containing a
31    portrait or statement filed by a candidate, political  party,
32    political committee, or other person, the Board must indicate
 
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 1    who furnished the portrait or statement.

 2        (10 ILCS 5/12A-65 new)
 3        Sec.  12A-65.  Refund  of  filing fee.  No later than the
 4    last day for filing  material  for  inclusion  in  a  voters'
 5    guide,  the  person  who  paid  the  filing fee may receive a
 6    refund from the Board.  When a refund is made,  the  material
 7    for which the fee was paid may not be included in the guide.

 8        (10 ILCS 5/12A-70 new)
 9        Sec.  12A-70.  Exemption  from public records laws; State
10    voters' guide.  Notwithstanding any other provision  of  law,
11    materials  filed  by  a candidate, political party, political
12    committee, or other person for inclusion in a  State  voters'
13    guide  and arguments supporting or opposing a public question
14    filed by any person for inclusion in a  State  voter's  guide
15    are  exempt from public inspection until the 4th business day
16    after the final date for filing the materials.

17        (10 ILCS 5/12A-75 new)
18        Sec. 12A-75.  Statements and  arguments  inadmissible  in
19    action  to  enjoin publication of guide; State voters' guide.
20    Material submitted for inclusion in any State  voters'  guide
21    may not be admitted as evidence in any suit or action against
22    the  Board  to  restrain or enjoin the posting of the voters'
23    guide.

24        (10 ILCS 5/12A-80 new)
25        Sec. 12A-80.  Preparation of State voters' guide.
26        (a)  The Secretary of State must prepare for posting:
27             (1)  a  list  of  the  names   of   candidates   for
28        nomination  for  election at the general primary election
29        to the offices of United States  Senator,  United  States
30        Representative,  Governor,  Lieutenant Governor, Attorney
 
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 1        General, Secretary of State, State Comptroller, and State
 2        Treasurer or a list of names of candidates  for  election
 3        at  the  general  election to the offices of President or
 4        Vice  President  of  the  United  States,  United  States
 5        Senator,   United   States   Representative,    Governor,
 6        Lieutenant   Governor,  Attorney  General,  Secretary  of
 7        State, State Comptroller, and State Treasurer along  with
 8        a designation of the offices for which the candidates are
 9        competing;
10             (2)  all   portraits   and  statements  filed  under
11        Section 12A-35; and
12             (3)  the information  specified  in  Section  12A-90
13        relating  to  public  questions  to  be voted upon at the
14        election for which the guide is prepared.
15        (b)  The voters' guide must be posted  so  that  material
16    relating  to  public  questions appears first and material of
17    candidates for partisan offices appears last. In the  general
18    primary  election  guide,  all  candidates of one established
19    political  party  must  be  grouped   separately   from   all
20    candidates of another established political party.  The order
21    in  which  the  groups  of  candidates  for  the  established
22    political  parties  appear  must be alternated for successive
23    general primary elections.

24        (10 ILCS 5/12A-90 new)
25        Sec. 12A-90.  Public questions, statements, and arguments
26    included in State voters' guide.  The Board must have  posted
27    in  the  voters'  guide for a regular election each statewide
28    public question as  it  will  appear  on  the  ballot  to  be
29    submitted  to  the People at the election for which the guide
30    was prepared.  Each public question must be posted  with  the
31    explanatory statement and arguments relating to it.

32        (10 ILCS 5/12A-95 new)
 
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 1        Sec.   12A-95.  Appointment   of   committee   to   draft
 2    explanatory  statement  of  measure  proposed  by referendum,
 3    petition, resolution, or ordinance.
 4        (a)  For each statewide public question to  be  submitted
 5    to  the  People  at  a  general  primary  election or general
 6    election, a committee of 5  citizens  shall  be  selected  to
 7    prepare the explanatory statement under Section 12A-100.
 8        (b)  Not  later  than  the  78th day before the election,
 9    proponents of the measure shall  appoint  2  members  to  the
10    committee  and notify the Board in writing of the selections.
11    If the proponents do not appoint 2 members,  the  Board  must
12    appoint  2 members to the committee from among supporters, if
13    any, of the public question  not  later  than  the  76th  day
14    before the election.
15        (c)  Not later than the 76th day before the election, the
16    Board  must appoint 2 members to the committee from among the
17    opponents, if any, of the question.
18        (d)  The 4 appointed members of the committee must select
19    the 5th member  and  notify  the  Board  in  writing  of  the
20    selection.  If the 4 members have not selected the 5th member
21    by  the  69th day before the election, the 5th member must be
22    appointed by the Board not later than the 67th day before the
23    election.
24        (e)  A vacancy must be filled not later than  2  business
25    days  after  the  vacancy  occurs  by the person who made the
26    original appointment.  Unless the Board fills a vacancy,  the
27    person  filling  the vacancy must notify the Board in writing
28    of the selection.
29        (f)  As used in this Section, "proponents" means:
30             (1)  With respect to a public question initiated  by
31        a resolution or ordinance of a political subdivision, the
32        governing body of that political subdivision; and
33             (2)  With  respect  to  any  other  public  question
34        initiated  by  a  petition  of  the  electors,  the chief
 
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 1        petitioners.

 2        (10 ILCS 5/12A-100 new)
 3        Sec.  12A-100.  Preparation  and  filing  of  explanatory
 4    statement of public question.
 5        (a)  Not later than the 48th day before a general primary
 6    election or general election at which  any  statewide  public
 7    question  is  to  be  submitted  to the People, the committee
 8    appointed under Section 12A-95 must prepare and file with the
 9    Board an  impartial,  simple,  and  understandable  statement
10    explaining  the  measure.   The  statement may not exceed 500
11    words.
12        (b)  Not sooner than the 47th nor later than the 44th day
13    before the  election,  the  Board  must  hold  a  hearing  in
14    Springfield  upon  reasonable  statewide  notice  to  receive
15    suggested  changes  or  other  information  relating  to  any
16    explanatory  statement.  At the hearing any person may submit
17    suggested  changes  or  other  information  relating  to  any
18    explanatory  statement  orally   or   in   writing.   Written
19    suggestions or other information may also be submitted at any
20    time before the hearing.
21        (c)  The   committee   for  each  measure  must  consider
22    suggestions  and  any  other  information   submitted   under
23    subsection  (b)  of  this  Section,  and  may  file a revised
24    statement with the Board not later than the 35th  day  before
25    the election.
26        (d)  The  original  statement  and  any revised statement
27    must be approved by at least 3 members of the committee.   If
28    a  member  does not concur, the statement must show only that
29    the member dissents.

30        (10 ILCS 5/12A-105 new)
31        Sec.  12A-105.  Preparation  and  filing  of  explanatory
32    statement by Attorney General.
 
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 1        (a)  The Attorney  General  must  prepare  an  impartial,
 2    simple,  and  understandable  statement  of not more than 500
 3    words  explaining  each  statewide  public   question.    The
 4    statement must be filed with the Board no later than the last
 5    day for filing a statement prepared under Section 12A-100.
 6        (b)  If  an  explanatory  statement  is  not  filed  by a
 7    committee  under  Section  12A-100,  the  statement  of   the
 8    Attorney  General  shall  be the explanatory statement of the
 9    question and is subject to the provisions of Section 12A-100.

10        (10 ILCS 5/12A-110 new)
11        Sec. 12A-110. Effect if explanatory statement not  filed.
12    If an explanatory statement is not filed by a committee under
13    Section  12A-100  or  by  the  Attorney General under Section
14    12A-105, the public question must be posted  in  the  voters'
15    guide without the explanatory statement.

16        (10 ILCS 5/12A-115 new)
17        Sec. 12A-115. Court review of explanatory statement.  Any
18    person  dissatisfied  with an explanatory statement for which
19    suggestions were offered at the Board's hearing under Section
20    12A-100, may petition the Supreme Court seeking  a  different
21    statement  and  stating  the reasons the statement filed with
22    the Court is insufficient or unclear.   If  the  petition  is
23    filed  not  later  than  the  5th  day after the deadline for
24    filing a revised statement with the  Board,  the  court  must
25    review   the   statement,  hear  arguments,  and  certify  an
26    explanatory statement  to  the  Board.   The  review  by  the
27    Supreme  Court  must be conducted expeditiously to ensure the
28    orderly and timely conduct  of  the  election  at  which  the
29    measure  is  to  be submitted to the electors.  The statement
30    certified by the court  must  be  the  explanatory  statement
31    printed in the voters' guide.
 
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 1        (10 ILCS 5/12A-120 new)
 2        Sec.  12A-120.  Filing  arguments  for  or against public
 3    question; fee or petition; size  of  argument  space.     Not
 4    later  than  the  29th  day  before  a  general election or a
 5    general primary election at which a statewide public question
 6    is to be voted upon, any person may file  with  the  Board  a
 7    typewritten argument supporting or opposing the question. The
 8    argument  must be posted in the voters' guide if the argument
 9    is accompanied by either a payment of $300 or a petition in a
10    form prescribed by the Board  containing  the  signatures  of
11    1,000  electors eligible to vote on the question. Each person
12    signing the petition must subscribe to a statement  that  the
13    person  has read and agrees with the argument. The signatures
14    on each petition must be verified by the Board in the  manner
15    provided  in  Section 28-11 of this Code.   The petition must
16    be filed with the Board.

17        (10 ILCS 5/12A-125 new)
18        Sec. 12A-125. Author of argument, author's  organization,
19    and  disclaimer  to  be  included in voters' guide. The Board
20    must include in the voters' guide  with  the  argument  on  a
21    public  question  the  name  of  the person who submitted the
22    argument, the name of the organization the person represents,
23    if  any,  whether  the  argument  supports  or  opposes   the
24    question,  and  a  disclaimer  in substantially the following
25    form:
26        "THE POSTING OF THIS  ARGUMENT  DOES  NOT  CONSTITUTE  AN
27        ENDORSEMENT  BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, NOR DOES THE STATE
28        WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR TRUTH OF ANY  STATEMENT  MADE  IN
29        THE ARGUMENT."

30        (10 ILCS 5/12A-135 new)
31        Sec.   12A-135.   Radio   and  television  broadcasts  to
32    supplement guide.  The  Board  may  supplement  the  internet
 
                            -15-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1    voters'  guide  by  broadcasting,  by  radio  or  television,
 2    material  specified  in  this  Section  at  times  the  Board
 3    determines  suitable during the 4 weeks immediately preceding
 4    the election at which statewide public questions  are  to  be
 5    submitted  to  the People. The material provided by broadcast
 6    must include only the following:
 7             (1)  The public question as it will  appear  on  the
 8        ballot.
 9             (2)  A  summary  of the explanatory statements filed
10        relating to each statewide question.

11        (10 ILCS 5/12A-140 new)
12        Sec. 12A-140.  County voters' guide.   When  directed  by
13    resolution of the county board, the election authority of any
14    county  must  post  a  county  voters'  guide for any regular
15    election on the county or election authority's World Wide Web
16    site.

17        (10 ILCS 5/12A-145 new)
18        Sec. 12A-145.  Information required  to  be  included  in
19    county voters' guide.
20        If  a  county  posts  a  county voters' guide, the county
21    voters' guide must include, when  applicable,  at  least  the
22    following information:
23             (1)   A   sample  ballot  containing  the  names  of
24        candidates for all offices and all  public  questions  as
25        they will appear on the ballot in the county.
26             (2)  Requirements  for  a  citizen  to qualify as an
27        elector.
28             (3)  Requirements  for  registration,  transfer   of
29        registration, and re-registration.
30             (4) Instructions as to how an elector may obtain and
31        use an absentee ballot.
32             (5)  A  statement that the voters' guide may be used
 
                            -16-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1        to assist electors at the polls.
 2             (6) Elector instructions, including the right of  an
 3        elector to request a second ballot if the first ballot is
 4        spoiled,  the right of an elector to take into the voting
 5        booth a sample ballot marked in advance, and the right of
 6        an elector to seek assistance of the  judges of  election
 7        or  someone of the elector's own choosing, other than the
 8        elector's employer or agent of that employer  or  officer
 9        or agent of the elector's union, in marking the ballot.
10             (7) The hours that the polling places are open.
11             (8)   Any   portraits  and  statements  relating  to
12        candidates  submitted  under  the  provisions   of   this
13        Article.
14             (9)  Any public questions as they will appear on the
15        ballot, explanatory statements, and  arguments  submitted
16        under the provisions of this Article.
17             (10) A listing of the polling places.
18             (11)   Any   other  information  that  the  election
19        authority considers to be  appropriate  or  necessary  to
20        inform the voters.

21        (10 ILCS 5/12A-150 new)
22        Sec. 12A-150.  Schedule and procedures for posting county
23    voters' guide; fees.
24        (a)  The  State Board of Elections must, by rule, adopt a
25    schedule and procedures for posting  county  voters'  guides.
26    The  schedule and procedures must include, but not be limited
27    to, deadlines for filing material for the voters'  guide  and
28    except  as  otherwise provided by law, the format of material
29    to  be  submitted  and  the  size  and   other   requirements
30    applicable to candidate portraits.
31        (b)  The Board must, by rule, adopt a schedule of fees to
32    be charged by the election authority for including  portraits
33    of  candidates,  statements,  and  arguments  in  the voters'
 
                            -17-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1    guide. The fees need not reflect the actual cost  of  posting
 2    the  voters'  guide.  The  election authority must refund the
 3    filing fee to any person who applies for the refund not later
 4    than the last day for filing material for  inclusion  in  the
 5    voters'  guide. When a refund is made, the material for which
 6    the fee was paid may not be included in the guide.

 7        (10 ILCS 5/12A-155 new)
 8        Sec. 12A-155.  Filing portrait and statement  by  or  for
 9    candidate  in  county  voters' guide. Not later than the date
10    specified by the Board, any candidate  for  election  at  any
11    regular  election  within  the  county,  or  an  agent of the
12    candidate, may file with the election authority of  a  county
13    that  prepares  a  county  voters'  guide  a  portrait of the
14    candidate and a typewritten  statement  of  the  reasons  the
15    candidate  should be elected. The portrait and statement must
16    comply with the applicable rules of the Board.  The  election
17    authority  may  not  accept  the  filing  of  a  statement or
18    portrait of any candidate unless the filing is accompanied by
19    the appropriate fee as prescribed by the Board.

20        (10 ILCS 5/12A-160 new)
21        Sec. 12A-160.  Explanatory statement  in  county  voters'
22    guide.  Not  later than the date specified by the Board, in a
23    county that prepares a county voters' guide,  the  proponents
24    of  a  public  question  that  will appear on the ballot must
25    submit an impartial,  simple,  and  understandable  statement
26    explaining the public question and its effect.

27        (10 ILCS 5/12A-165 new)
28        Sec.  12A-165.  Filing  arguments  for  or against public
29    question in county voters' guide.
30        (a)  Not later than the date specified by  the  Board  by
31    rule,  in  a county that prepares a county voters' guide, any
 
                            -18-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1    person may file with the  election  authority  a  typewritten
 2    argument  supporting  or  opposing any public questions to be
 3    submitted to the voters on the ballot. The election authority
 4    may not accept any arguments that are not accompanied by  the
 5    fee  established  by  the  Board  or  a  petition  in  a form
 6    prescribed  by  the  Board.  A  petition  must  contain   the
 7    signatures  of  at  least  4%  of  the electors in the county
 8    eligible to vote  on  the  question  to  which  the  argument
 9    refers,  or  the  signatures  of 1,000 electors in the county
10    eligible to vote  on  the  question  to  which  the  argument
11    refers,  whichever is less. The number of registered electors
12    in an electoral district, for the purposes of  this  Section,
13    must  be  calculated  on  January 1 of each year. Each person
14    signing the petition must subscribe to a statement  that  the
15    person  has  read and agrees with the argument.  The petition
16    must be filed with the election authority.
17        (b) The election authority must  include  in  the  county
18    voters'  guide  the  name  of  the  person  who submitted the
19    argument, the name of the organization the person represents,
20    if any, whether the argument supports or opposes the measure,
21    and a disclaimer that the argument  does  not  constitute  an
22    indorsement  by  the  county  and  that  the  county does not
23    warrant the accuracy or truth of any statement  made  in  the
24    argument.

25        (10 ILCS 5/12A-170 new)
26        Sec.  12A-170.  Cost  of  guide  preparation.    All fees
27    collected by an election authority under  this  Act  must  be
28    transmitted  to  the State Board of Elections, as provided by
29    rule of the Board,  and  deposited  by  the  Board  into  the
30    General  Revenue  Fund.     The State Board of Elections must
31    reimburse the election authority  for  the  actual  costs  of
32    posting  the  county voters' guide from an appropriation made
33    by the General Assembly.
 
                            -19-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1        (10 ILCS 5/12A-175 new)
 2        Sec.  12A-175.  Content  of  statements  and   arguments;
 3    notice of material that may be excluded.
 4        (a)  Statements  and arguments submitted for inclusion in
 5    a county voters'  guide  by  a  candidate,  political  party,
 6    political committee, or other person supporting or opposing a
 7    measure must consist only of words or numbers.
 8        (b)  The   election   authority   must   specify  on  any
 9    instructions for  filing  a  statement,  argument,  or  other
10    material  in  the  county  voters'  guide that the statement,
11    argument, or material may be excluded under Section 12A-50.

12        (10 ILCS 5/12A-180 new)
13        Sec. 12A-180.  Names of persons or organizations excluded
14    from arguments and statements; exceptions.
15        (a)  Except  as  provided  in  subsection  (b)  of   this
16    Section, the election authority may not print the name of any
17    person or organization in any argument supporting or opposing
18    any  public question or any statement of any candidate, filed
19    for inclusion in a county voters' guide, if the name  of  the
20    person  or  organization  is cited as supporting or endorsing
21    the argument or statement.
22        (b)  The election authority  may  print  the  name  of  a
23    person  or organization in an argument or statement submitted
24    for inclusion in a county  voters'  guide  as  supporting  or
25    endorsing the argument or statement if:
26             (1)  not  later  than  the  deadline  for  filing an
27        argument or statement with the  election  authority,  the
28        election  authority  receives  a  statement signed by the
29        person, or by  an  authorized  person  on  behalf  of  an
30        organization, stating that the person consents to the use
31        of the name of the person or organization; or
32             (2)  the  name  of  a person or organization is used
33        with a quotation made by the  person  on  behalf  of  the
 
                            -20-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1        person  or  by  an  authorized  person  on  behalf  of an
 2        organization,  the  quotation  was  disseminated  to  the
 3        public  prior  to  its  inclusion  in  the  argument   or
 4        statement,  and the quotation is identified by its source
 5        and date.
 6        (c) A person may  not  submit  a  false  signature  under
 7    subsection (b) of this Section.

 8        (10 ILCS 5/12A-185 new)
 9        Sec.  12A-185.  Type  of  material  to  be  excluded from
10    county voters'  guide;  liability  for  libel;  procedure  if
11    material excluded.
12        (a)  The  election  authority  must reject any statement,
13    argument, or other matter offered for filing and printing  in
14    a county voters' guide that:
15             (1)  contains  any  obscene,  profane, or defamatory
16        language;
17             (2) incites or advocates hatred, abuse, or  violence
18        toward any person or group; or
19             (3)  contains  any  language that may not legally be
20        circulated through the mails.
21        (b)  Nothing in this Article  makes  the  author  of  any
22    statement  or  argument  exempt  from  any  civil or criminal
23    action because  of  any  defamatory  statements  offered  for
24    printing  or  contained  in  the  voters'  guide. The persons
25    writing, signing, or offering a  statement  or  argument  for
26    filing are deemed its authors and publishers.
27        (c)  The  Board  must,  by rule, establish a procedure to
28    notify a person who offered a statement, argument,  or  other
29    matter  that  was  rejected  under  this  Section. Subject to
30    voters' guide  deadlines,  the  procedure  must  require  the
31    election authority to:
32             (1)  make  reasonable  attempts to notify the person
33        of the rejection; and
 
                            -21-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1             (2) allow the person, if  notified  under  paragraph
 2        (1)  of  this subsection, to revise the statement so that
 3        it does not violate the provisions of this Section.

 4        (10 ILCS 5/12A-190 new)
 5        Sec. 12A-190.  Format of candidate's statement in  county
 6    voters'  guide. The candidate's statement in a county voters'
 7    guide must begin with a summary of the following: occupation,
 8    educational   and   occupational   background,   and    prior
 9    governmental experience.

10        (10 ILCS 5/12A-195 new)
11        Sec.  12A-195.  Exemption from public records law; county
12    voters' guide. Notwithstanding any other  provisions  of  law
13    relating  to  public  records, materials filed by a candidate
14    for  inclusion  in  a  county  voters'  guide  and  arguments
15    supporting or opposing a public question filed by any  person
16    for  inclusion  in  a  county  voters'  guide are exempt from
17    public inspection until the 4th business day after the  final
18    date for filing the materials.

19        (10 ILCS 5/12A-200 new)
20        Sec.  12A-200.  Statements  and arguments inadmissible in
21    action to enjoin posting of county  voters'  guide.  Material
22    submitted  for  inclusion in any county voters' guide may not
23    be admitted as evidence in any suit  or  action  against  the
24    election  authority  to restrain or enjoin the posting of the
25    voters' guide.
 
                            -22-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1                                INDEX
 2               Statutes amended in order of appearance
 3    10 ILCS 5/Art. 12A heading new
 4    10 ILCS 5/12A-1 new
 5    10 ILCS 5/12A-5 new
 6    10 ILCS 5/12A-10 new
 7    10 ILCS 5/12A-15 new
 8    10 ILCS 5/12A-20 new
 9    10 ILCS 5/12A-25 new
10    10 ILCS 5/12A-30 new
11    10 ILCS 5/12A-35 new
12    10 ILCS 5/12A-40 new
13    10 ILCS 5/12A-45 new
14    10 ILCS 5/12A-50 new
15    10 ILCS 5/12A-55 new
16    10 ILCS 5/12A-60 new
17    10 ILCS 5/12A-65 new
18    10 ILCS 5/12A-70 new
19    10 ILCS 5/12A-75 new
20    10 ILCS 5/12A-80 new
21    10 ILCS 5/12A-85 new
22    10 ILCS 5/12A-90 new
23    10 ILCS 5/12A-95 new
24    10 ILCS 5/12A-100 new
25    10 ILCS 5/12A-105 new
26    10 ILCS 5/12A-110 new
27    10 ILCS 5/12A-115 new
28    10 ILCS 5/12A-120 new
29    10 ILCS 5/12A-125 new
30    10 ILCS 5/12A-130 new
31    10 ILCS 5/12A-135 new
32    10 ILCS 5/12A-140 new
33    10 ILCS 5/12A-145 new
34    10 ILCS 5/12A-150 new
 
                            -23-               LRB9212575JMmb
 1    10 ILCS 5/12A-155 new
 2    10 ILCS 5/12A-160 new
 3    10 ILCS 5/12A-165 new
 4    10 ILCS 5/12A-170 new
 5    10 ILCS 5/12A-175 new
 6    10 ILCS 5/12A-180 new
 7    10 ILCS 5/12A-185 new
 8    10 ILCS 5/12A-190 new
 9    10 ILCS 5/12A-195 new
10    10 ILCS 5/12A-200 new

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