Public Act 93-0574

SB428 Enrolled                       LRB093 07599 JAM 07778 b

    AN ACT concerning elections.

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

    Section  5.  The  Election  Code  is  amended by changing
Sections 2A-12, 4-6.2, 4-8, 4-33, 5-7,  5-16.2,  5-43,  6-35,
6-50.2,  6-79,  7-7,  7-8,  7-10,  7-10.2,  7-17, 7-34, 7-41,
8-8.1, 9-1.5, 9-3, 9-10, 9-21, 10-5.1, 13-1.1, 14-3.2,  16-3,
17-23,  17-29,  19-2.1,  19-2.2,  19-10,  22-5,  22-9, 22-15,
24B-2,  24B-6,  24B-8,  24B-9,  24B-9.1,  24B-10,   24B-10.1,
24B-15, 24B-18, 28-6, and 28-9 and by adding Articles 18A and
24C  and  Sections  1-10,  1A-16, 1A-20, 9-1.14, 23-15.1, and
24A-22 as follows:

    (10 ILCS 5/1-10 new)
    Sec. 1-10.  Public comment.  Notwithstanding any  law  to
the  contrary, the State Board of Elections in evaluating the
feasibility of any new voting system shall  seek  and  accept
public  comment  from  persons  of  the  disabled  community,
including but not limited to organizations of the blind.

    (10 ILCS 5/1A-16 new)
    Sec.  1A-16.  Voter  registration  information;  internet
posting;  processing  of voter registration forms; content of
such forms. Notwithstanding any  law  to  the  contrary,  the
following  provisions shall apply to voter registration under
this Code.
    (a)  Voter registration information; Internet posting  of
voter  registration form.  Within 90 days after the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the
State Board of Elections shall post on  its  World  Wide  Web
site the following information:
         (1)  A  comprehensive  list of the names, addresses,
    phone numbers, and websites, if applicable, of all county
    clerks and boards of election commissioners in Illinois.
         (2)  A  schedule  of  upcoming  elections  and   the
    deadline for voter registration.
         (3)  A  downloadable,  printable  voter registration
    form, in at least English and in Spanish versions, that a
    person may complete and mail or submit to the State Board
    of Elections or the appropriate county clerk or board  of
    election commissioners.
Any  forms  described  under  paragraph  (3)  must  state the
following:
         If you do not have  a  driver's  license  or  social
    security  number, and this form is submitted by mail, and
    you have never registered to vote in the jurisdiction you
    are now registering in, then you  must  send,  with  this
    application,  either  (i)  a  copy of a current and valid
    photo identification, or (ii) a copy of a current utility
    bill, bank  statement,  government  check,  paycheck,  or
    other government document that shows the name and address
    of  the  voter.  If  you  do  not provide the information
    required above, then you  will  be  required  to  provide
    election  officials  with  either  (i)  or (ii) described
    above the first time you vote at a  voting  place  or  by
    absentee ballot.
    (b)  Acceptance  of registration forms by the State Board
of  Elections  and  county  clerks  and  board  of   election
commissioners.  The  State Board of Elections, county clerks,
and  board  of  election  commissioners  shall   accept   all
completed  voter  registration  forms described in subsection
(a)(3) that are:
         (1)  postmarked on or  before  the  day  that  voter
    registration is closed under the Election Code;
         (2)  not  postmarked,  but  arrives  no later than 5
    days after the close of registration;
         (3)  submitted in person by a person using the  form
    on  or  before  the day that voter registration is closed
    under the Election Code; or
         (4)  submitted in person by a person who submits one
    or more forms on behalf of one or more persons  who  used
    the  form on or before the day that voter registration is
    closed under the Election Code.
    Upon the receipt of a registration form, the State  Board
of  Elections  shall  mark  the  date  on  which the form was
received and send the  form  via  first  class  mail  to  the
appropriate  county clerk or board of election commissioners,
as the case may be, within 2 business  days  based  upon  the
home  address of the person submitting the registration form.
The county clerk and board of  election  commissioners  shall
accept  and process any form received from the State Board of
Elections.
    (c)  Processing of registration forms  by  county  clerks
and  boards  of  election commissioners.  The county clerk or
board of election commissioners shall  promulgate  procedures
for processing the voter registration form.
    (d)  Contents  of  the voter registration form. The State
Board shall create a  voter  registration  form,  which  must
contain the following content:
         (1)  Instructions for completing the form.
         (2)  A  summary of the qualifications to register to
    vote in Illinois.
         (3)  Instructions for mailing in or  submitting  the
    form in person.
         (4)  The   phone  number  for  the  State  Board  of
    Elections  should  a  person  submitting  the  form  have
    questions.
         (5)  A box for the person to check that explains one
    of 3 reasons for submitting the form:
              (a)  new registration;
              (b)  change of address; or
              (c)  change of name.
         (6)  a box for the person to check yes  or  no  that
    asks,  "Are  you  a citizen of the United States?", a box
    for the person to check yes or no that asks, "Will you be
    18 years of age  on  or  before  election  day?",  and  a
    statement  of  "If you checked 'no' in response to either
    of these questions, then do not complete this form.".
         (7)  A space for the person to fill in  his  or  her
    home telephone number.
         (8)  Spaces  for  the  person  to fill in his or her
    first, middle, and last names, street address  (principal
    place of residence), county, city, state, and zip code.
         (9)  Spaces  for  the  person  to fill in his or her
    mailing address, city, state, and zip code  if  different
    from his or her principal place of residence.
         (10)  A  space  for the person to fill in his or her
    Illinois driver's license number  if  the  person  has  a
    driver's license.
         (11)  A  space  for  a  person  without  a  driver's
    license  to  fill  in  the last four digits of his or her
    social  security  number  if  the  person  has  a  social
    security number.
         (12)  A space  for  a  person  without  an  Illinois
    driver's  license  to  fill  in his or her identification
    number from his or her State Identification  card  issued
    by the Secretary of State.
         (13)  A  space  for  the  person  to  fill  the name
    appearing on his or  her  last  voter  registration,  the
    street address of his or her last registration, including
    the city, county, state, and zip code.
         (14)  A space where the person swears or affirms the
    following  under  penalty  of  perjury  with  his  or her
    signature:
              (a)  "I am a citizen of the United States.";
              (b)  "I will be at least 18  years  old  on  or
         before the next election.";
              (c)  "I   will  have  lived  in  the  State  of
         Illinois and in my election  precinct  at  least  30
         days as of the date of the next election."; and
              "The information I have provided is true to the
         best of my knowledge under penalty of perjury.  If I
         have  provided  false  information,  than  I  may be
         fined, imprisoned, or if I am not  a  U.S.  citizen,
         deported  from  or  refused  entry  into  the United
         States."
    (d)  Compliance with federal law;  rulemaking  authority.
The  voter  registration form described in this Section shall
be  consistent  with  the  form  prescribed  by  the  Federal
Election Commission under the National Voter Registration Act
of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time,  and  the
Help  America Vote Act of 2002, P.L. 107-252, in all relevant
respects. The State Board  of  Elections  shall  periodically
update the form based on changes to federal or State law. The
State Board of Elections shall promulgate any rules necessary
for  the  implementation  of  this Section; provided that the
rules comport with the letter  and  spirit  of  the  National
Voter  Registration  Act of 1993 and Help America Vote Act of
2002 and maximize the opportunity for a person to register to
vote.
    (e)  Forms available in paper form. The  State  Board  of
Elections shall make the voter registration form available in
regular paper stock and form in sufficient quantities for the
general public.  The State Board of Elections may provide the
voter  registration  form  to  the Secretary of State, county
clerks, boards of election commissioners, designated agencies
of the State of Illinois, and  any  other  person  or  entity
designated  to  have  these  forms  by  the  Election Code in
regular paper stock and form  or  some  other  format  deemed
suitable by the Board. Each county clerk or board of election
commissioners  has  the authority to design and print its own
voter registration form so long as the form complies with the
requirements of this Section.  The State Board of  Elections,
county  clerks,  boards  of  election commissioners, or other
designated agencies of the State of Illinois required to have
these forms under the Election Code shall provide a member of
the public with any reasonable number of forms that he or she
may request. Nothing in this Section shall permit  the  State
Board   of   Elections,   county  clerk,  board  of  election
commissioners, or other appropriate election official who may
accept a voter registration form to refuse to accept a  voter
registration  form because the form is printed on photocopier
or regular paper stock and form.
    (f)  Internet voter registration study. The  State  Board
of  Elections  shall  investigate the feasibility of offering
voter  registration  on  its  website  and   consider   voter
registration methods of other states in an effort to maximize
the  opportunity  for  all  Illinois  citizens to register to
vote.  The  State  Board  of  Elections  shall  assemble  its
findings in a report and submit it to the General Assembly no
later  than  January  1,  2006.  The  report  shall   contain
legislative   recommendations  to  the  General  Assembly  on
improving voter registration in Illinois.

    (10 ILCS 5/1A-20 new)
    Sec. 1A-20. Help Illinois Vote Fund.  The  Help  Illinois
Vote Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury.
All   federal   funds   received   by   the   State  for  the
implementation of the federal Help America Vote Act  of  2002
shall  be  deposited into the Help Illinois Vote Fund. Moneys
from any other source may be deposited into the Help Illinois
Vote Fund. The Help Illinois Vote Fund shall be  appropriated
solely  to  the  State Board of Elections for use only in the
performance of activities and programs authorized or mandated
by or in accordance with the federal Help America Vote Act of
2002.

    (10 ILCS 5/2A-12) (from Ch. 46, par. 2A-12)
    Sec. 2A-12.  Board of Review  -   Time  of  Election.   A
member  of  the  Board  of  Review in any county which elects
members of a Board  of  Review  shall  be  elected,  at  each
general election which immediately precedes the expiration of
the  term  of  any  incumbent  member, to succeed each member
whose term ends before the following general election, except
that members of the Cook County  Board  of  Review  shall  be
elected  as  provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-5 of the
Property Tax Code.
(Source: P.A. 80-936.)

    (10 ILCS 5/4-6.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-6.2)
    Sec. 4-6.2.  (a)  The  county  clerk  shall  appoint  all
municipal  and township or road district clerks or their duly
authorized deputies as deputy registrars who may  accept  the
registration  of  all qualified residents of their respective
municipalities,  townships  and  road  districts.  A   deputy
registrar  serving  as  such  by  virtue  of  his status as a
municipal clerk, or a duly authorized deputy of  a  municipal
clerk,  of a municipality the territory of which lies in more
than one county may accept the registration of any  qualified
resident  of the municipality, regardless of which county the
resident, municipal clerk or the duly  authorized  deputy  of
the municipal clerk lives in.
    The    county    clerk   shall   appoint   all   precinct
committeepersons in the county as deputy registrars  who  may
accept  the  registration  of  any  qualified resident of the
county, except during the 27 days preceding an election.
    The election authority shall appoint as deputy registrars
a reasonable number of employees of the  Secretary  of  State
located   at   driver's   license  examination  stations  and
designated to the election  authority  by  the  Secretary  of
State  who  may  accept  the  registration  of  any qualified
residents  of  the  county  at  any  such  driver's   license
examination  stations.  The  appointment  of employees of the
Secretary of State as deputy registrars shall be made in  the
manner  provided  in  Section  2-105  of the Illinois Vehicle
Code.
    The county clerk shall  appoint  each  of  the  following
named  persons  as deputy registrars upon the written request
of such persons:
         1.  The  chief  librarian,  or  a  qualified  person
    designated by the chief librarian, of any public  library
    situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept
    the  registrations  of  any  qualified  resident  of  the
    county, at such library.
         2.  The  principal, or a qualified person designated
    by the principal, of any high school, elementary  school,
    or   vocational   school  situated  within  the  election
    jurisdiction, who may accept  the  registrations  of  any
    qualified  resident  of  the  county, at such school. The
    county   clerk   shall   notify   every   principal   and
    vice-principal of each high  school,  elementary  school,
    and   vocational  school  situated  within  the  election
    jurisdiction of their  eligibility  to  serve  as  deputy
    registrars  and  offer  training  courses  for service as
    deputy registrars at conveniently located  facilities  at
    least 4 months prior to every election.
         3.  The  president, or a qualified person designated
    by the president, of any university,  college,  community
    college,   academy   or  other  institution  of  learning
    situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept
    the registrations of any resident of the county, at  such
    university,   college,   community  college,  academy  or
    institution.
         4.  A duly elected or appointed official of  a  bona
    fide  labor  organization,  or  a  reasonable  number  of
    qualified  members  designated  by such official, who may
    accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the
    county.
         5.  A  duly  elected  or  appointed  official  of  a
    bonafide  State  civic  organization,  as   defined   and
    determined  by  rule  of the State Board of Elections, or
    qualified members designated by such  official,  who  may
    accept  the registration of any qualified resident of the
    county. In determining the number  of  deputy  registrars
    that  shall be appointed, the county clerk shall consider
    the population of  the  jurisdiction,  the  size  of  the
    organization,  the  geographic  size of the jurisdiction,
    convenience for the public, the existing number of deputy
    registrars in the jurisdiction and  their  location,  the
    registration  activities of the organization and the need
    to appoint deputy registrars to assist and facilitate the
    registration of non-English speaking individuals.  In  no
    event  shall  a  county  clerk  fix  an  arbitrary number
    applicable  to  every   civic   organization   requesting
    appointment  of  its  members  as  deputy registrars. The
    State Board  of  Elections  shall  by  rule  provide  for
    certification of bonafide State civic organizations. Such
    appointments  shall  be made for a period not to exceed 2
    years, terminating on the first business day of the month
    following the month of the general election, and shall be
    valid for all periods of voter registration  as  provided
    by this Code during the terms of such appointments.
         6.  The  Director  of  the  Illinois  Department  of
    Public   Aid,   or   a  reasonable  number  of  employees
    designated by the Director  and  located  at  public  aid
    offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified
    resident of the county at any such public aid office.
         7.  The  Director  of  the  Illinois  Department  of
    Employment  Security, or a reasonable number of employees
    designated by the Director and  located  at  unemployment
    offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified
    resident of the county at any such unemployment office.
         8.  The  president  of any corporation as defined by
    the Business Corporation Act of  1983,  or  a  reasonable
    number of employees designated by such president, who may
    accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the
    county.
    If  the  request  to  be appointed as deputy registrar is
denied, the county clerk shall, within 10 days after the date
the request is submitted, provide the affected individual  or
organization  with  written notice setting forth the specific
reasons or criteria relied upon to deny  the  request  to  be
appointed as deputy registrar.
    The  county  clerk  may appoint as many additional deputy
registrars as he considers necessary. The county clerk  shall
appoint such additional deputy registrars in such manner that
the   convenience   of  the  public  is  served,  giving  due
consideration to  both  population  concentration  and  area.
Some of the additional deputy registrars shall be selected so
that  there  are  an  equal  number  from each of the 2 major
political parties in the election jurisdiction.   The  county
clerk,  in  appointing  an additional deputy registrar, shall
make the appointment from a list of applicants  submitted  by
the   Chairman   of  the  County  Central  Committee  of  the
applicant's political party.  A Chairman of a County  Central
Committee  shall  submit  a  list of applicants to the county
clerk by November 30 of each  year.   The  county  clerk  may
require a Chairman of a County Central Committee to furnish a
supplemental list of applicants.
    Deputy  registrars  may  accept registrations at any time
other than the 27  day  period  preceding  an  election.  All
persons  appointed  as deputy registrars shall be  registered
voters within the county and shall take and subscribe to  the
following oath or affirmation:
    "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that
I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the
Constitution  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  that I will
faithfully discharge the  duties  of  the  office  of  deputy
registrar  to the best of my ability and that I will register
no person nor cause the registration  of  any  person  except
upon his personal application before me.
                                 ............................
                                (Signature Deputy Registrar)"
    This  oath  shall be administered by the county clerk, or
by one of his deputies, or by any person  qualified  to  take
acknowledgement  of deeds and shall immediately thereafter be
filed with the county clerk.
    Appointments of deputy  registrars  under  this  Section,
except  precinct  committeemen,  shall  be  for 2-year terms,
commencing on December 1 following the  general  election  of
each even-numbered year; except that the terms of the initial
appointments  shall  be until December 1st following the next
general election. Appointments of precinct committeemen shall
be for 2-year terms commencing on  the  date  of  the  county
convention  following  the general primary at which they were
elected.  The county  clerk  shall  issue  a  certificate  of
appointment  to  each deputy registrar, and shall maintain in
his office for public inspection a list of the names  of  all
appointees.
    (b)  The  county  clerk shall be responsible for training
all deputy registrars appointed pursuant to  subsection  (a),
at  times  and  locations  reasonably convenient for both the
county clerk and such appointees.  The county clerk shall  be
responsible   for   certifying  and  supervising  all  deputy
registrars appointed  pursuant  to  subsection  (a).   Deputy
registrars appointed under subsection (a) shall be subject to
removal for cause.
    (c)  Completed  registration  materials under the control
of deputy registrars, appointed pursuant to  subsection  (a),
shall  be  returned to the proper election authority within 7
days, except that completed registration  materials  received
by  the  deputy registrars during the period between the 35th
and 28th day preceding an election shall be returned  by  the
deputy  registrars to the proper election authority within 48
hours after  receipt  thereof.   The  completed  registration
materials  received  by the deputy registrars on the 28th day
preceding  an  election  shall  be  returned  by  the  deputy
registrars within 24  hours  after  receipt  thereof.  Unused
materials  shall  be  returned by deputy registrars appointed
pursuant to paragraph 4 of subsection (a), not later than the
next working day following the close of registration.
    (d)  The county clerk or board of election commissioners,
as the  case  may  be,  must  provide  any  additional  forms
requested by any deputy registrar regardless of the number of
unaccounted  registration forms the deputy registrar may have
in his or her possession.  The  county  clerk  shall  not  be
required  to provide additional forms to any deputy registrar
having more  than  200  registration  forms  unaccounted  for
during the preceding 12 month period.
    (e)  No    deputy   registrar   shall   engage   in   any
electioneering or the  promotion  of  any  cause  during  the
performance of his or her duties.
    (f)  The  county clerk shall not be criminally or civilly
liable for the acts or omissions  of  any  deputy  registrar.
Such deputy registrars shall not be deemed to be employees of
the county clerk.
(Source: P.A. 92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)

    (10 ILCS 5/4-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-8)
    Sec.  4-8.  The  county  clerk shall provide a sufficient
number of blank forms for the registration of electors, which
shall be known as registration record cards and  which  shall
consist  of  loose  leaf sheets or cards, of suitable size to
contain in plain writing and  figures  the  data  hereinafter
required  thereon  or  shall  consist  of  computer  cards of
suitable nature to contain the  data  required  thereon.  The
registration  record  cards, which shall include an affidavit
of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in
duplicate.
    The registration record card shall contain the  following
and  such  other information as the county clerk may think it
proper to require for the identification of the applicant for
registration:
    Name.  The name of  the  applicant,  giving  surname  and
first  or  Christian name in full, and the middle name or the
initial for such middle name, if any.
    Sex.
    Residence.  The name and number of the street, avenue, or
other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit
or room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home  the
lot   number,   and   such   additional  clear  and  definite
description as  may  be  necessary  to  determine  the  exact
location of the dwelling of the applicant. Where the location
cannot  be determined by street and number, then the section,
congressional township and range number may be used, or  such
other  description as may be necessary, including post-office
mailing address. In the case of a  homeless  individual,  the
individual's  voting  residence  that  is  his or her mailing
address shall be included on his or her  registration  record
card.
    Term  of residence in the State of Illinois and precinct.
This information shall be furnished by the applicant  stating
the  place  or  places  where he resided and the dates during
which he resided in such place or places during the year next
preceding the date of the next ensuing election.
    Nativity.  The state or country in  which  the  applicant
was born.
    Citizenship.   Whether  the  applicant  is native born or
naturalized. If naturalized, the court, place,  and  date  of
naturalization.
    Date  of  application  for  registration,  i.e., the day,
month  and  year  when  applicant   presented   himself   for
registration.
    Age.  Date of birth, by month, day and year.
    Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time
of registration, which would require assistance in voting.
    The  county  and  state  in  which the applicant was last
registered.
    Signature   of   voter.    The   applicant,   after   the
registration and in the presence of  a  deputy  registrar  or
other  officer  of registration shall be required to sign his
or her name in ink to the affidavit on both the original  and
duplicate registration record cards.
    Signature of deputy registrar or officer of registration.
    In  case  applicant  is  unable  to sign his name, he may
affix his mark to the affidavit. In  such  case  the  officer
empowered  to  give  the  registration  oath  shall  write  a
detailed  description  of the applicant in the space provided
on the back or at the bottom of the card or sheet; and  shall
ask the following questions and record the answers thereto:
    Father's first name.
    Mother's first name.
    From what address did the applicant last register?
    Reason for inability to sign name.
    Each  applicant  for registration shall make an affidavit
in substantially the following form:
                  AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION
STATE OF ILLINOIS
COUNTY OF .......
    I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am  a  citizen  of  the
United  States; that on the date of the next election I shall
have resided in the State of Illinois  and  in  the  election
precinct  in  which  I  reside 30 days and that I intend that
this  location  shall  be  my  residence;  that  I  am  fully
qualified to vote, and that the above statements are true.
                               ..............................
                               (His or her signature or mark)
    Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).
..................................
Signature of registration officer.
(To be signed in presence of registrant.)

    Space  shall  be  provided  upon   the   face   of   each
registration  record  card  for  the  notation  of the voting
record of the person registered thereon.
    Each registration record card shall be numbered according
to precincts, and may be serially  or  otherwise  marked  for
identification  in  such  manner  as  the  county  clerk  may
determine.
    The registration cards shall be deemed public records and
shall  be  open  to inspection during regular business hours,
except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election.
On written request of any candidate or objector or any person
intending to object to a  petition,  the  election  authority
shall  extend  its hours for inspection of registration cards
and other records of the election authority during the period
beginning with the filing of petitions under  Sections  7-10,
8-8,  10-6  or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of
electoral board  hearings  on  any  objections  to  petitions
containing   signatures   of   registered   voters   in   the
jurisdiction  of the election authority.  The extension shall
be for  a  period  of  hours  sufficient  to  allow  adequate
opportunity  for  examination of the records but the election
authority is not required to  extend  its  hours  beyond  the
period  beginning  at  its  normal  opening  for business and
ending at midnight.  If the business hours are  so  extended,
the  election  authority  shall  post a public notice of such
extended  hours.  Registration  record  cards  may  also   be
inspected,  upon  approval  of  the  officer in charge of the
cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election.
Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by
certified judges and poll watchers  and  challengers  at  the
polling  place  on  election  day,  but  only  to  the extent
necessary to determine the question of the right of a  person
to  vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall
poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically  handle
the registration record cards.
    Updated  copies  of  computer  tapes or computer discs or
other electronic data processing information containing voter
registration information shall be  furnished  by  the  county
clerk  within  10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year
and within 10 days after each registration period  is  closed
to  the  State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the
Board. For the  purposes  of  this  Section,  a  registration
period  is  closed  27 days before the date of any regular or
special election. Registration information shall include, but
not be limited to, the  following  information:   name,  sex,
residence,  telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation,
if  applicable,  precinct,  ward,   township,   county,   and
representative,  legislative and congressional districts.  In
the event of noncompliance, the State Board of  Elections  is
directed   to   obtain   compliance   forthwith   with   this
nondiscretionary   duty   of   the   election   authority  by
instituting legal proceedings in the  circuit  court  of  the
county   in   which  the  election  authority  maintains  the
registration information.  The costs  of  furnishing  updated
copies  of  tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034
per name of registered voters in the  election  jurisdiction,
but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from
appropriations  made  to  the  State  Board  of Elections for
reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The
Board shall  furnish  copies  of  such  tapes,  discs,  other
electronic  data  or  compilations thereof to state political
committees  registered  pursuant  to  the  Illinois  Campaign
Finance Act or the Federal Election  Campaign  Act  at  their
request and at a reasonable cost.  Copies of the tapes, discs
or  other  electronic  data  shall be furnished by the county
clerk to local political committees at their request and at a
reasonable cost. To protect the privacy  and  confidentiality
of   voter   registration   information,  the  disclosure  of
electronic voter registration records to any person or entity
other  than  a  State  or  local   political   committee   is
specifically prohibited. Reasonable cost of the tapes, discs,
et  cetera  for this purpose would be the cost of duplication
plus 15% for administration.  The individual  representing  a
political  committee  requesting  copies  of such tapes shall
make a sworn affidavit that the  information  shall  be  used
only  for  bona  fide political purposes, including by or for
candidates for  office  or  incumbent  office  holders.  Such
tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be used under
any  circumstances  by any political committee or individuals
for purposes of commercial  solicitation  or  other  business
purposes.   If  such  tapes  contain  information  on  county
residents  related  to the operations of county government in
addition to registration information, that information  shall
not   be   used   under   any  circumstances  for  commercial
solicitation or other business purposes.  The prohibition  in
this  Section  against  using  the computer tapes or computer
discs  or  other  electronic  data   processing   information
containing  voter  registration  information  for purposes of
commercial solicitation or other business purposes  shall  be
prospective  only from the effective date of this amended Act
of 1979.  Any person who violates  this  provision  shall  be
guilty of a Class 4 felony.
    The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October
1,  1987,  such  regulations  as  may  be necessary to ensure
uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing
of voter registration  information.   The  regulations  shall
include,  but  need  not  be  limited  to, specifications for
uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to
be employed by the election authorities of this State in  the
electronic data processing of voter registration information.
Each  election authority utilizing electronic data processing
of voter registration  information  shall  comply  with  such
regulations on and after May 15, 1988.
    If  the applicant for registration was last registered in
another county within  this  State,  he  shall  also  sign  a
certificate    authorizing   cancellation   of   the   former
registration. The certificate shall be in  substantially  the
following form:
To the County Clerk of.... County, Illinois. (or)
To the Election Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.
    This  is to certify that I am registered in your (county)
(city) and that my residence was ............................
Having moved out of your (county) (city), I hereby  authorize
you to cancel said registration in your office.
Dated at ...., Illinois, on (insert date).
                            .................................
                                         (Signature of Voter)
Attest: ................,  County Clerk, .............
County, Illinois.
    The  cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately
by  the  County  Clerk  to  the  County  Clerk  (or  election
commission as the  case  may  be)  where  the  applicant  was
formerly  registered.  Receipt  of  such certificate shall be
full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.
(Source: P.A. 91-357,  eff.  7-29-99;  92-465,  eff.  1-1-02;
92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)

    (10 ILCS 5/4-33)
    Sec. 4-33.  Computerization of voter records.
    (a)  The   State   Board  of  Elections  shall  design  a
registration record card that, except as  otherwise  provided
in  this  Section, shall be used in duplicate by all election
authorities in the  State  adopting  a  computer-based  voter
registration  file  as  provided  in this Section.  The Board
shall prescribe the form and  specifications,  including  but
not  limited  to the weight of paper, color, and print of the
cards.  The cards shall  contain  boxes  or  spaces  for  the
information  required  under  Sections 4-8 and 4-21; provided
that the cards shall also contain: (i) A space for  a  person
to fill in his or her Illinois driver's license number if the
person  has  a  driver's  license;  (ii) A space for a person
without a driver's license to fill in the last four digits of
his or her social security number if the person has a  social
security  number  a  box  or space for the applicant's social
security number,  which  shall  be  required  to  the  extent
allowed  by  law  but  in no case shall the applicant provide
fewer than the last 4 digits of the social  security  number,
and a box for the applicant's telephone number, if available.
    (b)  The  election  authority may develop and implement a
system to prepare, use, and maintain a  computer-based  voter
registration  file  that  includes a computer-stored image of
the  signature  of  each  voter.   The  computer-based  voter
registration file may be used for all purposes for which  the
original  registration  cards are to be used, provided that a
system for the storage of at least one copy of  the  original
registration  cards  remains  in  effect. The electronic file
shall be the master file.
    (c)  Any  system  created,  used,  and  maintained  under
subsection (b) of  this  Section  shall  meet  the  following
standards:
         (1)  Access to any computer-based voter registration
    file  shall be limited to those persons authorized by the
    election authority, and each access to the computer-based
    voter registration file, other than an access solely  for
    inquiry, shall be recorded.
         (2)  No  copy,  summary, list, abstract, or index of
    any computer-based voter registration file that  includes
    any   computer-stored  image  of  the  signature  of  any
    registered voter shall be made available  to  the  public
    outside of the offices of the election authority.
         (3)  Any  copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of
    any computer-based voter registration file that  includes
    a  computer-stored image of the signature of a registered
    voter shall be produced in such a manner that  it  cannot
    be reproduced.
         (4)  Each  person  desiring  to  vote  shall sign an
    application for a ballot, and  the  signature  comparison
    authorized in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code may be made
    to  a  copy of the computer-stored image of the signature
    of the registered voter.
         (5)  Any voter list produced from  a  computer-based
    voter  registration  file  that  includes computer-stored
    images of the signatures of registered voters and is used
    in a polling place during an election shall be  preserved
    by the election authority in secure storage until the end
    of  the  second  calendar  year following the election in
    which it was used.
    (d)  Before the first  election  in  which  the  election
authority  elects  to  use  a  voter  list  produced from the
computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters
in a computer-based voter  registration  file  for  signature
comparison  in  a polling place, the State Board of Elections
shall certify that the system used by the election  authority
complies  with  the standards set forth in this Section.  The
State Board of Elections  may  request  a  sample  poll  list
intended  to  be used in a polling place to test the accuracy
of the list and the adequacy of the computer-stored images of
the signatures of the registered voters.
    (e)  With respect to a jurisdiction that has  copied  all
of  its  voter  signatures into a computer-based registration
file, all references in this Act or any other Act to the use,
other than storage, of paper-based voter registration records
shall be deemed to refer to their computer-based equivalents.
    (f)  Nothing  in  this  Section  prevents   an   election
authority  from  submitting to the State Board of Elections a
duplicate copy of some, as the State Board of Elections shall
determine, or  all  of  the  data  contained  in  each  voter
registration  record  that  is  part of the electronic master
file. The duplicate copy of the registration record shall  be
maintained  by  the  State  Board of Elections under the same
terms and limitations applicable to  the  election  authority
and  shall  be  of  equal  legal  dignity  with  the original
registration record maintained by the election  authority  as
proof of any fact contained in the voter registration record.
(Source: P.A. 91-73, eff. 7-9-99.)

    (10 ILCS 5/5-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 5-7)
    Sec.  5-7.  The  county  clerk shall provide a sufficient
number of blank forms for the registration of electors  which
shall  be  known as registration record cards and which shall
consist of loose leaf sheets or cards, of  suitable  size  to
contain  in  plain  writing  and figures the data hereinafter
required thereon  or  shall  consist  of  computer  cards  of
suitable  nature  to  contain the data required thereon.  The
registration record cards, which shall include  an  affidavit
of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in
duplicate.
    The  registration record card shall contain the following
and such other information as the county clerk may  think  it
proper to require for the identification of the applicant for
registration:
    Name.   The  name  of  the  applicant, giving surname and
first or Christian name in full, and the middle name  or  the
initial for such middle name, if any.
    Sex.
    Residence.  The name and number of the street, avenue, or
other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit
or  room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home the
lot  number,  and  such   additional   clear   and   definite
description  as  may  be  necessary  to  determine  the exact
location  of  the  dwelling  of  the   applicant,   including
post-office  mailing  address.  In  the  case  of  a homeless
individual, the individual's voting residence that is his  or
her   mailing  address  shall  be  included  on  his  or  her
registration record card.
    Term of residence  in  the  State  of  Illinois  and  the
precinct.   Which  questions may be answered by the applicant
stating, in excess of 30 days in the State and in  excess  of
30 days in the precinct.
    Nativity.   The  State  or country in which the applicant
was born.
    Citizenship.  Whether the applicant  is  native  born  or
naturalized.  If  naturalized,  the  court, place and date of
naturalization.
    Date of application  for  registration,  i.e.,  the  day,
month   and   year   when  applicant  presented  himself  for
registration.
    Age.  Date of birth, by month, day and year.
    Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time
of registration, which would require assistance in voting.
    The county and state in  which  the  applicant  was  last
registered.
    Signature   of   voter.    The   applicant,   after   the
registration  and  in  the  presence of a deputy registrar or
other officer of registration shall be required to  sign  his
or  her  name  in  ink  to  the affidavit on the original and
duplicate registration record card.
    Signature of Deputy Registrar.
    In case applicant is unable to  sign  his  name,  he  may
affix  his  mark  to the affidavit.  In such case the officer
empowered  to  give  the  registration  oath  shall  write  a
detailed description of the applicant in the  space  provided
at  the  bottom  of  the  card  or  sheet;  and shall ask the
following questions and record the answers thereto:
    Father's first name .......................
    Mother's first name .......................
    From what address did you last register?
    Reason for inability to sign name.
    Each applicant for registration shall make  an  affidavit
in substantially the following form:
                  AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION
State of Illinois)
                 )ss
County of        )
    I  hereby  swear  (or  affirm) that I am a citizen of the
United States; that on the date of the next election I  shall
have  resided  in  the  State of Illinois and in the election
precinct in which I reside 30 days; that I am fully qualified
to vote.  That I  intend  that  this  location  shall  be  my
residence and that the above statements are true.
                               ..............................
                               (His or her signature or mark)
    Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).
.........................................
    Signature of Registration Officer.
(To be signed in presence of Registrant.)

    Space   shall   be   provided   upon  the  face  of  each
registration record card  for  the  notation  of  the  voting
record of the person registered thereon.
    Each registration record card shall be numbered according
to  towns  and  precincts, wards, cities and villages, as the
case may be, and may be  serially  or  otherwise  marked  for
identification  in  such  manner  as  the  county  clerk  may
determine.
    The registration cards shall be deemed public records and
shall  be  open  to inspection during regular business hours,
except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election.
On written request of any candidate or objector or any person
intending to object to a  petition,  the  election  authority
shall  extend  its hours for inspection of registration cards
and other records of the election authority during the period
beginning with the filing of petitions under  Sections  7-10,
8-8,  10-6  or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of
electoral board  hearings  on  any  objections  to  petitions
containing   signatures   of   registered   voters   in   the
jurisdiction  of  the election authority. The extension shall
be for  a  period  of  hours  sufficient  to  allow  adequate
opportunity  for  examination of the records but the election
authority is not required to  extend  its  hours  beyond  the
period  beginning  at  its  normal  opening  for business and
ending at midnight. If the business hours  are  so  extended,
the  election  authority  shall  post a public notice of such
extended  hours.  Registration  record  cards  may  also   be
inspected,  upon  approval  of  the  officer in charge of the
cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election.
Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by
certified judges and poll watchers  and  challengers  at  the
polling  place  on  election  day,  but  only  to  the extent
necessary to determine the question of the right of a  person
to  vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall
poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically  handle
the registration record cards.
    Updated  copies  of  computer  tapes or computer discs or
other electronic data processing information containing voter
registration information shall be  furnished  by  the  county
clerk  within  10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year
and within 10 days after each registration period  is  closed
to  the  State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the
Board. For the  purposes  of  this  Section,  a  registration
period  is  closed  27 days before the date of any regular or
special election. Registration information shall include, but
not be limited to,  the  following  information:  name,  sex,
residence,  telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation,
if  applicable,  precinct,  ward,   township,   county,   and
representative,  legislative and congressional districts.  In
the event of noncompliance, the State Board of  Elections  is
directed   to   obtain   compliance   forthwith   with   this
nondiscretionary   duty   of   the   election   authority  by
instituting legal proceedings in the  circuit  court  of  the
county   in   which  the  election  authority  maintains  the
registration information.  The costs  of  furnishing  updated
copies  of  tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034
per name of registered voters in the  election  jurisdiction,
but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from
appropriations  made  to  the  State  Board  of Elections for
reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The
Board shall  furnish  copies  of  such  tapes,  discs,  other
electronic  data  or  compilations thereof to state political
committees  registered  pursuant  to  the  Illinois  Campaign
Finance Act or the Federal Election  Campaign  Act  at  their
request  and at a reasonable cost. To protect the privacy and
confidentiality  of  voter  registration   information,   the
disclosure  of  electronic  voter registration records to any
person or entity  other  than  a  State  or  local  political
committee  is  specifically  prohibited. Copies of the tapes,
discs or other electronic data  shall  be  furnished  by  the
county  clerk  to local political committees at their request
and at a reasonable cost.   Reasonable  cost  of  the  tapes,
discs,  et  cetera  for  this  purpose  would  be the cost of
duplication plus  15%  for  administration.   The  individual
representing  a political committee requesting copies of such
tapes shall make a sworn affidavit that the information shall
be used only for bona fide political purposes,  including  by
or  for  candidates  for  office or incumbent office holders.
Such tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be  used
under   any  circumstances  by  any  political  committee  or
individuals for purposes of commercial solicitation or  other
business  purposes.   If  such  tapes  contain information on
county  residents  related  to  the  operations   of   county
government  in  addition  to  registration  information, that
information shall not be used  under  any  circumstances  for
commercial  solicitation  or  other  business  purposes.  The
prohibition in this Section against using the computer  tapes
or   computer  discs  or  other  electronic  data  processing
information containing  voter  registration  information  for
purposes   of   commercial  solicitation  or  other  business
purposes shall be prospective only from the effective date of
this amended Act of 1979.    Any  person  who  violates  this
provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.
    The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October
1,  1987,  such  regulations  as  may  be necessary to ensure
uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing
of voter registration  information.   The  regulations  shall
include,  but  need  not  be  limited  to, specifications for
uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to
be employed by the election authorities of this State in  the
electronic data processing of voter registration information.
Each  election authority utilizing electronic data processing
of voter registration  information  shall  comply  with  such
regulations on and after May 15, 1988.
    If  the applicant for registration was last registered in
another county within  this  State,  he  shall  also  sign  a
certificate    authorizing   cancellation   of   the   former
registration. The certificate shall be in  substantially  the
following form:
To the County Clerk of .... County, Illinois. To the Election
Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.
    This  is to certify that I am registered in your (county)
(city) and that my residence was .....
    Having moved  out  of  your  (county)  (city),  I  hereby
authorize you to cancel said registration in your office.
Dated at .... Illinois, on (insert date).
                                         ....................
                                         (Signature of Voter)
      Attest ......, County Clerk, ........ County, Illinois.
    The  cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately
by  the  county  clerk  to  the  county  clerk  (or  election
commission as the  case  may  be)  where  the  applicant  was
formerly  registered.  Receipt  of  such certificate shall be
full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.
(Source: P.A. 91-357,  eff.  7-29-99;  92-465,  eff.  1-1-02;
92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)

    (10 ILCS 5/5-16.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 5-16.2)
    Sec.  5-16.2.  (a)  The  county  clerk  shall appoint all
municipal  and  township  clerks  or  their  duly  authorized
deputies as deputy registrars who may accept the registration
of all qualified residents of their  respective  counties.  A
deputy registrar serving as such by virtue of his status as a
municipal  clerk,  or a duly authorized deputy of a municipal
clerk, of a municipality the territory of which lies in  more
than  one county may accept the registration of any qualified
resident of any county in which the municipality is  located,
regardless  of  which county the resident, municipal clerk or
the duly authorized deputy of the municipal clerk lives in.
    The   county   clerk   shall   appoint    all    precinct
committeepersons  in  the county as deputy registrars who may
accept the registration of  any  qualified  resident  of  the
county, except during the 27 days preceding an election.
    The election authority shall appoint as deputy registrars
a  reasonable  number  of employees of the Secretary of State
located  at  driver's  license   examination   stations   and
designated  to  the  election  authority  by the Secretary of
State who  may  accept  the  registration  of  any  qualified
residents   of  the  county  at  any  such  driver's  license
examination stations. The appointment  of  employees  of  the
Secretary  of State as deputy registrars shall be made in the
manner provided in Section  2-105  of  the  Illinois  Vehicle
Code.
    The  county  clerk  shall  appoint  each of the following
named persons as deputy registrars upon the  written  request
of such persons:
         1.  The  chief  librarian,  or  a  qualified  person
    designated  by the chief librarian, of any public library
    situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept
    the  registrations  of  any  qualified  resident  of  the
    county, at such library.
         2.  The principal, or a qualified person  designated
    by  the principal, of any high school, elementary school,
    or  vocational  school  situated  within   the   election
    jurisdiction,  who  may  accept  the registrations of any
    resident of the county, at such school. The county  clerk
    shall  notify  every principal and vice-principal of each
    high school, elementary  school,  and  vocational  school
    situated   within  the  election  jurisdiction  of  their
    eligibility to  serve  as  deputy  registrars  and  offer
    training  courses  for  service  as  deputy registrars at
    conveniently located facilities at least 4  months  prior
    to every election.
         3.  The  president, or a qualified person designated
    by the president, of any university,  college,  community
    college,   academy   or  other  institution  of  learning
    situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept
    the registrations of any resident of the county, at  such
    university,   college,   community  college,  academy  or
    institution.
         4.  A duly elected or appointed official of  a  bona
    fide  labor  organization,  or  a  reasonable  number  of
    qualified  members  designated  by such official, who may
    accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the
    county.
         5.  A duly elected or appointed official of  a  bona
    fide  State civic organization, as defined and determined
    by rule of the State Board  of  Elections,  or  qualified
    members  designated  by such official, who may accept the
    registration of any qualified resident of the county.  In
    determining the number of deputy registrars that shall be
    appointed, the county clerk shall consider the population
    of  the  jurisdiction,  the size of the organization, the
    geographic size of the jurisdiction, convenience for  the
    public,  the  existing number of deputy registrars in the
    jurisdiction  and  their   location,   the   registration
    activities  of  the  organization and the need to appoint
    deputy  registrars   to   assist   and   facilitate   the
    registration  of non-English speaking individuals.  In no
    event shall  a  county  clerk  fix  an  arbitrary  number
    applicable   to   every   civic  organization  requesting
    appointment of its  members  as  deputy  registrars.  The
    State  Board  of  Elections  shall  by  rule  provide for
    certification of bona  fide  State  civic  organizations.
    Such  appointments  shall  be  made  for  a period not to
    exceed 2 years, terminating on the first business day  of
    the  month  following  the month of the general election,
    and shall be valid for all periods of voter  registration
    as  provided  by  this  Code  during  the  terms  of such
    appointments.
         6.  The  Director  of  the  Illinois  Department  of
    Public  Aid,  or  a  reasonable   number   of   employees
    designated  by  the  Director  and  located at public aid
    offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified
    resident of the county at any such public aid office.
         7.  The  Director  of  the  Illinois  Department  of
    Employment Security, or a reasonable number of  employees
    designated  by  the  Director and located at unemployment
    offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified
    resident of the county at any such unemployment office.
         8.  The president of any corporation as  defined  by
    the  Business  Corporation  Act  of 1983, or a reasonable
    number of employees designated by such president, who may
    accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the
    county.
    If the request to be appointed  as  deputy  registrar  is
denied, the county clerk shall, within 10 days after the date
the  request is submitted, provide the affected individual or
organization with written notice setting forth  the  specific
reasons  or  criteria  relied  upon to deny the request to be
appointed as deputy registrar.
    The county clerk may appoint as  many  additional  deputy
registrars  as he considers necessary. The county clerk shall
appoint such additional deputy registrars in such manner that
the  convenience   of  the  public  is  served,  giving   due
consideration  to  both  population  concentration  and area.
Some of the additional deputy registrars shall be selected so
that there are an equal number  from  each  of  the  2  major
political  parties  in the election jurisdiction.  The county
clerk, in appointing an additional  deputy  registrar,  shall
make  the  appointment from a list of applicants submitted by
the  Chairman  of  the  County  Central  Committee   of   the
applicant's  political party.  A Chairman of a County Central
Committee shall submit a list of  applicants  to  the  county
clerk  by  November  30  of  each year.  The county clerk may
require a Chairman of a County Central Committee to furnish a
supplemental list of applicants.
    Deputy registrars may accept registrations  at  any  time
other  than  the  27  day  period  preceding an election. All
persons appointed as deputy registrars shall  be   registered
voters  within the county and shall take and subscribe to the
following oath or affirmation:
    "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that
I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the
Constitution of the  State  of  Illinois,  and  that  I  will
faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office of deputy
registrar to the best of my ability and that I will  register
no  person  nor  cause  the registration of any person except
upon his personal application before me.
                              ...............................
                             (Signature of Deputy Registrar)"
    This oath shall be administered by the county  clerk,  or
by  one  of  his deputies, or by any person qualified to take
acknowledgement of deeds and shall immediately thereafter  be
filed with the county clerk.
    Appointments  of  deputy  registrars  under this Section,
except precinct committeemen,  shall  be  for  2-year  terms,
commencing  on  December  1 following the general election of
each even-numbered year, except that the terms of the initial
appointments shall be until December 1st following  the  next
general  election.   Appointments  of  precinct  committeemen
shall  be  for  2-year  terms  commencing  on the date of the
county convention following the general primary at which they
were elected.  The county clerk shall issue a certificate  of
appointment  to  each deputy registrar, and shall maintain in
his office for public inspection a list of the names  of  all
appointees.
    (b)  The  county  clerk shall be responsible for training
all deputy registrars appointed pursuant to  subsection  (a),
at  times  and  locations  reasonably convenient for both the
county clerk and such appointees.  The county clerk shall  be
responsible   for   certifying  and  supervising  all  deputy
registrars appointed  pursuant  to  subsection  (a).   Deputy
registrars appointed under subsection (a) shall be subject to
removal for cause.
    (c)  Completed  registration  materials under the control
of deputy registrars, appointed pursuant to  subsection  (a),
shall  be  returned to the proper election authority within 7
days, except that completed registration  materials  received
by  the  deputy registrars during the period between the 35th
and 28th day preceding an election shall be returned  by  the
deputy  registrars to the proper election authority within 48
hours after  receipt  thereof.   The  completed  registration
materials  received  by the deputy registrars on the 28th day
preceding  an  election  shall  be  returned  by  the  deputy
registrars within 24  hours  after  receipt  thereof.  Unused
materials  shall  be  returned by deputy registrars appointed
pursuant to paragraph 4 of subsection (a), not later than the
next working day following the close of registration.
    (d)  The county clerk or board of election commissioners,
as the  case  may  be,  must  provide  any  additional  forms
requested by any deputy registrar regardless of the number of
unaccounted  registration forms the deputy registrar may have
in his or her possession.  The  county  clerk  shall  not  be
required  to provide additional forms to any deputy registrar
having more  than  200  registration  forms  unaccounted  for
during the preceding 12 month period.
    (e)  No    deputy   registrar   shall   engage   in   any
electioneering or the  promotion  of  any  cause  during  the
performance of his or her duties.
    (f)  The  county clerk shall not be criminally or civilly
liable for the acts or omissions  of  any  deputy  registrar.
Such  deputy registers shall not be deemed to be employees of
the county clerk.
(Source: P.A. 92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)

    (10 ILCS 5/5-43)
    Sec. 5-43.  Computerization of voter records.
    (a)  The  State  Board  of  Elections  shall   design   a
registration  record  card that, except as otherwise provided
in this Section, shall be used in duplicate by  all  election
authorities  in  the  State  adopting  a computer-based voter
registration file as provided in  this  Section.   The  Board
shall  prescribe  the  form and specifications, including but
not limited to the weight of paper, color, and print  of  the
cards.   The  cards  shall  contain  boxes  or spaces for the
information required under Sections 5-7 and 5-28.1;  provided
that the cards shall also contain: (i) A space for the person
to fill in his or her Illinois driver's license number if the
person  has  a  driver's  license;  (ii) A space for a person
without a driver's license to fill in the last four digits of
his or her social security number if the person has a  social
security  number  a  box  or space for the applicant's social
security number,  which  shall  be  required  to  the  extent
allowed  by  law  but  in no case shall the applicant provide
fewer than the last 4 digits of the social  security  number,
and a box for the applicant's telephone number, if available.
    (b)  The  election  authority may develop and implement a
system to prepare, use, and maintain a  computer-based  voter
registration  file  that  includes a computer-stored image of
the  signature  of  each  voter.   The  computer-based  voter
registration file may be used for all purposes for which  the
original  registration  cards are to be used, provided that a
system for the storage of at least one copy of  the  original
registration  cards  remains  in effect.  The electronic file
shall be the master file.
    (c)  Any  system  created,  used,  and  maintained  under
subsection (b) of  this  Section  shall  meet  the  following
standards:
         (1)  Access to any computer-based voter registration
    file  shall be limited to those persons authorized by the
    election authority, and each access to the computer-based
    voter registration file, other than an access solely  for
    inquiry, shall be recorded.
         (2)  No  copy,  summary, list, abstract, or index of
    any computer-based voter registration file that  includes
    any   computer-stored  image  of  the  signature  of  any
    registered voter shall be made available  to  the  public
    outside of the offices of the election authority.
         (3)  Any  copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of
    any computer-based voter registration file that  includes
    a  computer-stored image of the signature of a registered
    voter shall be produced in such a manner that  it  cannot
    be reproduced.
         (4)  Each  person  desiring  to  vote  shall sign an
    application for a ballot, and  the  signature  comparison
    authorized in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code may be made
    to  a  copy of the computer-stored image of the signature
    of the registered voter.
         (5)  Any voter list produced from  a  computer-based
    voter  registration  file  that  includes computer-stored
    images of the signatures of registered voters and is used
    in a polling place during an election shall be  preserved
    by the election authority in secure storage until the end
    of  the  second  calendar  year following the election in
    which it was used.
    (d)  Before the first  election  in  which  the  election
authority  elects  to  use  a  voter  list  produced from the
computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters
in a computer-based voter  registration  file  for  signature
comparison  in  a polling place, the State Board of Elections
shall certify that the system used by the election  authority
complies  with  the standards set forth in this Section.  The
State Board of Elections  may  request  a  sample  poll  list
intended  to  be used in a polling place to test the accuracy
of the list and the adequacy of the computer-stored images of
the signatures of the registered voters.
    (e)  With respect to a jurisdiction that has  copied  all
of  its  voter  signatures into a computer-based registration
file, all references in this Act or any other Act to the use,
other than storage, of paper-based voter registration records
shall be deemed to refer to their computer-based equivalents.
    (f)  Nothing  in  this  Section  prevents   an   election
authority  from  submitting to the State Board of Elections a
duplicate copy of some, as the State Board of Elections shall
determine, or  all  of  the  data  contained  in  each  voter
registration  record  that  is  part of the electronic master
file. The duplicate copy of the registration record shall  be
maintained  by  the  State  Board of Elections under the same
terms and limitations applicable to  the  election  authority
and  shall  be  of  equal  legal  dignity  with  the original
registration record maintained by the election  authority  as
proof of any fact contained in the voter registration record.
(Source: P.A. 91-73, eff. 7-9-99.)

    (10 ILCS 5/6-35) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-35)
    Sec.  6-35.  The  Boards  of Election Commissioners shall
provide  a  sufficient  number  of  blank   forms   for   the
registration of electors which shall be known as registration
record  cards and which shall consist of loose leaf sheets or
cards, of suitable size  to  contain  in  plain  writing  and
figures  the  data  hereinafter  required  thereon  or  shall
consist  of  computer cards of suitable nature to contain the
data required thereon. The registration record  cards,  which
shall  include  an  affidavit  of registration as hereinafter
provided, shall be executed in duplicate.  The  duplicate  of
which  may  be a carbon copy of the original or a copy of the
original made by the use of other method or material used for
making simultaneous true copies or duplications.
    The registration record card shall contain the  following
and   such   other  information  as  the  Board  of  Election
Commissioners  may  think  it  proper  to  require  for   the
identification of the applicant for registration:
    Name.   The  name  of  the  applicant, giving surname and
first or Christian name in full, and the middle name  or  the
initial for such middle name, if any.
    Sex.
    Residence.  The name and number of the street, avenue, or
other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit
or  room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home the
lot  number,  and  such   additional   clear   and   definite
description  as  may  be  necessary  to  determine  the exact
location  of  the  dwelling  of  the   applicant,   including
post-office  mailing  address.  In  the  case  of  a homeless
individual, the individual's voting residence that is his  or
her   mailing  address  shall  be  included  on  his  or  her
registration record card.
    Term of residence  in  the  State  of  Illinois  and  the
precinct.
    Nativity.   The  state  or country in which the applicant
was born.
    Citizenship.  Whether the applicant  is  native  born  or
naturalized.  If  naturalized,  the court, place, and date of
naturalization.
    Date of application  for  registration,  i.e.,  the  day,
month  and  year  when  the  applicant  presented himself for
registration.
    Age.  Date of birth, by month, day and year.
    Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time
of registration, which would require assistance in voting.
    The county and state in  which  the  applicant  was  last
registered.
    Signature  of  voter.   The applicant, after registration
and in the presence of a deputy registrar or other officer of
registration shall be required to sign his or her name in ink
to the affidavit on  both  the  original  and  the  duplicate
registration record card.
    Signature of deputy registrar.
    In  case  applicant  is  unable  to sign his name, he may
affix  his  mark  to  the  affidavit.   In  such   case   the
registration  officer  shall  write a detailed description of
the applicant in the space provided at the bottom of the card
or sheet; and shall ask the following  questions  and  record
the answers thereto:
    Father's first name .........................
    Mother's first name .........................
    From what address did you last register? ....
    Reason for inability to sign name ...........
    Each  applicant  for registration shall make an affidavit
in substantially the following form:
                  AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION
State of Illinois  )
                   )ss
County of .......  )
    I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am  a  citizen  of  the
United  States,  that on the day of the next election I shall
have resided in the State of Illinois  and  in  the  election
precinct  30  days and that I intend that this location is my
residence; that I am fully qualified to vote,  and  that  the
above statements are true.
                               ..............................
                               (His or her signature or mark)
    Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).
......................................
    Signature of registration officer
(to be signed in presence of registrant).
    Space   shall   be   provided   upon  the  face  of  each
registration record card  for  the  notation  of  the  voting
record of the person registered thereon.
    Each registration record card shall be numbered according
to  wards  or  precincts,  as  the  case  may  be, and may be
serially or  otherwise  marked  for  identification  in  such
manner as the Board of Election Commissioners may determine.
    The registration cards shall be deemed public records and
shall  be  open  to inspection during regular business hours,
except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election.
On written request of any candidate or objector or any person
intending to object to a  petition,  the  election  authority
shall  extend  its hours for inspection of registration cards
and other records of the election authority during the period
beginning with the filing of petitions under  Sections  7-10,
8-8,  10-6  or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of
electoral board  hearings  on  any  objections  to  petitions

containing   signatures   of   registered   voters   in   the
jurisdiction  of  the election authority. The extension shall
be for  a  period  of  hours  sufficient  to  allow  adequate
opportunity  for  examination of the records but the election
authority is not required to  extend  its  hours  beyond  the
period  beginning  at  its  normal  opening  for business and
ending at midnight. If the business hours  are  so  extended,
the  election  authority  shall  post a public notice of such
extended  hours.  Registration  record  cards  may  also   be
inspected,  upon  approval  of  the  officer in charge of the
cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election.
Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by
certified judges and poll watchers  and  challengers  at  the
polling  place  on  election  day,  but  only  to  the extent
necessary to determine the question of the right of a  person
to vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time  shall
poll  watchers or challengers be allowed to physically handle
the registration record cards.
    Updated copies of computer tapes  or  computer  discs  or
other electronic data processing information containing voter
registration  information  shall be furnished by the Board of
Election Commissioners within 10 days after December  15  and
May  15  each year and within 10 days after each registration
period is closed to the State Board of Elections  in  a  form
prescribed  by  the  State  Board.  For  the purposes of this
Section, a registration period is closed 27 days  before  the
date   of  any  regular  or  special  election.  Registration
information  shall  include,  but  not  be  limited  to,  the
following  information:  name,  sex,   residence,   telephone
number,  if  any,  age,  party  affiliation,  if  applicable,
precinct,   ward,   township,   county,  and  representative,
legislative and congressional districts.   In  the  event  of
noncompliance,  the  State  Board of Elections is directed to
obtain compliance forthwith with this  nondiscretionary  duty
of the election authority by instituting legal proceedings in
the  circuit  court  of  the  county  in  which  the election
authority maintains the registration information.  The  costs
of  furnishing updated copies of tapes or discs shall be paid
at a rate of $.00034 per name of  registered  voters  in  the
election jurisdiction, but not less than $50 per tape or disc
and shall be paid from appropriations made to the State Board
of  Elections for reimbursement to the election authority for
such purpose. The State Board shall furnish  copies  of  such
tapes,  discs,  other electronic data or compilations thereof
to state political  committees  registered  pursuant  to  the
Illinois   Campaign  Finance  Act  or  the  Federal  Election
Campaign Act at their request and at a reasonable cost.    To
protect the privacy and confidentiality of voter registration
information,  the disclosure of electronic voter registration
records to any person or entity other than a State  or  local
political committee is specifically prohibited. Copies of the
tapes,  discs  or other electronic data shall be furnished by
the  Board  of  Election  Commissioners  to  local  political
committees  at  their  request  and  at  a  reasonable  cost.
Reasonable cost of the  tapes,  discs,  et  cetera  for  this
purpose  would  be  the  cost  of  duplication  plus  15% for
administration.   The  individual  representing  a  political
committee requesting copies of such tapes shall make a  sworn
affidavit  that  the  information shall be used only for bona
fide political purposes, including by or for  candidates  for
office  or  incumbent  office  holders.  Such tapes, discs or
other  electronic  data  shall  not   be   used   under   any
circumstances  by  any political committee or individuals for
purposes  of  commercial  solicitation  or   other   business
purposes.   If  such  tapes  contain  information  on  county
residents  related  to the operations of county government in
addition to registration information, that information  shall
not   be   used   under   any  circumstances  for  commercial
solicitation or other business purposes.  The prohibition  in
this  Section  against  using  the computer tapes or computer
discs  or  other  electronic  data   processing   information
containing  voter  registration  information  for purposes of
commercial solicitation or other business purposes  shall  be
prospective  only from the effective date of this amended Act
of 1979.   Any person who violates this  provision  shall  be
guilty of a Class 4 felony.
    The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October
1,  1987,  such  regulations  as  may  be necessary to ensure
uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing
of voter registration  information.   The  regulations  shall
include,  but  need  not  be  limited  to, specifications for
uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to
be employed by the election authorities of this State in  the
electronic data processing of voter registration information.
Each  election authority utilizing electronic data processing
of voter registration  information  shall  comply  with  such
regulations on and after May 15, 1988.
    If  the applicant for registration was last registered in
another county within  this  State,  he  shall  also  sign  a
certificate    authorizing   cancellation   of   the   former
registration. The certificate shall be in  substantially  the
following form:
To the County Clerk of .... County, Illinois.
To the Election Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.
    This  is to certify that I am registered in your (county)
(city) and that my residence was .....   Having moved out  of
your  (county), (city), I hereby authorize you to cancel that
registration in your office.
    Dated at ...., Illinois, on (insert date).
                                         ....................
                                         (Signature of Voter)
    Attest ....,  Clerk,  Election  Commission  of  the  City
of...., Illinois.
    The  cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately
by the clerk of the Election Commission to the county  clerk,
(or  Election  Commission  as  the  case  may  be)  where the
applicant  was   formerly   registered.   Receipt   of   such
certificate  shall  be full authority for cancellation of any
previous registration.
(Source: P.A. 91-357,  eff.  7-29-99;  92-465,  eff.  1-1-02;
92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)

    (10 ILCS 5/6-50.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-50.2)
    Sec.  6-50.2.  (a)  The  board  of election commissioners
shall appoint all precinct committeepersons in  the  election
jurisdiction   as   deputy  registrars  who  may  accept  the
registration  of  any  qualified  resident  of  the  election
jurisdiction,  except  during  the  27  days   preceding   an
election.
    The election authority shall appoint as deputy registrars
a  reasonable  number  of employees of the Secretary of State
located  at  driver's  license   examination   stations   and
designated  to  the  election  authority  by the Secretary of
State who  may  accept  the  registration  of  any  qualified
residents   of  the  county  at  any  such  driver's  license
examination stations.  The appointment of  employees  of  the
Secretary  of State as deputy registrars shall be made in the
manner provided in Section  2-105  of  the  Illinois  Vehicle
Code.
    The board of election commissioners shall appoint each of
the  following  named  persons  as deputy registrars upon the
written request of such persons:
         1.  The  chief  librarian,  or  a  qualified  person
    designated by the chief librarian, of any public  library
    situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept
    the  registrations  of  any  qualified  resident  of  the
    election jurisdiction, at such library.
         2.  The  principal, or a qualified person designated
    by the principal, of any high school, elementary  school,
    or   vocational   school  situated  within  the  election
    jurisdiction, who may accept  the  registrations  of  any
    resident  of  the  election jurisdiction, at such school.
    The board of election commissioners  shall  notify  every
    principal   and   vice-principal  of  each  high  school,
    elementary school, and vocational school situated in  the
    election  jurisdiction  of  their eligibility to serve as
    deputy registrars and offer training courses for  service
    as  deputy  registrars at conveniently located facilities
    at least 4 months prior to every election.
         3.  The president, or a qualified person  designated
    by  the  president, of any university, college, community
    college,  academy  or  other  institution   of   learning
    situated within the election jurisdiction, who may accept
    the   registrations  of  any  resident  of  the  election
    jurisdiction,  at  such  university,  college,  community
    college, academy or institution.
         4.  A duly elected or appointed official of  a  bona
    fide  labor  organization,  or  a  reasonable  number  of
    qualified  members  designated  by such official, who may
    accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the
    election jurisdiction.
         5.  A duly elected or appointed official of  a  bona
    fide  State civic organization, as defined and determined
    by rule of the State Board  of  Elections,  or  qualified
    members  designated  by such official, who may accept the
    registration of any qualified resident  of  the  election
    jurisdiction.   In   determining  the  number  of  deputy
    registrars that shall be appointed, the board of election
    commissioners  shall  consider  the  population  of   the
    jurisdiction,   the   size   of   the  organization,  the
    geographic size of the jurisdiction, convenience for  the
    public,  the  existing number of deputy registrars in the
    jurisdiction  and  their   location,   the   registration
    activities  of  the  organization and the need to appoint
    deputy  registrars   to   assist   and   facilitate   the
    registration  of  non-English speaking individuals. In no
    event shall a board  of  election  commissioners  fix  an
    arbitrary  number  applicable to every civic organization
    requesting  appointment  of   its   members   as   deputy
    registrars.  The  State  Board of Elections shall by rule
    provide  for  certification  of  bona  fide  State  civic
    organizations. Such appointments  shall  be  made  for  a
    period  not  to  exceed 2 years, terminating on the first
    business day of the month  following  the  month  of  the
    general  election,  and shall be valid for all periods of
    voter registration as provided by this  Code  during  the
    terms of such appointments.
         6.  The  Director  of  the  Illinois  Department  of
    Public   Aid,   or   a  reasonable  number  of  employees
    designated by the Director  and  located  at  public  aid
    offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified
    resident  of the election jurisdiction at any such public
    aid office.
         7.  The  Director  of  the  Illinois  Department  of
    Employment Security, or a reasonable number of  employees
    designated  by  the  Director and located at unemployment
    offices, who may accept the registration of any qualified
    resident  of  the  election  jurisdiction  at  any   such
    unemployment  office.  If  the request to be appointed as
    deputy  registrar  is  denied,  the  board  of   election
    commissioners  shall,  within  10 days after the date the
    request is submitted, provide the affected individual  or
    organization   with  written  notice  setting  forth  the
    specific reasons or criteria  relied  upon  to  deny  the
    request to be appointed as deputy registrar.
         8.  The  president of any corporation, as defined by
    the Business Corporation Act of  1983,  or  a  reasonable
    number of employees designated by such president, who may
    accept the registrations of any qualified resident of the
    election jurisdiction.
    The  board  of election commissioners may appoint as many
additional deputy registrars as it considers necessary.   The
board of election commissioners shall appoint such additional
deputy  registrars in such manner that the convenience of the
public is served, giving due consideration to both population
concentration  and  area.   Some  of  the  additional  deputy
registrars shall be selected  so  that  there  are  an  equal
number  from  each  of  the  2 major political parties in the
election jurisdiction.  The board of election  commissioners,
in  appointing an additional deputy registrar, shall make the
appointment from  a  list  of  applicants  submitted  by  the
Chairman  of  the County Central Committee of the applicant's
political party.  A Chairman of a  County  Central  Committee
shall submit a list of applicants to the board by November 30
of  each  year.  The board may require a Chairman of a County
Central  Committee  to  furnish  a   supplemental   list   of
applicants.
    Deputy  registrars  may  accept registrations at any time
other than the 27  day  period  preceding  an  election.  All
persons  appointed  as deputy registrars shall be  registered
voters within the election jurisdiction and  shall  take  and
subscribe to the following oath or affirmation:
    "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that
I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the
Constitution  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  that I will
faithfully discharge the duties of the office of registration
officer to the best of my ability and that I will register no
person nor cause the registration of any person  except  upon
his personal application before me.
                         ....................................
                         (Signature of Registration Officer)"
    This  oath  shall be administered and certified to by one
of the commissioners or by the executive director or by  some
person designated by the board of election commissioners, and
shall  immediately  thereafter  be  filed  with  the board of
election commissioners.  The members of the board of election
commissioners and all persons authorized by  them  under  the
provisions  of  this  Article  to  take  registrations, after
themselves taking and subscribing  to  the  above  oath,  are
authorized  to take or administer such oaths and execute such
affidavits as are required by this Article.
    Appointments of deputy  registrars  under  this  Section,
except  precinct  committeemen,  shall  be  for 2-year terms,
commencing on December 1 following the  general  election  of
each even-numbered year, except that the terms of the initial
appointments  shall  be until December 1st following the next
general election. Appointments of precinct committeemen shall
be for 2-year terms commencing on  the  date  of  the  county
convention  following  the general primary at which they were
elected.  The county  clerk  shall  issue  a  certificate  of
appointment  to  each deputy registrar, and shall maintain in
his office for public inspection a list of the names  of  all
appointees.
    (b)  The   board   of  election  commissioners  shall  be
responsible for  training  all  deputy  registrars  appointed
pursuant to subsection (a), at times and locations reasonably
convenient  for  both the board of election commissioners and
such appointees.  The board of election  commissioners  shall
be  responsible  for  certifying  and  supervising all deputy
registrars appointed  pursuant  to  subsection  (a).   Deputy
registrars appointed under subsection (a) shall be subject to
removal for cause.
    (c)  Completed  registration  materials under the control
of deputy registrars appointed  pursuant  to  subsection  (a)
shall  be  returned to the proper election authority within 7
days, except that completed registration  materials  received
by  the  deputy registrars during the period between the 35th
and 28th day preceding an election shall be returned  by  the
deputy  registrars to the proper election authority within 48
hours after  receipt  thereof.   The  completed  registration
materials  received  by the deputy registrars on the 28th day
preceding  an  election  shall  be  returned  by  the  deputy
registrars within 24  hours  after  receipt  thereof.  Unused
materials  shall  be  returned by deputy registrars appointed
pursuant to paragraph 4 of subsection (a), not later than the
next working day following the close of registration.
    (d)  The county clerk or board of election commissioners,
as the  case  may  be,  must  provide  any  additional  forms
requested by any deputy registrar regardless of the number of
unaccounted  registration forms the deputy registrar may have
in his or her possession. The board of election commissioners
shall not be required to  provide  additional  forms  to  any
deputy  registrar  having  more  than  200 registration forms
unaccounted for during the preceding 12 month period.
    (e)  No   deputy   registrar   shall   engage   in    any
electioneering  or  the  promotion  of  any  cause during the
performance of his or her duties.
    (f)  The board of election  commissioners  shall  not  be
criminally or civilly liable for the acts or omissions of any
deputy registrar.  Such deputy registrars shall not be deemed
to be employees of the board of election commissioners.
(Source: P.A. 92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)

    (10 ILCS 5/6-79)
    Sec. 6-79.  Computerization of voter records.
    (a)  The   State   Board  of  Elections  shall  design  a
registration record card that, except as  otherwise  provided
in  this  Section, shall be used in duplicate by all election
authorities in the  State  adopting  a  computer-based  voter
registration  file  as  provided  in this Section.  The Board
shall prescribe the form and  specifications,  including  but
not  limited  to the weight of paper, color, and print of the
cards.  The cards shall  contain  boxes  or  spaces  for  the
information required under Sections 6-31.1 and 6-35; provided
that  the  cards  shall  also  contain:   (i) A space for the
person to fill in his or her Illinois driver's license number
if the person has a driver's license;  (ii)  A  space  for  a
person  without  a  driver's license to fill in the last four
digits of his or her social security number if the person has
a social security number a box or space for  the  applicant's
social security number, which shall be required to the extent
allowed  by  law  but  in no case shall the applicant provide
fewer than the last 4 digits of the social  security  number,
and a box for the applicant's telephone number, if available.
    (b)  The  election  authority may develop and implement a
system to prepare, use, and maintain a  computer-based  voter
registration  file  that  includes a computer-stored image of
the  signature  of  each  voter.   The  computer-based  voter
registration file may be used for all purposes for which  the
original  registration  cards are to be used, provided that a
system for the storage of at least one copy of  the  original
registration  cards  remains  in  effect. The electronic file
shall be the master file.
    (c)  Any  system  created,  used,  and  maintained  under
subsection (b) of  this  Section  shall  meet  the  following
standards:
         (1)  Access to any computer-based voter registration
    file  shall be limited to those persons authorized by the
    election authority, and each access to the computer-based
    voter registration file, other than an access solely  for
    inquiry, shall be recorded.
         (2)  No  copy,  summary, list, abstract, or index of
    any computer-based voter registration file that  includes
    any   computer-stored  image  of  the  signature  of  any
    registered voter shall be made available  to  the  public
    outside of the offices of the election authority.
         (3)  Any  copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of
    any computer-based voter registration file that  includes
    a  computer-stored image of the signature of a registered
    voter shall be produced in such a manner that  it  cannot
    be reproduced.
         (4)  Each  person  desiring  to  vote  shall sign an
    application for a ballot, and  the  signature  comparison
    authorized in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code may be made
    to  a  copy of the computer-stored image of the signature
    of the registered voter.
         (5)  Any voter list produced from  a  computer-based
    voter  registration  file  that  includes computer-stored
    images of the signatures of registered voters and is used
    in a polling place during an election shall be  preserved
    by the election authority in secure storage until the end
    of  the  second  calendar  year following the election in
    which it was used.
    (d)  Before the first  election  in  which  the  election
authority  elects  to  use  a  voter  list  produced from the
computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters
in a computer-based voter  registration  file  for  signature
comparison  in  a polling place, the State Board of Elections
shall certify that the system used by the election  authority
complies  with  the standards set forth in this Section.  The
State Board of Elections  may  request  a  sample  poll  list
intended  to  be used in a polling place to test the accuracy
of the list and the adequacy of the computer-stored images of
the signatures of the registered voters.
    (e)  With respect to a jurisdiction that has  copied  all
of  its  voter  signatures into a computer-based registration
file, all references in this Act or any other Act to the use,
other than storage, of paper-based voter registration records
shall be deemed to refer to their computer-based equivalents.
    (f)  Nothing  in  this  Section  prevents   an   election
authority  from  submitting to the State Board of Elections a
duplicate copy of some, as the State Board of Elections shall
determine, or  all  of  the  data  contained  in  each  voter
registration  record  that  is  part of the electronic master
file. The duplicate copy of the registration record shall  be
maintained  by  the  State  Board of Elections under the same
terms and limitations applicable to  the  election  authority
and  shall  be  of  equal  legal  dignity  with  the original
registration record maintained by the election  authority  as
proof of any fact contained in the voter registration record.
(Source: P.A. 91-73, eff. 7-9-99.)

    (10 ILCS 5/7-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-7)
    Sec.  7-7.  For  the  purpose  of  making  nominations in
certain instances as provided in this Article and  this  Act,
the  following committees are authorized and shall constitute
the central or managing committees of each  political  party,
viz: A State central committee, a congressional committee for
each  congressional  district, a county central committee for
each county, a municipal central  committee  for  each  city,
incorporated  town  or  village, a ward committeeman for each
ward in cities containing a population of 500,000 or more;  a
township committeeman for each township or part of a township
that lies outside of cities having a population of 200,000 or
more, in counties having a population of 2,000,000 or more; a
precinct  committeeman for each precinct in counties having a
population of less than 2,000,000; a  county  board  district
committee  for  each  county  board  district  created  under
Division  2-3  of  the  Counties  Code;  a  State's  Attorney
committee  for each group of 2 or more counties which jointly
elect a State's Attorney; a  Superintendent  of  Multi-County
Educational  Service  Region committee for each group of 2 or
more counties which  jointly  elect  a  Superintendent  of  a
Multi-County  Educational  Service  Region;  and  a  judicial
subcircuit   committee  in  Cook  County  for  each  judicial
subcircuit in Cook County; and a  board  of  review  election
district  committee  for  each  Cook  County  Board of Review
election district.
(Source: P.A. 87-1052.)

    (10 ILCS 5/7-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-8)
    Sec. 7-8.  The State central committee shall be  composed
of one or two members from each congressional district in the
State and shall be elected as follows:
                   State Central Committee
    (a)  Within  30  days  after  the  effective date of this
amendatory Act of 1983 the State central  committee  of  each
political party shall certify to the State Board of Elections
which of the following alternatives it wishes to apply to the
State central committee of that party.
    Alternative  A.  At the primary held on the third Tuesday
in March  1970,  and  at  the  primary  held  every  4  years
thereafter,  each  primary elector may vote for one candidate
of his party for member of the State  central  committee  for
the   congressional  district  in  which  he  resides.    The
candidate receiving the highest  number  of  votes  shall  be
declared   elected   State   central  committeeman  from  the
district. A political party may, in lieu of the foregoing, by
a majority vote of delegates at any State convention of  such
party,  determine  to  thereafter  elect  the  State  central
committeemen in the manner following:
    At  the  county  convention  held by such political party
State central committeemen  shall  be  elected  in  the  same
manner  as  provided  in  this  Article  for  the election of
officers of the county central committee, and  such  election
shall  follow  the election of officers of the county central
committee.   Each  elected   ward,   township   or   precinct
committeeman  shall cast as his vote one vote for each ballot
voted in his ward, township, part of a township  or  precinct
in  the  last  preceding  primary  election  of his political
party. In the case of a county  lying  partially  within  one
congressional   district   and   partially   within   another
congressional  district,  each  ward,  township  or  precinct
committeeman   shall   vote   only   with   respect   to  the
congressional district in which his ward, township, part of a
township  or  precinct  is  located.   In  the  case   of   a
congressional   district  which  encompasses  more  than  one
county, each ward, township or precinct committeeman residing
within the congressional district shall cast as his vote  one
vote  for  each ballot voted in his ward, township, part of a
township or precinct in the last preceding  primary  election
of  his  political  party  for one candidate of his party for
member of the State central committee for  the  congressional
district  in which he resides and the Chairman  of the county
central committee shall report the results of the election to
the State Board of Elections. The State  Board  of  Elections
shall  certify  the candidate receiving the highest number of
votes   elected   State   central   committeeman   for   that
congressional district.
    The State central committee shall adopt rules to  provide
for  and govern the procedures to be followed in the election
of members of the State central committee.
    After the effective date of this amendatory  Act  of  the
91st  General  Assembly,  whenever  a  vacancy  occurs in the
office of Chairman of a State central committee,  or  at  the
end  of  the  term  of  office of Chairman, the State central
committee  of  each  political  party   that   has   selected
Alternative  A  shall  elect  a  Chairman  who  shall  not be
required to be a member of the State Central Committee.   The
Chairman shall be a registered voter in this State and of the
same political party as the State central committee.
    Alternative   B.  Each   congressional  committee  shall,
within 30  days  after  the  adoption  of  this  alternative,
appoint  a  person  of the sex opposite that of the incumbent
member  for  that  congressional  district  to  serve  as  an
additional member of the State central committee until his or
her successor is elected at the general primary  election  in
1986.    Each   congressional   committee   shall  make  this
appointment by voting on the basis set forth in paragraph (e)
of this  Section.  In  each  congressional  district  at  the
general  primary  election  held  in  1986  and every 4 years
thereafter, the male candidate receiving the  highest  number
of  votes  of  the  party's male candidates for State central
committeeman, and the female candidate receiving the  highest
number  of  votes  of the party's female candidates for State
central  committeewoman,  shall  be  declared  elected  State
central committeeman and State  central  committeewoman  from
the  district.   At the general primary election held in 1986
and every 4 years thereafter, if all a party's candidates for
State central committeemen or  State  central  committeewomen
from  a  congressional  district  are  of  the  same sex, the
candidate receiving the highest  number  of  votes  shall  be
declared  elected  a  State  central  committeeman  or  State
central  committeewoman  from the district, and, because of a
failure to elect one male and one female to the committee,  a
vacancy  shall  be  declared  to  exist  in the office of the
second  member  of  the  State  central  committee  from  the
district.  This vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the
congressional committee  of  the  political  party,  and  the
person  appointed  to fill the vacancy shall be a resident of
the congressional district and of the sex  opposite  that  of
the  committeeman  or  committeewoman  elected at the general
primary election.  Each congressional  committee  shall  make
this  appointment  by  voting  on  the  basis  set  forth  in
paragraph (e) of this Section.
    The  Chairman  of  a  State central committee composed as
provided in this Alternative B  must  be  selected  from  the
committee's members.
    Except  as  provided for in Alternative A with respect to
the selection of the Chairman of the State central committee,
under both of the foregoing alternatives, the  State  central
committee  of  each  political  party  shall  be  composed of
members elected or appointed from the  several  congressional
districts  of  the  State,  and of no other person or persons
whomsoever.  The  members  of  the  State  central  committee
shall,  within 30 days after each quadrennial election of the
full committee, meet in the city of Springfield and  organize
by  electing  a  chairman,  and  may  at such time elect such
officers from among their own number (or otherwise), as  they
may deem necessary or expedient. The outgoing chairman of the
State  central  committee  of the party shall, 10 days before
the  meeting,  notify  each  member  of  the  State   central
committee  elected  at  the  primary of the time and place of
such meeting. In the  organization  and  proceedings  of  the
State  central committee, each State central committeeman and
State central committeewoman shall have  one  vote  for  each
ballot  voted  in  his  or  her congressional district by the
primary electors of his or her party at the primary  election
immediately  preceding  the  meeting  of  the  State  central
committee.  Whenever  a  vacancy  occurs in the State central
committee of any political party, the vacancy shall be filled
by  appointment  of  the  chairmen  of  the  county   central
committees  of  the  political  party of the counties located
within the congressional district in which the vacancy occurs
and, if applicable, the ward and township committeemen of the
political party in counties of 2,000,000 or more  inhabitants
located   within   the   congressional   district.    If  the
congressional district  in  which  the  vacancy  occurs  lies
wholly  within a county of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, the
ward and township committeemen of the political party in that
congressional district shall vote to fill  the  vacancy.   In
voting to fill the vacancy, each chairman of a county central
committee and each ward and township committeeman in counties
of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants shall have one vote for each
ballot  voted  in each precinct of the congressional district
in which the vacancy exists of his or her  county,  township,
or  ward  cast by the primary electors of his or her party at
the primary election immediately  preceding  the  meeting  to
fill  the vacancy in the State central committee.  The person
appointed to fill the vacancy shall  be  a  resident  of  the
congressional  district in which the vacancy occurs, shall be
a qualified voter, and, in a committee composed  as  provided
in  Alternative  B,  shall  be  of the same sex as his or her
predecessor. A political party may, by a majority vote of the
delegates of any State convention of such party, determine to
return to the election  of  State  central  committeeman  and
State central committeewoman by the vote of primary electors.
Any  action  taken by a political party at a State convention
in accordance with this Section  shall  be  reported  to  the
State  Board  of  Elections  by the chairman and secretary of
such convention within 10 days after such action.
          Ward, Township and Precinct Committeemen
    (b)  At the primary held on the third Tuesday  in  March,
1972,  and  every 4 years thereafter, each primary elector in
cities having a population of 200,000 or over  may  vote  for
one candidate of his party in his ward for ward committeeman.
Each  candidate  for  ward committeeman must be a resident of
and  in  the  ward  where  he  seeks  to  be   elected   ward
committeeman.  The  one  having  the  highest number of votes
shall be such ward committeeman of such party for such  ward.
At  the  primary election held on the third Tuesday in March,
1970, and every 4 years thereafter, each primary  elector  in
counties  containing  a  population  of  2,000,000  or  more,
outside of cities containing a population of 200,000 or more,
may  vote  for  one  candidate  of  his  party  for  township
committeeman.  Each  candidate for township committeeman must
be a resident of and in the township or part  of  a  township
(which  lies outside of a city having a population of 200,000
or more, in counties containing a population of 2,000,000  or
more),  and  in which township or part of a township he seeks
to be elected  township  committeeman.  The  one  having  the
highest  number  of votes shall be such township committeeman
of such party for such township or part of a township. At the
primary held on the third Tuesday in March, 1970 and every  2
years  thereafter,  each  primary elector, except in counties
having a population of 2,000,000 or over, may  vote  for  one
candidate   of   his  party  in  his  precinct  for  precinct
committeeman. Each candidate for precinct  committeeman  must
be  a bona fide resident of the precinct where he seeks to be
elected precinct committeeman. The  one  having  the  highest
number  of  votes shall be such precinct committeeman of such
party for such precinct. The official returns of the  primary
shall  show  the  name  of the committeeman of each political
party.
    Terms of Committeemen. All precinct committeemen  elected
under  the  provisions of this Article shall continue as such
committeemen until the date of the primary to be held in  the
second   year  after  their  election.  Except  as  otherwise
provided  in  this  Section   for   certain   State   central
committeemen  who  have  2  year  terms,  all  State  central
committeemen,  township  committeemen  and  ward committeemen
shall continue as such committeemen until the date of primary
to be held in the fourth year after their election.  However,
a  vacancy exists in the office of precinct committeeman when
a precinct committeeman ceases to reside in the  precinct  in
which  he  was  elected  and such precinct committeeman shall
thereafter neither have nor exercise any  rights,  powers  or
duties  as committeeman in that precinct, even if a successor
has not been elected or appointed.
    (c)  The Multi-Township Central Committee  shall  consist
of   the   precinct   committeemen  of  such  party,  in  the
multi-township assessing district formed pursuant to  Section
2-10  of the Property Tax Code and shall be organized for the
purposes set forth in Section 45-25 of the Township Code.  In
the   organization  and  proceedings  of  the  Multi-Township
Central Committee each precinct committeeman shall  have  one
vote  for  each  ballot  voted in his precinct by the primary
electors of his party at the primary at which he was elected.
                  County Central Committee
    (d)  The county central committee of each political party
in  each  county  shall  consist  of  the  various   township
committeemen, precinct committeemen and ward committeemen, if
any,  of  such  party  in the county. In the organization and
proceedings of the county central  committee,  each  precinct
committeeman shall have one vote for each ballot voted in his
precinct  by the primary electors of his party at the primary
at which he was elected;  each  township  committeeman  shall
have  one  vote for each ballot voted in his township or part
of a township as the case may be by the primary  electors  of
his  party  at  the  primary  election  for the nomination of
candidates for election to the General  Assembly  immediately
preceding the meeting of the county central committee; and in
the  organization  and  proceedings  of  the  county  central
committee,  each  ward  committeeman  shall have one vote for
each ballot voted in his ward by the primary electors of  his
party   at   the  primary  election  for  the  nomination  of
candidates for election to the General  Assembly  immediately
preceding the meeting of the county central committee.
   Cook County Board of Review Election District Committee
    (d-1)  Each  board  of review election district committee
of each political party in Cook County shall consist  of  the
various  township committeemen and ward committeemen, if any,
of that party in the portions of  the  county  composing  the
board  of  review election district.  In the organization and
proceedings of each of the 3  election  district  committees,
each  township  committeeman  shall  have  one  vote for each
ballot voted in his or her township or part of a township, as
the case may be, by the primary electors of his or her  party
at  the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of
the board of review election district committee; and  in  the
organization  and  proceedings  of  each  of  the  3 election
district committees, each ward committeeman  shall  have  one
vote for each ballot voted in his or her ward or part of that
ward,  as  the case may be, by the primary electors of his or
her party at the primary election immediately  preceding  the
meeting of the board of review election district committee.
                   Congressional Committee
    (e)  The  congressional  committee  of each party in each
congressional district shall be composed of the  chairmen  of
the  county  central committees of the counties composing the
congressional  district,   except   that   in   congressional
districts wholly within the territorial limits of one county,
or partly within 2 or more counties, but not coterminous with
the  county  lines  of  all  of  such  counties, the precinct
committeemen, township committeemen and ward committeemen, if
any, of the  party  representing  the  precincts  within  the
limits  of  the  congressional  district,  shall  compose the
congressional committee. A State central committeeman in each
district shall be a  member  and  the  chairman  or,  when  a
district  has  2 State central committeemen, a co-chairman of
the congressional committee, but shall not have the right  to
vote except in case of a tie.
    In  the  organization  and  proceedings  of congressional
committees composed  of  precinct  committeemen  or  township
committeemen   or   ward  committeemen,  or  any  combination
thereof, each precinct committeeman shall have one  vote  for
each  ballot voted in his precinct by the primary electors of
his party at the  primary  at  which  he  was  elected,  each
township  committeeman  shall  have  one vote for each ballot
voted in his township or part of a township as the  case  may
be  by  the  primary  electors  of  his  party at the primary
election   immediately   preceding   the   meeting   of   the
congressional committee, and  each  ward  committeeman  shall
have  one  vote for each ballot voted in each precinct of his
ward located in such congressional district  by  the  primary
electors  of  his  party  at the primary election immediately
preceding the meeting of the congressional committee; and  in
the  organization and proceedings of congressional committees
composed of the chairmen of the county central committees  of
the  counties  within  such  district,  each chairman of such
county central committee shall have one vote for each  ballot
voted  in  his county by the primary electors of his party at
the primary election immediately preceding the meeting of the
congressional committee.
                 Judicial District Committee
    (f)  The judicial district committee  of  each  political
party  in  each  judicial  district  shall be composed of the
chairman of the county central  committees  of  the  counties
composing the judicial district.
    In  the organization and proceedings of judicial district
committees composed of the chairmen  of  the  county  central
committees   of  the  counties  within  such  district,  each
chairman of such county central committee shall have one vote
for each ballot voted in his county by the  primary  electors
of  his  party  at the primary election immediately preceding
the meeting of the judicial district committee.
                   Circuit Court Committee
    (g)  The circuit court committee of each political  party
in  each  judicial  circuit  outside  Cook  County  shall  be
composed  of the chairmen of the county central committees of
the counties composing the judicial circuit.
    In the organization  and  proceedings  of  circuit  court
committees, each chairman of a county central committee shall
have  one  vote  for  each  ballot voted in his county by the
primary  electors  of  his  party  at  the  primary  election
immediately  preceding  the  meeting  of  the  circuit  court
committee.
                Judicial Subcircuit Committee
    (g-1)  The  judicial   subcircuit   committee   of   each
political  party  in  each judicial subcircuit in Cook County
shall be composed of the ward and  township  committeemen  of
the townships and wards composing the judicial subcircuit.
    In  the  organization  and  proceedings  of each judicial
subcircuit committee, each township committeeman  shall  have
one  vote  for each ballot voted in his township or part of a
township, as the case may be, in the judicial  subcircuit  by
the  primary  electors  of  his party at the primary election
immediately preceding the meeting of the judicial  subcircuit
committee; and each ward committeeman shall have one vote for
each  ballot voted in his ward or part of a ward, as the case
may be, in the judicial subcircuit by the primary electors of
his party at the primary election immediately  preceding  the
meeting of the judicial subcircuit committee.
                 Municipal Central Committee
    (h)  The  municipal  central  committee of each political
party shall be composed of the  precinct,  township  or  ward
committeemen,  as the case may be, of such party representing
the precincts or wards, embraced in such  city,  incorporated
town  or  village.  The  voting  strength  of  each precinct,
township  or  ward  committeeman  on  the  municipal  central
committee shall be the same as his  voting  strength  on  the
county central committee.
    For  political  parties, other than a statewide political
party, established only within a  municipality  or  township,
the   municipal  or  township  managing  committee  shall  be
composed of the  party  officers  of  the  local  established
party.  The party officers of a local established party shall
be  as  follows: the chairman and secretary of the caucus for
those municipalities and townships authorized by  statute  to
nominate  candidates  by caucus shall serve as party officers
for the purpose of  filling  vacancies  in  nomination  under
Section  7-61; for municipalities and townships authorized by
statute or ordinance to nominate candidates by  petition  and
primary  election,  the  party  officers shall be the party's
candidates who are nominated at the  primary.   If  no  party
primary  was  held  because of the provisions of Section 7-5,
vacancies in  nomination  shall  be  filled  by  the  party's
remaining candidates who shall serve as the party's officers.
                           Powers
    (i)  Each  committee  and  its  officers  shall  have the
powers usually  exercised  by  such  committees  and  by  the
officers  thereof,  not  inconsistent  with the provisions of
this Article. The  several  committees  herein  provided  for
shall  not  have  power  to  delegate any of their powers, or
functions to any other person, officer or committee, but this
shall not be construed to prevent a committee from appointing
from its own membership proper and necessary subcommittees.
    (j)  The State central committee  of  a  political  party
which  elects it members by Alternative B under paragraph (a)
of this Section shall adopt a plan  to  give  effect  to  the
delegate  selection rules of the national political party and
file a copy of such plan with the State  Board  of  Elections
when approved by a national political party.
    (k)  For  the  purpose of the designation of a proxy by a
Congressional Committee to vote in place of an  absent  State
central  committeeman  or  committeewoman  at meetings of the
State central committee of a political party which elects its
members by Alternative B under paragraph (a) of this Section,
the proxy shall be appointed by the  vote  of  the  ward  and
township  committeemen,  if  any,  of the wards and townships
which lie entirely  or  partially  within  the  Congressional
District  from which the absent State central committeeman or
committeewoman was elected and the vote of  the  chairmen  of
the  county  central  committees  of those counties which lie
entirely or partially within that Congressional District  and
in  which  there  are  no ward or township committeemen. When
voting for such proxy the county chairman, ward  committeeman
or  township  committeeman, as the case may be shall have one
vote for each ballot voted in his county, ward  or  township,
or  portion thereof within the Congressional District, by the
primary electors of his party at the primary at which he  was
elected.  However,  the  absent State central committeeman or
committeewoman may designate a proxy when  permitted  by  the
rules  of  a  political  party  which  elects  its members by
Alternative B under paragraph (a) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 90-627, eff. 7-10-98; 91-426, eff. 8-6-99.)

    (10 ILCS 5/7-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-10)
    Sec. 7-10.  Form of petition for nomination. The name  of
no  candidate  for nomination, or State central committeeman,
or township committeeman, or precinct committeeman,  or  ward
committeeman  or candidate for delegate or alternate delegate
to national nominating conventions, shall be printed upon the
primary ballot unless a  petition  for  nomination  has  been
filed   in   his  behalf  as  provided  in  this  Article  in
substantially the following form:
    We, the undersigned, members of and affiliated  with  the
....  party and qualified primary electors of the .... party,
in the .... of ...., in the  county  of  ....  and  State  of
Illinois,  do hereby petition that the following named person
or persons shall be a candidate or  candidates  of  the  ....
party  for the nomination for (or in case of committeemen for
election to) the office or offices hereinafter specified,  to
be  voted  for  at the primary election to be held on (insert
date).
         Name             Office                Address
    John Jones           Governor           Belvidere, Ill.
   Thomas Smith      Attorney General        Oakland, Ill.

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

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

    Each  sheet  of  the petition other than the statement of
candidacy and candidate's statement shall be of uniform  size
and   shall   contain  above  the  space  for  signatures  an
appropriate heading giving the  information  as  to  name  of
candidate  or  candidates,  in  whose behalf such petition is
signed; the office, the political party represented and place
of residence; and the heading of  each  sheet  shall  be  the
same.
    Such  petition  shall  be  signed  by  qualified  primary
electors  residing  in  the  political division for which the
nomination is sought in their own  proper  persons  only  and
opposite  the signature of each signer, his residence address
shall be written or printed.  The residence address  required
to  be  written  or  printed  opposite each qualified primary
elector's name shall include  the  street  address  or  rural
route  number  of  the signer, as the case may be, as well as
the signer's county, and city, village or  town,  and  state.
However  the  county  or  city, village or town, and state of
residence of the electors may  be  printed  on  the  petition
forms  where  all of the electors signing the petition reside
in the same county or  city,  village  or  town,  and  state.
Standard  abbreviations  may be used in writing the residence
address, including street number, if any.  At the  bottom  of
each  sheet  of  such  petition  shall  be added a circulator
statement signed by a person 18 years of age or older who  is
a citizen of the United States, stating the street address or
rural  route  number,  as  the  case  may  be, as well as the
county, city, village or town, and state; and certifying that
the signatures on that sheet of the petition were  signed  in
his  or  her  presence and certifying that the signatures are
genuine; and either (1) indicating the dates  on  which  that
sheet  was  circulated,  or (2) indicating the first and last
dates on which the sheet was circulated,  or  (3)  certifying
that  none  of  the  signatures on the sheet were signed more
than 90 days preceding the last day for  the  filing  of  the
petition  and  certifying  that  to  the  best  of his or her
knowledge  and belief the persons so signing were at the time
of signing the petitions qualified voters  of  the  political
party  for which a nomination is sought. Such statement shall
be sworn to before  some  officer  authorized  to  administer
oaths in this State.
    No  petition  sheet shall be circulated more than 90 days
preceding the last day  provided  in  Section  7-12  for  the
filing of such petition.
    The  person circulating the petition, or the candidate on
whose behalf the  petition  is  circulated,  may  strike  any
signature from the petition, provided that:
         (1)  the person striking the signature shall initial
    the  petition at the place where the signature is struck;
    and
         (2)  the person striking the signature shall sign  a
    certification  listing the page number and line number of
    each  signature   struck   from   the   petition.    Such
    certification shall be filed as a part of the petition.
    Such  sheets  before being filed shall be neatly fastened
together in book form, by placing the sheets in  a  pile  and
fastening  them together at one edge in a secure and suitable
manner, and the sheets shall then be numbered  consecutively.
The sheets shall not be fastened by pasting them together end
to  end,  so  as  to  form  a  continuous strip or roll.  All
petition  sheets  which  are  filed  with  the  proper  local
election officials, election authorities or the  State  Board
of  Elections  shall  be  the original sheets which have been
signed by the voters and by the circulator thereof,  and  not
photocopies or duplicates of such sheets.  Each petition must
include  as a part thereof, a statement of candidacy for each
of the candidates filing, or in whose behalf the petition  is
filed.  This  statement  shall  set  out  the address of such
candidate, the office for which  he  is  a  candidate,  shall
state  that the candidate is a qualified primary voter of the
party to which the petition relates and is qualified for  the
office  specified  (in  the  case  of a candidate for State's
Attorney it shall state that the candidate is at the time  of
filing  such  statement  a  licensed  attorney-at-law of this
State), shall state that he has filed (or  will  file  before
the  close  of  the  petition  filing  period) a statement of
economic interests as required by the  Illinois  Governmental
Ethics Act, shall request that the candidate's name be placed
upon  the  official ballot, and shall be subscribed and sworn
to by such candidate before some officer authorized  to  take
acknowledgment  of  deeds  in  the  State  and  shall  be  in
substantially the following form:
                   Statement of Candidacy
   Name      Address       Office      District      Party
John Jones  102 Main St.  Governor    Statewide    Republican
            Belvidere,
             Illinois

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

    The petitions, when filed,  shall  not  be  withdrawn  or
added  to,  and  no  signatures  shall  be  revoked except by
revocation  filed  in  writing  with  the  State   Board   of
Elections, election authority or local election official with
whom  the  petition  is  required to be filed, and before the
filing of such petition.  Whoever forges the name of a signer
upon any petition required by this Article is  deemed  guilty
of  a  forgery  and  on  conviction thereof shall be punished
accordingly.
    A candidate for the offices listed in this  Section  must
obtain  the number of signatures specified in this Section on
his or her petition for nomination.
    (a)  Statewide  office  or   delegate   to   a   national
nominating  convention.  If  a  candidate  seeks  to  run for
statewide office or as a delegate or alternate delegate to  a
national   nominating   convention  elected  from  the  State
at-large, then the candidate's petition for  nomination  must
contain at least 5,000 but not more than 10,000 signatures.
    (b)  Congressional  office or congressional delegate to a
national nominating convention. If a candidate seeks  to  run
for  United States Congress or as a congressional delegate or
alternate congressional delegate  to  a  national  nominating
convention  elected  from  a congressional district, then the
candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the
number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the  qualified  primary
electors  of  his  or  her  party in his or her congressional
district.  In  the  first  primary   election   following   a
redistricting   of  congressional  districts,  a  candidate's
petition for nomination must contain at least 600  signatures
of  qualified  primary  electors of the candidate's political
party in his or her congressional district.
    (c)  County office. If a candidate seeks to run  for  any
countywide  office, including but not limited to county board
chairperson or county board member, elected  on  an  at-large
basis,   in  a  county  other  than  Cook  County,  then  the
candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the
number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified  electors
of  his  or  her  party  who cast votes at the last preceding
general election in his or her county. If a  candidate  seeks
to  run  for  county board member elected from a county board
district, then the candidate's petition for  nomination  must
contain  at  least  the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of
the qualified primary electors of his or  her  party  in  the
county   board   district.  In  the  first  primary  election
following a redistricting of county board  districts  or  the
initial   establishment   of   county   board   districts,  a
candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the
number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified  electors
of  his  or  her party in the entire county who cast votes at
the last preceding general  election  divided  by  the  total
number of county board districts comprising the county board;
provided  that  in no event shall the number of signatures be
less than 25.
    (d)  County office; Cook County only.
         (1)  If a candidate  seeks  to  run  for  countywide
    office  in Cook County, then the candidate's petition for
    nomination must contain at least the number of signatures
    equal to 0.5% of the qualified electors  of  his  or  her
    party  who  cast  votes  at  the  last  preceding general
    election in Cook County.
         (2)  If a candidate seeks to  run  for  Cook  County
    Board  Commissioner,  then  the  candidate's petition for
    nomination must contain at least the number of signatures
    equal to 0.5% of the qualified primary electors of his or
    her party in his or her county  board  district.  In  the
    first  primary election following a redistricting of Cook
    County Board of Commissioners  districts,  a  candidate's
    petition  for nomination must contain at least the number
    of signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified electors  of
    his  or  her party in the entire county who cast votes at
    the last preceding general election divided by the  total
    number  of  county  board districts comprising the county
    board; provided that in no  event  shall  the  number  of
    signatures be less than 25.
         (3)  If  a  candidate  seeks  to run for Cook County
    Board of Review Commissioner, which  is  elected  from  a
    district pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 5-5 of the
    Property  Tax  Code,  then  the  candidate's petition for
    nomination must contain at least the number of signatures
    equal to 0.5% of the total number of registered voters in
    his or her board of review district in the  last  general
    election  at which a commissioner was regularly scheduled
    to be elected from that board of review district.  In  no
    event  shall the number of signatures required be greater
    than the requisite  number  for  a  candidate  who  seeks
    countywide  office in Cook County under subsection (d)(1)
    of this Section. In the first primary election  following
    a redistricting of Cook County Board of Review districts,
    a  candidate's  petition  for  nomination must contain at
    least  4,000  signatures  or  at  least  the  number   of
    signatures  required  for  a countywide candidate in Cook
    County, whichever is less, of the qualified  electors  of
    his or her party in the district.
    (e)  Municipal  or  township office. If a candidate seeks
to run for municipal or township office, then the candidate's
petition for nomination must contain at least the  number  of
signatures equal to 0.5% of the qualified primary electors of
his  or  her  party  in  the  municipality  or township. If a
candidate seeks to run for alderman of a  municipality,  then
the candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least
the  number  of  signatures  equal  to  0.5% of the qualified
primary electors of his or her party  of  the  ward.  In  the
first  primary election following redistricting of aldermanic
wards or trustee districts of a municipality or  the  initial
establishment  of  wards or districts, a candidate's petition
for nomination must contain the number of signatures equal to
at least 0.5% of the total  number  of  votes  cast  for  the
candidate  of  that  political party who received the highest
number of votes  in  the  entire  municipality  at  the  last
regular  election at which an officer was regularly scheduled
to be elected from the entire municipality,  divided  by  the
number of wards or districts. In no event shall the number of
signatures be less than 25.
    (f)  State  central committeeperson. If a candidate seeks
to  run  for  State   central   committeeperson,   then   the
candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least 100
signatures of the primary electors of his or her party of his
or her congressional district.
    (g)  Sanitary  district  trustee. If a candidate seeks to
run for trustee of a sanitary district in which trustees  are
not  elected  from  wards,  then the candidate's petition for
nomination must contain at least  the  number  of  signatures
equal  to  0.5%  of  the primary electors of his or her party
from the sanitary district. If a candidate seeks to  run  for
trustee  of a sanitary district in which trustees are elected
from wards, then the candidate's petition for nomination must
contain at least the number of signatures equal  to  0.5%  of
the  primary electors of his or her party in the ward of that
sanitary district. In the first  primary  election  following
redistricting  of  sanitary  districts  elected from wards, a
candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least the
signatures of 150 qualified primary electors of  his  or  her
ward of that sanitary district.
    (h)  Judicial  office.  If  a  candidate seeks to run for
judicial office in a district, circuit, or  subcircuit,  then
the  candidate's  petition  for  nomination  must contain the
number of signatures equal to 0.25% of the  number  of  votes
cast for the judicial candidate of his or her political party
who  received the highest number of votes at the last general
election at which a judicial officer from the same  district,
circuit, or subcircuit was regularly scheduled to be elected,
but in no event less than 500 signatures.
    (i)  Precinct,  ward,  and township committeeperson. If a
candidate seeks to run for precinct committeeperson, then the
candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least  10
signatures  of  the  primary electors of his or her party for
the  precinct.  If  a  candidate  seeks  to  run   for   ward
committeeperson, then the candidate's petition for nomination
must  contain  no less than the number of signatures equal to
10% of the primary electors of his or her party of the  ward,
but  no  more  than 16% of those same electors; provided that
the maximum number of signatures may  be  50  more  than  the
minimum number, whichever is greater. If a candidate seeks to
run   for  township  committeeperson,  then  the  candidate's
petition for nomination must contain no less than the  number
of  signatures  equal to 5% of the primary electors of his or
her party of the township, but no more than 8% of those  same
electors;  provided that the maximum number of signatures may
be 50 more than the minimum number, whichever is greater.
    (j)  State's  attorney  or  regional  superintendent   of
schools  for  multiple  counties. If a candidate seeks to run
for State's attorney or regional  Superintendent  of  Schools
who  serves  more  than  one  county,  then  the  candidate's
petition  for  nomination must contain at least the number of
signatures equal to 0.5% of the primary electors  of  his  or
her party in the territory comprising the counties.
    (k)  Any  other  office.  If  a candidate seeks any other
office, then the candidate's  petition  for  nomination  must
contain  at  least  the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of
the registered voters of the political subdivision, district,
or  division  for  which  the  nomination  is  made   or   25
signatures, whichever is greater.
    For  purposes  of  this  Section  the  number  of primary
electors shall be determined by taking the total  vote  cast,
in  the  applicable  district,  for  the  candidate  for that
political party who received the  highest  number  of  votes,
statewide, at the last general election in the State at which
electors for President of the United States were elected. For
political  subdivisions, the number of primary electors shall
be determined by taking the total vote cast for the candidate
for that political party who received the highest  number  of
votes  in  the  political  subdivision  at  the  last regular
election at which an officer was regularly  scheduled  to  be
elected  from  that  subdivision.  For  wards or districts of
political subdivisions, the number of primary electors  shall
be determined by taking the total vote cast for the candidate
for  that  political party who received the highest number of
votes in the ward or district at the last regular election at
which an officer was regularly scheduled to be  elected  from
that ward or district.
    A  "qualified  primary  elector"  of a party may not sign
petitions for or be a candidate in the primary of  more  than
one party.
    The  changes  made to this Section of this amendatory Act
of the 93rd General Assembly are declarative of existing law,
except for item (3) of subsection (d).
    Petitions of candidates for nomination for offices herein
specified, to be filed with the same officer, may contain the
names of 2 or more candidates of the same political party for
the same or different offices.
    Such petitions for nominations shall be signed:
         (a)  If for a  State  office,  or  for  delegate  or
    alternate  delegate to be elected from the State at large
    to a National nominating  convention  by  not  less  than
    5,000 nor more than 10,000 primary electors of his party.
         (b)  If  for a congressional officer or for delegate
    or alternate delegate to be elected from a  congressional
    district  to a national nominating convention by at least
    .5% of the qualified primary electors of his party in his
    congressional district, except that for the first primary
    following a redistricting of congressional districts such
    petitions shall be  signed  by  at  least  600  qualified
    primary   electors   of  the  candidate's  party  in  his
    congressional district.
         (c)  If for a county office (including county  board
    member  and  chairman  of  the county board where elected
    from the county  at  large),  by  at  least  .5%  of  the
    qualified   electors  of  his  party  cast  at  the  last
    preceding general election in his  county.   However,  if
    for  the  nomination  for  county  commissioner  of  Cook
    County,  then  by  at  least .5% of the qualified primary
    electors of his or her party in his or her county in  the
    district  or division in which such person is a candidate
    for nomination; and if for county  board  member  from  a
    county  board  district,  then  by  at  least  .5% of the
    qualified primary electors of his  party  in  the  county
    board  district.   In  the case of an election for county
    board member to be elected from a district, for the first
    primary  following  a  redistricting  of   county   board
    districts  or  the  initial establishment of county board
    districts, then by at least .5% of the qualified electors
    of his party in the entire county at the  last  preceding
    general  election,  divided by the number of county board
    districts, but in any event not less  than  25  qualified
    primary electors of his party in the district.
         (d)  If  for  a  municipal  or township office by at
    least .5% of the qualified primary electors of his  party
    in  the  municipality or township; if for alderman, by at
    least .5% of the voters of his party of his ward.  In the
    case  of  an  election  for  alderman  or  trustee  of  a
    municipality to be elected from a ward or  district,  for
    the  first  primary  following  a  redistricting  or  the
    initial  establishment of wards or districts, then by .5%
    of the total number of votes cast for  the  candidate  of
    such  political  party who received the highest number of
    votes in the entire  municipality  at  the  last  regular
    election  at  which an officer was regularly scheduled to
    be elected from the entire municipality, divided  by  the
    number  of  wards or districts, but in any event not less
    than 25 qualified primary electors of his  party  in  the
    ward or district.
         (e)  If  for State central committeeman, by at least
    100 of the primary electors of his or her party of his or
    her congressional district.
         (f)  If for a candidate for trustee  of  a  sanitary
    district in which trustees are not elected from wards, by
    at  least  .5% of the primary electors of his party, from
    such sanitary district.
         (g)  If for a candidate for trustee  of  a  sanitary
    district in which the trustees are elected from wards, by
    at  least .5% of the primary electors of his party in his
    ward of such sanitary district, except that for the first
    primary following a reapportionment of the district  such
    petitions  shall  be  signed  by  at  least 150 qualified
    primary electors of the candidate's ward of such sanitary
    district.
         (h)  If for a candidate for  judicial  office  in  a
    district,  circuit, or subcircuit, by a number of primary
    electors at least equal to 0.25% of the number  of  votes
    cast  for  the judicial candidate of his or her political
    party who received the highest number  of  votes  at  the
    last regular general election at which a judicial officer
    from  the  same  district,  circuit,  or  subcircuit  was
    regularly  scheduled to be elected, but in no event fewer
    than 500.
         (i)  If for a candidate for  precinct  committeeman,
    by  at  least  10 primary electors of his or her party of
    his  or  her  precinct;  if  for  a  candidate  for  ward
    committeeman, by not less than 10% nor more than 16%  (or
    50  more  than  the minimum, whichever is greater) of the
    primary electors of his party  of  his  ward;  if  for  a
    candidate  for township committeeman, by not less than 5%
    nor more than 8% (or 50 more than the minimum,  whichever
    is  greater)  of the primary electors of his party in his
    township or part of a township as the case may be.
         (j)  If for a  candidate  for  State's  Attorney  or
    Regional  Superintendent  of  Schools  to serve 2 or more
    counties, by at least .5% of the primary electors of  his
    party in the territory comprising such counties.
         (k)  If  for any other office by at least .5% of the
    total  number  of  registered  voters  of  the  political
    subdivision,  district  or   division   for   which   the
    nomination  is  made  or  a  minimum  of 25, whichever is
    greater.
    For the purposes of this Section the  number  of  primary
electors  shall  be determined by taking the total vote cast,
in the  applicable  district,  for  the  candidate  for  such
political  party  who  received  the highest number of votes,
state-wide, at the last general  election  in  the  State  at
which  electors  for  President  of  the  United  States were
elected. For political subdivisions, the  number  of  primary
electors  shall  be  determined by taking the total vote cast
for the candidate for such political party who  received  the
highest  number of votes in such political subdivision at the
last regular election  at  which  an  officer  was  regularly
scheduled  to be elected from that subdivision.  For wards or
districts of political subdivisions, the  number  of  primary
electors  shall  be  determined by taking the total vote cast
for the candidate for such political party who  received  the
highest  number of votes in such ward or district at the last
regular election at which an officer was regularly  scheduled
to be elected from that ward or district.
    A  "qualified  primary  elector"  of a party may not sign
petitions for or be a candidate in the primary of  more  than
one party.
(Source: P.A.  91-57,  eff.  6-30-99;  91-357,  eff. 7-29-99;
91-358, eff.  7-29-99;  92-16,  eff.  6-28-01;  92-129,  eff.
7-20-01.)

    (10 ILCS 5/7-10.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-10.2)
    Sec.  7-10.2.   In  the  designation  of  the  name  of a
candidate on a petition  for  nomination  or  certificate  of
nomination  the  candidate's  given name or names, initial or
initials, a nickname  by  which  the  candidate  is  commonly
known,  or  a combination thereof, may be used in addition to
the candidate's surname.  No  other  designation  such  as  a
political  slogan,  as  defined  by  Section  7-17, title, or
degree, or nickname suggesting or implying  possession  of  a
title, degree or professional status,  or similar information
may  be  used  in  connection  with  the candidate's surname,
except that the title "Mrs." may be used in  the  case  of  a
married woman.
(Source: P.A. 81-135.)
    (10 ILCS 5/7-17) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-17)
    Sec. 7-17.  Candidate ballot name procedures.
    (a)  Each  election  authority in each county shall cause
to be printed upon the general primary ballot of  each  party
for  each  precinct  in  his  jurisdiction  the  name of each
candidate whose petition for nomination or  for  committeeman
has  been  filed in the office of the county clerk, as herein
provided; and also the name of each candidate whose name  has
been certified to his office by the State Board of Elections,
and   in  the  order  so  certified,  except  as  hereinafter
provided.
    It shall be the duty of the election authority  to  cause
to  be  printed  upon the consolidated primary ballot of each
political party for each precinct  in  his  jurisdiction  the
name  of each candidate whose name has been certified to him,
as herein provided and which is  to  be  voted  for  in  such
precinct.
    (b)  In the designation of the name of a candidate on the
primary  ballot  the candidate's given name or names, initial
or initials, a nickname by which the  candidate  is  commonly
known,  or  a combination thereof, may be used in addition to
the candidate's surname.  No  other  designation  such  as  a
political slogan, title, or degree, or nickname suggesting or
implying  possession  of  a  title,  degree  or  professional
status, or similar information may be used in connection with
the  candidate's surname, except that the title "Mrs." may be
used in the case of a married woman.  For  purposes  of  this
Section, a "political slogan" is defined as any word or words
expressing  or  connoting a position, opinion, or belief that
the candidate may espouse, including but not limited to,  any
word  or  words  conveying any meaning other than that of the
personal identity of the candidate. A candidate may not use a
political slogan as part of his or her name  on  the  ballot,
notwithstanding  that the political slogan may be part of the
candidate's name.
    (c)  The State  Board  of  Elections,  a  local  election
official,   or   an   election  authority  shall  remove  any
candidate's  name  designation  from   a   ballot   that   is
inconsistent   with   subsection  (b)  of  this  Section.  In
addition, the State Board  of  Elections,  a  local  election
official,  or  an election authority shall not certify to any
election authority any candidate  name  designation  that  is
inconsistent with subsection (b) of this Section.
    (d)  If  the  State  Board of Elections, a local election
official, or an election authority removes a candidate's name
designation from  a  ballot  under  subsection  (c)  of  this
Section,  then  the  aggrieved candidate may seek appropriate
relief in circuit court.
(Source: P.A. 81-135.)

    (10 ILCS 5/7-34) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-34)
    Sec. 7-34.  Pollwatchers in a primary election  shall  be
authorized in the following manner:
    (1)  Each  established  political party shall be entitled
to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct.   Such  pollwatchers
must  be  affiliated  with the political party for which they
are pollwatching and must be a registered voter in  Illinois.
For  all  primary elections, except as provided in subsection
(5), such pollwatchers must be  registered  to  vote  from  a
residence in the county in which they are pollwatching.
    (2)  Each  candidate  shall  be  entitled  to appoint two
pollwatchers per precinct.  For Federal,  State,  and  county
primary  elections,  the pollwatchers one pollwatcher must be
registered to vote in Illinois from a residence in the county
in which he is pollwatching.  The second pollwatcher must  be
registered  to  vote from a residence in the precinct or ward
in which he is  pollwatching.   For  township  and  municipal
primary elections, one pollwatcher must be registered to vote
from  a  residence in the county in which he is pollwatching.
The second pollwatcher must be  registered  to  vote  from  a
residence   in   the   precinct   or  ward  in  which  he  is
pollwatching.
    (3)  Each organization of citizens within the  county  or
political  subdivision,  which  has  among  its  purposes  or
interests   the  investigation  or  prosecution  of  election
frauds, and which shall have registered its name and  address
and  the  names  and addresses of its principal officers with
the proper election authority at least  40  days  before  the
primary   election,   shall   be   entitled  to  appoint  one
pollwatcher per precinct.  For  all  primary  elections,  the
except  as  provided in subsection (5), such pollwatcher must
be registered to vote in Illinois from  a  residence  in  the
county in which he is pollwatching.
    (4)  Each organized group of proponents or opponents of a
ballot  proposition, which shall have registered the name and
address of its organization or committee  and  the  name  and
address of its chairman with the proper election authority at
least  40 days before the primary election, shall be entitled
to appoint one  pollwatcher  per  precinct.   The  Except  as
provided   in   subsection  (5),  such  pollwatcher  must  be
registered to vote in Illinois from a residence in the county
in which the ballot proposition is being voted upon.
    (5)  In any primary election held to nominate  candidates
for  the  offices  of  a  municipality of less than 3,000,000
population  that  is  situated  in  2  or  more  counties,  a
pollwatcher who is a resident of a county in which  any  part
of the municipality is situated shall be eligible to serve as
a  pollwatcher  in  any  polling  place  located  within such
municipality,  provided  that  such   pollwatcher   otherwise
complies  with the respective requirements of subsections (1)
through (4) of this Section and is a registered  voter  whose
residence is within Illinois the municipality.
    All   pollwatchers  shall  be  required  to  have  proper
credentials.  Such credentials shall be printed in sufficient
quantities, shall  be  issued  by  and  under  the  facsimile
signature(s) of the election authority and shall be available
for  distribution  at  least  2  weeks prior to the election.
Such credentials shall be authorized by the real or facsimile
signature of  the  State  or  local  party  official  or  the
candidate  or the presiding officer of the civic organization
or the chairman of the proponent or opponent  group,  as  the
case may be.
    Pollwatcher  credentials  shall  be  in substantially the
following form:

                   POLLWATCHER CREDENTIALS
TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:
    In accordance  with the provisions of the Election  Code,
the   undersigned   hereby   appoints  ...........  (name  of
pollwatcher)  at  ..........  (address)  in  the  county   of
...........,   ..........   (township   or  municipality)  of
...........  (name),  State  of  Illinois  and  who  is  duly
registered to vote from this address, to act as a pollwatcher
in the  ...........  precinct  of  the  ..........  ward  (if
applicable)  of the ........... (township or municipality) of
........... at the ........... election to be held on (insert
date).
........................  (Signature of Appointing Authority)
........................  TITLE  (party official,  candidate,
                                civic organization president,
                        proponent or opponent group chairman)
    Under penalties provided by law pursuant to Section 29-10
of the Election Code, the undersigned  pollwatcher  certifies
that  he  or  she  resides at .............. (address) in the
county of ........., ......... (township or municipality)  of
..........  (name), State of Illinois, and is duly registered
to vote in Illinois from that address.
...........................        ..........................
(Precinct and/or Ward in           (Signature of Pollwatcher)
Which Pollwatcher Resides)

    Pollwatchers must present their credentials to the Judges
of Election upon entering  the  polling  place.   Pollwatcher
credentials  properly  executed  and signed shall be proof of
the qualifications of  the  pollwatcher  authorized  thereby.
Such  credentials  are retained by the Judges and returned to
the Election Authority at the end of the day of election with
the  other  election  materials.   Once  a  pollwatcher   has
surrendered  a valid credential, he may leave and reenter the
polling place provided that such continuing action  does  not
disrupt  the  conduct  of  the  election. Pollwatchers may be
substituted during the course of  the  day,  but  established
political  parties, candidates, qualified civic organizations
and proponents and opponents of a ballot proposition can have
only as many pollwatchers at any given time as are authorized
in this  Article.   A  substitute  must  present  his  signed
credential  to  the  judges  of  election  upon  entering the
polling  place.   Election   authorities   must   provide   a
sufficient number of credentials to allow for substitution of
pollwatchers. After the polls have closed, pollwatchers shall
be allowed to remain until the canvass of votes is completed;
but  may  leave  and  reenter  only  in  cases  of necessity,
provided that such action is not so continuous as to  disrupt
the canvass of votes.
    Candidates  seeking  office in a district or municipality
encompassing 2 or more counties shall be admitted to any  and
all  polling  places throughout such district or municipality
without regard to the counties in which such  candidates  are
registered  to  vote.   Actions  of  such candidates shall be
governed in each polling place by  the  same  privileges  and
limitations  that  apply  to pollwatchers as provided in this
Section.  Any such candidate who engages in an activity in  a
polling  place  which  could  reasonably  be  construed  by a
majority of the judges of election as campaign activity shall
be removed forthwith from such polling place.
    Candidates seeking office in a district  or  municipality
encompassing  2 or more counties who desire to be admitted to
polling  places  on  election  day  in   such   district   or
municipality  shall  be  required to have proper credentials.
Such credentials shall be printed in  sufficient  quantities,
shall  be  issued by and under the facsimile signature of the
election authority of the  election  jurisdiction  where  the
polling  place  in  which  the  candidate seeks admittance is
located, and shall be available for distribution at  least  2
weeks  prior  to  the  election.   Such  credentials shall be
signed by the candidate.
    Candidate  credentials  shall  be  in  substantially  the
following form:

                    CANDIDATE CREDENTIALS
    TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:
    In accordance with the provisions of the Election Code, I
...... (name  of  candidate)  hereby  certify  that  I  am  a
candidate for ....... (name of office) and seek admittance to
.......  precinct  of the ....... ward (if applicable) of the
....... (township or municipality) of ....... at the  .......
election to be held on (insert date).
.........................             .......................
(Signature of Candidate)              OFFICE FOR WHICH
                                      CANDIDATE SEEKS
                                      NOMINATION OR
                                      ELECTION

    Pollwatchers   shall   be   permitted   to   observe  all
proceedings relating to the conduct of the  election  and  to
station  themselves  in a position in the voting room as will
enable them  to  observe  the  judges  making  the  signature
comparison  between  the  voter  application  and  the  voter
registration   record  card;  provided,  however,  that  such
pollwatchers shall not be permitted to station themselves  in
such  close  proximity  to  the  judges  of election so as to
interfere with the orderly conduct of the election and  shall
not, in any event, be permitted to handle election materials.
Pollwatchers    may    challenge   for   cause   the   voting
qualifications of a person offering to vote and may  call  to
the  attention  of  the  judges  of  election  any  incorrect
procedure or apparent violations of this Code.
    If  a  majority  of the judges of election determine that
the  polling  place   has   become   too   overcrowded   with
pollwatchers  so  as to interfere with the orderly conduct of
the  election,  the  judges  shall,  by   lot,   limit   such
pollwatchers   to  a  reasonable  number,  except  that  each
candidate and each established or new political  party  shall
be permitted to have at least one pollwatcher present.
    Representatives  of an election authority, with regard to
an election  under  its  jurisdiction,  the  State  Board  of
Elections,  and  law  enforcement agencies, including but not
limited to a United States Attorney, a State's attorney,  the
Attorney  General,  and  a  State,  county,  or  local police
department, in the performance  of  their  official  election
duties,  shall  be permitted at all times to enter and remain
in the polling place.  Upon entering the polling place,  such
representatives  shall  display their official credentials or
other identification to the judges of election.
    Uniformed police officers assigned to polling place  duty
shall  follow  all  lawful  instructions  of  the  judges  of
election.
    The  provisions  of  this  Section  shall  also  apply to
supervised casting of absentee ballots as provided in Section
19-12.2 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
    (10 ILCS 5/7-41) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-41)
    Sec. 7-41. (a) All officers upon whom is imposed  by  law
the  duty  of  designating  and  providing polling places for
general elections, shall provide in each such  polling  place
so designated and provided, a sufficient number of booths for
such  primary  election,  which booths shall be provided with
shelves, such supplies and pencils as will enable  the  voter
to  prepare  his  ballot  for  voting and in which voters may
prepare their ballots screened from all observation as to the
manner in which they do so. Such booths shall be within plain
view of the election officers and both they  and  the  ballot
boxes  shall  be  within  plain  view  of  those  within  the
proximity of the voting booths. No person other than election
officers  and  the  challengers  allowed  by  law  and  those
admitted  for the purpose of voting, as hereinafter provided,
shall be permitted within the proximity of the voting booths,
except by authority of the primary officers to keep order and
enforce the law.
    (b)  The number of such voting booths shall not  be  less
than  one  to  every seventy-five voters or fraction thereof,
who voted at the last preceding election in the  precinct  or
election district.
    (c)  No  person shall do any electioneering or soliciting
of votes on primary day within any polling  place  or  within
one  hundred  feet  of  any polling place.  Election officers
shall place 2 or more cones,  small  United  States  national
flags, or some other marker a distance of 100 horizontal feet
from  each  entrance  to the room used by voters to engage in
voting, which shall be known as  the  polling  room.  If  the
polling room is located within a building that is a public or
private  school or a church or other organization founded for
the purpose of religious worship  and  the  distance  of  100
horizontal  feet  ends  within  the interior of the building,
then the markers shall be placed outside of the  building  at
each  entrance  used  by voters to enter that building on the
grounds adjacent to  the  thoroughfare  or  walkway.  If  the
polling  room  is located within a public or private building
with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on  the
ground floor, then the markers shall be placed 100 horizontal
feet from each entrance to the polling room used by voters to
engage  in voting. If the polling room is located in a public
or private building with 2 or more  floors  and  the  polling
room  is  located on a floor above or below the ground floor,
then the markers shall be placed a distance of 100 feet  from
the  nearest  elevator  or  staircase  used  by voters on the
ground floor to access the floor where the  polling  room  is
located.  The  area within where the markers are placed shall
be known as a  campaign  free  zone,  and  electioneering  is
prohibited pursuant to this subsection.
    The  area  on  polling place property beyond the campaign
free zone, whether publicly or privately owned, is  a  public
forum  for  the  time  that the polls are open on an election
day. At the request of election officers any  publicly  owned
building must be made available for use as a polling place. A
person  shall  have  the  right  to  congregate and engage in
electioneering on any polling place property while the  polls
are  open  beyond  the  campaign free zone, including but not
limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection
shall be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging  in
electioneering  on  all  polling  place  property  beyond the
campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an
election day.
    (d)  The regulation of electioneering  on  polling  place
property on an election day, including but not limited to the
placement  of  temporary  signs,  is  an  exclusive power and
function of the State. A home  rule  unit  may  not  regulate
electioneering  and  any  ordinance  or local law contrary to
subsection (c)  is  declared  void.  This  is  a  denial  and
limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection
(h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
(Source: P.A. 89-653, eff. 8-14-96.)

    (10 ILCS 5/8-8.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 8-8.1)
    Sec.   8-8.1.  In  the  designation  of  the  name  of  a
candidate on a petition for nomination, the candidate's given
name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by  which  the
candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof, may be
used  in  addition  to  the  candidate's  surname.  No  other
designation  such as a political slogan, title, or degree, or
nickname suggesting or implying possession of a title, degree
or professional status, or similar information may be used in
connection with the  candidate's  surname,  except  that  the
title "Mrs." may be used in the case of a married woman.
(Source: P.A. 81-135.)

    (10 ILCS 5/9-1.5) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.5)
    Sec. 9-1.5.  Expenditure defined.
    "Expenditure" means-
         (1)  a   payment,   distribution,   purchase,  loan,
    advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of  value,
    in  connection  with  the  nomination  for  election,  or
    election,  of  any person to public office, in connection
    with the election of  any  person  as  ward  or  township
    committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more population,
    or  in  connection  with  any  question of public policy.
    "Expenditure"  also  includes  a  payment,  distribution,
    purchase, loan, advance, deposit, or  gift  of  money  or
    anything  of  value  that  constitutes  an electioneering
    communication regardless of whether the communication  is
    made  in  concert  or cooperation with or at the request,
    suggestion,  or   knowledge   of   the   candidate,   the
    candidate's authorized local political committee, a State
    political  committee,  or  any  of their agents. However,
    expenditure does not include -
         (a)  the use of real or personal  property  and  the
    cost  of  invitations,  food,  and beverages, voluntarily
    provided by an individual in rendering voluntary personal
    services on the  individual's  residential  premises  for
    candidate-related  activities;  provided the value of the
    service provided does not exceed an aggregate of $150  in
    a reporting period;
         (b)  the  sale  of  any food or beverage by a vendor
    for use in a candidate's campaign at a charge  less  than
    the normal comparable charge, if such charge for use in a
    candidate's  campaign  is  at  least equal to the cost of
    such food or beverage to the vendor.
    (2)  a transfer of funds between political committees.
(Source: P.A. 89-405, eff. 11-8-95.)

    (10 ILCS 5/9-1.14 new)
    Sec. 9-1.14.  Electioneering communication defined.
    (a)  "Electioneering  communication"   means,   for   the
purposes  of  this  Article,  any  form  of communication, in
whatever  medium,  including  but  not  limited   to   radio,
television,  and  newspaper  communications, that refers to a
clearly identified candidate, candidates, or political  party
and  is made within (i) 60 days before a general election for
the office sought by the candidate or (ii) 30 days  before  a
general  primary  election  for  the  office  sought  by  the
candidate.
    (b)  "Electioneering communication" does not include:
         (1)  A   communication   other  than  advertisements
    appearing in  a  news  story,  commentary,  or  editorial
    distributed  through  the  facilities  of any  legitimate
    news organization, unless the  facilities  are  owned  or
    controlled  by  any political party, political committee,
    or candidate.
         (2)  A  communication  made  solely  to  promote   a
    candidate debate or forum that is made by or on behalf of
    the person sponsoring the debate or forum.
         (3)  A  communication made as part of a non-partisan
    activity designed to encourage individuals to vote or  to
    register to vote.
         (4)  A  communication  by  an organization operating
    and remaining in good standing under Section 501(c)(3) of
    the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

    (10 ILCS 5/9-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-3)
    Sec. 9-3.  Every  state  political  committee  and  every
local  political committee shall file with the State Board of
Elections, and every local  political  committee  shall  file
with  the county clerk, a statement of organization within 10
business days of the creation of such committee,  except  any
political  committee  created  within  the  30 days before an
election shall file a  statement  of  organization  within  5
business  days.   A  political  committee that acts as both a
state political committee and  a  local  political  committee
shall  file a copy of each statement of organization with the
State Board of Elections and  the  county  clerk.  The  Board
shall  impose  a  civil  penalty of $25 per business day upon
political committees for failing to file or late filing of  a
statement  of organization, except that for committees formed
to support candidates for statewide office, the civil penalty
shall be $50 per business  day.   Such  penalties  shall  not
exceed  $5,000,  and  shall  not exceed $10,000 for statewide
office political committees. There shall be no  fine  if  the
statement is mailed and postmarked at least 72 hours prior to
the filing deadline.
    In  addition  to  the  civil penalties authorized by this
Section, the State Board of Elections or any  other  affected
political  committee  may  apply  to  the circuit court for a
temporary restraining order or  a  preliminary  or  permanent
injunction  against  the  political  committee  to  cease the
expenditure of  funds  and  to  cease  operations  until  the
statement of organization is filed.
    For the purpose of this Section, "statewide office" means
the   Governor,  Lieutenant  Governor,  Secretary  of  State,
Attorney General, State Treasurer, and State Comptroller.
    The statement of organization shall include -
    (a)  the name and address of the political committee (the
name of the political committee must include the name of  any
sponsoring entity);
    (b)  the  scope,  area  of  activity,  party affiliation,
candidate  affiliation  and  his  county  of  residence,  and
purposes of the political committee;
    (c)  the name, address, and position of each custodian of
the committee's books and accounts;
    (d)  the name, address, and position of  the  committee's
principal  officers,  including  the chairman, treasurer, and
officers and members of its finance committee, if any;
    (e)  (Blank);
    (f)  a statement of what specific disposition of residual
fund will  be  made  in  the  event  of  the  dissolution  or
termination of the committee;
    (g)  a   listing   of   all   banks  or  other  financial
institutions,   safety   deposit   boxes,   and   any   other
repositories or custodians of funds used by the committee;
    (h)  the  amount  of   funds   available   for   campaign
expenditures  as  of  the  filing  date  of  the  committee's
statement of organization.
    For  purposes  of  this Section, a "sponsoring entity" is
(i)   any   person,   political   committee,    organization,
corporation,  or association that contributes at least 33% of
the total funding of the  political  committee  or  (ii)  any
person  or  other entity that is registered or is required to
register under the Lobbyist Registration Act and  contributes
at least 33% of the total funding of the political committee.
(Source: P.A. 90-495, eff. 1-1-98; 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)


    (10 ILCS 5/9-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-10)
    Sec. 9-10.  Financial reports.
    (a)  The treasurer of every state political committee and
the  treasurer  of every local political committee shall file
with the Board, and the treasurer of  every  local  political
committee  shall  file  with  the  county  clerk,  reports of
campaign contributions, and semi-annual reports  of  campaign
contributions  and  expenditures on forms to be prescribed or
approved by the Board.   The  treasurer  of  every  political
committee that acts as both a state political committee and a
local  political  committee  shall file a copy of each report
with the State Board  of  Elections  and  the  county  clerk.
Entities subject to Section 9-7.5 shall file reports required
by  that  Section  at  times provided in this Section and are
subject to the penalties provided in this Section.
    (b)  Reports of campaign contributions shall be filed  no
later   than  the  15th  day  next  preceding  each  election
including a primary election in  connection  with  which  the
political    committee   has   accepted   or   is   accepting
contributions or has made or is  making  expenditures.   Such
reports  shall  be complete as of the 30th day next preceding
each election including a primary election.  The Board  shall
assess  a  civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a violation
of this  subsection,  except  that  for  State  officers  and
candidates  and  political  committees  formed  for statewide
office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000.  The  fine,
however,  shall  not exceed $500 for a first filing violation
for filing less than 10 days after the deadline. There  shall
be no fine if the report is mailed and postmarked at least 72
hours  prior  to the filing deadline. For the purpose of this
subsection, "statewide office" and "State officer" means  the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of
State,  Comptroller,  and  Treasurer.   However, a continuing
political committee that neither  accepts  contributions  nor
makes  expenditures  on  behalf  of  or  in opposition to any
candidate or public question on the  ballot  at  an  election
shall   not  be  required  to  file  the  reports  heretofore
prescribed but may  file  in  lieu  thereof  a  Statement  of
Nonparticipation  in the Election with the Board or the Board
and the county clerk.
    (b-5)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection  (b),
any  contribution  of  $500  or  more received in the interim
between the last date of  the  period  covered  by  the  last
report  filed  under subsection (b) prior to the election and
the date of the election shall be reported within 2  business
days  after  its receipt. The State Board shall allow filings
under  this  subsection  (b-5)  to  be  made   by   facsimile
transmission.   For   the   purpose  of  this  subsection,  a
contribution is considered received on the  date  the  public
official,  candidate,  or  political committee (or equivalent
person in the  case  of  a  reporting  entity  other  than  a
political  committee) actually receives it or, in the case of
goods or services, 2 days after the date the public official,
candidate, committee, or other reporting entity receives  the
certification  required  under subsection (b) of Section 9-6.
Failure to report each contribution is a  separate  violation
of  this  subsection.   The  Board  shall  impose  fines  for
violations of this subsection as follows:
         (1)  if the political committee's or other reporting
    entity's  total receipts, total expenditures, and balance
    remaining at the end of the last  reporting  period  were
    each  $5,000  or less, then $100 per business day for the
    first violation, $200 per business  day  for  the  second
    violation,  and  $300  per business day for the third and
    subsequent violations.
         (2)  if the political committee's or other reporting
    entity's total receipts, total expenditures, and  balance
    remaining  at  the  end of the last reporting period were
    each more than $5,000, then $200 per business day for the
    first violation, $400 per business  day  for  the  second
    violation,  and  $600  per business day for the third and
    subsequent violations.
    (c)  In addition to such reports the treasurer  of  every
political   committee   shall  file  semi-annual  reports  of
campaign contributions and expenditures no  later  than  July
31st,  covering the period from January 1st through June 30th
immediately  preceding,  and  no  later  than  January  31st,
covering the period from July 1st through  December  31st  of
the  preceding  calendar  year.  Reports of contributions and
expenditures must be  filed  to  cover  the  prescribed  time
periods even though no contributions or expenditures may have
been  received  or  made  during  the period. The Board shall
assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for  a  violation
of  this  subsection,  except  that  for  State  officers and
candidates and  political  committees  formed  for  statewide
office,  the  civil penalty may not exceed $10,000. The fine,
however, shall not exceed $500 for a first  filing  violation
for  filing less than 10 days after the deadline. There shall
be no fine if the report is mailed and postmarked at least 72
hours prior to the filing deadline. For the purpose  of  this
subsection,  "statewide office" and "State officer" means the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of
State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.
    (c-5)  A political committee that acts as  either  (i)  a
State and local political committee or (ii) a local political
committee and that files reports electronically under Section
9-28  is  not required to file copies of the reports with the
appropriate county clerk if the county  clerk  has  a  system
that  permits access to, and duplication of, reports that are
filed with the State Board of Elections. A  State  and  local
political committee or a local political committee shall file
with the county clerk a copy of its statement of organization
pursuant to Section 9-3.
    (d)  A  copy of each report or statement filed under this
Article shall be preserved by the  person  filing  it  for  a
period of two years from the date of filing.
(Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)

    (10 ILCS 5/9-21) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-21)
    Sec.  9-21.  Upon  receipt  of  such complaint, the Board
shall hold a closed preliminary hearing to determine  whether
or   not   the  complaint  appears  to  have  been  filed  on
justifiable grounds. Such closed preliminary hearing shall be
conducted as soon as practicable after  affording  reasonable
notice,  a  copy  of  the  complaint,  and  an opportunity to
testify at  such  hearing  to  both  the  person  making  the
complaint  and  the  person  against  whom  the  complaint is
directed. If the Board fails to determine determines that the
complaint has not been filed on justifiable grounds, it shall
dismiss the complaint without further hearing.
    Whenever in the judgment of the  Board,  after  affording
due  notice  and  an  opportunity  for  a public hearing, any
person has engaged or  is  about  to  engage  in  an  act  or
practice  which constitutes or will constitute a violation of
any provision of this Article  or  any  regulation  or  order
issued  thereunder,  the Board shall issue an order directing
such person to take such action as the Board  determines  may
be necessary in the public interest to correct the violation.
In  addition,  if  the act or practice engaged in consists of
the failure to file  any  required  report  within  the  time
prescribed  by this Article, the Board, as part of its order,
shall further provide that if,  within  the  12-month  period
following  the  issuance  of  the order, such person fails to
file  within  the  time  prescribed  by  this   Article   any
subsequent  report  as  may  be  required, such person may be
subject to a civil penalty  pursuant  to  Section  9-23.  The
Board  shall  render its final judgment within 60 days of the
date the complaint is filed; except that during the  60  days
preceding  the date of the election in reference to which the
complaint is filed, the Board shall render its final judgment
within 7 days of the date the complaint is filed, and  during
the  7  days  preceding such election, the Board shall render
such judgment before the date of such election, if possible.
    At any time prior to the issuance of  the  Board's  final
judgment,  the  parties  may  dispose  of  the complaint by a
written stipulation, agreed settlement or consent order.  Any
such stipulation, settlement  or  order  shall,  however,  be
submitted  in writing to the Board and shall become effective
only if approved by  the  Board.   If  the  act  or  practice
complained  of  consists  of the failure to file any required
report within the  time  prescribed  by  this  Article,  such
stipulation,  settlement or order may provide that if, within
the  12-month  period  following   the   approval   of   such
stipulation,  agreement  or  order,  the person complained of
fails to file within the time prescribed by this Article  any
subsequent  reports  as  may  be required, such person may be
subject to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 9-23.
    Any person filing a complaint pursuant  to  Section  9-20
may,  upon  written  notice  to  the other parties and to the
Board, voluntarily withdraw the complaint at any  time  prior
to the issuance of the Board's final determination.
(Source: P.A. 90-495, eff. 1-1-98.)

    (10 ILCS 5/10-5.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 10-5.1)
    Sec.  10-5.1.  In  the  designation  of  the  name  of  a
candidate on a certificate of nomination or nomination papers
the  candidate's  given name or names, initial or initials, a
nickname by which the  candidate  is  commonly  known,  or  a
combination   thereof,   may  be  used  in  addition  to  the
candidate's surname. No other designation such as a political
slogan, title, or degree, or nickname suggesting or  implying
possession  of  a  title,  degree  or professional status, or
similar information  may  be  used  in  connection  with  the
candidate's surname, except that the title "Mrs." may be used
in the case of a married woman.
(Source: P.A. 81-135.)

    (10 ILCS 5/13-1.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-1.1)
    Sec.  13-1.1.  In  addition  to  the list provided for in
Section 13-1 or 13-2, the  chairman  of  the  county  central
committee  of each of the two leading political parties shall
submit to the county  board  a  supplemental  list,  arranged
according to precincts in which they are to serve, of persons
available  as judges of election, the names and number of all
persons listed thereon to be acknowledged in writing  to  the
county  chairman  submitting  such  list by the county board.
Vacancies among the judges of election  shall  be  filled  by
selection  from  this  supplemental list of persons qualified
under Section 13-4. If the list provided for in Section  13-1
or  13-2  for any precinct is exhausted, then selection shall
be made from the supplemental list submitted by the  chairman
of  the  county  central  committee  of  the  party.  If such
supplemental  list  is  exhausted  for  any  precinct,   then
selection  shall  be  made  from  any  of  the persons on the
supplemental list without regard to the  precincts  in  which
they  are  listed  to serve. No selection or appointment from
the supplemental list shall be made more than 21  days  prior
to  the date of precinct registration for those judges needed
as precinct registrars, and more than 45 28 days prior to the
date of an election for those additional  persons  needed  as
election  judges.  In any case where selection cannot be made
from the supplemental list without  violating  Section  13-4,
selection shall be made from outside the supplemental list of
some person qualified under Section 13-4.
(Source: P.A. 78-888; 78-889; 78-1297.)

    (10 ILCS 5/14-3.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-3.2)
    Sec.  14-3.2.  In  addition  to  the list provided for in
Section 14-3.1, the chairman of the county central  committee
of  each  of the 2 leading political parties shall furnish to
the board of  election  commissioners  a  supplemental  list,
arranged according to precinct in which they are to serve, of
persons available as judges of election, the names and number
of  all  persons listed thereon to be acknowledged in writing
to the county chairman submitting such list by the  board  of
election  commissioners.  The board of election commissioners
shall select from this supplemental  list  persons  qualified
under  Section  14-1,  to  fill vacancies among the judges of
election. If the list provided for in Section 14-3.1 for  any
precinct  is exhausted, then selection shall be made from the
supplemental list furnished by the  chairman  of  the  county
central  committee of the party. If such supplemental list is
exhausted for any precinct, then selection shall be made from
any of the persons on the supplemental list without regard to
the precincts in which they are listed to serve. No selection
or appointment from the supplemental list shall be made  more
than  21  days prior to the date of precinct registration for
those judges needed as precinct registrars, and more than  45
28 days prior to the date of an election for those additional
persons   needed  as  election  judges.  In  any  case  where
selection cannot be made from the supplemental  list  without
violating  Section 14-1, selection shall be made from outside
the supplemental list of some person qualified under  Section
14-1.
(Source: P.A. 78-888; 78-889; 78-1297.)

    (10 ILCS 5/16-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-3)
    Sec.  16-3.  (a) The  names of all candidates to be voted
for in each election district or precinct shall be printed on
one ballot, except as is  provided  in  Sections  16-6.1  and
21-1.01  of this Act and except as otherwise provided in this
Act with respect to the odd year regular  elections  and  the
emergency  referenda;  all nominations of any political party
being placed under the party appellation  or  title  of  such
party  as  designated  in  the  certificates of nomination or
petitions. The names of all independent candidates  shall  be
printed  upon  the  ballot  in  a column or columns under the
heading "independent" arranged under the names or  titles  of
the  respective offices for which such independent candidates
shall have been nominated and so far as practicable, the name
or names of any independent candidate or candidates  for  any
office  shall be printed upon the ballot opposite the name or
names of any candidate or  candidates  for  the  same  office
contained  in  any  party column or columns upon said ballot.
The ballot shall contain no other names, except that in cases
of electors for President and Vice-President  of  the  United
States,  the  names  of  the  candidates  for  President  and
Vice-President  may  be  added  to  the party designation and
words calculated to aid the voter in his choice of candidates
may be added, such as "Vote for one," "Vote for three."  When
an  electronic  voting system is used which utilizes a ballot
label booklet, the candidates and questions shall  appear  on
the pages of such booklet in the order provided by this Code;
and,  in  any case where candidates for an office appear on a
page which does not contain the name  of  any  candidate  for
another  office,  and  where  less  than  50%  of the page is
utilized, the name of no candidate shall be  printed  on  the
lowest  25%  of  such  page.  On  the  back or outside of the
ballot, so as to appear when folded,  shall  be  printed  the
words  "Official  Ballot", followed by the designation of the
polling place for which the ballot is prepared, the  date  of
the election and a facsimile of the signature of the election
authority  who  has  caused  the  ballots  to be printed. The
ballots shall be of plain  white  paper,  through  which  the
printing  or writing cannot be read. However, ballots for use
at the nonpartisan and consolidated elections may be  printed
on   different  color  paper,  except  blue  paper,  whenever
necessary or desirable to facilitate  distinguishing  between
ballots  for different political subdivisions. In the case of
nonpartisan   elections   for   officers   of   a   political
subdivision, unless  the  statute  or  an  ordinance  adopted
pursuant  to  Article  VII  of the Constitution providing the
form of government therefor requires  otherwise,  the  column
listing  such nonpartisan candidates shall be printed with no
appellation or circle at its head. The party  appellation  or
title,  or  the  word "independent" at the head of any column
provided for independent  candidates,  shall  be  printed  in
letters  not  less than one-fourth of an inch in height and a
circle one-half inch in diameter  shall  be  printed  at  the
beginning  of  the line in which such appellation or title is
printed, provided, however, that  no  such  circle  shall  be
printed  at  the  head  of any column or columns provided for
such independent candidates. The names of candidates shall be
printed in letters not less than  one-eighth  nor  more  than
one-fourth of an inch in height, and at the beginning of each
line in which a name of a candidate is printed a square shall
be  printed,  the  sides  of  which  shall  be  not less than
one-fourth of an inch in length. However, the  names  of  the
candidates  for  Governor and Lieutenant Governor on the same
ticket shall be printed within a bracket and a single  square
shall  be  printed  in  front  of  the  bracket.  The list of
candidates of the  several  parties  and  any  such  list  of
independent candidates shall be placed in separate columns on
the  ballot in such order as the election authorities charged
with the printing of the ballots shall decide; provided, that
the names of the candidates of the several political parties,
certified by the State Board  of  Elections  to  the  several
county  clerks  shall  be  printed by the county clerk of the
proper county on the official ballot in the  order  certified
by  the  State Board of Elections. Any county clerk refusing,
neglecting or failing to print on  the  official  ballot  the
names  of  candidates of the several political parties in the
order certified by the State  Board  of  Elections,  and  any
county  clerk  who  prints  or  causes to be printed upon the
official ballot the name of a candidate, for an office to  be
filled  by  the  Electors of the entire State, whose name has
not been duly certified to him upon a certificate  signed  by
the  State  Board  of  Elections shall be guilty of a Class C
misdemeanor.
    (b)  When an  electronic  voting  system  is  used  which
utilizes  a  ballot  card,  on the inside flap of each ballot
card envelope there shall be  printed  a  form  for  write-in
voting which shall be substantially as follows:
                       WRITE-IN VOTES
    (See  card  of  instructions  for  specific  information.
Duplicate form below by hand for additional write-in votes.)
      _____________________________
      Title of Office
(   )  ____________________________
      Name of Candidate
    (c)  When  an electronic voting system is used which uses
a ballot sheet, the instructions  to  voters  on  the  ballot
sheet  shall  refer the voter to the card of instructions for
specific information on write-in voting.  Below  each  office
appearing on such ballot sheet there shall be a provision for
the casting of a write-in vote.
    (d)  When  such electronic system is used, there shall be
printed on the back of each ballot  card,  each  ballot  card
envelope,  and  the  first  page  of  the ballot label when a
ballot label is used, the words "Official  Ballot,"  followed
by   the   number   of   the   precinct   or  other  precinct
identification, which may be stamped, in lieu thereof and, as
applicable, the number and name  of  the  township,  ward  or
other  election  district  for  which the ballot card, ballot
card envelope, and ballot label are prepared, the date of the
election and a facsimile of the  signature  of  the  election
authority who has caused the ballots to be printed.  The back
of the ballot card shall also include a method of identifying
the  ballot  configuration such as a listing of the political
subdivisions and districts for which votes  may  be  cast  on
that   ballot,  or  a  number  code  identifying  the  ballot
configuration or color coded ballots, except that where there
is only one ballot configuration in a precinct, the  precinct
identification, and any applicable ward identification, shall
be  sufficient.   Ballot  card  envelopes  used in punch card
systems shall be of paper through which no writing or punches
may be discerned and shall be of sufficient length to enclose
all voting positions.  However, the  election  authority  may
provide  ballot card envelopes on which no precinct number or
township, ward or other  election  district  designation,  or
election  date are preprinted, if space and a preprinted form
are provided below  the  space  provided  for  the  names  of
write-in  candidates where such information may be entered by
the judges  of  election.   Whenever  an  election  authority
utilizes ballot card envelopes on which the election date and
precinct  is  not  preprinted, a judge of election shall mark
such information for the particular precinct and election  on
the envelope in ink before tallying and counting any write-in
vote  written  thereon.  If  some  method  of insuring ballot
secrecy other than an envelope is used, such information must
be provided on the ballot itself.
    (e)  In the designation of the name of a candidate on the
ballot, the candidate's  given  name  or  names,  initial  or
initials,  a  nickname  by  which  the  candidate is commonly
known, or a combination thereof, may be used in  addition  to
the  candidate's  surname.  No  other  designation  such as a
political slogan, title, or degree or nickname suggesting  or
implying  possession  of  a  title,  degree  or  professional
status, or similar information may be used in connection with
the  candidate's surname, except that the title "Mrs." may be
used in the case of a married woman.  For  purposes  of  this
Section, a "political slogan" is defined as any word or words
expressing  or  connoting a position, opinion, or belief that
the candidate may espouse, including but not limited to,  any
word  or  words  conveying any meaning other than that of the
personal identity of the candidate. A candidate may not use a
political slogan as part of his or her name  on  the  ballot,
notwithstanding  that the political slogan may be part of the
candidate's name.
    (f)  The State  Board  of  Elections,  a  local  election
official,   or   an   election  authority  shall  remove  any
candidate's  name  designation  from   a   ballot   that   is
inconsistent   with   subsection  (e)  of  this  Section.  In
addition, the State Board  of  Elections,  a  local  election
official,  or  an election authority shall not certify to any
election authority any candidate  name  designation  that  is
inconsistent with subsection (e) of this Section.
    (g)  If  the  State  Board of Elections, a local election
official, or an election authority removes a candidate's name
designation from  a  ballot  under  subsection  (f)  of  this
Section,  then  the  aggrieved candidate may seek appropriate
relief in circuit court.
    Where voting machines or electronic  voting  systems  are
used,  the  provisions  of  this  Section  may be modified as
required  or  authorized  by  Article  24  or  Article   24A,
whichever is applicable.
    Nothing   in   this   Section   shall  prohibit  election
authorities from using or reusing ballot card envelopes which
were printed before the effective date of this amendatory Act
of 1985.
(Source: P.A. 92-178, eff. 1-1-02.)

    (10 ILCS 5/17-23) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-23)
    Sec. 17-23.  Pollwatchers in a general election shall  be
authorized in the following manner:
    (1)  Each  established  political party shall be entitled
to appoint two pollwatchers per precinct.  Such  pollwatchers
must  be  affiliated  with the political party for which they
are pollwatching.  For all elections, the pollwatchers except
as provided  in  subsection  (4),  one  pollwatcher  must  be
registered to vote in Illinois from a residence in the county
in  which he is pollwatching.  The second pollwatcher must be
registered to vote from a residence in the precinct  or  ward
in which he is pollwatching.
    (2)  Each  candidate  shall  be  entitled  to appoint two
pollwatchers  per   precinct.    For   all   elections,   the
pollwatchers  one  pollwatcher  must be registered to vote in
Illinois from a residence  in  the  county  in  which  he  is
pollwatching.    The second pollwatcher must be registered to
vote from a residence in the precinct or ward in which he  is
pollwatching.
    (3)  Each  organization  of citizens within the county or
political  subdivision,  which  has  among  its  purposes  or
interests  the  investigation  or  prosecution  of   election
frauds,  and which shall have registered its name and address
and the name and addresses of its principal officers with the
proper  election  authority  at  least  40  days  before  the
election, shall be entitled to appoint  one  pollwatcher  per
precinct.   For  all  elections, the such pollwatcher must be
registered to vote in Illinois from a residence in the county
in which he is pollwatching.
    (4)  In any general election held to elect candidates for
the  offices  of  a  municipality  of  less  than   3,000,000
population  that  is  situated  in  2  or  more  counties,  a
pollwatcher  who  is a resident of Illinois a county in which
any part of the municipality is situated shall be eligible to
serve as a  pollwatcher  in  any  poll  located  within  such
municipality,   provided   that  such  pollwatcher  otherwise
complies with the respective requirements of subsections  (1)
through  (3)  of  this  Section  and is a registered voter in
Illinois whose residence is within the municipality.
    (5)  Each organized group of proponents or opponents of a
ballot proposition, which shall have registered the name  and
address  of  its  organization  or committee and the name and
address of its chairman with the proper election authority at
least 40 days before  the  election,  shall  be  entitled  to
appoint  one  pollwatcher per precinct.  The Such pollwatcher
must be registered to vote in Illinois from  a  residence  in
the  county  in  which  the ballot proposition is being voted
upon.
    All  pollwatchers  shall  be  required  to  have   proper
credentials.  Such credentials shall be printed in sufficient
quantities,  shall  be  issued  by  and  under  the facsimile
signature(s) of the election authority and shall be available
for distribution at least 2 weeks prior to the election. Such
credentials shall be authorized  by  the  real  or  facsimile
signature  of  the  State  or  local  party  official  or the
candidate or the presiding officer of the civic  organization
or  the  chairman  of the proponent or opponent group, as the
case may be.
    Pollwatcher credentials shall  be  in  substantially  the
following form:

                   POLLWATCHER CREDENTIALS
TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:
    In  accordance  with the provisions of the Election Code,
the  undersigned  hereby   appoints   ..........   (name   of
pollwatcher)  who  resides  at  ........... (address) in  the
county of ..........., .......... (township or  municipality)
of  ...........  (name),  State  of  Illinois and who is duly
registered  to  vote  from  this   address,  to  act   as   a
pollwatcher  in  the  ........... precinct of the ...........
ward  (if  applicable)  of  the  ...........   (township   or
municipality)  of  ........... at the ........... election to
be held on (insert date).
........................  (Signature of Appointing Authority)
......................... TITLE  (party official,  candidate,
                                civic organization president,
                        proponent or opponent group chairman)

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

    Pollwatchers must present their credentials to the Judges
of  Election  upon  entering  the polling place.  Pollwatcher
credentials properly executed and signed shall  be  proof  of
the  qualifications  of  the  pollwatcher authorized thereby.
Such credentials are retained by the Judges and  returned  to
the Election Authority at the end of the day of election with
the   other  election  materials.   Once  a  pollwatcher  has
surrendered a valid credential, he may leave and reenter  the
polling  place  provided that such continuing action does not
disrupt the conduct of the  election.   Pollwatchers  may  be
substituted  during  the  course  of the day, but established
political   parties,   candidates   and    qualified    civic
organizations can have only as many pollwatchers at any given
time  as  are  authorized in this Article.  A substitute must
present his signed credential to the judges of election  upon
entering   the  polling  place.   Election  authorities  must
provide a sufficient  number  of  credentials  to  allow  for
substitution  of  pollwatchers.   After the polls have closed
pollwatchers shall be allowed to remain until the canvass  of
votes  is  completed; but may leave and reenter only in cases
of necessity, provided that such action is not so  continuous
as to disrupt the canvass of votes.
    Candidates  seeking  office in a district or municipality
encompassing 2 or more counties shall be admitted to any  and
all  polling  places throughout such district or municipality
without regard to the counties in which such  candidates  are
registered  to  vote.   Actions  of  such candidates shall be
governed in each polling place by  the  same  privileges  and
limitations  that  apply  to pollwatchers as provided in this
Section.  Any such candidate who engages in an activity in  a
polling  place  which  could  reasonably  be  construed  by a
majority of the judges of election as campaign activity shall
be removed forthwith from such polling place.
    Candidates seeking office in a district  or  municipality
encompassing  2 or more counties who desire to be admitted to
polling  places  on  election  day  in   such   district   or
municipality  shall  be  required to have proper credentials.
Such credentials shall be printed in  sufficient  quantities,
shall  be  issued by and under the facsimile signature of the
election authority of the  election  jurisdiction  where  the
polling  place  in  which  the  candidate seeks admittance is
located, and shall be available for distribution at  least  2
weeks  prior  to  the  election.   Such  credentials shall be
signed by the candidate.
    Candidate  credentials  shall  be  in  substantially  the
following form:

                    CANDIDATE CREDENTIALS
    TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:
    In accordance with the provisions of the Election Code, I
...... (name  of  candidate)  hereby  certify  that  I  am  a
candidate for ....... (name of office) and seek admittance to
.......  precinct  of the ....... ward (if applicable) of the
....... (township or municipality) of ....... at the  .......
election to be held on (insert date).
.........................             .......................
(Signature of Candidate)              OFFICE FOR WHICH
                                      CANDIDATE SEEKS
                                      NOMINATION OR
                                      ELECTION

    Pollwatchers   shall   be   permitted   to   observe  all
proceedings relating to the conduct of the  election  and  to
station  themselves  in a position in the voting room as will
enable them  to  observe  the  judges  making  the  signature
comparison  between  the  voter  application  and  the  voter
registration   record  card;  provided,  however,  that  such
pollwatchers shall not be permitted to station themselves  in
such  close  proximity  to  the  judges  of election so as to
interfere with the orderly conduct of the election and  shall
not, in any event, be permitted to handle election materials.
Pollwatchers    may    challenge   for   cause   the   voting
qualifications of a person offering to vote and may  call  to
the  attention  of  the  judges  of  election  any  incorrect
procedure or apparent violations of this Code.
    If  a  majority  of the judges of election determine that
the  polling  place   has   become   too   overcrowded   with
pollwatchers  so  as to interfere with the orderly conduct of
the  election,  the  judges  shall,  by   lot,   limit   such
pollwatchers   to  a  reasonable  number,  except  that  each
established or new political party shall be permitted to have
at least one pollwatcher present.
    Representatives of an election authority, with regard  to
an  election  under  its  jurisdiction,  the  State  Board of
Elections, and law enforcement agencies,  including  but  not
limited  to a United States Attorney, a State's attorney, the
Attorney General,  and  a  State,  county,  or  local  police
department,  in  the  performance  of their official election
duties, shall be permitted at all times to enter  and  remain
in  the polling place.  Upon entering the polling place, such
representatives shall display their official  credentials  or
other identification to the judges of election.
    Uniformed  police officers assigned to polling place duty
shall  follow  all  lawful  instructions  of  the  judges  of
election.
    The provisions  of  this  Section  shall  also  apply  to
supervised casting of absentee ballots as provided in Section
19-12.2 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

    (10 ILCS 5/17-29) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-29)
    Sec.  17-29.  (a)  No  judge of election, pollwatcher, or
other person shall,  at  any  primary  or  election,  do  any
electioneering  or  soliciting  of  votes  or  engage  in any
political discussion within any polling place or  within  100
feet  of any polling place; no person shall interrupt, hinder
or oppose any voter while approaching within 100 feet of  any
polling  place  for the purpose of voting. Judges of election
shall enforce the provisions of this Section.
    (b)  Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small
United States national flags, or some other marker a distance
of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by
voters to engage in voting,  which  shall  be  known  as  the
polling  room.  If  the  polling  room  is  located  within a
building that is a public or private school or  a  church  or
other  organization  founded  for  the  purpose  of religious
worship and the distance of 100 horizontal feet  ends  within
the  interior  of  the  building,  then  the markers shall be
placed outside of the  building  at  each  entrance  used  by
voters  to enter that building on the grounds adjacent to the
thoroughfare or walkway.  If  the  polling  room  is  located
within a public or private building with 2 or more floors and
the  polling  room  is  located on the ground floor, then the
markers  shall  be  placed  100  horizontal  feet  from  each
entrance to the polling room used  by  voters  to  engage  in
voting. If the polling room is located in a public or private
building  with  2  or  more  floors  and  the polling room is
located on a floor above or below the ground floor, then  the
markers  shall  be  placed  a  distance  of 100 feet from the
nearest elevator or staircase used by voters  on  the  ground
floor  to access the floor where the polling room is located.
The area within where the markers are placed shall  be  known
as  a  campaign  free  zone, and electioneering is prohibited
pursuant to this subsection.
    The area on polling place property  beyond  the  campaign
free  zone,  whether publicly or privately owned, is a public
forum for the time that the polls are  open  on  an  election
day.  At  the request of election officers any publicly owned
building must be made available for use as a polling place. A
person shall have the  right  to  congregate  and  engage  in
electioneering  on any polling place property while the polls
are open beyond the campaign free  zone,  including  but  not
limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection
shall  be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in
electioneering on  all  polling  place  property  beyond  the
campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an
election day.
    (c)  The  regulation  of  electioneering on polling place
property on an election day, including but not limited to the
placement of temporary  signs,  is  an  exclusive  power  and
function  of  the  State.  A  home rule unit may not regulate
electioneering and any ordinance or  local  law  contrary  to
subsection  (c)  is  declared  void.  This  is  a  denial and
limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection
(h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
(Source: P.A. 80-1090.)

    (10 ILCS 5/Art. 18A heading new)

                         ARTICLE 18A
                     PROVISIONAL VOTING

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-2 new)
    Sec. 18A-2.  Application of Article. In addition  to  and
notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the procedures
in this Article shall govern provisional voting.

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-5 new)
    Sec. 18A-5.  Provisional voting; general provisions.
    (a)  A  person  who  claims  to  be a registered voter is
entitled to cast a provisional  ballot  under  the  following
circumstances:
         (1)  The  person's  name  does  not  appear  on  the
    official  list  of  eligible  voters,  whether  a list of
    active or inactive voters, for the precinct in which  the
    person seeks to vote;
         (2)  The  person's voting status has been challenged
    by an election judge, a pollwatcher, or any  legal  voter
    and  that  challenge  has been sustained by a majority of
    the election judges; or
         (3)  A federal or State court order extends the time
    for closing the polls beyond the time period  established
    by  State  law  and  the person votes during the extended
    time period.
    (b)  The  procedure   for   obtaining   and   casting   a
provisional ballot at the polling place shall be as follows:
         (1)  An  election  judge  at the polling place shall
    notify a person who is entitled  to  cast  a  provisional
    ballot pursuant to subsection (a) that he or she may cast
    a  provisional ballot in that election. An election judge
    must accept any information  provided  by  a  person  who
    casts  a  provisional  ballot  that  the  person believes
    supports his or her claim  that  he  or  she  is  a  duly
    registered voter and qualified to vote in the election.
         (2)  The   person   shall  execute  a  written  form
    provided by  the  election  judge  that  shall  state  or
    contain all of the following:
         (i)  an affidavit stating the following:
              State  of Illinois, County of ................,
         Township  .............,  Precinct  ........,   Ward
         ........,  I,  .......................,  do solemnly
         swear (or affirm) that: I am a citizen of the United
         States; I am 18  years  of  age  or  older;  I  have
         resided  in  this  State and in this precinct for 30
         days preceding this election; I have  not  voted  in
         this election; I am a duly registered voter in every
         respect; and I am eligible to vote in this election.
         Signature  ......  Printed  Name  of  Voter  .......
         Printed  Residence  Address  of  Voter  ......  City
         ......  State  ....  Zip Code ..... Telephone Number
         ...... Date of Birth .......  and  Driver's  License
         Number  .......  Last  4  digits  of Social Security
         Number ...... or State Identification Card Number.
         (ii)  Written instruction stating the following:
              In order to expedite the verification  of  your
         voter  registration status, the .... (insert name of
         county clerk  of  board  of  election  commissioners
         here)  requests  that  you include your phone number
         and  both  the  last  four  digits  of  your  social
         security number and your driver's license number  or
         State  Identification  Card  Number issued to you by
         the Secretary of State. At minimum, you are required
         to include either (A) your driver's  license  number
         or State Identification Card Number issued to you by
         the  Secretary  of State or (B) the last 4 digits of
         your social security number.
         (iii)  A box for the election judge to check one  of
    the  3  reasons  why  the  person was given a provisional
    ballot under subsection (a) of Section 18A-5.
         (iv)  An area for the election judge to affix his or
    her signature and to set forth any facts that support  or
    oppose the allegation that the person is not qualified to
    vote  in  the  precinct in which the person is seeking to
    vote.
    The written affidavit form described in  this  subsection
(b)(2) must be printed on a multi-part form prescribed by the
county  clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case
may be.
    (3)  After the person executes the portion of the written
affidavit described in subsection (b)(2)(i) of this  Section,
the  election judge shall complete the portion of the written
affidavit described in subsection (b)(2)(iii) and (b)(2)(iv).
    (4)  The  election  judge  shall  give  a  copy  of   the
completed written affidavit to the person. The election judge
shall place the original written affidavit in a self-adhesive
clear  plastic packing list envelope that must be attached to
a  separate  envelope  marked  as   a   "provisional   ballot
envelope".   The   election   judge   shall  also  place  any
information provided by the person who  casts  a  provisional
ballot  in  the  clear  plastic  packing  list envelope. Each
county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the  case
may  be,  must  design, obtain or procure self-adhesive clear
plastic  packing  list  envelopes  and   provisional   ballot
envelopes  that are suitable for implementing this subsection
(b)(4) of this Section.
    (5)  The election judge shall provide the person  with  a
provisional   ballot,  written  instructions  for  casting  a
provisional ballot, and the provisional ballot envelope  with
the  clear plastic packing list envelope affixed to it, which
contains the person's original written affidavit and, if any,
information provided by the provisional voter to support  his
or  her  claim  that he or she is a duly registered voter. An
election judge must also give the person written  information
that  states  that  any person who casts a provisional ballot
shall  be  able  to   ascertain,   pursuant   to   guidelines
established  by  the  State  Board  of Elections, whether the
provisional vote was counted in the official canvass of votes
for that election  and,  if  the  provisional  vote  was  not
counted, the reason that the vote was not counted.
    (6)  After  the  person  has completed marking his or her
provisional ballot, he or she shall place the  marked  ballot
inside of the provisional ballot envelope, close and seal the
envelope,  and  return the envelope to an election judge, who
shall then deposit the  sealed  provisional  ballot  envelope
into a securable container separately identified and utilized
for  containing sealed provisional ballot envelopes. Upon the
closing of the polls, the securable container shall be sealed
with filament tape provided for that purpose, which shall  be
wrapped  around  the  box  lengthwise and crosswise, at least
twice each way, and each of the election  judges  shall  sign
the seal.
    (c)  Instead   of   the   affidavit   form  described  in
subsection  (b),  the  county  clerk  or  board  of  election
commissioners, as the case may  be,  may  design  and  use  a
multi-part  affidavit form that is imprinted upon or attached
to the provisional ballot envelope  described  in  subsection
(b).  If  a  county  clerk or board of election commissioners
elects to design and use its own multi-part  affidavit  form,
then  the  county  clerk  or  board of election commissioners
shall establish a mechanism for accepting any information the
provisional voter has  supplied  to  the  election  judge  to
support  his or her claim that he or she is a duly registered
voter. In all other respects, a  county  clerk  or  board  of
election  commissioners shall establish procedures consistent
with subsection (b).
    (d)  The county clerk or board of election commissioners,
as the case may be, shall use the  completed  affidavit  form
described  in  subsection  (b)  to  update the person's voter
registration information  in  the  State  voter  registration
database  and voter registration database of the county clerk
or board of election commissioners, as the case may be. If  a
person is later determined not to be a registered voter based
on  Section  18A-15 of this Code, then the affidavit shall be
processed  by  the  county  clerk  or   board   of   election
commissioners,  as  the  case may be, as a voter registration
application.

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-10 new)
    Sec.  18A-10.  Sealing   and   transporting   provisional
ballots.
    (a)  Upon the closing of the polls, 2 election judges not
of  the same political party shall return to the county clerk
or  board  of  election  commissioners  the  unopened  sealed
securable container containing the provisional ballots  to  a
location  specified  by the county clerk or board of election
commissioners in the most direct  manner  of  transport.  The
county  clerk  or  board of election commissioners shall keep
the  securable  container  secure  until  such  time  as  the
provisional ballots are counted in  accordance  with  Section
18A-15.
    (b)  Upon  receipt of materials returned from the polling
places, the county clerk or board of  election  commissioners
shall  update the State voter registration list and the voter
registration  database  of  the  county  clerk  or  board  of
election commissioners, as the case  may  be,  by  using  the
affidavit forms of provisional voters.

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-15 new)
    Sec.   18A-15.  Validating   and   counting   provisional
ballots.
    (a)  The  county clerk or board of election commissioners
shall complete the validation  and  counting  of  provisional
ballots  within  14 calendar days of the day of the election.
The county clerk or board  of  election  commissioners  shall
have  7  calendar  days from the completion of the validation
and counting of provisional  ballots  to  conduct  its  final
canvass.  The  State Board of Elections shall complete within
31 calendar days of the election or sooner if all the returns
are received, its final canvass of the vote  for  all  public
offices.
    (b)  If a county clerk or board of election commissioners
determines   that   all   of  the  following  apply,  then  a
provisional ballot is valid and shall be counted as a vote:
         (1)  The  provisional  voter  cast  the  provisional
    ballot in the  correct  precinct  based  on  the  address
    provided by the provisional voter;
         (2)  The affidavit executed by the provisional voter
    pursuant  to  subsection  (b)(2)  of  Section  18A-10  is
    properly executed; and
         (3)  the  provisional  voter  is  a registered voter
    based on information available to  the  county  clerk  or
    board  of  election commissioners provided by or obtained
    from any of the following:
              i.  the provisional voter;
              ii.  an election judge;
              iii.  the statewide voter registration database
         maintained by the State Board of Elections;
              iv.  the records of the county clerk  or  board
         of election commissioners' database; or
              v.  the records of the Secretary of State.
    (c)  With  respect  to subsection (b)(3) of this Section,
the county clerk or board  of  election  commissioners  shall
investigate  whether  each  of  the 5 types of information is
available and record whether this information is  or  is  not
available.  If one or more types of information is available,
then the county clerk  or  board  of  election  commissioners
shall  obtain  all  relevant  information  from  all  sources
identified in subsection (b)(3). The county clerk or board of
election  commissioners  shall use any information it obtains
as the basis for determining the voter registration status of
the  provisional  voter.  If  a  conflict  exists  among  the
information  available  to  the  county  clerk  or  board  of
election commissioners as to the registration status  of  the
provisional voter, then the county clerk or board of election
commissioners   shall  make  a  determination  based  on  the
totality of the circumstances. In  a  case  where  the  above
information  equally  supports  or  opposes  the registration
status of the voter, the county clerk or  board  of  election
commissioners  shall decide in favor of the provisional voter
as being duly registered to  vote.  If  the  statewide  voter
registration  database  maintained  by  the  State  Board  of
Elections  indicates that the provisional voter is registered
to  vote,  but  the  county  clerk's  or  board  of  election
commissioners' voter registration database indicates that the
provisional  voter  is  not  registered  to  vote,  then  the
information  found  in  the  statewide   voter   registration
database  shall  control the matter and the provisional voter
shall be deemed to be registered to vote. If the  records  of
the county clerk or board of election commissioners indicates
that  the  provisional  voter  is registered to vote, but the
statewide voter registration database maintained by the State
Board of Elections indicates that the  provisional  voter  is
not  registered  to  vote,  then the information found in the
records  of  the  county   clerk   or   board   of   election
commissioners  shall  control  the matter and the provisional
voter shall be deemed  to  be  registered  to  vote.  If  the
provisional  voter's  signature  on  his  or  her provisional
ballot request varies from  the  signature  on  an  otherwise
valid   registration   application   solely  because  of  the
substitution of initials for the first or  middle  name,  the
election authority may not reject the provisional ballot.
    (d)  In  validating  the  registration status of a person
casting a provisional ballot, the county clerk  or  board  of
election  commissioners shall not require a provisional voter
to complete any form other than the affidavit executed by the
provisional voter under subsection (b)(2) of  Section  18A-5.
In   addition,   the   county  clerk  or  board  of  election
commissioners shall not require all provisional voters or any
particular class or group of  provisional  voters  to  appear
personally  before  the  county  clerk  or  board of election
commissioners or as a matter of  policy  require  provisional
voters   to   submit  additional  information  to  verify  or
otherwise support the information already  submitted  by  the
provisional  voter.  The  provisional  voter  may,  within  2
calendar   days   after   the   election,  submit  additional
information  to  the  county  clerk  or  board  of   election
commissioners.  This  information  must  be  received  by the
county clerk or board of election  commissioners  within  the
2-calendar-day period.
    (e)  If   the   county   clerk   or   board  of  election
commissioners determines that subsection (b)(1),  (b)(2),  or
(b)(3)  does  not  apply,  then the provisional ballot is not
valid and may not be counted. The provisional ballot envelope
containing the ballot cast by the provisional voter  may  not
be   opened.   The   county   clerk   or  board  of  election
commissioners shall write on the provisional ballot  envelope
the following: "Provisional ballot determined invalid.".
    (f)  If   the   county   clerk   or   board  of  election
commissioners determines that a provisional ballot  is  valid
under  this  Section,  then  the  provisional ballot envelope
shall be opened.  The  outside  of  each  provisional  ballot
envelope  shall  also  be marked to identify the precinct and
the date of the election.
    (g)  The provisional ballots determined to be valid shall
be added to the vote totals for the precincts from which they
were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.  The
county  clerk  or board of election commissioners may, in the
alternative, create a separate provisional-voter precinct for
the purpose of counting and recording provisional ballots and
adding the  recorded  votes  to  its  official  canvass.  The
validation  and  counting  of  provisional  ballots  shall be
subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  Code  that  apply  to
pollwatchers. If the provisional ballots are a  ballot  of  a
punch  card  voting system, then the provisional ballot shall
be counted in a manner consistent with Article  24A.  If  the
provisional  ballots  are  a  ballot of optical scan or other
type  of  approved  electronic  voting   system,   then   the
provisional  ballots  shall be counted in a manner consistent
with Article 24B.
    (h)  As soon  as  the  ballots  have  been  counted,  the
election  judges or election officials shall, in the presence
of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, place
each of the following items in a separate  envelope  or  bag:
(1)  all  provisional  ballots,  voted  or  spoiled;  (2) all
provisional ballot envelopes of provisional ballots voted  or
spoiled;  and  (3) all executed affidavits of the provisional
ballots voted or spoiled. All  provisional  ballot  envelopes
for  provisional  voters  who  have been determined not to be
registered to vote shall remain sealed.  The county clerk  or
board  of  election commissioners shall treat the provisional
ballot envelope containing the written affidavit as  a  voter
registration   application  for  that  person  for  the  next
election and process that application. The election judges or
election officials shall then securely seal each envelope  or
bag,  initial  the  envelope  or bag, and plainly mark on the
outside of the envelope or bag in ink the precinct  in  which
the  provisional  ballots  were  cast. The election judges or
election officials shall then place each sealed  envelope  or
bag  into  a  box,  secure  and seal it in the same manner as
described in item (6) of subsection  (b)  of  Section  18A-5.
Each  election  judge  or  election  official  shall take and
subscribe an  oath  before  the  county  clerk  or  board  of
election  commissioners  that  the election judge or election
official securely kept the ballots and papers in the box, did
not permit any person to open the box or otherwise  touch  or
tamper  with  the  ballots  and papers in the box, and has no
knowledge of any other person opening the box.  For  purposes
of  this  Section,  the  term  "election  official" means the
county  clerk,  a   member   of   the   board   of   election
commissioners,  as  the  case  may  be,  and their respective
employees.

    (10 ILCS 5/18A-20 new)
    Sec. 18A-20.  Provisional voting verification system.  In
conjunction  with  each  county  clerk  or  board of election
commissioners, the State Board of Elections shall establish a
uniform free access information  system  by  which  a  person
casting  a  provisional  ballot  may  ascertain  whether  the
provisional vote was counted in the official canvass of votes
for  that  election  and,  if  the  vote was not counted, the
reason that the vote was not counted. Nothing in this Section
shall  prohibit  a  county  clerk  or  a  board  of  election
commissioner from  establishing  a  free  access  information
system  described  in  this Section so long as that system is
consistent with the federal Help America Vote Act.

    (10 ILCS 5/19-2.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-2.1)
    Sec.  19-2.1.  At  the  consolidated   primary,   general
primary,   consolidated,   and  general  elections,  electors
entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the  provisions  of
Section  19-1  may  vote  in  person  at  the  office  of the
municipal  clerk,  if  the  elector  is  a  resident   of   a
municipality not having a board of election commissioners, or
at the office of the township clerk or, in counties not under
township  organization,  at  the  office of the road district
clerk if the elector is not a  resident  of  a  municipality;
provided,  in  each case that the municipal, township or road
district clerk, as the case may be, is authorized to  conduct
in-person absentee voting pursuant to this Section.  Absentee
voting  in  such municipal and township clerk's offices under
this Section shall be conducted from the 22nd day through the
day before the election.
    Municipal and township clerks (or road  district  clerks)
who  have  regularly  scheduled  working  hours  at regularly
designated offices other than a place of residence and  whose
offices  are  open  for business during the same hours as the
office of the  election  authority  shall  conduct  in-person
absentee  voting  for said elections.  Municipal and township
clerks (or  road  district  clerks)  who  have  no  regularly
scheduled  working  hours  but  who have regularly designated
offices  other  than  a  place  of  residence  shall  conduct
in-person absentee voting for said elections during the hours
of 8:30 a.m.  to  4:30  p.m.  or  9:00  a.m.  to  5:00  p.m.,
weekdays,  and  9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturdays, but not
during such hours as the office of the election authority  is
closed,  unless  the  clerk  files  a written waiver with the
election authority not later than July 1 of each year stating
that he or she is unable  to  conduct  such  voting  and  the
reasons  therefor. Such clerks who conduct in-person absentee
voting may extend their hours for that purpose to include any
hours in which  the  election  authority's  office  is  open.
Municipal  and  township clerks (or road district clerks) who
have no regularly scheduled office  hours  and  no  regularly
designated  offices  other  than a place of residence may not
conduct in-person absentee voting for  said  elections.   The
election   authority   may  devise  alternative  methods  for
in-person absentee voting before  said  elections  for  those
precincts   located   within   the   territorial  area  of  a
municipality or township (or road district) wherein the clerk
of such municipality  or  township  (or  road  district)  has
waived  or  is  not  entitled  to  conduct  such  voting.  In
addition,  electors  may  vote  by  absentee ballot under the
provisions of Section 19-1 at  the  office  of  the  election
authority having jurisdiction over their residence.
    In  conducting  absentee  voting  under this Section, the
respective  clerks  shall  not  be  required  to  verify  the
signature of  the  absentee  voter  by  comparison  with  the
signature  on the official registration record card. However,
the clerk shall reasonably ascertain  the  identity  of  such
applicant,  shall  verify  that  each  such  applicant  is  a
registered  voter,  and shall verify the precinct in which he
or she is registered and the proper ballots of the  political
subdivisions  in  which the applicant resides and is entitled
to vote, prior to  providing  any  absentee  ballot  to  such
applicant.   The   clerk   shall   verify   the   applicant's
registration  and  from the most recent poll list provided by
the county clerk, and if the applicant is not listed on  that
poll list then by telephoning the office of the county clerk.
    Absentee   voting   procedures   in  the  office  of  the
municipal, township and road district clerks shall be subject
to all of the  applicable  provisions  of  this  Article  19.
Pollwatchers  may  be appointed to observe in-person absentee
voting procedures at the office of the municipal, township or
road district clerks' offices where such absentee  voting  is
conducted.   Such pollwatchers shall qualify and be appointed
in the same manner as provided in Sections  7-34  and  17-23,
except  each  candidate,  political  party or organization of
citizens may appoint only one pollwatcher for  each  location
where  in-person  absentee voting is conducted.  Pollwatchers
must shall be registered to vote in Illinois residents of the
county  and  possess  valid  pollwatcher   credentials.   All
requirements   in   this   Article   applicable  to  election
authorities shall  apply  to  the  respective  local  clerks,
except where inconsistent with this Section.
    The  sealed  absentee  ballots  in their carrier envelope
shall be delivered  by  the  respective  clerks,  or  by  the
election  authority on behalf of a clerk if the clerk and the
election authority agree,  to the proper polling place before
the close of the polls on the day  of  the  general  primary,
consolidated primary, consolidated, or general election.
    Not more than 23 days before the nonpartisan, general and
consolidated elections, the county clerk shall make available
to   those  municipal,  township  and  road  district  clerks
conducting in-person absentee voting within  such  county,  a
sufficient   number   of   applications,   absentee  ballots,
envelopes, and printed voting instruction slips  for  use  by
absentee voters in the offices of such clerks. The respective
clerks  shall  receipt for all ballots received, shall return
all unused or spoiled ballots to the county clerk on the  day
of  the  election  and shall strictly account for all ballots
received.
    The ballots delivered  to  the  respective  clerks  shall
include   absentee   ballots   for   each   precinct  in  the
municipality, township or road  district,  or  shall  include
such   separate   ballots   for  each  political  subdivision
conducting an election of officers or a  referendum  on  that
election day as will permit any resident of the municipality,
township  or  road district to vote absentee in the office of
the proper clerk.
    The clerks of  all  municipalities,  townships  and  road
districts may distribute applications for absentee ballot for
the  use  of voters who wish to mail such applications to the
appropriate  election  authority.    Such  applications   for
absentee  ballots  shall  be  made  on  forms provided by the
election  authority.   Duplication  of  such  forms  by   the
municipal, township or road district clerk is prohibited.
(Source: P.A. 91-210, eff. 1-1-00.)

    (10 ILCS 5/19-2.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-2.2)
    Sec. 19-2.2.  (a) During the period beginning on the 40th
day  preceding  an  election  and  continuing through the day
preceding such election, no  advertising  pertaining  to  any
candidate  or proposition to be voted upon shall be displayed
in or within 100 feet of any room used by voters pursuant  to
this  Article;  nor shall any person engage in electioneering
in or within 100 feet of  any  such  room.   Any  person  who
violates  this  Section  may  be  punished as for contempt of
court.
    (b)  Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small
United States national flags, or some other marker a distance
of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by
voters to engage in voting,  which  shall  be  known  as  the
polling  room.  If  the  polling  room  is  located  within a
building that is a public or private school or  a  church  or
other  organization  founded  for  the  purpose  of religious
worship and the distance of 100 horizontal feet  ends  within
the  interior  of  the  building,  then  the markers shall be
placed outside of the  building  at  each  entrance  used  by
voters  to enter that building on the grounds adjacent to the
thoroughfare or walkway.  If  the  polling  room  is  located
within a public or private building with 2 or more floors and
the  polling  room  is  located on the ground floor, then the
markers  shall  be  placed  100  horizontal  feet  from  each
entrance to the polling room used  by  voters  to  engage  in
voting. If the polling room is located in a public or private
building  with  2  or  more  floors  and  the polling room is
located on a floor above or below the ground floor, then  the
markers  shall  be  placed  a  distance  of 100 feet from the
nearest elevator or staircase used by voters  on  the  ground
floor  to access the floor where the polling room is located.
The area within where the markers are placed shall  be  known
as  a  campaign  free  zone, and electioneering is prohibited
pursuant to this subsection.
    The area on polling place property  beyond  the  campaign
free  zone,  whether publicly or privately owned, is a public
forum for the time that the polls are  open  on  an  election
day.  At  the request of election officers any publicly owned
building must be made available for use as a polling place. A
person shall have the  right  to  congregate  and  engage  in
electioneering  on any polling place property while the polls
are open beyond the campaign free  zone,  including  but  not
limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection
shall  be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in
electioneering on  all  polling  place  property  beyond  the
campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an
election day.
    (c)  The  regulation  of  electioneering on polling place
property on an election day, including but not limited to the
placement of temporary  signs,  is  an  exclusive  power  and
function  of  the  State.  A  home rule unit may not regulate
electioneering and any ordinance or  local  law  contrary  to
subsection  (b)  is  declared  void.  This  is  a  denial and
limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection
(h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
(Source: P.A. 80-1281; 80-1469; 80-1494.)

    (10 ILCS 5/19-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-10)
    Sec. 19-10. Pollwatchers  may  be  appointed  to  observe
in-person  absentee  voting  procedures  at the office of the
election authority as well as at municipal, township or  road
district  clerks'  offices  where  such  absentee  voting  is
conducted.   Such pollwatchers shall qualify and be appointed
in the same manner as provided in Sections  7-34  and  17-23,
except  each  candidate,  political  party or organization of
citizens may appoint only one pollwatcher for  each  location
where  in-person  absentee  voting is conducted. Pollwatchers
must shall be registered to vote in Illinois residents of the
county and possess valid pollwatcher credentials.
    In the polling place on election day, pollwatchers  shall
be  permitted  to be present during the casting of the absent
voters' ballots and the vote  of  any  absent  voter  may  be
challenged for cause the same as if he were present and voted
in  person,  and  the  judges  of  the election or a majority
thereof shall have power and authority to hear and  determine
the  legality  of  such  ballot; Provided, however, that if a
challenge to any absent voter's right to vote  is  sustained,
notice of the same must be given by the judges of election by
mail addressed to the voter's place of residence.
    Where  certain  absent voters' ballots are counted on the
day of the election in the office of the  election  authority
as  provided  in  Section  19-8  of  this Act, each political
party, candidate and qualified civic  organization  shall  be
entitled  to  have  present one pollwatcher for each panel of
election judges therein assigned. Such pollwatchers shall  be
subject   to   the   same  provisions  as  are  provided  for
pollwatchers in Sections 7-34 and 17-23  of  this  Code,  and
shall  be permitted to observe the election judges making the
signature comparison  between that which  is  on  the  ballot
envelope   and   that   which   is  on  the  permanent  voter
registration record card taken from the master file.
(Source: P.A. 86-875.)

    (10 ILCS 5/22-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-5)
    Sec.  22-5.  Immediately  after  the  completion  of  the
abstracts of votes, the county clerk  shall  make  2  correct
copies  of  the  abstracts  of votes for Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Secretary of State, State  Comptroller,  Treasurer,
Attorney General, both of which said copies he shall envelope
and  seal  up,  and  endorse upon the envelopes in substance,
"Abstracts of votes for State Officers from .... County"; and
shall seal up a copy of each of the abstracts  of  votes  for
other  officers  and amendments to the Constitution and other
propositions voted on, and endorse the same so as to show the
contents of the package, and address the same  to  the  State
Board of Elections. The several packages shall then be placed
in   one  envelope  and  addressed  to  the  State  Board  of
Elections. The county clerk shall send  the  sealed  envelope
addressed  to the State Board of Elections via overnight mail
so it arrives at the address the following calendar day.
(Source: P.A. 78-592; 78-918; 78-1297.)
    (10 ILCS 5/22-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-9)
    Sec. 22-9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  Board  of
Canvassers  to  canvass, and add up and declare the result of
every election hereafter held within the boundaries  of  such
city, village or incorporated town, operating under Article 6
of  this  Act,  and  the  judge  of  the  circuit court shall
thereupon enter of record such abstract  and  result,  and  a
certified  copy  of such record shall thereupon be filed with
the County Clerk of the county; and such abstracts or results
shall be treated, by the County Clerk in all respects, as  if
made  by  the  Canvassing Board now provided by the foregoing
sections of this law, and he shall transmit the same  to  the
State  Board  of  Elections,  or  other  proper  officer,  as
required  hereinabove.  The county clerk or board of election
commissioners, as the case may be, shall  send  the  abstract
and  result in a sealed envelope addressed to the State Board
of Elections via overnight mail so it arrives at the  address
the  following calendar day. And such abstracts or results so
entered and declared by such  judge,  and  a  certified  copy
thereof, shall be treated everywhere within the state, and by
all  public  officers, with the same binding force and effect
as the abstract of votes  now  authorized  by  the  foregoing
provisions of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 78-918.)

    (10 ILCS 5/22-15) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-15)
    Sec.  22-15.  The  county  clerk  or  board  of  election
commissioners   shall,  upon  request,  and  by  mail  if  so
requested, furnish free of charge to any candidate for  State
office,  including  State  Senator  and Representative in the
General Assembly, and any candidate for congressional office,
whose name appeared upon the ballot within  the  jurisdiction
of  the  county  clerk  or board of election commissioners, a
copy of the abstract of votes by precinct for all  candidates
for  the  office  for which such person was a candidate. Such
abstract shall be furnished no later than 2  days  after  the
receipt  of the request or 8 days after the completing of the
canvass, whichever is later.
    Within one calendar day 10 days following the canvass and
proclamation of each general  primary  election  and  general
election,  each  election  authority  shall  transmit  to the
principal office of the State Board of  Elections  copies  of
the  abstracts  of  votes  by  precinct  for  the above-named
offices and for the offices of ward, township,  and  precinct
committeeman via overnight mail so that the abstract of votes
arrives  at  the  address  the  following calendar day.  Each
election authority  shall  also  transmit  to  the  principal
office  of  the  State  Board  of Elections copies of current
precinct poll lists.
(Source: P.A. 83-880.)

    (10 ILCS 5/23-15.1 new)
    Sec. 23-15.1.  Production of  ballot  counting  code  and
attendance  of  witnesses.   All voting-system vendors shall,
within  90  days  after  the  adoption  of  rules   or   upon
application  for  voting-system approval, place in escrow all
computer code for its voting system with the State  Board  of
Elections.  The  State  Board  of  Elections shall promulgate
rules  to  implement  this  Section.  For  purposes  of  this
Section, the  term  "computer  code"  includes,  but  is  not
limited  to,  ballot  counting source code, table structures,
modules,  program  narratives,  and  other   human   readable
computer  instructions  used  to  count ballots. Any computer
code submitted by vendors to the  State  Board  of  Elections
shall   be   considered   strictly   confidential   and   the
intellectual property of the vendors and shall not be subject
to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
    The  State  Board  of  Elections  shall  determine  which
software  components of a voting system it deems necessary to
enable the review and verification of the computer. The State
Board of Elections shall secure and maintain all  proprietary
computer codes in strict confidence and shall make a computer
code  available  to  authorized persons in connection with an
election contest or pursuant to any State  or  federal  court
order.
    In  an  election  contest,  each party to the contest may
designate one or more persons who are authorized  to  receive
the  computer code of the relevant voting systems. The person
or persons authorized to receive the relevant  computer  code
shall  enter  into a confidentiality agreement with the State
Board of Elections and must exercise the  highest  degree  of
reasonable  care  to  maintain  the  confidentiality  of  all
proprietary information.
    The  State  Board  of Elections shall promulgate rules to
provide  for  the  security,  review,  and  verification   of
computer codes. Verification includes, but is not limited to,
determining  that  the  computer code corresponds to computer
instructions actually in use to  count  ballots.  Nothing  in
this  Section  shall  impair  the  obligation of any contract
between a voting-systems vendor  and  an  election  authority
that  provides  access  to  computer code that is equal to or
greater than that provided by this Section.

    (10 ILCS 5/24A-22 new)
    Sec. 24A-22.  Definition of a vote.
    (a)  Notwithstanding any law to  the  contrary,  for  the
purpose  of  this  Article,  a person casts a valid vote on a
punch card ballot when:
         (1)  A chad on the card  has  at  least  one  corner
    detached from the card;
         (2)  The fibers of paper on at least one edge of the
    chad are broken in a way that  permits unimpeded light to

    be seen through the card; or
         (3)  An  indentation  on the chad from the stylus or
    other  object  is  present  and   indicates   a   clearly
    ascertainable  intent  of  the voter to vote based on the
    totality of the circumstances, including but not  limited
    to  any  pattern  or  frequency  of indentations on other
    ballot positions from the same ballot card.
    (b)  Write-in  votes  shall  be  counted  in   a   manner
consistent with the existing provisions of this Code.
    (c)  For  purposes  of  this  Section,  a  "chad" is that
portion of a ballot card that a voter punches  or  perforates
with  a stylus or other designated marking device to manifest
his or her vote for a particular ballot position on a  ballot
card  as  defined  in  subsection (a). Chads shall be removed
from ballot cards prior to their processing and tabulation in
election jurisdictions that utilize a ballot card as a  means
of  recording  votes  at  an election. Election jurisdictions
that utilize a mechanical means or device for chad removal as
a component of their  tabulation  shall  use  that  means  or
device for chad removal.

    (10 ILCS 5/24B-2)
    Sec. 24B-2.  Definitions.  As used in this Article:
    "Computer",    "automatic    tabulating   equipment"   or
"equipment" includes  apparatus  necessary  to  automatically
examine  and  count  votes as designated on ballots, and data
processing machines which can be used  for  counting  ballots
and tabulating results.
    "Ballot" means paper ballot sheets.
    "Ballot  configuration"  means the particular combination
of  political  subdivision  ballots   including,   for   each
political subdivision, the particular combination of offices,
candidate names and questions as it appears for each group of
voters who may cast the same ballot.
    "Ballot  sheet"  means  a  paper ballot printed on one or
both sides which is (1) designed and  prepared  so  that  the
voter  may  indicate  his  or  her votes in designated areas,
which must be areas clearly printed or  otherwise  delineated
for  such  purpose, and (2) capable of having votes marked in
the designated areas  automatically  examined,  counted,  and
tabulated by an electronic scanning process.
    "Central  counting"  means the counting of ballots in one
or more locations selected by the election authority for  the
processing  or counting, or both, of ballots.  A location for
central counting shall be within the territorial jurisdiction
of  the  election  authority  unless  there  is  no  suitable
tabulating  equipment  available   within   his   territorial
jurisdiction.    However,  in  any  event a counting location
shall be within this State.
    "Computer  operator"  means   any   person   or   persons
designated by the election authority to operate the automatic
tabulating  equipment during any portion of the vote tallying
process in an election,  but  shall  not  include  judges  of
election operating vote tabulating equipment in the precinct.
    "Computer   program"   or  "program"  means  the  set  of
operating instructions for the automatic tabulating equipment
that examines, counts, tabulates, canvasses and prints  votes
recorded by a voter on a ballot.
    "Edit  listing" means a computer generated listing of the
names of each candidate and proposition as they appear in the
program for each precinct.
    "Header sheet" means a data processing document which  is
coded  to  indicate  to the computer the precinct identity of
the ballots that will follow immediately and may indicate  to
the computer how such ballots are to be tabulated.
    "In-precinct  counting"  means the counting of ballots on
automatic  tabulating  equipment  provided  by  the  election
authority in the same precinct polling place in  which  those
ballots have been cast.
    "Marking  device"  means a pen, computer, or other device
or similar device approved by the State  Board  of  Elections
for marking, or causing to be marked, a paper ballot with ink
or  other  substance  which  will  enable  the  ballot  to be
tabulated  by  automatic  tabulating  equipment  or   by   an
electronic scanning process.
    "Precinct  Tabulation  Optical Scan Technology" means the
capability to examine a ballot through electronic  means  and
tabulate the votes at one or more counting places.
    "Redundant  count"  means  a verification of the original
computer count by another count using compatible equipment or
by hand as part of a discovery recount.
    "Security designation" means a printed designation placed
on a ballot to identify to the computer program  the  offices
and  propositions for which votes may be cast and to indicate
the manner in which votes  cast  should  be  tabulated  while
negating any inadmissible votes.
    "Separate ballot", with respect to ballot sheets, means a
separate portion of the ballot sheet which is clearly defined
by a border or borders or shading.
    "Specimen  ballot"  means  a  representation  of names of
offices and candidates and statements of measures to be voted
on which will appear on the official ballot or marking device
on election day. The specimen ballot also contains the  party
and position number where applicable.
    "Voting  defect  identification"  means the capability to
detect overvoted ballots or ballots which cannot be  read  by
the automatic tabulating equipment.
    "Voting  defects"  means an overvoted ballot, or a ballot
which cannot be read by the automatic tabulating equipment.
    "Voting system" or "electronic voting system" means  that
combination  of  equipment  and programs used in the casting,
examination and tabulation of ballots and the cumulation  and
reporting of results by electronic means.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (10 ILCS 5/24B-6)
    Sec.  24B-6.  Ballot Information; Arrangement; Electronic
Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan  Technology  Voting  System;
Absentee  Ballots;  Spoiled Ballots.  The ballot information,
shall, as far as practicable, be in the order of  arrangement
provided  for  paper ballots, except that the information may
be in vertical or horizontal rows, or on a number of separate
pages or displays on the marking  device.   Ballots  for  all
questions  or  propositions to be voted on should be provided
in a similar manner and must be arranged on the ballot  sheet
or  marking  device in the places provided for such purposes.
Ballots shall be of white paper unless provided otherwise  by
administrative  rule  of  the  State  Board  of  Elections or
otherwise specified.
    All  propositions,   including   but   not   limited   to
propositions   calling   for   a  constitutional  convention,
constitutional  amendment,  judicial  retention,  and  public
measures to  be  voted  upon  shall  be  placed  on  separate
portions  of  the ballot sheet or marking device by utilizing
borders or grey screens.  Candidates shall  be  listed  on  a
separate  portion  of  the  ballot sheet or marking device by
utilizing borders or grey screens.  Below  the  name  of  the
last  candidate  listed  for  an  office  shall be printed or
displayed a line or lines on which the  voter  may  select  a
write-in candidate.  Such line or lines shall be proximate to
the  name  of a candidate or candidates may be written by the
voter, and proximate to such lines an area shall be  provided
for  marking  votes for the write-in candidate or candidates.
The number of write-in lines for an office  shall  equal  the
number  of  candidates  for which a voter may vote. More than
one amendment to the constitution may be placed on  the  same
portion of the ballot sheet or marking device. Constitutional
convention  or constitutional amendment propositions shall be
printed or displayed on a  separate  portion  of  the  ballot
sheet  or  marking  device  and designated by borders or grey
screens, unless otherwise provided by administrative rule  of
the  State  Board of Elections.  More than one public measure
or proposition may be placed  on  the  same  portion  of  the
ballot  sheet  or  marking device.  More than one proposition
for retention of judges in office may be placed on  the  same
portion  of  the  ballot  sheet  or  marking device. Names of
candidates shall be printed in black. The  party  affiliation
of each candidate or the word "independent" shall appear near
or  under  the  candidate's name, and the names of candidates
for the same office shall  be  listed  vertically  under  the
title  of  that  office,  on  separate  pages  of the marking
device, or as  otherwise  approved  by  the  State  Board  of
Elections.  In the case of nonpartisan elections for officers
of political subdivisions, unless the statute or an ordinance
adopted  pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution requires
otherwise, the listing of nonpartisan  candidates  shall  not
include  any  party  or  "independent"  designation. Judicial
retention questions  and  ballot  questions  for  all  public
measures  and  other  propositions  shall  be  designated  by
borders  or  grey  screens  on  the ballot or marking device.
Judicial retention ballots shall be designated by borders  or
grey  screens.   Ballots  for  all  public measures and other
propositions shall be designated by borders or grey  screens.
In  primary  elections, a separate ballot, or displays on the
marking device,  shall  be  used  for  each  political  party
holding a primary, with the ballot or marking device arranged
to  include  names  of the candidates of the party and public
measures and other propositions to be voted upon on  the  day
of the primary election.
    If  the  ballot  includes  both candidates for office and
public measures or propositions to be voted on, the  election
official in charge of the election shall divide the ballot or
displays  on  the marking device in sections for "Candidates"
and "Propositions", or separate ballots may be used.
    Absentee ballots may consist of envelopes, paper  ballots
or  ballot  sheets  voted  in  person  in  the  office of the
election official in charge of the election or voted by mail.
Where a Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology ballot is
used for voting by mail  it  must  be  accompanied  by  voter
instructions.
    Any  voter  who spoils his or her ballot, makes an error,
or  has  a  ballot  returned  by  the  automatic   tabulating
equipment may return the ballot to the judges of election and
get another ballot.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97; 89-700, eff. 1-17-97.)

    (10 ILCS 5/24B-8)
    Sec.  24B-8.  Preparation for Use; Comparison of Ballots;
Operational Checks of Automatic Precinct  Tabulation  Optical
Scan  Technology  Tabulating  Equipment;  Pollwatchers.   The
county  clerk  or board of election commissioners shall cause
the approved marking devices to be delivered to  the  polling
places.   Before  the  opening  of  the  polls  the judges of
election shall compare the ballots or displays on the marking
device used with the specimen ballots furnished and see  that
the  names,  numbers  and  letters  thereon  agree  and shall
certify thereto on forms provided  by  the  county  clerk  or
board of election commissioners.
    In  addition,  in  those polling places where in-precinct
Precinct  Tabulation   Optical   Scan   Technology   counting
equipment  is  utilized, the judges of election shall make an
operational  check  of  the  automatic  Precinct   Tabulation
Optical  Scan  Technology  tabulating  equipment  before  the
opening  of  the  polls.  The judges of election shall ensure
that the totals are all zeroes in the  count  column  on  the
Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology unit.
    Pollwatchers  as  provided  by  law shall be permitted to
closely  observe  the  judges  in  these  procedures  and  to
periodically inspect the  Precinct  Tabulation  Optical  Scan
Technology equipment when not in use by the voters.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (10 ILCS 5/24B-9)
    Sec.  24B-9.  Testing of Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan
Technology Equipment and Program; Custody of  Programs,  Test
Materials  and  Ballots.   Prior  to  the  public  test,  the
election authority shall conduct an errorless pre-test of the
automatic   Precinct   Tabulation   Optical  Scan  Technology
tabulating  equipment  and  program  and  marking  device  to
determine that they will correctly detect Voting Defects  and
count the votes cast for all offices and all measures. On any
day  not  less  than  5  days  prior to the election day, the
election authority shall publicly test the automatic Precinct
Tabulation Optical Scan Technology tabulating  equipment  and
program  to  determine that they will correctly detect Voting
Defects and count the votes cast for all offices and  on  all
measures.   Public  notice  of the time and place of the test
shall  be  given  at  least  48  hours  before  the  test  by
publishing the notice in one or more  newspapers  within  the
election   jurisdiction  of  the  election  authority,  if  a
newspaper is published in that jurisdiction. If  a  newspaper
is  not  published  in  that  jurisdiction,  notice  shall be
published in a  newspaper  of  general  circulation  in  that
jurisdiction.   Timely written notice stating the date, time,
and location of the public test shall also be provided to the
State  Board  of  Elections.   The  test  shall  be  open  to
representatives  of  the  political   parties,   the   press,
representatives  of  the  State  Board  of Elections, and the
public.   The  test  shall  be  conducted  by  processing   a
preaudited  group of ballots marked to record a predetermined
number of valid votes for each candidate and on each measure,
and shall include for each office one or more ballots  having
votes exceeding the number allowed by law to test the ability
of  the  automatic  tabulating equipment or marking device to
reject the votes.  The test shall also include  producing  an
edit   listing.    In   those  election  jurisdictions  where
in-precinct counting equipment is used, a public test of both
the equipment and program shall be  conducted  as  nearly  as
possible  in the manner prescribed above.  The State Board of
Elections may select as many election  jurisdictions  as  the
Board  deems  advisable  in  the  interests  of  the election
process of this  State,  to  order  a  special  test  of  the
automatic tabulating equipment and program before any regular
election.  The Board may order a special test in any election
jurisdiction  where, during the preceding 12 months, computer
programming errors or other errors in the use  of  electronic
voting  systems resulted in vote tabulation errors.  Not less
than  30  days  before  any  election,  the  State  Board  of
Elections shall provide  written  notice  to  those  selected
jurisdictions  of  their  intent to conduct a test.  Within 5
days of receipt of the  State  Board  of  Elections'  written
notice   of   intent   to   conduct   a  test,  the  selected
jurisdictions shall forward to the principal  office  of  the
State Board of Elections a copy of all specimen ballots.  The
State  Board  of  Elections'  tests  shall  be  conducted and
completed not  less  than  2  days  before  the  public  test
utilizing  testing  materials supplied by the Board and under
the supervision of the Board, and the Board  shall  reimburse
the  election  authority  for the reasonable cost of computer
time  required  to  conduct  the  special  test.   After   an
errorless  test, materials used in the public test, including
the program, if  appropriate,  shall  be  sealed  and  remain
sealed   until the test is run again on election day.  If any
error is detected, the cause of the error shall be determined
and corrected, and an errorless public  test  shall  be  made
before  the automatic tabulating equipment is approved.  Each
election authority shall file a sealed copy  of  each  tested
program  to  be  used  within its jurisdiction at an election
with the State Board of Elections before the  election.   The
Board  shall  secure the program or programs of each election
jurisdiction so filed in its office for the 60 days following
the canvass and proclamation of  election  results.   At  the
expiration  of that time, if no election contest or appeal is
pending in an election jurisdiction, the Board  shall  return
the  sealed  program or programs to the election authority of
the  jurisdiction.    Except   where   in-precinct   counting
equipment  is  used,  the  test shall be repeated immediately
before the start of the official counting of the ballots,  in
the  same manner as set forth above.  After the completion of
the count, the test shall be re-run using the  same  program.
Immediately  after  the  re-run, all material used in testing
the program and the programs shall  be  sealed  and  retained
under  the  custody of the election authority for a period of
60 days.   At  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  election
authority  shall destroy the voted ballots, together with all
unused ballots returned from the precincts.  Provided, if any
contest of election is pending  at  the  time  in  which  the
ballots   may  be  required  as  evidence  and  the  election
authority has notice of the contest, the same  shall  not  be
destroyed  until after the contest is finally determined.  If
the use of back-up  equipment  becomes  necessary,  the  same
testing   required   for  the  original  equipment  shall  be
conducted.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (10 ILCS 5/24B-9.1)
    Sec.  24B-9.1.   Examination  of  Votes   by   Electronic
Precinct  Tabulation Optical Scan Technology Scanning Process
or other authorized electronic process; definition of a vote.
    (a)  Examination  of   Votes   by   Electronic   Precinct
Tabulation Optical Scan Technology Scanning Process. Whenever
a Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology process is used
to  automatically  examine  and  count  the  votes  on ballot
sheets, the provisions of this Section shall apply.  A  voter
shall  cast a proper vote on a ballot sheet by making a mark,
or causing a mark to be made, in the designated area for  the
casting  of  a  vote  for  any  party  or candidate or for or
against any proposition.  For this  purpose,  a  mark  is  an
intentional  darkening  of  the designated area on the ballot
sheet, and not an identifying mark.
    (b)  For any ballot sheet that does not register  a  vote
for  one  or  more  ballot positions on the ballot sheet on a
Electronic  Precinct  Tabulation  Optical   Scan   Technology
Scanning  Process,  the  following shall constitute a vote on
the ballot sheet:
         (1)  The designated area for casting a  vote  for  a
    particular  ballot  position on the ballot sheet is fully
    darkened or shaded in;
         (2)  The designated area for casting a  vote  for  a
    particular   ballot  position  on  the  ballot  sheet  is
    partially darkened or shaded in;
         (3)  The designated area for casting a  vote  for  a
    particular ballot position on the ballot sheet contains a
    dot or ".", a check, or a plus or "+"; or
         (4)  The  designated  area  for casting a vote for a
    particular ballot position on the ballot  sheet  contains
    some  other  type  of  mark  that  indicates  the clearly
    ascertainable intent of the voter to vote  based  on  the
    totality  of the circumstances, including but not limited
    to any pattern or frequency  of  marks  on  other  ballot
    positions from the same ballot sheet.
         (5)  The  designated  area  for casting a vote for a
    particular ballot position on the  ballot  sheet  is  not
    marked,  but  the  ballot  sheet  contains other markings
    associated with a particular  ballot  position,  such  as
    circling  a  candidate's name, that indicates the clearly
    ascertainable intent of the voter to vote, based  on  the
    totality  of the circumstances, including but not limited
    to, any pattern or frequency of markings on other  ballot
    positions from the same ballot sheet.
    (c)  For  other  electronic  voting  systems  that  use a
computer as the marking device to mark a  ballot  sheet,  the
bar code found on the ballot sheet shall constitute the votes
found  on the ballot.  If, however, the county clerk or board
of  election  commissioners   determines   that   the   votes
represented  by  the  tally  on  the bar code for one or more
ballot positions is inconsistent with the  votes  represented
by  numerical ballot positions identified on the ballot sheet
produced using a computer as the  marking  device,  then  the
numerical  ballot  positions  identified  on the ballot sheet
shall constitute the  votes  for  purposes  of  any  official
canvass  or  recount  proceeding. An electronic voting system
that uses a computer as the marking device to mark  a  ballot
sheet  shall  be  capable  of  producing  a ballot sheet that
contains all  numerical  ballot  positions  selected  by  the
voter,  and provides a place for the voter to cast a write-in
vote for  a  candidate  for  a  particular  numerical  ballot
position.
    (d)  The  election  authority  shall provide an envelope,
sleeve or other device to each voter so the voter can deliver
the voted ballot sheet to the counting equipment  and  ballot
box  without  the  votes  indicated on the ballot sheet being
visible to other persons in the polling place.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)
    (10 ILCS 5/24B-10)
    Sec. 24B-10.  Receiving, Counting, Tallying and Return of
Ballots; Acceptance of Ballots by Election Authority.
    (a)  In an election jurisdiction  which  has  adopted  an
electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting
system, the election official in charge of the election shall
select  one  of  the  3  following  procedures for receiving,
counting, tallying, and return of the ballots:
         (1)  Two ballot boxes shall  be  provided  for  each
    polling   place.    The  first  ballot  box  is  for  the
    depositing of votes cast on the electronic voting system;
    and the second ballot box is for all votes cast on  other
    ballots,  including  absentee paper ballots and any other
    paper ballots required to be  voted  other  than  on  the
    Precinct  Tabulation  Optical  Scan Technology electronic
    voting system.   Ballots,  except  absentee  ballots  for
    candidates  and  propositions  which  are  listed  on the
    Precinct Tabulation Optical  Scan  Technology  electronic
    voting  system,  deposited in the second ballot box shall
    be  counted,  tallied,  and  returned  as  is   elsewhere
    provided  in  this  Code for the counting and handling of
    paper ballots.  Immediately  after  the  closing  of  the
    polls  the  absentee  ballots  delivered  to the precinct
    judges of election by the election official in charge  of
    the  election  shall  be  examined  to determine that the
    ballots comply with Sections 19-9 and 20-9 of  this  Code
    and  are  entitled  to  be  inserted  into  the  counting
    equipment  and  deposited  into  the ballot box provided;
    those entitled to be deposited in this ballot  box  shall
    be  initialed  by  the  precinct  judges  of election and
    deposited. Those not entitled to  be  deposited  in  this
    ballot  box shall be marked "Rejected" and disposed of as
    provided in Sections 19-9 and 20-9.  The precinct  judges
    of  election  shall  then  open the second ballot box and
    examine all paper  absentee  ballots  which  are  in  the
    ballot box to determine whether the absentee ballots bear
    the  initials  of  a  precinct judge of election.  If any
    absentee ballot is not so initialed, it shall  be  marked
    on the back "Defective", initialed as to the label by all
    judges  immediately  under  the word "Defective", and not
    counted, but placed in the  envelope  provided  for  that
    purpose labeled "Defective Ballots Envelope".  The judges
    of  election,  consisting  in  each  case of at least one
    judge of election  of  each  of  the  2  major  political
    parties,  shall  examine the paper absentee ballots which
    were  in  such  ballot  box  and  properly  initialed  to
    determine  whether  the  same  contain  write-in   votes.
    Write-in  votes,  not  causing  an overvote for an office
    otherwise voted for on the  paper  absentee  ballot,  and
    otherwise  properly  voted, shall be counted, tallied and
    recorded on the tally sheet provided for the  record.   A
    write-in vote causing an overvote for an office shall not
    be counted for that office, but the precinct judges shall
    mark such paper absentee ballot "Objected To" on the back
    and  write  on its back the manner in which the ballot is
    counted and initial the same.  An overvote for one office
    shall  invalidate  only  the  vote  or  count   of   that
    particular   office.    After   counting,   tallying  and
    recording the write-in votes  on  absentee  ballots,  the
    judges  of  election, consisting in each case of at least
    one judge of election of each of the  2  major  political
    parties,  shall  make  a  true  duplicate  ballot  of the
    remaining valid votes on each paper absentee ballot which
    was in the ballot box and properly  initialed,  by  using
    the   electronic   Precinct   Tabulation   Optical   Scan
    Technology  voting system used in the precinct and one of
    the marking devices,  or  equivalent  marking  device  or
    equivalent  ballot,  of  the  precinct  to  transfer  the
    remaining  valid votes of the voter on the paper absentee
    ballot to an official ballot or a  ballot  card  of  that
    kind used in the precinct at that election.  The original
    paper  absentee ballot shall be clearly labeled "Absentee
    Ballot"  and  the  ballot  card  so  produced  "Duplicate
    Absentee Ballot", and each shall  bear  the  same  serial
    number  which  shall  be  placed thereon by the judges of
    election,  beginning  with  number   1   and   continuing
    consecutively  for  the  ballots  of  that  kind  in that
    precinct.  The  judges  of  election  shall  initial  the
    "Duplicate  Absentee Ballot" ballots and shall place them
    in the first  ballot  box  provided  for  return  of  the
    ballots to be counted at the central counting location in
    lieu  of  the paper absentee ballots.  The paper absentee
    ballots shall be placed in an envelope provided for  that
    purpose labeled "Duplicate Ballots".
         As  soon as the absentee ballots have been deposited
    in the first ballot box, the  judges  of  election  shall
    make  out  a  slip  indicating  the number of persons who
    voted in the precinct at the election.  The slip shall be
    signed by  all  the  judges  of  election  and  shall  be
    inserted  by them in the first ballot box.  The judges of
    election  shall  thereupon  immediately  lock  the  first
    ballot box; provided, that if the box is not  of  a  type
    which  may  be  securely  locked, the box shall be sealed
    with filament tape provided for the purpose that shall be
    wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least
    twice each way, and in a manner that the seal  completely
    covers the slot in the ballot box, and each of the judges
    shall  sign  the seal.  Two of the judges of election, of
    different political parties, shall  by  the  most  direct
    route   transport  both  ballot  boxes  to  the  counting
    location designated by  the  county  clerk  or  board  of
    election commissioners.
         Before  the  ballots  of  a  precinct are fed to the
    electronic Precinct Tabulation  Optical  Scan  Technology
    tabulating  equipment,  the  first  ballot  box  shall be
    opened at the central counting station by the 2  precinct
    transport  judges.   Upon  opening a ballot box, the team
    shall first count the number of ballots in the box.  If 2
    or more are folded together to appear to have  been  cast
    by  the  same  person, all of the ballots folded together
    shall be marked and returned with the  other  ballots  in
    the same condition, as near as may be, in which they were
    found  when  first  opened, but shall not be counted.  If
    the remaining ballots are found to exceed the  number  of
    persons  voting  in  the  precinct  as  shown by the slip
    signed by the judges of election, the  ballots  shall  be
    replaced  in  the box, and the box closed and well shaken
    and again opened and one of the precinct transport judges
    shall publicly draw out so many ballots unopened  as  are
    equal to the excess.
         The  excess  ballots  shall  be  marked  "Excess-Not
    Counted"  and  signed  by the 2 precinct transport judges
    and shall be placed in the  "After  7:00  p.m.  Defective
    Ballots Envelope".  The number of excess ballots shall be
    noted  in  the  remarks  section  of  the  Certificate of
    Results.  "Excess" ballots shall not be  counted  in  the
    total of "defective" ballots.
         The precinct transport judges shall then examine the
    remaining  ballots for write-in votes and shall count and
    tabulate the write-in vote.
         (2)  A single ballot box, for  the  deposit  of  all
    votes  cast, shall be used.  All ballots which are not to
    be tabulated on the electronic  voting  system  shall  be
    counted,  tallied,  and returned as elsewhere provided in
    this Code for the counting and handling of paper ballots.
         All ballots to be processed and tabulated  with  the
    electronic  Precinct  Tabulation  Optical Scan Technology
    voting system shall be processed as follows:
         Immediately after  the  closing  of  the  polls  the
    absentee  ballots  delivered  to  the  precinct judges of
    election by  the  election  official  in  charge  of  the
    election shall be examined to determine that such ballots
    comply  with  Sections 19-9 and 20-9 of this Code and are
    entitled  to  be  deposited  in  the  ballot  box;  those
    entitled to be deposited  in  the  ballot  box  shall  be
    initialed   by   the  precinct  judges  of  election  and
    deposited in the ballot box.  Those not  entitled  to  be
    deposited  in  the  ballot box shall be marked "Rejected"
    and disposed of as provided in Sections  19-9  and  20-9.
    The  precinct  judges  of  election  then  shall open the
    ballot box and canvass the votes polled to determine that
    the number of ballots agree with  the  number  of  voters
    voting as shown by the applications for ballot, or if the
    same  do not agree the judges of election shall make such
    ballots agree with the applications  for  ballot  in  the
    manner  provided  by  Section  17-18  of  this Code.  The
    judges of election shall then examine all paper  absentee
    ballots  and ballot envelopes which are in the ballot box
    to determine whether the  ballots  and  ballot  envelopes
    bear  the  initials  of a precinct judge of election.  If
    any ballot or ballot  envelope is not initialed, it shall
    be marked on the back "Defective", initialed  as  to  the
    label   by   all   judges   immediately  under  the  word
    "Defective", and not counted, but placed in the  envelope
    provided  for  that  purpose  labeled  "Defective Ballots
    Envelope".  The judges of election,  consisting  in  each
    case  of  at least one judge of election of each of the 2
    major political parties, shall examine the paper absentee
    ballots  which  were  in  the  ballot  box  and  properly
    initialed to determine whether the same contain  write-in
    votes.   Write-in  votes,  not causing an overvote for an
    office otherwise voted for on the paper absentee  ballot,
    and  otherwise  properly voted, shall be counted, tallied
    and recorded on the tally sheet provided for the  record.
    A  write-in  vote causing an overvote for an office shall
    not be counted for that office, but the  precinct  judges
    shall mark the paper absentee ballot "Objected To" on the
    back  and  write  on  its  back  the manner the ballot is
    counted and initial the same.  An overvote for one office
    shall  invalidate  only  the  vote  or  count   of   that
    particular   office.    After   counting,   tallying  and
    recording the write-in votes  on  absentee  ballots,  the
    judges  of  election, consisting in each case of at least
    one judge of election of each of the  2  major  political
    parties,  shall  make  a  true  duplicate  ballot  of the
    remaining valid votes on each paper absentee ballot which
    was in the ballot box and properly  initialed,  by  using
    the electronic voting system used in the precinct and one
    of  the  marking  devices of the precinct to transfer the
    remaining valid votes of the voter on the paper  absentee
    ballot  to  an  official ballot  of that kind used in the
    precinct at that election.  The original  paper  absentee
    ballot shall be clearly labeled "Absentee Ballot" and the
    ballot  so produced "Duplicate Absentee Ballot", and each
    shall bear the same serial number which shall  be  placed
    thereon by the judges of election, commencing with number
    1  and  continuing  consecutively for the ballots of that
    kind in that precinct.   The  judges  of  election  shall
    initial the "Duplicate Absentee Ballot" ballots and shall
    place  them in the box for return of the ballots with all
    other ballots to  be  counted  at  the  central  counting
    location  in  lieu  of  the  paper absentee ballots.  The
    paper absentee ballots shall be  placed  in  an  envelope
    provided for that purpose labeled "Duplicate Ballots".
         In case of an overvote for any office, the judges of
    election,  consisting  in each case of at least one judge
    of election of each of the  2  major  political  parties,
    shall  make  a  true duplicate ballot of all votes on the
    ballot except for the office which is overvoted, by using
    the ballot  of  the  precinct  and  one  of  the  marking
    devices,   or  equivalent  ballot,  of  the  precinct  to
    transfer all votes of the voter  except  for  the  office
    overvoted, to an official ballot of that kind used in the
    precinct  at  that  election.   The  original ballot upon
    which there is  an  overvote  shall  be  clearly  labeled
    "Overvoted  Ballot",  and each shall bear the same serial
    number which shall be placed thereon  by  the  judges  of
    election,   beginning   with   number  1  and  continuing
    consecutively for  the  ballots  of  that  kind  in  that
    precinct.   The  judges  of  election  shall  initial the
    "Duplicate Overvoted Ballot" ballots and shall place them
    in the box for return of  the  ballots.   The  "Overvoted
    Ballot"   ballots  shall  be  placed  in  the  "Duplicate
    Ballots" envelope.  The ballots except any  defective  or
    overvoted  ballot  shall  be placed separately in the box
    for return of the  ballots,  along  with  all  "Duplicate
    Absentee  Ballots",  and  "Duplicate  Overvoted Ballots".
    The judges of  election  shall  examine  the  ballots  to
    determine  if  any  is  damaged  or  defective so that it
    cannot be counted by the automatic tabulating  equipment.
    If  any  ballot is damaged or defective so that it cannot
    properly  be  counted   by   the   automatic   tabulating
    equipment,  the  judges  of  election, consisting in each
    case of at least one judge of election of each of  the  2
    major  political  parties,  shall  make  a true duplicate
    ballot of all votes on such ballot by using the ballot of
    the  precinct  and  one  of  the  marking   devices,   or
    equivalent  ballot, of the precinct.  The original ballot
    and ballot envelope shall  be  clearly  labeled  "Damaged
    Ballot"  and  the  ballot  so produced "Duplicate Damaged
    Ballot", and each shall bear the same number which  shall
    be  placed  thereon by the judges of election, commencing
    with  number  1  and  continuing  consecutively  for  the
    ballots of that kind in  the  precinct.   The  judges  of
    election  shall  initial  the  "Duplicate Damaged Ballot"
    ballot  and shall place them in the box for return of the
    ballots.  The "Damaged Ballot" ballots  shall  be  placed
    in  the "Duplicated Ballots" envelope.  A slip indicating
    the number of voters voting in person, number of absentee
    votes deposited in the ballot box, and the  total  number
    of voters of the precinct who voted at the election shall
    be  made  out,  signed  by  all  judges  of election, and
    inserted in the box for return of the ballots.  The tally
    sheets recording the write-in votes shall  be  placed  in
    this  box.   The  judges  of  election  immediately shall
    securely lock  the  ballot  box  or  other  suitable  box
    furnished  for  return  of  the  ballots  by the election
    official in charge of the election; provided that if  the
    box  is  not  of a type which may be securely locked, the
    box shall be sealed with filament tape provided  for  the
    purpose  which shall be wrapped around the box lengthwise
    and crosswise, at  least  twice  each  way.   A  separate
    adhesive  seal  label  signed  by  each  of the judges of
    election of the precinct shall be affixed to the  box  to
    cover  any  slot  therein  and to identify the box of the
    precinct; and if the box is sealed with filament tape  as
    provided  rather  than locked, such tape shall be wrapped
    around the box as provided, but in such manner  that  the
    separate  adhesive  seal  label  affixed  to  the box and
    signed by the judges may not be removed without  breaking
    the  filament  tape  and  disturbing the signature of the
    judges.  Two of the  judges  of  election,  of  different
    major  political  parties, shall by the most direct route
    transport the box for return of the ballots and  enclosed
    ballots  and  returns  to  the  central counting location
    designated by the election  official  in  charge  of  the
    election.   If,  however, because of the lack of adequate
    parking facilities at the central  counting  location  or
    for  any  other reason, it is impossible or impracticable
    for the boxes from all the polling places to be delivered
    directly to the central counting location,  the  election
    official  in  charge  of  the election may designate some
    other location to which the boxes shall be  delivered  by
    the  2  precinct judges.  While at the other location the
    boxes shall be in the care and custody  of  one  or  more
    teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the 2
    major  political  parties, designated for such purpose by
    the  election  official  in  charge  of  elections   from
    recommendations   by   the  appropriate  political  party
    organizations.  As soon as possible, the boxes  shall  be
    transported  from  the  other  location  to  the  central
    counting  location  by one or more teams, each consisting
    of 4 persons, 2  from  each  of  the  2  major  political
    parties,  designated  for  the  purpose  by  the election
    official in charge of elections from  recommendations  by
    the appropriate political party organizations.
         The  "Defective  Ballots"  envelope, and "Duplicated
    Ballots" envelope each shall be securely sealed  and  the
    flap  or  end  of  each  envelope  signed by the precinct
    judges of election and returned to the  central  counting
    location with the box for return of the ballots, enclosed
    ballots and returns.
         At  the  central  counting location, a team of tally
    judges designated by the election official in  charge  of
    the  election shall check the box returned containing the
    ballots to determine that all seals are intact, and shall
    open the box, check the  voters'  slip  and  compare  the
    number  of  ballots so delivered against the total number
    of voters of the precinct who voted, remove  the  ballots
    and   deliver  them  to  the  technicians  operating  the
    automatic  tabulating   equipment.    Any   discrepancies
    between  the number of ballots and total number of voters
    shall be noted on a sheet furnished for that purpose  and
    signed by the tally judges.
         (3)  A  single  ballot  box,  for the deposit of all
    votes cast, shall be used.  Immediately after the closing
    of the polls the judges of  election  shall  examine  the
    absentee  ballots  received  by  the  precinct  judges of
    election from the election authority of  voters  in  that
    precinct   to   determine   that  they  comply  with  the
    provisions of Sections 19-9, 20-8 and 20-9 of  this  Code
    and are entitled to be deposited in the ballot box; those
    entitled  to  be  deposited  in  the  ballot box shall be
    initialed by the precinct judges  and  deposited  in  the
    ballot  box.    Those not entitled to be deposited in the
    ballot box, in accordance with Sections  19-9,  20-8  and
    20-9  of  this  Code    shall  be  marked  "Rejected" and
    preserved in the manner provided in  this  Code  for  the
    retention  and  preservation of official ballots rejected
    at such election.  Immediately upon the completion of the
    absentee balloting, the precinct judges of election shall
    securely lock the ballot box; provided that if  such  box
    is  not  of  a type which may be securely locked, the box
    shall be sealed  with  filament  tape  provided  for  the
    purpose  which shall be wrapped around the box lengthwise
    and crosswise, at  least  twice  each  way.   A  separate
    adhesive  seal  label  signed  by  each  of the judges of
    election of the precinct shall be affixed to the  box  to
    cover  any  slot  therein  and to identify the box of the
    precinct; and if the box is sealed with filament tape  as
    provided  rather  than locked, such tape shall be wrapped
    around the box as provided, but  in  a  manner  that  the
    separate  adhesive  seal  label  affixed  to  the box and
    signed by the judges may not be removed without  breaking
    the  filament  tape  and  disturbing the signature of the
    judges.  Two of the  judges  of  election,  of  different
    major  political  parties, shall by the most direct route
    transport the box for return of the ballots and  enclosed
    absentee  ballots  and  returns  to  the central counting
    location designated by the election official in charge of
    the  election.   If  however,  because  of  the  lack  of
    adequate  parking  facilities  at  the  central  counting
    location or for some other reason, it  is  impossible  or
    impracticable  for  the boxes from all the polling places
    to  be  delivered  directly  to  the   central   counting
    location, the election official in charge of the election
    may  designate  some  other  location  to which the boxes
    shall be delivered by the 2 precinct  judges.   While  at
    the  other  location  the  boxes shall be in the care and
    custody of one  or  more  teams,  each  consisting  of  4
    persons,  2  from  each of the 2 major political parties,
    designated for the purpose by the  election  official  in
    charge   of   elections   from   recommendations  by  the
    appropriate political party organizations.   As  soon  as
    possible,  the  boxes shall be transported from the other
    location to the central counting location by one or  more
    teams, each consisting of 4 persons, 2 from each of the 2
    major  political  parties,  designated for the purpose by
    the election official in  charge  of  the  election  from
    recommendations   by   the  appropriate  political  party
    organizations.
         At the central counting location there shall be  one
    or  more  teams  of  tally  judges  who  possess the same
    qualifications as tally judges in election  jurisdictions
    using  paper  ballots.   The number of the teams shall be
    determined by the election authority.   Each  team  shall
    consist of 5 tally judges, 3 selected and approved by the
    county  board  from  a  certified  list  furnished by the
    chairman of the county central  committee  of  the  party
    with  the  majority  of members on the county board and 2
    selected  and  approved  by  the  county  board  from   a
    certified  list  furnished  by the chairman of the county
    central committee of the party with  the  second  largest
    number  of  members  on the county board.  At the central
    counting location  a team of tally judges shall open  the
    ballot box and canvass the votes polled to determine that
    the number of ballot sheets therein agree with the number
    of  voters voting as shown by the applications for ballot
    and for absentee ballot; and, if the same do  not  agree,
    the  tally  judges shall make such ballots agree with the
    number of applications for ballot in the manner  provided
    by  Section  17-18  of this Code.  The tally judges shall
    then examine all ballot sheets that are in the ballot box
    to determine  whether  they  bear  the  initials  of  the
    precinct  judge  of  election.   If  any  ballot  is  not
    initialed,  it  shall  be marked on the back "Defective",
    initialed  as  to  that  label  by   all   tally   judges
    immediately  under the word "Defective", and not counted,
    but placed in the  envelope  provided  for  that  purpose
    labeled  "Defective  Ballots  Envelope".  Write-in votes,
    not causing an overvote for an office otherwise voted for
    on the absentee  ballot  sheet,  and  otherwise  properly
    voted,  shall  be  counted,  tallied, and recorded by the
    central counting  location  judges  on  the  tally  sheet
    provided  for  the  record.   A  write-in vote causing an
    overvote for an office shall  not  be  counted  for  that
    office,  but  the  tally  judges  shall mark the absentee
    ballot sheet "Objected To" and write the manner in  which
    the  ballot is counted on its back and initial the sheet.
    An overvote for one office shall invalidate only the vote
    or count for that particular office.
         At the central counting location, a  team  of  tally
    judges  designated  by the election official in charge of
    the election shall  deliver  the  ballot  sheets  to  the
    technicians  operating  the automatic Precinct Tabulation
    Optical  Scan  Technology  tabulating   equipment.    Any
    discrepancies  between  the  number  of ballots and total
    number of voters shall be noted on a sheet furnished  for
    that purpose and signed by the tally judges.
    (b)  Regardless   of   which   procedure   described   in
subsection  (a)  of  this  Section  is  used,  the  judges of
election designated to transport the ballots properly  signed
and  sealed,  shall  ensure that the ballots are delivered to
the central counting station no later than 12 hours after the
polls close.  At the central  counting  station,  a  team  of
tally judges designated by the election official in charge of
the  election  shall  examine  the ballots so transported and
shall not accept ballots for tabulating which are not  signed
and  sealed  as  provided  in  subsection (a) of this Section
until the judges transporting the ballots make and  sign  the
necessary  corrections.   Upon acceptance of the ballots by a
team of tally judges at the  central  counting  station,  the
election judges transporting the ballots shall take a receipt
signed by the election official in charge of the election and
stamped  with  the date and time of acceptance.  The election
judges whose duty it is to transport any  ballots  shall,  in
the  event the ballots cannot be found when needed, on proper
request, produce the receipt which they are to take as  above
provided.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (10 ILCS 5/24B-10.1)
    Sec.    24B-10.1.     In-Precinct   Counting   Equipment;
Procedures for Counting and Tallying Ballots.  In an election
jurisdiction   where   Precinct   Tabulation   Optical   Scan
Technology  counting  equipment  is   used,   the   following
procedures for counting and tallying the ballots shall apply:
    Before  the  opening of the polls, and before the ballots
are entered into  the  automatic  tabulating  equipment,  the
judges  of  election  shall  be  sure that the totals are all
zeros in the counting column.  Ballots may then be counted by
entering  or  scanning  each  ballot   into   the   automatic
tabulating  equipment. Throughout the election day and before
the closing of the polls, no person may check any vote totals
for any candidate or proposition on the automatic  tabulating
equipment.  Such  automatic  tabulating  equipment  shall  be
programmed  so  that  no  person  may reset the equipment for
refeeding  of  ballots  unless  provided  a  code   from   an
authorized  representative  of the election authority. At the
option of the election authority, the ballots may be fed into
the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology equipment  by
the  voters  under  the  direct  supervision of the judges of
elections.
    Immediately after the closing of the polls, the  absentee
ballots  delivered  to the precinct judges of election by the
election authority shall be examined to  determine  that  the
ballots  comply  with Sections 19-9 and 20-9 of this Code and
are entitled to be scanned by the Precinct Tabulation Optical
Scan Technology equipment and then deposited  in  the  ballot
box; those entitled to be scanned and deposited in the ballot
box shall be initialed by the precinct judges of election and
then  scanned  and  deposited  in  the ballot box.  Those not
entitled to be deposited in the ballot box  shall  be  marked
"Rejected"  and disposed of as provided in said Sections 19-9
and 20-9.
    The precinct judges of election shall open the ballot box
and count the number of ballots to determine  if  the  number
agrees  with  the  number  of  voters  voting as shown on the
Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology equipment and  by
the applications for ballot or, if the same do not agree, the
judges  of  election  shall  make  the ballots agree with the
applications for ballot in the  manner  provided  by  Section
17-18  of  this  Code.    The  judges  of election shall then
examine all ballots which are in the ballot box to  determine
whether  the ballots contain the initials of a precinct judge
of election.  If any ballot is not  initialed,  it  shall  be
marked on the back "Defective", initialed as to such label by
all  judges  immediately  under  the word "Defective" and not
counted.  The judges of election  shall  place  an  initialed
blank  official  ballot in the place of the defective ballot,
so that the count  of  the  ballots  to  be  counted  on  the
automatic  tabulating  equipment  will  be the same, and each
"Defective Ballot" and "Replacement" ballot shall contain the
same serial number which  shall  be  placed  thereon  by  the
judges  of  election,  beginning with number 1 and continuing
consecutively for the ballots of that kind in that  precinct.
The  original  "Defective"  ballot  shall  be  placed  in the
"Defective Ballot Envelope" provided for that purpose.
    If the judges of election have removed a ballot  pursuant
to  Section 17-18, have labeled "Defective" a ballot which is
not initialed, or have otherwise determined under  this  Code
to not count a ballot originally deposited into a ballot box,
the  judges  of election shall be sure that the totals on the
automatic tabulating equipment are reset to all zeros in  the
counting  column.    Thereafter  the judges of election shall
enter or otherwise scan each ballot  to  be  counted  in  the
automatic  tabulating  equipment.   Resetting  the  automatic
tabulating  equipment to all zeros and re-entering of ballots
to be counted may occur at the precinct  polling  place,  the
office  of  the  election authority, or any receiving station
designated by the election authority.  The election authority
shall designate the place for resetting  and  re-entering  or
re-scanning.
    When   a  Precinct  Tabulation  Optical  Scan  Technology
electronic voting system is used which uses a  paper  ballot,
the  judges of election shall examine the ballot for write-in
votes.  When the voter has cast a write-in vote,  the  judges
of election shall compare the write-in vote with the votes on
the  ballot  to  determine whether the write-in results in an
overvote for  any  office,  unless  the  Precinct  Tabulation
Optical  Scan  Technology  equipment has already done so.  In
case of an overvote for any office, the judges  of  election,
consisting  in each case of at least one judge of election of
each of the 2 major political  parties,  shall  make  a  true
duplicate  ballot  of all votes on such ballot except for the
office which  is  overvoted,  by  using  the  ballot  of  the
precinct  and  one  of  the  marking  devices,  or equivalent
ballot, of the precinct so as to transfer all  votes  of  the
voter,  except  for  the  office  overvoted,  to  a duplicate
ballot.  The original ballot upon which there is an  overvote
shall  be  clearly  labeled "Overvoted Ballot", and each such
"Overvoted Ballot" as well as its "Replacement" shall contain
the same serial number which shall be placed thereon  by  the
judges  of  election,  beginning with number 1 and continuing
consecutively for the ballots of that kind in that  precinct.
The  "Overvoted  Ballot"  shall  be  placed  in  an  envelope
provided   for   that   purpose  labeled  "Duplicate  Ballot"
envelope, and  the  judges  of  election  shall  initial  the
"Replacement"  ballots  and  shall  place them with the other
ballots to be counted on the automatic tabulating equipment.
    If any ballot is damaged or defective, or if  any  ballot
contains  a  Voting  Defect,  so  that  it cannot properly be
counted by the automatic tabulating equipment, the  voter  or
the  judges  of election, consisting in each case of at least
one judge of election  of  each  of  the  2  major  political
parties,  shall  make a true duplicate ballot of all votes on
such ballot by using the ballot of the precinct  and  one  of
the  marking  devices  of  the precinct, or equivalent.  If a
damaged ballot, the original ballot shall be clearly  labeled
"Damaged  Ballot" and the ballot so produced shall be clearly
labeled "Damaged Ballot" and the ballot so produced shall  be
clearly  labeled  "Duplicate  Damaged Ballot", and each shall
contain the same serial number which shall be placed  by  the
judges  of  election,  beginning with number 1 and continuing
consecutively for the ballots of that kind in  the  precinct.
The  judges  of election shall initial the "Duplicate Damaged
Ballot"  ballot  and  shall  enter  or  otherwise  scan   the
duplicate   damaged  ballot  into  the  automatic  tabulating
equipment.  The "Damaged Ballots"  shall  be  placed  in  the
"Duplicated  Ballots"  envelope;  after all ballots have been
successfully read, the judges of election shall check to make
certain that the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan  Technology
equipment  readout  agrees  with  the number of voters making
application for ballot in that precinct.  The number shall be
listed on the "Statement of Ballots"  form  provided  by  the
election authority.
    The  totals  for all candidates and propositions shall be
tabulated; and 4 copies of a "Certificate of  Results"  shall
be  generated by the automatic tabulating equipment; one copy
shall be posted in a conspicuous  place  inside  the  polling
place;  and  every  effort  shall  be  made  by the judges of
election to provide a copy for each authorized pollwatcher or
other official authorized to be present in the polling  place
to  observe the counting of ballots; but in no case shall the
number of copies to be  made  available  to  pollwatchers  be
fewer  than  4,  chosen by lot by the judges of election.  In
addition, sufficient time shall be provided by the judges  of
election   to   the   pollwatchers  to  allow  them  to  copy
information from the copy which has been posted.
    The judges of election shall count all unused ballots and
enter  the  number  on  the  "Statement  of  Ballots".    All
"Spoiled",  "Defective"  and  "Duplicated"  ballots  shall be
counted and the number entered on the "Statement of Ballots".
    The  precinct  judges  of   election   shall   select   a
bi-partisan  team  of  2 judges, who shall immediately return
the ballots in a  sealed  container,  along  with  all  other
election  materials  as instructed by the election authority;
provided, however, that such container must first  be  sealed
by  the  election judges with filament tape or other approved
sealing devices provided  for  the  purpose  which  shall  be
wrapped  around  the  container  lengthwise and crosswise, at
least twice each way, in a manner that the ballots cannot  be
removed  from  the  container  without  breaking the seal and
filament tape and disturbing any signatures  affixed  by  the
election  judges  to  the  container, or which other approved
sealing devices are affixed  in  a  manner  approved  by  the
election  authority.   The  election authority shall keep the
office of the election authority or  any  receiving  stations
designated by the authority, open for at least 12 consecutive
hours  after  the  polls  close or until the ballots from all
precincts with  in-precinct  counting  equipment  within  the
jurisdiction  of the election authority have been returned to
the election authority.  Ballots returned to  the  office  of
the  election  authority  which  are not signed and sealed as
required by  law  shall  not  be  accepted  by  the  election
authority  until  the  judges  returning the ballots make and
sign the  necessary  corrections.   Upon  acceptance  of  the
ballots  by  the election authority, the judges returning the
ballots shall take a receipt signed by the election authority
and stamped with the  time  and  date  of  the  return.   The
election  judges  whose  duty  it is to return any ballots as
provided shall, in the event the ballots cannot be found when
needed, on proper request, produce the receipt which they are
to take as above provided.  The precinct judges  of  election
shall  also  deliver  the  Precinct  Tabulation  Optical Scan
Technology equipment to the election authority.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (10 ILCS 5/24B-15)
    Sec. 24B-15.   Official  Return  of  Precinct;  Check  of
Totals;  Retabulation.    The  precinct return printed by the
automatic  Precinct  Tabulation   Optical   Scan   Technology
tabulating equipment shall include the number of ballots cast
and  votes  cast for each candidate and proposition and shall
constitute  the  official  return  of  each  precinct.     In
addition to the precinct return, the election authority shall
provide  the  number  of  applications  for  ballots  in each
precinct, the write-in votes, the  total  number  of  ballots
counted  in  each precinct for each political subdivision and
district  and  the  number  of  registered  voters  in   each
precinct.    However,  the election authority shall check the
totals shown by the precinct  return  and,  if  there  is  an
obvious  discrepancy regarding the total number of votes cast
in any precinct, shall have the  ballots  for  that  precinct
retabulated   to  correct  the  return.  The  procedures  for
retabulation shall apply prior to and after the  proclamation
is completed; however, after the proclamation of results, the
election  authority must obtain a court order to unseal voted
ballots except for election contests and discovery  recounts.
In those election jurisdictions that use in-precinct counting
equipment,   the  certificate  of  results,  which  has  been
prepared by the judges of election in the polling place after
the ballots have been tabulated, shall be the  document  used
for  the  canvass  of  votes  for  such precinct.  Whenever a
discrepancy exists during the canvass of  votes  between  the
unofficial   results  and  the  certificate  of  results,  or
whenever a discrepancy exists during  the  canvass  of  votes
between  the  certificate  of  results  and the set of totals
which has been affixed to the  certificate  of  results,  the
ballots for that precinct shall be retabulated to correct the
return.   As  an  additional  part of this check prior to the
proclamation,  in  those  jurisdictions   where   in-precinct
counting  equipment  is  used,  the  election authority shall
retabulate the total number  of  votes  cast  in  5%  of  the
precincts within the election jurisdiction.  The precincts to
be  retabulated  shall  be  selected  after election day on a
random  basis  by  the  election  authority,  so  that  every
precinct  in  the  election   jurisdiction   has   an   equal
mathematical  chance  of  being selected.  The State Board of
Elections shall  design  a  standard  and  scientific  random
method   of   selecting   the   precincts  which  are  to  be
retabulated, and the election authority shall be required  to
use  that  method.  The State Board of Elections, the State's
Attorney and other appropriate law enforcement agencies,  the
county  chairman  of  each  established  political  party and
qualified civic organizations shall be  given  prior  written
notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  the  random  selection
procedure  and  may  be  represented  at  the procedure.  The
retabulation shall consist of counting the ballots which were
originally counted and shall not involve any determination of
which ballots were, in fact, properly counted.   The  ballots
from the precincts selected for the retabulation shall remain
at  all  times  under the custody and control of the election
authority and shall be transported  and  retabulated  by  the
designated staff of the election authority.
    As part of the retabulation, the election authority shall
test  the  computer  program  in the selected precincts.  The
test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited  group  of
ballots  marked  to  record  a  predetermined number of valid
votes for each candidate and on  each  public  question,  and
shall  include for each office one or more ballots which have
votes in excess of the number allowed  by  law  to  test  the
ability  of  the  equipment  and the marking device to reject
such votes.  If any error is detected,  the  cause  shall  be
determined  and  corrected,  and  an errorless count shall be
made prior  to  the  official  canvass  and  proclamation  of
election results.
    The  State  Board  of Elections, the State's Attorney and
other  appropriate  law  enforcement  agencies,  the   county
chairman  of  each  established political party and qualified
civic organizations shall be given prior  written  notice  of
the time and place of the retabulation and may be represented
at the retabulation.
    The  results of this retabulation shall be treated in the
same manner and have the same effect as the  results  of  the
discovery  procedures  set  forth  in  Section 22-9.1 of this
Code. Upon  completion  of  the  retabulation,  the  election
authority  shall  print  a  comparison  of the results of the
retabulation with the original precinct return printed by the
automatic tabulating equipment.  The comparison shall be done
for each precinct and for each office voted upon within  that
precinct,  and  the  comparisons shall be open to the public.
Upon completion of the retabulation,  the  returns  shall  be
open to the public.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97; 89-700, eff. 1-17-97.)

    (10 ILCS 5/24B-18)
    Sec.  24B-18.   Specimen  Ballots;  Publication.  When an
electronic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology voting
system is used, the election  authority  shall  cause  to  be
published, at least 5 days before the day of each general and
general  primary  election, in 2 or more newspapers published
in and having a general circulation in the county, a true and
legible copy of the specimen ballot containing the  names  of
offices and candidates and statements of measures to be voted
on,  as near as may be, in the form in which they will appear
on the official ballot on election day. A true  legible  copy
may  be  in  the  form  of an actual size ballot and shall be
published as required by this Section if distributed in 2  or
more newspapers published and having a general circulation in
the  county  as  an  insert.  For each election prescribed in
Article 2A of this  Code,  specimen  ballots  shall  be  made
available  for  public  distribution and shall be supplied to
the judges of election for posting in the  polling  place  on
the  day  of  election.    Notice  for  the  nonpartisan  and
consolidated  elections shall be given as provided in Article
12.
(Source: P.A. 89-394, eff. 1-1-97.)

    (10 ILCS 5/Art. 24C heading new)

  ARTICLE 24C.  DIRECT RECORDING ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-1 new)
    Sec. 24C-1.  Purpose.  The purpose of this Article is  to
authorize  the  use  of  Direct  Recording  Electronic Voting
Systems approved by the  State  Board  of  Elections.   In  a
Direct  Recording Electronic Voting System, voters cast votes
by means of a ballot  display  provided  with  mechanical  or
electro-optical  devices  that can be activated by the voters
to mark their choices for the candidates of their  preference
and  for  or  against  public questions.  Such voting devices
shall be capable of  instantaneously  recording  such  votes,
storing  such  votes,  producing a permanent paper record and
tabulating such votes at the  precinct  or  at  one  or  more
counting stations.  This Article authorizes the use of Direct
Recording  Electronic Voting Systems for in-precinct counting
applications and for in-person absentee voting in the  office
of  the  election  authority  and  in  the  offices  of local
officials authorized by the  election  authority  to  conduct
such  absentee  voting.   All  other absentee ballots must be
counted at the office of the election authority.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-2 new)
    Sec. 24C-2. Definitions.  As used in this Article:
    "Audit trail" or  "audit  capacity"  means  a  continuous
trail  of evidence linking individual transactions related to
the casting of a vote, the vote count and the summary  record
of   vote   totals,   but  which  shall  not  allow  for  the
identification of the voter.  It shall permit verification of
the accuracy of the count and  detection  and  correction  of
problems  and  shall  provide a record of each step taken in:
defining  and  producing  ballots  and   generating   related
software  for  specific  elections;  installing  ballots  and
software;  testing  system  readiness; casting and tabulating
ballots; and producing images of votes cast  and  reports  of
vote  totals.  The record shall incorporate system status and
error  messages   generated   during   election   processing,
including a log of machine activities and routine and unusual
intervention  by  authorized  and  unauthorized  individuals.
Also  part  of  an  audit  trail is the documentation of such
items as  ballots  delivered  and  collected,  administrative
procedures  for  system  security,  pre-election  testing  of
voting   systems,   and   maintenance   performed  on  voting
equipment.  It also means that the voting system  is  capable
of  producing and shall produce immediately after a ballot is
cast a permanent paper record of each ballot cast that  shall
be available as an official record for any recount, redundant
count,  or  verification  or  retabulation  of the vote count
conducted with respect to any election in  which  the  voting
system is used.
    "Ballot"  means  an  electronic audio or video display or
any other medium, including paper, used to record  a  voter's
choices  for  the  candidates  of their preference and for or
against public questions.
    "Ballot configuration" means the  particular  combination
of  political  subdivision or district ballots including, for
each  political  subdivision  or  district,  the   particular
combination  of offices, candidate names and public questions
as it appears for each group of voters who may cast the  same
ballot.
    "Ballot  image"  means  a corresponding representation in
electronic or paper form of the mark or vote  position  of  a
ballot.
    "Ballot  label"  or  "ballot screen" means the display of
material containing the names of offices and  candidates  and
public questions to be voted on.
    "Central  counting"  means the counting of ballots in one
or more locations selected by the election authority for  the
processing  or counting, or both, of ballots.  A location for
central counting shall be within the territorial jurisdiction
of  the  election  authority  unless  there  is  no  suitable
tabulating  equipment  available   within   his   territorial
jurisdiction.    However,  in  any  event a counting location
shall be within this State.
    "Computer",   "automatic   tabulating    equipment"    or
"equipment"  includes  apparatus  necessary  to automatically
examine and count votes as designated on  ballots,  and  data
processing  machines  which  can be used for counting ballots
and tabulating results.
    "Computer  operator"  means   any   person   or   persons
designated by the election authority to operate the automatic
tabulating  equipment during any portion of the vote tallying
process in an election,  but  shall  not  include  judges  of
election operating vote tabulating equipment in the precinct.
    "Computer   program"   or  "program"  means  the  set  of
operating instructions for the automatic tabulating equipment
that examines,  records,  counts,  tabulates,  canvasses  and
prints votes recorded by a voter on a ballot.
    "Direct  recording  electronic  voting  system",  "voting
system"   or   "system"   means   the  total  combination  of
mechanical,  electromechanical   or   electronic   equipment,
programs and practices used to define ballots, cast and count
votes,  report  or  display  election  results,  maintain  or
produce  any  audit  trail  information,  identify all system
components, test the system during  development,  maintenance
and operation, maintain records of system errors and defects,
determine  specific  system  changes  to  be made to a system
after initial qualification, and make available any materials
to the voter such as notices, instructions,  forms  or  paper
ballots.
    "Edit  listing" means a computer generated listing of the
names of each candidate and public question as they appear in
the program for each precinct.
    "In-precinct counting" means the recording  and  counting
of  ballots on automatic tabulating equipment provided by the
election authority in the  same  precinct  polling  place  in
which those ballots have been cast.
    "Marking  device"  means any device approved by the State
Board of Elections for marking a ballot so as to  enable  the
ballot  to  be  recorded,  counted and tabulated by automatic
tabulating equipment.
    "Permanent paper record" means a paper record upon  which
shall  be  printed  in human readable form the votes cast for
each candidate and for or against  each  public  question  on
each  ballot  recorded  in the voting system.  Each permanent
paper record shall be  printed  by  the  voting  device  upon
activation  of  the  marking  device  by  the voter and shall
contain a unique, randomly assigned identifying  number  that
shall  correspond  to  the  number  randomly  assigned by the
voting  system  to  each  ballot  as  it  is   electronically
recorded.
    "Redundant  count"  means  a verification of the original
computer count of ballots by another count  using  compatible
equipment  or  other  means  as  part of a discovery recount,
including a count of  the  permanent  paper  record  of  each
ballot   cast   by   using  compatible  equipment,  different
equipment approved by the State Board of Elections  for  that
purpose, or by hand.
    "Separate ballot" means a separate page or display screen
of  the  ballot  that  is clearly defined and distinguishable
from other portions of the ballot.
    "Voting device" or "voting machine"  means  an  apparatus
that  contains  the  ballot label or ballot screen and allows
the voter to record his or her vote.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-3 new)
    Sec. 24C-3. Adoption, experimentation or  abandonment  of
Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting  System;  Boundaries of
precincts; Notice.  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  this
Section,  any county board, board of county commissioners and
any  board  of  election  commissioners,  with   respect   to
territory  within  its  jurisdiction,  may  adopt, experiment
with, or abandon a Direct Recording Electronic Voting  System
approved  for use by the State Board of Elections and may use
such System in all  or  some  of  the  precincts  within  its
jurisdiction,  or  in combination with paper ballots or other
voting  systems.   Any  county   board,   board   of   county
commissioners or board of election commissioners may contract
for  the  tabulation  of  votes  at  a  location  outside its
territorial jurisdiction when there is no suitable tabulating
equipment available within its territorial jurisdiction.   In
no  case may a county board, board of county commissioners or
board of election commissioners contract or arrange  for  the
purchase,  lease  or  loan  of  a Direct Recording Electronic
Voting System or System component without the approval of the
State Board of Elections as provided by Section 24C-16.
    Before any Direct Recording Electronic Voting  System  is
introduced,  adopted  or used in any precinct or territory at
least 2 months public notice must be given before the date of
the first election where the  System  is  to  be  used.   The
election  authority shall publish the notice at least once in
one or more newspapers published within the county  or  other
jurisdiction,  where  the  election  is held.  If there is no
such newspaper, the notice shall be published in a  newspaper
published  in  the  county  and  having a general circulation
within such jurisdiction.  The notice shall be  substantially
as follows:
    "Notice  is  hereby given that on ... (give date) ..., at
... (give place where election is held) ... in the county  of
...,  an  election will be held for ... (give name of offices
to be filled) ... at  which  a  Direct  Recording  Electronic
Voting System will be used."
    Dated at ... this ... day of ... 20....?
    This  notice referred to shall be given only at the first
election at which  the  Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting
System is used.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-3.1 new)
    Sec. 24C-3.1. Retention or consolidation or alteration of
existing  precincts;  Change  of  location.   When  a  Direct
Recording  Electronic Voting System is used, the county board
or  board  of  election  commissioners  may  retain  existing
precincts or may consolidate,  combine,  alter,  decrease  or
enlarge  the boundaries of the precincts to change the number
of registered voters  of  the  precincts  using  the  System,
establishing  the  number  of  registered  voters within each
precinct at a number not to exceed  800  as  the  appropriate
county  board  or  board of election commissioners determines
will afford adequate  voting  facilities  and  efficient  and
economical elections.
    Except  in  the  event  of a fire, flood or total loss of
heat in a place fixed or established pursuant to law  by  any
county  board or board of election commissioners as a polling
place for an election, no election authority shall change the
location of a polling  place  established  for  any  precinct
after  notice  of  the place of holding the election for that
precinct has been given as required under Article  12  unless
the  election authority notifies all registered voters in the
precinct of the change in location by  first  class  mail  in
sufficient  time  for  the  notice  to  be  received  by  the
registered  voters  in the precinct at least one day prior to
the date of the election.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-4 new)
    Sec. 24C-4. Use of  Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting
System;  Requisites;  Applicable procedure.  Direct Recording
Electronic Voting Systems may be used in  elections  provided
that  such Systems are approved for use by the State Board of
Elections.  So far as applicable, the procedure provided  for
voting  paper  ballots  shall  apply  when  Direct  Recording
Electronic  Voting Systems are used.  However, the provisions
of this Article 24C will govern when there are conflicts.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-5 new)
    Sec. 24C-5. Voting Stations.  In precincts where a Direct
Recording Electronic Voting  System  is  used,  a  sufficient
number  of  voting  stations shall be provided for the use of
the System according to the requirements  determined  by  the
State  Board of Elections.  Each station shall be placed in a
manner so that no judge of election or pollwatcher is able to
observe a voter casting a ballot.
    (10 ILCS 5/24C-5.1 new)
    Sec. 24C-5.1. Instruction of Voters;  Instruction  Model;
Partiality to Political Party; Manner of Instruction.  Before
entering  the  voting  booth  each  voter  shall  be  offered
instruction  in  using the Direct Recording Electronic Voting
System.  In instructing voters, no precinct official may show
partiality to any political party or candidate.   The  duties
of  instruction  shall  be discharged by a judge from each of
the political parties represented and  they  shall  alternate
serving  as  instructor so that each judge shall serve a like
time at such duties.  No instructions may be given  inside  a
voting booth after the voter has entered the voting booth.
    No  precinct  official or person assisting a voter may in
any manner request, suggest, or seek to  persuade  or  induce
any  voter to cast his or her vote for any particular ticket,
candidate,   amendment,   question   or   proposition.    All
instructions shall be given by precinct officials in a manner
that it may be observed  by  other  persons  in  the  polling
place.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-5.2 new)
    Sec.   24C-5.2.   Demonstration   of   Direct   Recording
Electronic  Voting System; Placement in Public Library.  When
a Direct Recording Electronic Voting  System  is  used  in  a
forthcoming election, the election authority may provide, for
the  purpose  of  instructing  voters  in  the  election, one
demonstrator Direct Recording Electronic Voting  System  unit
for placement in any public library or in any other public or
private  building  within the political subdivision where the
election occurs.  If the placement of  a  demonstrator  takes
place  it shall be made available at least 30 days before the
election.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-6 new)
    Sec.  24C-6.  Ballot  Information;  Arrangement;   Direct
Recording Electronic Voting System; Absentee Ballots; Spoiled
Ballots.    The   ballot   information,   shall,  as  far  as
practicable, be in the  order  of  arrangement  provided  for
paper ballots, except that the information may be in vertical
or  horizontal  rows,  or  on  a  number of separate pages or
display screens.
    Ballots for all public questions to be voted on should be
provided in a similar manner and  must  be  arranged  on  the
ballot  in the places provided for such purposes.  All public
questions, including but  not  limited  to  public  questions
calling   for  a  constitutional  convention,  constitutional
amendment, or judicial retention,  shall  be  placed  on  the
ballot  separate  and apart from candidates.  Ballots for all
public questions shall be clearly designated  by  borders  or
different  color  screens.   More  than  one amendment to the
constitution may be placed on the same portion of the  ballot
sheet.  Constitutional convention or constitutional amendment
propositions  shall  be  placed  on a separate portion of the
ballot and designated by borders  or  unique  color  screens,
unless otherwise provided by administrative rule of the State
Board  of  Elections.   More  than one public question may be
placed on the same portion of  the  ballot.   More  than  one
proposition  for  retention of judges in office may be placed
on the same portion of the ballot.
    The party affiliation, if any, of each candidate  or  the
word  "independent",  where  applicable, shall appear near or
under the candidate's name, and the names of  candidates  for
the same office shall be listed vertically under the title of
that  office.   In  the  case  of  nonpartisan  elections for
officers of political subdivisions, unless the statute or  an
ordinance adopted pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution
requires  otherwise,  the  listing  of nonpartisan candidates
shall not include any party or "independent" designation.  In
primary  elections,  a separate ballot shall be used for each
political party holding a primary, with the  ballot  arranged
to  include  names  of the candidates of the party and public
questions and other propositions to be voted upon on the  day
of the primary election.
    If  the  ballot  includes  both candidates for office and
public questions or propositions to be voted on, the election
official in charge of the election shall divide the ballot in
sections for "Candidates" and "Public Questions", or separate
ballots may be used.
    Any voter who spoils his or her ballot, makes  an  error,
or   has  a  ballot  rejected  by  the  automatic  tabulating
equipment shall be provided a means of correcting the  ballot
or obtaining a new ballot prior to casting his or her ballot.
    Any   election   authority   using   a  Direct  Recording
Electronic Voting System may use voting systems approved  for
use  under  Articles  24A  or  24B of this Code in conducting
absentee voting in the office of the  election  authority  or
voted by mail.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-6.1 new)
    Sec.  24C-6.1.  Security  Designation.   In all elections
conducted under this Article, ballots shall have  a  security
designation.    In  precincts  where  more  than  one  ballot
configuration  may  be  voted  upon,  ballots  shall  have  a
different security designation for each ballot configuration.
If a precinct has only one possible ballot configuration, the
ballots must have a  security  designation  to  identify  the
precinct  and the election.  Where ballots from more than one
precinct are being tabulated, the ballots from each  precinct
must  be  clearly  identified;  official results shall not be
generated unless the precinct identification for any precinct
corresponds.   When  the  tabulating  equipment  being   used
requires  entering  the program immediately before tabulating
the ballots for each precinct, the precinct  program  may  be
used.  The Direct Recording Electronic Voting System shall be
designed to ensure that the proper  ballot  is  selected  for
each polling place and for each ballot configuration and that
the  format  can  be  matched  to  the  software  or firmware
required to interpret it correctly.  The system shall provide
a means of programming each piece of equipment to reflect the
ballot requirements of the election and shall include a means
for validating the correctness of  the  program  and  of  the
program's  installation in the equipment or in a programmable
memory device.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-7 new)
    Sec.  24C-7.  Write-In  Ballots.   A   Direct   Recording
Electronic  Voting  System shall provide an acceptable method
for a voter to vote for a person whose name does  not  appear
on  the  ballot using the same apparatus used to record votes
for candidates whose names do appear on the ballot.  Election
authorities  utilizing  Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting
Systems shall not use separate write-in ballots.
    Below the name of the last candidate listed for an office
shall be a space or spaces in which the name of  a  candidate
or candidates may be written in or recorded by the voter. The
number of write-in lines for an office shall equal the number
of candidates for which a voter may vote.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-8 new)
    Sec.  24C-8.  Preparation for Use; Comparison of Ballots;
Operational Checks  of  Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting
Systems  Equipment;  Pollwatchers.  The county clerk or board
of election commissioners shall  cause  the  approved  Direct
Recording  Electronic Voting System equipment to be delivered
to the polling places. Before the opening of the  polls,  all
Direct  Recording  Voting  System  devices  shall  provide  a
printed  record  of  the  following, upon verification of the
authenticity of the commands by  a  judge  of  election:  the
election's   identification   data,   the   equipment's  unit
identification,  the  ballot's  format  identification,   the
contents  of  each active candidate register by office and of
each  active  public  question  register  showing  that  they
contain all zeros, all ballot fields  that  can  be  used  to
invoke  special  voting options, and other information needed
to ensure the readiness of the equipment, and to  accommodate
administrative reporting requirements.
    The  Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting  System  shall
provide a means of opening the polling place and readying the
equipment  for  the  casting  of  ballots.   Such means shall
incorporate a security seal,  a  password,  or  a  data  code
recognition capability to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized
actuation  of  the  poll-opening  function.  If more than one
step is required, it shall enforce  their  execution  in  the
proper sequence.
    Pollwatchers  as  provided  by  law shall be permitted to
closely  observe  the  judges  in  these  procedures  and  to
periodically inspect the Direct Recording  Electronic  Voting
System equipment when not in use by the voters.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-9 new)
    Sec. 24C-9. Testing of Direct Recording Electronic Voting
System  Equipment  and  Programs;  Custody  of Programs, Test
Materials  and  Ballots.   Prior  to  the  public  test,  the
election authority shall conduct an errorless pre-test of the
Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting  System  equipment  and
programs to determine that they will correctly detect  voting
defects  and  count  the  votes  cast for all offices and all
public questions.  On any day not less than 5 days  prior  to
the  election day, the election authority shall publicly test
the Direct Recording Electronic Voting System  equipment  and
programs  to determine that they will correctly detect voting
errors and accurately count the votes legally  cast  for  all
offices  and  on  all public questions.  Public notice of the
time and place of the test shall be given at least  48  hours
before  the  test  by  publishing  the  notice in one or more
newspapers within the election jurisdiction of  the  election
authority,  if a newspaper is published in that jurisdiction.
If a newspaper is not published in that jurisdiction,  notice
shall  be  published in a newspaper of general circulation in
that jurisdiction.  Timely written notice stating  the  date,
time,  and location of the public test shall also be provided
to the State Board of Elections.  The test shall be  open  to
representatives   of   the   political  parties,  the  press,
representatives of the State  Board  of  Elections,  and  the
public.  The  test  shall  be  conducted  by  entering a pre-
audited group of votes designed  to  record  a  predetermined
number  of  valid votes for each candidate and on each public
question, and shall include  for  each  office  one  or  more
ballots  having  votes exceeding the number allowed by law to
test the ability of the  automatic  tabulating  equipment  to
reject  the  votes.  The test shall also include producing an
edit  listing.   In  those   election   jurisdictions   where
in-precinct counting equipment is used, a public test of both
the  equipment  and  program  shall be conducted as nearly as
possible in the manner prescribed above.  The State Board  of
Elections  may  select  as many election jurisdictions as the
Board deems  advisable  in  the  interests  of  the  election
process  of  this  State,  to  order  a  special  test of the
automatic tabulating equipment and program before any regular
election.  The Board may order a special test in any election
jurisdiction where, during the preceding 12 months,  computer
programming  errors  or  other  errors  in  the use of System
resulted in vote tabulation errors.  Not less  than  30  days
before  any  election,  the  State  Board  of Elections shall
provide written notice to  those  selected  jurisdictions  of
their  intent to conduct a test.  Within 5 days of receipt of
the State Board of Elections' written  notice  of  intent  to
conduct  a  test, the selected jurisdictions shall forward to
the principal office of the State Board of Elections  a  copy
of all specimen ballots.  The State Board of Elections' tests
shall  be conducted and completed not less than 2 days before
the public test utilizing testing materials supplied  by  the
Board  and  under the supervision of the Board, and the Board
shall reimburse the election  authority  for  the  reasonable
cost  of  computer time required to conduct the special test.
After an errorless test, materials used in the  public  test,
including  the  program,  if appropriate, shall be sealed and
remain sealed until the test is run again  on  election  day.
If  any  error  is  detected, the cause of the error shall be
determined and corrected, and an errorless public test  shall
be   made   before  the  automatic  tabulating  equipment  is
approved.  Each election authority shall file a  sealed  copy
of  each tested program to be used within its jurisdiction at
an election with the State  Board  of  Elections  before  the
election.   The Board shall secure the program or programs of
each election jurisdiction so filed in its office for the  60
days  following  the  canvass  and  proclamation  of election
results.  At the expiration of  that  time,  if  no  election
contest or appeal is pending in an election jurisdiction, the
Board  shall  return  the  sealed  program or programs to the
election  authority  of  the  jurisdiction.    Except   where
in-precinct  counting  equipment  is  used, the test shall be
repeated  immediately  before  the  start  of  the   official
counting  of  the  ballots,  in  the same manner as set forth
above.  After the completion of the count, the test shall  be
re-run using the same program.  Immediately after the re-run,
all  material  used  in  testing the program and the programs
shall be  sealed  and  retained  under  the  custody  of  the
election   authority  for  a  period  of  60  days.   At  the
expiration of that time the election authority shall  destroy
the  voted ballots, together with all unused ballots returned
from the precincts.  Provided, if any contest of election  is
pending  at  the time in which the ballots may be required as
evidence  and  the  election  authority  has  notice  of  the
contest, the same shall not  be  destroyed  until  after  the
contest  is  finally  determined.   If  the  use  of  back-up
equipment  becomes  necessary,  the same testing required for
the original equipment shall be conducted.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-10 new)
    Sec. 24C-10.  Recording  of  votes  by  Direct  Recording
Electronic Voting Systems.
    Whenever  a  Direct Recording Electronic Voting System is
used to automatically record and count the votes on  ballots,
the  provisions  of  this Section shall apply.  A voter shall
cast a proper vote on a ballot by marking the designated area
for the casting of a vote for any party or candidate  or  for
or  against any public question.  For this purpose, a mark is
an intentional selection of the designated area on the ballot
by  appropriate  means  and  which  is   not   otherwise   an
identifying mark.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-11 new)
    Sec. 24C-11. Functional requirements.
    A  Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting System shall, in
addition  to  satisfying  the  other  requirements  of   this
Article, fulfill the following functional requirements:
    (a)  Provide a voter in a primary election with the means
of  casting  a  ballot  containing  votes  for  any  and  all
candidates  of the party or parties of his or her choice, and
for any and all non-partisan candidates and public  questions
and  preclude  the voter from voting for any candidate of any
other political party except when legally  permitted.   In  a
general  election,  the  system  shall provide the voter with
means of selecting the appropriate number of  candidates  for
any  office,  and  of  voting  on  any public question on the
ballot to which he or she is entitled to vote.
    (b)  If a voter is not entitled to  vote  for  particular
candidates  or  public questions appearing on the ballot, the
system shall prevent the selection of the prohibited votes.
    (c)  Once the proper ballot has been selected, the system
devices shall provide a means of enabling  the  recording  of
votes and the casting of said ballot.
    (d)  System  voting  devices shall provide voting choices
that are clear to the voter and labels indicating  the  names
of  every  candidate and the text of every public question on
the voter's ballot.  Each label shall identify the  selection
button or switch, or the active area of the ballot associated
with  it.    The system shall be able to incorporate minimal,
easy-to-follow on-screen instruction for the voter on how  to
cast a ballot.
    (e)  Voting  devices  shall  (i) enable the voter to vote
for any and all candidates and public questions appearing  on
the  ballot for which the voter is lawfully entitled to vote,
in any legal number and combination; (ii) detect  and  reject
all  votes  for  an office or upon a public question when the
voter has cast more votes for the office or upon  the  public
question than the voter is entitled to cast; (iii) notify the
voter if the voter's choices as recorded on the ballot for an
office or public question are fewer than or exceed the number
that  the  voter  is  entitled  to vote for on that office or
public question and the effect of  casting  more  votes  than
legally  permitted;  (iv)  notify  the voter if the voter has
failed to completely cast a vote  for  an  office  or  public
question  appearing  on the ballot; and (v) permit the voter,
in a private and independent  manner,  to  verify  the  votes
selected by the voter, to change the ballot or to correct any
error  on the ballot before the ballot is completely cast and
counted.   A  means  shall  be  provided  to  indicate   each
selection after it has been made or canceled.
    (f)  System  voting devices shall provide a means for the
voter to signify that the selection of candidates and  public
questions  has  been  completed.  Upon activation, the system
shall record an image of the completed ballot, increment  the
proper  ballot  position  registers, and shall signify to the
voter that the ballot has been cast.  The system  shall  then
prevent  any  further attempt to vote until it has been reset
or re-enabled by a judge of election.
    (g)  Each system voting device shall be equipped  with  a
public  counter  that can be set to zero prior to the opening
of the polling place, and that records the number of  ballots
cast   at  a  particular  election.   The  counter  shall  be
incremented only by the casting of  a  ballot.   The  counter
shall  be designed to prevent disabling or resetting by other
than authorized persons after the polls close.   The  counter
shall  be  visible  to  all judges of election so long as the
device is installed at the polling place.
    (h)  Each system voting device shall be equipped  with  a
protective  counter  that  records  all  of  the  testing and
election ballots cast since the unit was built.  This counter
shall be designed so that its reading cannot  be  changed  by
any cause other than the casting of a ballot.  The protective
counter  shall  be incapable of ever being reset and it shall
be visible at all times when the  device  is  configured  for
testing, maintenance, or election use.
    (i)  All   system   devices  shall  provide  a  means  of
preventing further voting once the polling place  has  closed
and  after  all  eligible  voters  have voted.  Such means of
control shall incorporate  a  visible  indication  of  system
status.   Each  device  shall  prevent  any unauthorized use,
prevent  tampering  with  ballot  labels  and  preclude   its
re-opening  once the poll closing has been completed for that
election.
    (j)  The system shall produce a printed summary report of
the votes cast upon each voting  device.   Until  the  proper
sequence  of events associated with closing the polling place
has been completed, the system shall not allow  the  printing
of  a  report  or the extraction of data.  The printed report
shall  also  contain  all  system  audit  information  to  be
required by  the  election  authority.   Data  shall  not  be
altered  or  otherwise destroyed by report generation and the
system shall ensure the integrity and security of data for  a
period of at least 6 months after the polls close.
    (k)  If  more than one voting device is used in a polling
place, the system  shall  provide  a  means  to  manually  or
electronically  consolidate the data from all such units into
a single report even if different voting systems are used  to
record absentee ballots.  The system shall also be capable of
merging  the  vote  tabulation results produced by other vote
tabulation systems, if necessary.
    (l)  System functions  shall  be  implemented  such  that
unauthorized access to them is prevented and the execution of
authorized  functions  in  an improper sequence is precluded.
System functions shall be executable  only  in  the  intended
manner and order, and only under the intended conditions.  If
the preconditions to a system function have not been met, the
function  shall  be  precluded from executing by the system's
control logic.
    (m)  All system voting devices shall incorporate at least
3 memories in the machine  itself  and  in  its  programmable
memory devices.
    (n)  The  system  shall include capabilities of recording
and reporting the date and time of normal and abnormal events
and of maintaining a permanent record  of  audit  information
that  cannot  be  turned  off.   Provisions  shall be made to
detect and record significant events (e.g., casting a ballot,
error conditions that cannot be disposed  of  by  the  system
itself,   time-dependent  or  programmed  events  that  occur
without  the  intervention  of  the  voter  or  a  judge   of
election).
    (o)  The  system  and  each  system voting device must be
capable of creating, printing  and  maintaining  a  permanent
paper  record  and an electronic image of each ballot that is
cast such that records of individual ballots  are  maintained
by  a  subsystem  independent and distinct from the main vote
detection, interpretation,  processing  and  reporting  path.
The  electronic  images  of  each  ballot  must  protect  the
integrity  of  the  data and the anonymity of each voter, for
example, by means of storage location scrambling.  The ballot
image records may  be  either  machine-readable  or  manually
transcribed,  or  both,  at  the  discretion  of the election
authority.
    (p)  The system shall include built-in test,  measurement
and  diagnostic  software  and  hardware  for  detecting  and
reporting the system's status and degree of operability.
    (q)  The  system shall contain provisions for maintaining
the integrity of memory  voting  and  audit  data  during  an
election and for a period of at least 6 months thereafter and
shall provide the means for creating an audit trail.
    (r)  The system shall be fully accessible so as to permit
blind  or  visually  impaired  voters  as  well as physically
disabled voters to exercise their right to  vote  in  private
and without assistance.
    (s)  The   system   shall  provide  alternative  language
accessibility if required pursuant  to  Section  203  of  the
Voting Rights Act of 1965.
    (t)  Each  voting device shall enable a voter to vote for
a person whose name does not appear on the ballot.
    (u)  The system shall record and  count  accurately  each
vote  properly  cast  for or against any candidate and for or
against any public  question,  including  the  names  of  all
candidates whose names are written in by the voters.
    (v)  The  system  shall  allow  for accepting provisional
ballots and for  separating  such  provisional  ballots  from
precinct totals until authorized by the election authority.
    (w)  The system shall provide an effective audit trail as
defined in Section 24C-2 in this Code.
    (x)  The  system  shall  be  suitably  designed  for  the
purpose  used,  be  durably  constructed, and be designed for
safety, accuracy and efficiency.
    (y)  The system  shall  comply  with  all  provisions  of
federal,  State  and  local election laws and regulations and
any future modifications to those laws and regulations.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-12 new)
    Sec. 24C-12. Procedures  for  Counting  and  Tallying  of
Ballots.
    In  an  election  jurisdiction  where  a Direct Recording
Electronic Voting System is used,  the  following  procedures
for counting and tallying the ballots shall apply:
    Before  the opening of the polls, the judges of elections
shall assemble the voting equipment and devices and turn  the
equipment  on.  The judges shall, if necessary, take steps to
activate  the  voting  devices  and  counting  equipment   by
inserting  into  the equipment and voting devices appropriate
data cards containing passwords  and  data  codes  that  will
select  the  proper  ballot formats selected for that polling
place and  that  will  prevent  inadvertent  or  unauthorized
activation  of  the  poll-opening  function.    Before voting
begins  and  before  ballots  are  entered  into  the  voting
devices, the judges of election shall cause to be  printed  a
record  of the following: the election's identification data,
the  device's  unit  identification,  the   ballot's   format
identification,   the   contents  of  each  active  candidate
register  by  office  and  of  each  active  public  question
register showing that they contain all zero votes, all ballot
fields that can be used to invoke special voting options, and
other information needed  to  ensure  the  readiness  of  the
equipment   and   to   accommodate  administrative  reporting
requirements.  The judges must also check to be sure that the
totals are all zeros in  the  counting  columns  and  in  the
public counter affixed to the voting devices.
    After  the  judges  have  determined  that  a  person  is
qualified  to vote, a voting device with the proper ballot to
which the voter is entitled shall be enabled to  be  used  by
the  voter.   The  ballot  may  then  be cast by the voter by
marking by appropriate  means  the  designated  area  of  the
ballot  for the casting of a vote for any candidate or for or
against any public question.  The voter shall be able to vote
for any and all candidates and public measures  appearing  on
the  ballot in any legal number and combination and the voter
shall be able  to  delete,  change  or  correct  his  or  her
selections  before  the  ballot  is cast.  The voter shall be
able to select candidates whose names do not appear upon  the
ballot  for  any  office  by  entering electronically as many
names of candidates as the voter is entitled  to  select  for
each office.
    Upon  completing  his  or  her selection of candidates or
public questions, the voter shall  signify  that  voting  has
been  completed  by activating the appropriate button, switch
or active area of the ballot screen associated  with  end  of
voting.   Upon  activation, the voting system shall record an
image of the completed ballot, increment  the  proper  ballot
position  registers,  and shall signify to the voter that the
ballot has been cast.  Upon  activation,  the  voting  system
shall also print a permanent paper record of each ballot cast
as  defined  in  Section  24C-2 of this Code.  This permanent
paper record shall either be self-contained within the voting
device or shall be deposited  by  the  voter  into  a  secure
ballot  box.  No permanent paper record shall be removed from
the polling place except by election officials as  authorized
by  this  Article.   All  permanent  paper  records  shall be
preserved and secured  by  election  officials  in  the  same
manner as paper ballots and shall be available as an official
record  for  any recount, redundant count, or verification or
retabulation of the vote count conducted with respect to  any
election  in  which  the  voting system is used.    The voter
shall exit the voting station and  the  voting  system  shall
prevent  any  further  attempt  to  vote  until  it  has been
properly re-activated.  If a voting device has  been  enabled
for  voting  but  the  voter leaves the polling place without
casting a ballot, 2 judges of election, one from each of  the
2 major political parties, shall spoil the ballot.
    Throughout the election day and before the closing of the
polls,  no person may check any vote totals for any candidate
or public question on the voting or counting equipment.  Such
equipment shall be programmed so that no person may reset the
equipment for reentry of ballots unless provided  the  proper
code  from  an  authorized  representative  of  the  election
authority.
    The  precinct  judges  of election shall check the public
register to determine whether the number of  ballots  counted
by  the  voting  equipment  agrees  with the number of voters
voting as shown by the applications for ballot.  If the  same
do  not  agree,  the  judges  of  election  shall immediately
contact the offices of the election authority  in  charge  of
the  election  for  further  instructions.   If the number of
ballots counted by  the  voting  equipment  agrees  with  the
number  of  voters  voting  as  shown  by the application for
ballot, the number shall  be  listed  on  the  "Statement  of
Ballots" form provided by the election authority.
    The  totals  for all candidates and propositions shall be
tabulated; and 4 copies of a "Certificate of  Results"  shall
be  printed  by  the automatic tabulating equipment; one copy
shall be posted in a conspicuous  place  inside  the  polling
place;  and  every  effort  shall  be  made  by the judges of
election to provide a copy for each authorized pollwatcher or
other official authorized to be present in the polling  place
to  observe the counting of ballots; but in no case shall the
number of copies to be  made  available  to  pollwatchers  be
fewer  than  4,  chosen by lot by the judges of election.  In
addition, sufficient time shall be provided by the judges  of
election   to   the   pollwatchers  to  allow  them  to  copy
information from the copy which has been posted.
    If instructed by the election authority,  the  judges  of
election  shall cause the tabulated returns to be transmitted
electronically to the offices of the election  authority  via
modem or other electronic medium.
    The   precinct   judges   of   election  shall  select  a
bi-partisan team of 2 judges, who  shall  immediately  return
the  ballots  in  a  sealed  container,  along with all other
election  materials  and  equipment  as  instructed  by   the
election  authority;  provided,  however, that such container
must first be sealed by the  election  judges  with  filament
tape  or  other  approved  sealing  devices  provided for the
purpose in a manner that the ballots cannot be  removed  from
the  container without breaking the seal or filament tape and
disturbing any signatures affixed by the election  judges  to
the  container.  The election authority shall keep the office
of  the  election  authority,  or  any   receiving   stations
designated by the authority, open for at least 12 consecutive
hours after the polls close or until the ballots and election
material   and   equipment  from  all  precincts  within  the
jurisdiction of the election authority have been returned  to
the  election  authority.  Ballots and election materials and
equipment returned to the office of  the  election  authority
which  are not signed and sealed as required by law shall not
be accepted  by  the  election  authority  until  the  judges
returning   the   ballots   make   and   sign  the  necessary
corrections.  Upon acceptance of  the  ballots  and  election
materials and equipment by the election authority, the judges
returning  the  ballots  shall  take  a receipt signed by the
election authority and stamped with the time and date of  the
return.   The  election judges whose duty it is to return any
ballots and election  materials  and  equipment  as  provided
shall,  in  the  event  the  ballots,  materials or equipment
cannot be found when needed, on proper request,  produce  the
receipt which they are to take as above provided.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-13 new)
    Sec.  24C-13.  Absentee  ballots; Proceedings at Location
for Central Counting; Employees; Approval of List.
    (a)  All jurisdictions using Direct Recording  Electronic
Voting Systems shall use paper ballots or paper ballot sheets
approved  for  use under Articles 16, 24A or 24B of this Code
when conducting absentee voting except that Direct  Recording
Electronic  Voting Systems may be used for in-person absentee
voting conducted pursuant to Section  19-2.1  of  this  Code.
All  absentee  ballots  shall be counted at the office of the
election authority.  The provisions of Section  24A-9,  24B-9
and  24C-9 of this Code shall apply to the testing and notice
requirements  for   central   count   tabulation   equipment,
including comparing the signature on the ballot envelope with
the   signature   of   the   voter  on  the  permanent  voter
registration  record  card  taken  from  the   master   file.
Absentee  ballots other than absentee ballots voted in person
pursuant to Section 19-2.1 of this Code shall be examined and
processed pursuant to Sections 19-9 and 20-9  of  this  Code.
Vote results shall be recorded by precinct and shall be added
to  the  vote  results  for  the precinct in which the absent
voter was  eligible  to  vote  prior  to  completion  of  the
official canvass.
    (b)  All proceedings at the location for central counting
shall  be under the direction of the county clerk or board of
election commissioners.  Except  for  any  specially  trained
technicians   required   for  the  operation  of  the  Direct
Recording Electronic Voting  System,  the  employees  at  the
counting  station shall be equally divided between members of
the 2 leading political parties and all duties  performed  by
the employees shall be by teams consisting of an equal number
of  members  of  each political party.  Thirty days before an
election the county clerk or board of election  commissioners
shall submit to the chairman of each political party, for his
or  her  approval or disapproval, a list of persons of his or
her party proposed to be employed.  If a  chairman  fails  to
notify  the  election  authority of his or her disapproval of
any proposed employee within a period of 10  days  thereafter
the list shall be deemed approved.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-14 new)
    Sec.  24C-14.  Tabulating  Votes;  Direction; Presence of
Public; Computer Operator's Log and Canvass.   The  procedure
for  tabulating  the votes by the Direct Recording Electronic
Voting System shall be under the direction  of  the  election
authority and shall conform to the requirements of the Direct
Recording    Electronic    Voting    System.    During    any
election-related   activity   using   the   automatic  Direct
Recording Electronic Voting System  equipment,  the  election
authority  shall  make  a  reasonable  effort to dedicate the
equipment to vote  processing  to  ensure  the  security  and
integrity of the system.
    A  reasonable number of pollwatchers shall be admitted to
the  counting  location.   Such  persons  may   observe   the
tabulating   process   at  the  discretion  of  the  election
authority; however,  at  least  one  representative  of  each
established  political  party  and  authorized  agents of the
State Board of Elections shall be permitted to  observe  this
process  at  all times.  No persons except those employed and
authorized for the purpose shall  touch  any  ballot,  ballot
box, return, or equipment.
    The computer operator shall be designated by the election
authority  and  shall  be  sworn  as a deputy of the election
authority.  In conducting the vote  tabulation  and  canvass,
the computer operator must maintain a log which shall include
the following information:
         (a) alterations made to programs associated with the
    vote counting process;
         (b)  if applicable, console messages relating to the
    program  and  the  respective  responses  made   by   the
    operator;
         (c) the starting time for each precinct counted, the
    number   of   ballots  counted  for  each  precinct,  any
    equipment  problems  and,  insofar  as  practicable,  the
    number  of  invalid  security  designations   encountered
    during that count; and
         (d) changes and repairs made to the equipment during
    the vote tabulation and canvass.
    The   computer   operator's  log  and  canvass  shall  be
available for public inspection in the office of the election
authority for a period of 60 days following the  proclamation
of  election  results.  A copy of the computer operator's log
and the canvass shall be transmitted to the  State  Board  of
Elections upon its request and at its expense.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-15 new)
    Sec.  24C-15.  Official  Return  of  Precinct;  Check  of
Totals;  Audit.  The  precinct  return  printed by the Direct
Recording Electronic Voting System tabulating equipment shall
include the number of ballots cast and votes  cast  for  each
candidate  and  public  question  and  shall  constitute  the
official  return  of  each  precinct.   In  addition  to  the
precinct  return,  the  election  authority shall provide the
number of applications for  ballots  in  each  precinct,  the
total  number of ballots and absentee ballots counted in each
precinct for each political subdivision and district and  the
number  of  registered voters in each precinct.  However, the
election authority  shall  check  the  totals  shown  by  the
precinct  return  and,  if  there  is  an obvious discrepancy
regarding the total number of votes  cast  in  any  precinct,
shall  have  the ballots for that precinct audited to correct
the return.  The procedures for this audit shall apply  prior
to  and  after  the proclamation is completed; however, after
the proclamation of  results,  the  election  authority  must
obtain  a  court  order  to  unseal  voted  ballots or voting
devices except for election contests and discovery  recounts.
The  certificate  of  results,  which  has  been prepared and
signed by the judges of election in the polling  place  after
the  ballots  have been tabulated, shall be the document used
for the canvass of  votes  for  such  precinct.   Whenever  a
discrepancy  exists  during  the canvass of votes between the
unofficial  results  and  the  certificate  of  results,   or
whenever  a  discrepancy  exists  during the canvass of votes
between the certificate of results  and  the  set  of  totals
reflected on the certificate of results, the ballots for that
precinct shall be audited to correct the return.
    Prior  to  the proclamation, the election authority shall
test the voting devices and equipment in 1% of the  precincts
within the election jurisdiction.  The precincts to be tested
shall be selected after election day on a random basis by the
election  authority,  so  that every precinct in the election
jurisdiction  has  an  equal  mathematical  chance  of  being
selected.  The  State  Board  of  Elections  shall  design  a
standard  and  scientific  random  method  of  selecting  the
precincts  that  are to be tested, and the election authority
shall be required to use that method.   The  State  Board  of
Elections,  the  State's  Attorney  and other appropriate law
enforcement agencies, the county chairman of each established
political party and qualified civic  organizations  shall  be
given  prior  written  notice  of  the  time and place of the
random selection procedure and  may  be  represented  at  the
procedure.
    The  test shall be conducted by counting the votes marked
on the permanent paper record of  each  ballot  cast  in  the
tested precinct printed by the voting system at the time that
each  ballot was cast and comparing the results of this count
with the results shown by the certificate of results prepared
by the Direct Recording Electronic Voting System in the  test
precinct.    The  election  authority  shall test count these
votes either by hand or  by  using  an  automatic  tabulating
device other than a Direct Recording Electronic voting device
that  has  been  approved by the State Board of Elections for
that purpose and tested before use to  ensure  accuracy.  The
election  authority  shall  print  the  results  of each test
count.   If  any  error  is  detected,  the  cause  shall  be
determined and corrected, and an  errorless  count  shall  be
made  prior  to  the  official  canvass  and  proclamation of
election results.  If an errorless count cannot be  conducted
and  there continues to be difference in vote results between
the certificate of results produced by the  Direct  Recording
Electronic Voting System and the count of the permanent paper
records  or  if  an  error  was  detected  and corrected, the
election authority shall immediately prepare and  forward  to
the  appropriate canvassing board a written report explaining
the results of the test and any errors  encountered  and  the
report shall be made available for public inspection.
    The  State  Board  of Elections, the State's Attorney and
other  appropriate  law  enforcement  agencies,  the   county
chairman  of  each  established political party and qualified
civic organizations shall be given prior  written  notice  of
the  time and place of the test and may be represented at the
test.
    The results of this post-election test shall  be  treated
in the same manner and have the same effect as the results of
the  discovery procedures set forth in Section 22-9.1 of this
Code.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-15.01 new)
    Sec. 24C-15.01. Transporting Ballots to Central  Counting
Station; Container.  Upon completion of the tabulation, audit
or  test  of  voting  equipment  pursuant  to Sections 24C-11
through 24C-15, the ballots and  the  medium  containing  the
ballots from each precinct shall be replaced in the container
in  which  they  were  transported  to  the  central counting
station.  If the  container  is  not  a  type  which  may  be
securely   locked,   then   each   container,   before  being
transferred from the counting station to  storage,  shall  be
securely sealed.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-15.1 new)
    Sec. 24C-15.1. Discovery, Recounts and Election Contests.
Except  as provided, discovery recounts and election contests
shall be conducted as otherwise provided for  in  this  Code.
The Direct Recording Electronic Voting System equipment shall
be  tested prior to the discovery recount or election contest
as provided in Section 24C-9, and then the  official  ballots
shall be audited.
    Any person who has filed a petition for discovery recount
may  request  that  a  redundant  count be conducted in those
precincts in which the discovery recount is being  conducted.
The  additional  costs of a redundant count shall be borne by
the requesting party.
    The log  of  the  computer  operator  and  all  materials
retained  by  the  election  authority  in  relation  to vote
tabulation and  canvass  shall  be  made  available  for  any
discovery recount or election contest.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-16 new)
    Sec.  24C-16.  Approval  of  Direct  Recording Electronic
Voting Systems; Requisites.  The  State  Board  of  Elections
shall  approve all Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems
that fulfill the functional requirements provided by  Section
24C-11  of  this  Code,  the  mandatory  requirements  of the
federal  voting  system  standards   pertaining   to   Direct
Recording   Electronic  Voting  Systems  promulgated  by  the
Federal  Election  Commission  or  the  Election   Assistance
Commission,   the   testing   requirements   of  an  approved
independent testing authority and  the  rules  of  the  State
Board of Elections.
    The  State  Board  of Elections is authorized to withdraw
its approval of a Direct Recording Electronic  Voting  System
if  the  System,  once  approved,  fails to fulfill the above
requirements.
    No vendor, person or other entity may sell, lease or loan
a  Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting  System  or   system
component  to  any election jurisdiction unless the system or
system component is first approved  by  the  State  Board  of
Elections pursuant to this Section.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-17 new)
    Sec. 24C-17. Rules; Number of Voting Stations.  The State
Board   of  Elections  may  make  reasonable  rules  for  the
administration of this Article and may prescribe  the  number
of  voting  stations required for the various types of voting
systems.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-18 new)
    Sec.  24C-18.  Specimen  Ballots;  Publication.   When  a
Direct  Recording  Electronic  Voting  System  is  used,  the
election authority shall cause to be published,  at  least  5
days  before  the  day  of  each  general and general primary
election, in 2 or more newspapers published in and  having  a
general circulation in the county, a true and legible copy of
the  specimen  ballot  containing  the  names  of offices and
candidates and public questions to be voted on,  as  near  as
may be, in the form in which they will appear on the official
ballot  on  election  day.  A true legible copy may be in the
form of an actual size  ballot  and  shall  be  published  as
required  by  this  Section  if  distributed  in  2  or  more
newspapers  published and having a general circulation in the
county as an insert.  For each election prescribed in Article
2A of this Code, specimen ballots shall be made available for
public distribution and shall be supplied to  the  judges  of
election  for  posting  in  the  polling  place on the day of
election.  Notice for the  consolidated  elections  shall  be
given as provided in Article 12.

    (10 ILCS 5/24C-19 new)
    Sec.  24C-19. Additional Method of Voting.  The foregoing
Sections of this Article shall be deemed to provide a  method
of  voting  in  addition to the methods otherwise provided in
this Code.

    Section 10.  The State Finance Act is amended  by  adding
Section 5.595 as follows:

    (30 ILCS 105/5.595 new)
    Sec. 5.595. The Help Illinois Vote Fund.

    Section 15.  The Property Tax Code is amended by changing
Section 5-5 as follows:

    (35 ILCS 200/5-5)
    Sec.  5-5.  Election of commissioners of board of review;
counties of 3,000,000 or more.
    (a)  In counties with 3,000,000 or more  inhabitants,  on
the  first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 1994, 2
commissioners of the board of appeals  shall  be  elected  to
hold office from the first Monday in December following their
election and until the first Monday in December 1998. In case
of  any  vacancy, the chief judge of the circuit court or any
judge of that circuit designated by  the  chief  judge  shall
fill  the  vacancy by appointment. The commissioners shall be
electors in the  particular  county  at  the  time  of  their
election  or  appointment  and  shall hold no other lucrative
public office or public employment. Each  commissioner  shall
receive  compensation  fixed by the county board, which shall
be paid out of the county treasury and  which  shall  not  be
changed during the term for which any commissioner is elected
or  appointed.  Effective  the first Monday in December 1998,
the board of appeals is abolished.
    The  board   of   appeals   shall   maintain   sufficient
evidentiary  records  to  support  all  decisions made by the
board of appeals.  All records,  data,  sales/ratio  studies,
and  other  information  necessary  for  the  board of review
elected under subsection (c) to  perform  its  functions  and
duties  shall  be  transferred by the board of appeals to the
board of review on the first Monday in December 1998.
    (b)  (Blank).
    (c)  In each county with 3,000,000 or  more  inhabitants,
there is created a board of review. The board of review shall
consist  of  3  commissioners, one elected from each election
district in the county at the general  election  in  1998  to
hold  office  for  a  term  beginning  on the first Monday in
December following their election and until their  respective
successors are elected and qualified.
    No  later  than  June 1, 1996, the General Assembly shall
establish the boundaries for the 3 election districts in each
county with  3,000,000  or  more  inhabitants.  The  election
districts    shall   be   compact,   contiguous,   and   have
substantially the same population based on the  1990  federal
decennial  census.  One  district  shall be designated as the
first election district, one as the second election district,
and one as the third election district. The commissioner from
each district shall be elected to a term of 4 years.
    In the year following each federal decennial census,  the
General  Assembly shall reapportion the election districts to
reflect  the  results  of  the  census.   The   reapportioned
districts   shall   be   compact,   contiguous,  and  contain
substantially the same population. The commissioner from  the
first district shall be elected to terms of 4 years, 4 years,
and 2 years. The  commissioner from the second district shall
be  elected  to  terms  of 4 years, 2 years, and 4 years. The
commissioner from the third  district  shall  be  elected  to
terms of 2 years, 4 years, and 4 years.
    In  case of vacancy, the chief judge of the circuit court
or any judge of the circuit court  designated  by  the  chief
judge  shall fill the vacancy by appointment of a person from
the same political party. If the vacancy is filled with  more
than   28   months  remaining  in  the  term,  the  appointed
commissioner shall serve until the next general election,  at
which  time  a commissioner shall be elected to serve for the
remainder of the term.  If a vacancy is filled with 28 months
or less remaining in the term, the appointment shall  be  for
the  remainder of the term. No commissioner may be elected or
appointed to the board of review unless he or she has resided
in the election district he or she seeks to represent for  at
least 2 years before the date of the election or appointment.
In  the  election following each federal decennial census and
board of review redistricting, a candidate  for  commissioner
may  be  elected  from  any election district that contains a
part of the election district in which he or she  resided  at
the time of the redistricting and re-elected if a resident of
the  new district he or she represents for 18 months prior to
re-election.  The  commissioners  shall  be  electors  within
their  respective  election  district  at  the  time of their
election or appointment and shall  hold  no  other  lucrative
public office or public employment.
    Each commissioner shall receive compensation fixed by the
county  board,  which shall be paid from the county treasury.
Compensation for each commissioner  shall  be  equitable  and
shall   not  be  changed  during  the  term  for  which  that
commissioner  is  elected  or  appointed.  The  county  shall
provide suitable office space for the board of review.
    For the year beginning on the first  Monday  in  December
1998  and ending the first Monday in December 1999, and every
fourth year thereafter, the chair of the board shall  be  the
commissioner  elected  from the first district.  For the year
beginning the first Monday in December 1999  and  ending  the
first   Monday  in  December  2000,  and  every  fourth  year
thereafter, the chair of the board shall be the  commissioner
elected from the second district.  For the year beginning the
first  Monday in December 2000 and ending the first Monday in
December 2001, and every fourth year  thereafter,  the  chair
shall  be  the  commissioner elected from the third district.
For the year beginning the first Monday in December 2001  and
ending  the  first  Monday in December 2002, and every fourth
year thereafter, the chair of the board shall  be  determined
by lot.
    On  and  after  the  first  Monday in December, 1998, any
reference in this Code to a board of appeals shall  mean  the
board  of  review  created  under  this  subsection,  and any
reference to a member of a  board  of  review  shall  mean  a
commissioner  of  a  board  of  review.   Whenever  it may be
necessary for purposes of determining its  jurisdiction,  the
board  of review shall be deemed to succeed to the powers and
duties of the former board  of  appeals;  provided  that  the
board  of review shall also have all of the powers and duties
granted to it under this Code.  All action of  the  board  of
review shall be by a majority vote of its commissioners.
(Source: P.A. 91-393, eff. 7-30-99; 91-425, eff. 8-6-99.)

    Section  20.  The  School  Code  is  amended  by changing
Section 22-21 as follows:

    (105 ILCS 5/22-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-21)
    Sec. 22-21. Elections-Use of school buildings.
    (a)  Every school board shall offer  to  the  appropriate
officer  or board having responsibility for providing polling
places for elections the use of any and all  buildings  under
its  jurisdiction for any and all elections to be held, if so
requested by such appropriate officer or board.
    (b)  Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small
United States national flags, or some other marker a distance
of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by
voters to engage in voting,  which  shall  be  known  as  the
polling  room.  If  the  polling  room  is  located  within a
building that is a public or private school and the  distance
of  100  horizontal  feet  ends  within  the  interior of the
building, then the markers shall be  placed  outside  of  the
building  at  each  entrance  used  by  voters  to enter that
building on the  grounds  adjacent  to  the  thoroughfare  or
walkway.  If  the  polling room is located within a public or
private school building with 2 or more floors and the polling
room is located on the ground floor, then the  markers  shall
be  placed  100  horizontal  feet  from  each entrance to the
polling room used by voters  to  engage  in  voting.  If  the
polling  room  is  located  in  a  public  or  private school
building with 2 or  more  floors  and  the  polling  room  is
located  on a floor above or below the ground floor, then the
markers shall be placed a  distance  of  100  feet  from  the
nearest  elevator  or  staircase used by voters on the ground
floor to access the floor where the polling room is  located.
The  area  within where the markers are placed shall be known
as a campaign free zone,  and  electioneering  is  prohibited
pursuant to this subsection.
    Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of this Code, the
area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone,
whether publicly or privately owned, is a  public  forum  for
the  time  that the polls are open on an election day. At the
request of election officers any publicly owned building must
be made available for use as a polling place. A person  shall
have  the right to congregate and engage in electioneering on
any polling place property while the polls  are  open  beyond
the  campaign  free  zone,  including but not limited to, the
placement  of  temporary  signs.  This  subsection  shall  be
construed  liberally  in  favor  of   persons   engaging   in
electioneering  on  all  polling  place  property  beyond the
campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an
election day.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 2477.).

    (10 ILCS 5/28-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 28-6)
    Sec. 28-6.  Petitions; filing.
    (a)  On a written petition signed by a number  of  voters
equal  to  at  least  8% of the votes cast for candidates for
Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election  by  10%  of
the  registered  voters  of  the  any municipality, township,
county or school district it shall be the duty of the  proper
election  officers to submit any question of public policy so
petitioned for, to the electors of such political subdivision
at any regular election named in the  petition  at  which  an
election  is  scheduled  to be held throughout such political
subdivision under Article 2A. Such petitions shall  be  filed
with the local election official of the political subdivision
or  election  authority,  as  the  case  may be. Where such a
question is to be submitted to the voters of  a  municipality
which has adopted Article 6, or a township or school district
located entirely within the jurisdiction of a municipal board
of election commissioners, such petitions shall be filed with
the  board of election commissioners having jurisdiction over
the political subdivision.
    (b)  In  a  municipality   with   more   than   1,000,000
inhabitants,  when  a  question  of public policy exclusively
concerning a contiguous territory  included  entirely  within
but  not  coextensive  with  the municipality is initiated by
resolution or ordinance of the corporate authorities  of  the
municipality,  or  by  a  petition  which  may  be  signed by
registered voters who reside in any part of any precinct  all
or  part  of  which includes all or part of the territory and
who equal in number at least 8% of the total votes  cast  for
candidates   for  Governor  in  the  preceding  gubernatorial
election by 10% of the total number of registered  voters  of
the  precinct or precincts the registered voters of which are
eligible to sign the petition, it shall be the  duty  of  the
election authority having jurisdiction over such municipality
to  submit  such  question  to  the  electors throughout each
precinct all or part of which includes all  or  part  of  the
territory   at   the   regular   election  specified  in  the
resolution,  ordinance  or  petition  initiating  the  public
question.  A petition initiating a public question  described
in this subsection shall be filed with the election authority
having  jurisdiction  over  the  municipality.  A resolution,
ordinance or petition initiating a public question  described
in  this  subsection  shall specify the election at which the
question is to be submitted.
    (c)  Local questions of public policy authorized by  this
Section  and  statewide questions of public policy authorized
by Section 28-9 shall be advisory public  questions,  and  no
legal  effects shall result from the adoption or rejection of
such propositions.
    (d)  This Section does not  apply  to  a  petition  filed
pursuant to Article IX of the Liquor Control Act of 1934.
(Source: P.A. 84-1467.)

    (10 ILCS 5/28-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 28-9)
    Sec.  28-9.  Petitions for proposed amendments to Article
IV of the Constitution pursuant to Section 3, Article XIV  of
the  Constitution  shall  be  signed  by a number of electors
equal in number to at least 8% of the total  votes  cast  for
candidates   for  Governor  in  the  preceding  gubernatorial
election.  Such  petition  shall  have  been  signed  by  the
petitioning  electors  not  more than 24 months preceding the
general election at which the proposed  amendment  is  to  be
submitted  and  shall be filed with the Secretary of State at
least 6 months before that general election.
    Upon receipt of a petition for a proposed  Constitutional
amendment,  the  Secretary  of  State  shall,  as  soon as is
practicable, but no later than the close of the next business
day, deliver such petition to the State Board of Elections.
    Petitions for advisory questions of public policy  to  be
submitted  to  the voters of the entire State shall be signed
by a number of voters equal in number  to  8%  of  the  total
votes  cast  for  candidates  for  Governor  in the preceding
gubernatorial election at least 10% of the registered  voters
in  the State.  Such  petition shall have been signed by said
petitioners not more than 24 months preceding the date of the
general election at which the question is to be submitted and
shall be filed with the State Board of Elections at  least  6
months before that general election.
    The  proponents  of the proposed Constitutional amendment
or statewide advisory public question shall file the original
petition  in  bound  election  jurisdiction  sections.   Each
section shall be composed of consecutively numbered  petition
sheets containing only the signatures of registered voters of
a  single  election  jurisdiction  and,  at  the  top of each
petition sheet, the name of the election  jurisdiction  shall
be  typed  or printed in block letters; provided that, if the
name of the election jurisdiction  is  not  so  printed,  the
election  jurisdiction  of  the  circulator  of that petition
sheet shall be controlling with respect to the signatures  on
that sheet. Any petition sheets not consecutively numbered or
which  contain  duplicate  page numbers already used on other
sheets, or are photocopies  or  duplicates  of  the  original
sheets,  shall not be considered part of the petition for the
purpose of the random sampling verification and shall not  be
counted  toward  the minimum number of signatures required to
qualify the proposed constitutional  amendment  or  statewide
advisory public question for the ballot.
    Within  7 business days following the last day for filing
the original petition, the proponents shall also file  copies
of  the  sectioned election jurisdiction petition sheets with
each proper election authority and obtain a receipt therefor.
    For purposes of this Act, the following  terms  shall  be
defined and construed as follows:
    1.  "Board" means the State Board of Elections.
    2.  "Election  Authority" means a county clerk or city or
county board of election commissioners.
    3.  "Election Jurisdiction" means (a) an  entire  county,
in  the  case  of a county in which no city board of election
commissioners is located or which is under  the  jurisdiction
of   a  county  board  of  election  commissioners;  (b)  the
territorial  jurisdiction  of  a  city  board   of   election
commissioners;  and  (c) the territory in a county outside of
the jurisdiction of a city board of  election  commissioners.
In  each  instance  election jurisdiction shall be determined
according to which election authority maintains the permanent
registration records of qualified electors.
    4.  "Proponents"   means   any    person,    association,
committee,  organization  or other group, or their designated
representatives, who advocate and cause the  circulation  and
filing  of  petitions  for  a  statewide advisory question of
public policy or  a  proposed  constitutional  amendment  for
submission  at a general election and who has registered with
the Board as provided in this Act.
    5.  "Opponents" means any person, association, committee,
organization   or   other   group,   or   their    designated
representatives,  who oppose a statewide advisory question of
public policy or  a  proposed  constitutional  amendment  for
submission at a general election and who have registered with
the Board as provided in this Act.
(Source: P.A. 87-1052.)

    Section  10.  The  Counties  Code  is  amended  by adding
Section 5-1005.5 as follows:

    (55 ILCS 5/5-1005.5 new)
    Sec. 5-1005.5.  Advisory referenda.  By  a  vote  of  the
majority  of  the  members of the county board, the board may
authorize an advisory question of public policy to be  placed
on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election in the
county.   The  county board shall certify the question to the
proper election authority, which must submit the question  at

an election in accordance with the Election Code.

    Section  15.  The  Illinois  Municipal Code is amended by
adding Section 3.1-40-60 as follows:

    (65 ILCS 5/3.1-40-60 new)
    Sec. 3.1-40-60.  Advisory referenda.  By a  vote  of  the
majority  of the members of the city council, the council may
authorize an advisory question of public policy to be  placed
on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election in the
municipality.  The city council shall certify the question to
the proper election authority, which must submit the question
at an election in accordance with the Election Code.

    Section  20.  The Park District Code is amended by adding
Section 8-30 as follows:

    (70 ILCS 1205/8-30 new)
    Sec. 8-30. Advisory referenda. By a vote of the  majority
of  the  members  of  the  park district board, the board may
authorize an advisory question of public policy to be  placed
on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election in the
district.  The board shall certify the question to the proper
election authority, which must  submit  the  question  at  an
election in accordance with the Election Code.

    Section  90.  The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
Section 8.27 as follows:

    (30 ILCS 805/8.27 new)
    Sec. 8.27. Exempt mandate.   Notwithstanding  Sections  6
and  8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required
for  the  implementation  of  any  mandate  created  by  this
amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.
    Section 97.  Severability.  The provisions  of  this  Act
are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

    Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.