Bill Text: IL SB2301 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Provides that, except for in a county with a population of at least 3,000,000 or where election judges are selected by election commissioners, an election authority may reduce the number of judges of election in each precinct from 5 to 3 for any election. Provides that, in certain cities, villages, and incorporated towns with a board of election commissioners, the board shall select and choose no less than 3 (rather than choose 5) persons as judges of election for each precinct. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-31 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB2301 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2301-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2301 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/13-1 from Ch. 46, par. 13-1
10 ILCS 5/13-2 from Ch. 46, par. 13-2
10 ILCS 5/14-1 from Ch. 46, par. 14-1
Amends the Election Code. Provides that, except for in a county with a population of at least 3,000,000 or where election judges are selected by election commissioners, an election authority may reduce the number of judges of election in each precinct from 5 to 3 for any election. Provides that, in certain cities, villages, and incorporated towns with a board of election commissioners, the board shall select and choose no less than 3 (rather than choose 5) persons as judges of election for each precinct. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
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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 13-1, 13-2, and 14-1 as follows:
(10 ILCS 5/13-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-1)
Sec. 13-1. In counties not under township organization,
the county board of commissioners shall at its meeting in July
in each even-numbered year appoint in each election precinct 5
capable and discreet persons meeting the qualifications of
Section 13-4 to be judges of election. Where neither voting
machines nor electronic, mechanical or electric voting systems
are used, the county board may, for any precinct with respect
to which the board considers such action necessary or
desirable in view of the number of voters, and shall for
general elections for any precinct containing more than 600
registered voters, appoint in addition to the 5 judges of
election a team of 5 tally judges. In such precincts the judges
of election shall preside over the election during the hours
the polls are open, and the tally judges, with the assistance
of the holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 13-6.2,
shall count the vote after the closing of the polls. However,
the County Board of Commissioners may appoint 3 judges of

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election to serve in lieu of the 5 judges of election otherwise
required by this Section (1) to serve in any emergency
referendum, or in any odd-year regular election or in any
special primary or special election called for the purpose of
filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the
United States Congress or to nominate candidates for such
purpose or (2) if the county board passes an ordinance to
reduce the number of judges of election to 3 for primary
elections. In addition, an election authority may reduce the
number of judges of election in each precinct from 5 to 3 for
any election. The tally judges shall possess the same
qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and
with the same division between political parties as is
provided for judges of election.
In addition to such precinct judges, the county board of
commissioners shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each,
who shall possess the same qualifications and shall be
appointed in the same manner and with the same division
between political parties as is provided for other judges of
election. The number of such panels of judges required shall
be determined by regulations of the State Board of Elections
which shall base the required numbers of special panels on the
number of registered voters in the jurisdiction or the number
of vote by mail ballots voted at recent elections, or any
combination of such factors.
Such appointment shall be confirmed by the court as

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provided in Section 13-3 of this Article. No more than 3
persons of the same political party shall be appointed judges
of the same election precinct or election judge panel. The
appointment shall be made in the following manner: The county
board of commissioners shall select and approve 3 persons as
judges of election in each election precinct from a certified
list, furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee
of the first leading political party in such precinct; and the
county board of commissioners shall also select and approve 2
persons as judges of election in each election precinct from a
certified list, furnished by the chair of the County Central
Committee of the second leading political party. However, if
only 3 judges of election serve in each election precinct, no
more than 2 persons of the same political party shall be judges
of election in the same election precinct; and which political
party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political
party is entitled to one judge of election shall be determined
in the same manner as set forth in the next two preceding
sentences with regard to 5 election judges in each precinct.
Such certified list shall be filed with the county clerk not
less than 10 days before the annual meeting of the county board
of commissioners. Such list shall be arranged according to
precincts. The chair of each county central committee shall,
insofar as possible, list persons who reside within the
precinct in which they are to serve as judges. However, he may,
in his sole discretion, submit the names of persons who reside

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outside the precinct but within the county embracing the
precinct in which they are to serve. He must, however, submit
the names of at least 2 residents of the precinct for each
precinct in which his party is to have 3 judges and must submit
the name of at least one resident of the precinct for each
precinct in which his party is to have 2 judges. The county
board of commissioners shall acknowledge in writing to each
county chair the names of all persons submitted on such
certified list and the total number of persons listed thereon.
If no such list is filed or such list is incomplete (that is,
no names or an insufficient number of names are furnished for
certain election precincts), the county board of commissioners
shall make or complete such list from the names contained in
the supplemental list provided for in Section 13-1.1. The
election judges shall hold their office for 2 years from their
appointment, and until their successors are duly appointed in
the manner provided in this Act. The county board of
commissioners shall fill all vacancies in the office of judge
of election at any time in the manner provided in this Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-337, eff. 8-25-17; 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)
(10 ILCS 5/13-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-2)
Sec. 13-2. In counties under the township organization the
county board shall at its meeting in July in each
even-numbered year except in counties containing a population
of 3,000,000 inhabitants or over and except when such judges

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are appointed by election commissioners, select in each
election precinct in the county, 5 capable and discreet
persons to be judges of election who shall possess the
qualifications required by this Act for such judges. Where
neither voting machines nor electronic, mechanical or electric
voting systems are used, the county board may, for any
precinct with respect to which the board considers such action
necessary or desirable in view of the number of voters, and
shall for general elections for any precinct containing more
than 600 registered voters, appoint in addition to the 5
judges of election a team of 5 tally judges. In such precincts
the judges of election shall preside over the election during
the hours the polls are open, and the tally judges, with the
assistance of the holdover judges designated pursuant to
Section 13-6.2, shall count the vote after the closing of the
polls. The tally judges shall possess the same qualifications
and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same
division between political parties as is provided for judges
of election.
However, the county board may appoint 3 judges of election
to serve in lieu of the 5 judges of election otherwise required
by this Section (1) to serve in any emergency referendum, or in
any odd-year regular election or in any special primary or
special election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy
in the office of representative in the United States Congress
or to nominate candidates for such purpose or (2) if the county

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board passes an ordinance to reduce the number of judges of
election to 3 for primary elections. In addition, an election
authority may reduce the number of judges of election in each
precinct from 5 to 3 for any election.
In addition to such precinct judges, the county board
shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each, who shall
possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the
same manner and with the same division between political
parties as is provided for other judges of election. The
number of such panels of judges required shall be determined
by regulations of the State Board of Elections, which shall
base the required number of special panels on the number of
registered voters in the jurisdiction or the number of
absentee ballots voted at recent elections or any combination
of such factors.
No more than 3 persons of the same political party shall be
appointed judges in the same election district or undivided
precinct. The election of the judges of election in the
various election precincts shall be made in the following
manner: The county board shall select and approve 3 of the
election judges in each precinct from a certified list
furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the
first leading political party in such election precinct and
shall also select and approve 2 judges of election in each
election precinct from a certified list furnished by the chair
of the County Central Committee of the second leading

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political party in such election precinct. However, if only 3
judges of election serve in each election precinct, no more
than 2 persons of the same political party shall be judges of
election in the same election precinct; and which political
party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political
party is entitled to one judge of election shall be determined
in the same manner as set forth in the next two preceding
sentences with regard to 5 election judges in each precinct.
The respective County Central Committee chair shall notify the
county board by June 1 of each odd-numbered year immediately
preceding the annual meeting of the county board whether or
not such certified list will be filed by such chair. Such list
shall be arranged according to precincts. The chair of each
county central committee shall, insofar as possible, list
persons who reside within the precinct in which they are to
serve as judges. However, he may, in his sole discretion,
submit the names of persons who reside outside the precinct
but within the county embracing the precinct in which they are
to serve. He must, however, submit the names of at least 2
residents of the precinct for each precinct in which his party
is to have 3 judges and must submit the name of at least one
resident of the precinct for each precinct in which his party
is to have 2 judges. Such certified list, if filed, shall be
filed with the county clerk not less than 20 days before the
annual meeting of the county board. The county board shall
acknowledge in writing to each county chair the names of all

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persons submitted on such certified list and the total number
of persons listed thereon. If no such list is filed or the list
is incomplete (that is, no names or an insufficient number of
names are furnished for certain election precincts), the
county board shall make or complete such list from the names
contained in the supplemental list provided for in Section
13-1.1. Provided, further, that in any case where a township
has been or shall be redistricted, in whole or in part,
subsequent to one general election for Governor, and prior to
the next, the judges of election to be selected for all new or
altered precincts shall be selected in that one of the methods
above detailed, which shall be applicable according to the
facts and circumstances of the particular case, but the
majority of such judges for each such precinct shall be
selected from the first leading political party, and the
minority judges from the second leading political party.
Provided, further, that in counties having a population of
3,000,000 inhabitants or over the selection of judges of
election shall be made in the same manner in all respects as in
other counties, except that the provisions relating to tally
judges are inapplicable to such counties and except that the
county board shall meet during the month of January for the
purpose of making such selection, each township
committeeperson shall assume the responsibilities given to the
chair of the county central committee in this Section for the
precincts within his or her township, and the township

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committeeperson shall notify the county board by the preceding
October 1 whether or not the certified list will be filed. Such
judges of election shall hold their office for 2 years from
their appointment and until their successors are duly
appointed in the manner provided in this Act. The county board
shall fill all vacancies in the office of judges of elections
at any time in the manner herein provided.
Such selections under this Section shall be confirmed by
the circuit court as provided in Section 13-3 of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 100-337, eff. 8-25-17; 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)
(10 ILCS 5/14-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-1)
Sec. 14-1. (a) The board of election commissioners
established or existing under Article 6 shall, at the time and
in the manner provided in Section 14-3.1, select and choose no
less than 3 5 persons, men or women, as judges of election for
each precinct in such city, village or incorporated town.
Where neither voting machines nor electronic, mechanical
or electric voting systems are used, the board of election
commissioners may, for any precinct with respect to which the
board considers such action necessary or desirable in view of
the number of voters, and shall for general elections for any
precinct containing more than 600 registered voters, appoint
in addition to the 5 judges of election chosen under this
subsection a team of 5 tally judges. In such precincts the
judges of election shall preside over the election during the

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hours the polls are open, and the tally judges, with the
assistance of the holdover judges designated pursuant to
Section 14-5.2, shall count the vote after the closing of the
polls. The tally judges shall possess the same qualifications
and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same
division between political parties as is provided for judges
of election. The foregoing provisions relating to the
appointment of tally judges are inapplicable in counties with
a population of 1,000,000 or more.
(b) To qualify as judges the persons must:
(1) be citizens of the United States;
(2) be of good repute and character and not subject to
the registration requirement of the Sex Offender
Registration Act;
(3) be able to speak, read and write the English
language;
(4) be skilled in the 4 fundamental rules of
arithmetic;
(5) be of good understanding and capable;
(6) not be candidates for any office at the election
and not be elected committeepersons;
(7) reside and be entitled to vote in the precinct in
which they are selected to serve, except that in each
precinct not more than one judge of each party may be
appointed from outside such precinct. Any judge so
appointed to serve in any precinct in which he is not

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entitled to vote must be entitled to vote elsewhere within
the county which encompasses the precinct in which such
judge is appointed and such judge must otherwise meet the
qualifications of this Section, except as provided in
subsection (c) or (c-5).
(c) An election authority may establish a program to
permit a person who is not entitled to vote to be appointed as
an election judge if, as of the date of the election at which
the person serves as a judge, he or she:
(1) is a U.S. citizen;
(2) is a junior or senior in good standing enrolled in
a public or private secondary school;
(3) has a cumulative grade point average equivalent to
at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
(4) has the written approval of the principal of the
secondary school he or she attends at the time of
appointment;
(5) has the written approval of his or her parent or
legal guardian;
(6) has satisfactorily completed the training course
for judges of election described in Sections 13-2.1,
13-2.2, and 14-4.1; and
(7) meets all other qualifications for appointment and
service as an election judge.
No more than one election judge qualifying under this
subsection may serve per political party per precinct. Prior

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to appointment, a judge qualifying under this subsection must
certify in writing to the election authority the political
party the judge chooses to affiliate with.
Students appointed as election judges under this
subsection shall not be counted as absent from school on the
day they serve as judges.
(c-5) An election authority may establish a program to
permit a person who is not entitled to vote in that precinct or
county to be appointed as an election judge if, as of the date
of the election at which the person serves as a judge, he or
she:
(1) is a U.S. citizen;
(2) is currently enrolled in a community college, as
defined in the Public Community College Act, or a public
or private Illinois university or college;
(3) has a cumulative grade point average equivalent to
at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
(4) has satisfactorily completed the training course
for judges of election described in Sections 13-2.1,
13-2.2, and 14-4.1; and
(5) meets all other qualifications for appointment and
service as an election judge.
No more than one election judge qualifying under this
subsection may serve per political party per precinct. Prior
to appointment, a judge qualifying under this subsection must
certify in writing to the election authority the political

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party the judge chooses to affiliate with.
Students appointed as election judges under this
subsection shall not be counted as absent from school on the
day they serve as judges.
(d) The board of election commissioners may select 2
additional judges of election, one from each of the major
political parties, for each 200 voters in excess of 600 in any
precinct having more than 600 voters as authorized by Section
11-3. These additional judges must meet the qualifications
prescribed in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.