93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2930

 

Introduced 2/6/2004, by William R. Haine

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/11-2   from Ch. 46, par. 11-2

    Amends the Election Code. Increases the maximum number of voters per precinct from 800 to 1,600 in counties with a population under 750,000. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section
5 11-2 as follows:
 
6     (10 ILCS 5/11-2)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-2)
7     Sec. 11-2. The County Board in each county, except in
8 counties having a population of 750,000 3,000,000 inhabitants
9 or over, shall, at its regular meeting in June, divide its
10 election precincts which contain more than 1,600 800 voters,
11 into election districts so that each district shall contain, as
12 near as may be practicable, 500 voters, and not more in any
13 case than 1,600 800. Whenever the County Board ascertains that
14 any election precinct contains more than 600 registered voters,
15 it may divide such precinct, at its regular meeting in June,
16 into election precincts so that each precinct shall contain, as
17 nearly as may be practicable, 500 voters. Insofar as is
18 practicable, each precinct shall be situated within a single
19 congressional, legislative and representative district and in
20 not more than one County Board district and one municipal ward.
21 In order to situate each precinct within a single district or
22 ward, the County Board shall change the boundaries of election
23 precincts after each decennial census as soon as is practicable
24 following the completion of congressional and legislative
25 redistricting. In determining whether a division of precincts
26 should be made, the county board may anticipate increased voter
27 registration in any precinct in which there is in progress new
28 construction of dwelling units which will be occupied by voters
29 more than 30 days before the next election. Each district shall
30 be composed of contiguous territory in as compact form as can
31 be for the convenience of the electors voting therein. The
32 several county boards in establishing districts shall describe

 

 

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1 them by metes and bounds and number them. And so often
2 thereafter as it shall appear by the number of votes cast at
3 the general election held in November of any year, that any
4 election district or undivided election precinct contains more
5 than 1,600 800 voters, the County Board of the county in which
6 the district or precinct may be, shall at its regular meeting
7 in June, or an adjourned meeting in July next, after such
8 November election, redivide or readjust such election district
9 or election precinct, so that no district or election precinct
10 shall contain more than the number of votes above specified. If
11 for any reason the County Board fails in any year to redivide
12 or readjust the election districts or election precinct, then
13 the districts or precincts as then existing shall continue
14 until the next regular June meeting of the County Board; at
15 which regular June meeting or an adjourned meeting in July the
16 County Board shall redivide or readjust the election districts
17 or election precincts in manner as herein required. When at any
18 meeting of the County Board any redivision, readjustment or
19 change in name or number of election districts or election
20 precincts is made by the County Board, the County Clerk shall
21 immediately notify the State Board of Elections of such
22 redivision, readjustment or change. The County Board in every
23 case shall fix and establish the places for holding elections
24 in its respective county and all elections shall be held at the
25 places so fixed. The polling places shall in all cases be upon
26 the ground floor in the front room, the entrance to which is in
27 a highway or public street which is at least 40 feet wide, and
28 is as near the center of the voting population of the precinct
29 as is practicable, and for the convenience of the greatest
30 number of electors to vote thereat; provided, however, where
31 the County Board is unable to secure a suitable polling place
32 within the boundaries of a precinct, it may select a polling
33 place at the most conveniently located suitable place outside
34 the precinct; but in no case shall an election be held in any
35 room used or occupied as a saloon, dramshop, bowling alley or
36 as a place of resort for idlers and disreputable persons,

 

 

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1 billiard hall or in any room connected therewith by doors or
2 hallways. No person shall be permitted to vote at any election
3 except at the polling place for the precinct in which he
4 resides, except as otherwise provided in this Section or
5 Article 19 of this Act. In counties having a population of
6 750,000 3,000,000 inhabitants or over the County Board shall
7 divide its election precincts that contain more than 800 voters
8 into election districts that contain, as nearly as possible, no
9 more than 500 voters and shall fix and establish places for
10 holding elections as hereinbefore provided during the month of
11 January instead of at its regular meeting in June or at an
12 adjourned meeting in July.
13     However, in the event that additional divisions of election
14 precincts are indicated after a division made by the County
15 Board in the month of January, such additional divisions may be
16 made by the County Board in counties having a population of
17 750,000 3,000,000 inhabitants or over, at the regular meeting
18 in June or at adjourned meeting in July. The county board of
19 such county may divide or readjust precincts at any meeting of
20 the county board when the voter registration in a precinct has
21 increased beyond 800 and an election is scheduled before the
22 next regular January or June meeting of the county board.
23     When in any city, village or incorporated town territory
24 has been annexed thereto or disconnected therefrom, which
25 annexation or disconnection becomes effective after election
26 precincts or election districts have been established as above
27 provided in this Section, the clerk of the municipality shall
28 inform the county clerk thereof as provided in Section 4-21,
29 5-28.1, or 6-31.1, whichever is applicable. In the event that a
30 regular meeting of the County Board is to be held after such
31 notification and before any election, the County Board shall,
32 at its next regular meeting establish new election precinct
33 lines in affected territory. In the event that no regular
34 meeting of the County Board is to be held before such election
35 the county clerk shall, within 5 days after being so informed,
36 call a special meeting of the county board on a day fixed by

 

 

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1 him not more than 20 days thereafter for the purpose of
2 establishing election precincts or election districts in the
3 affected territory for the ensuing elections.
4     At any consolidated primary or consolidated election at
5 which municipal officers are to be elected, and at any
6 emergency referendum at which a public question relating to a
7 municipality is to be voted on, notwithstanding any other
8 provision of this Code, the election authority shall establish
9 a polling place within such municipality, upon the request of
10 the municipal council or board of trustees at least 60 days
11 before the election and provided that the municipality provides
12 a suitable polling place. To accomplish this purpose, the
13 election authority may establish an election precinct
14 constituting a single municipality of under 500 population for
15 all elections, notwithstanding the minimum precinct size
16 otherwise specified herein.
17     Notwithstanding the above, when there are no more than 50
18 registered voters in a precinct who are entitled to vote in a
19 local government or school district election, the election
20 authority having jurisdiction over the precinct is authorized
21 to reassign such voters to one or more polling places in
22 adjacent precincts, within or without the election authority's
23 jurisdiction, for that election. For the purposes of such local
24 government or school district election only, the votes of the
25 reassigned voters shall be tallied and canvassed as votes from
26 the precinct of the polling place to which such voters have
27 been reassigned. The election authority having jurisdiction
28 over the precinct shall approve all administrative and polling
29 place procedures. Such procedures shall take into account voter
30 convenience, and ensure that the integrity of the election
31 process is maintained and that the secrecy of the ballot is not
32 violated.
33     Except in the event of a fire, flood or total loss of heat
34 in a place fixed or established by any county board or election
35 authority pursuant to this Section as a polling place for an
36 election, no election authority shall change the location of a

 

 

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1 polling place so established for any precinct after notice of
2 the place of holding the election for that precinct has been
3 given as required under Article 12 unless the election
4 authority notifies all registered voters in the precinct of the
5 change in location by first class mail in sufficient time for
6 such notice to be received by the registered voters in the
7 precinct at least one day prior to the date of the election.
8     The provisions of this Section apply to all precincts,
9 including those where voting machines or electronic voting
10 systems are used.
11 (Source: P.A. 86-867.)
 
12     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13 becoming law.