HB2417ham002 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Robin Kelly

Filed: 4/6/2005

09400HB2417ham002 LRB094 09178 JAM 44391 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2417

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2417 on page 1, in line 6 by replacing "and 22-18" with "22-18, and 23-23"; and

on page 28, by inserting below line 34 the following:

"(10 ILCS 5/23-23) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-23)

Sec. 23-23. The case shall be tried in like manner as other civil cases, and may be heard and determined by the court at any time not less than 10 days after service of process, or at any time after the defendant is required by notification to appear, and shall have preference in the order of hearing to all other cases. The court may make and enforce all necessary orders for the preservation and production of the ballots, poll books, tally papers, returns, registers and other papers or evidence that may bear upon the contest.

Whenever a petition for a recount has been filed as provided in this Article, any opposing candidate or any elector, under like provisions and in like manner may file a petition within 10 days after the completion of the canvass of the precincts specified in the petition for a further recount of the votes cast in any or all of the balance of the precincts in the county, municipality or other political subdivision, as the case may be.

In event the court, in any such case, is of the opinion that such action will expedite hearing and determination of the contest, the court may appoint a Board of Election Commissioners or a Canvassing Board, as the case may be, and refer the case to the election authority it to recount the ballots, to take testimony and other evidence, to examine the election returns, to make a record of all objections to be heard by the court that may be made to the election returns or to any of them or to any ballots cast or counted, and to take all necessary steps and do all necessary things to determine the true and correct result of the election and to make report thereof to the court. The election authority Such Board of Election Commissioners or Canvassing Board, as the case may be, shall have authority to count the ballots or cause the same to be counted under its supervision and direction, to conduct such hearing or hearings as may be necessary and proper, to apply to the court in the manner provided by law for the issuance of subpoenas or for any other appropriate order or orders to compel the attendance of witnesses, and to take such steps and perform such duties and acts in connection with the conduct of any such hearing or hearings as may be necessary. The election authority Such Board of Election Commissioners or Canvassing Board, as the case may be, may, with the approval of the court, employ such assistants as may be necessary and proper to provide for counting the ballots, examining the election returns and for taking all necessary steps and doing all necessary things to determine the true and correct result of the election under the direction and supervision of the election authority Board of Election Commissioners or the Canvassing Board, as the case may be. The election authority Such Board of Election Commissioners or the Canvassing Board, as the case may be, shall receive such compensation for its services and such allowances for the services of its assistants and for reimbursement of expenses incurred by it as shall be approved by the court, and all such compensation and allowances when approved by the court shall be taxed and allowed as costs in such cause. The court may from time to time, upon the court's own motion or upon the application of the election authority Board of Election Commissioners or the Canvassing Board, as the case may be, or of any party to said cause, require the parties to the cause or any of them to deposit such amounts of money with the court as security for costs as the court may deem reasonable and proper.

Any petitioner may amend his petition at any time before the completion of the recount by withdrawing his request for a recount of certain precincts, or by requesting a recount of additional specified precincts. The petitioner shall deposit or shall cause to be deposited, such amounts of money as the court may require as security for costs for such additional precincts as the court may deem reasonable and proper.

Any money deposited as security for costs by a petitioner contesting an election must be returned to such petitioner if the judgment of the court is to annul the election or to declare as elected someone other than the person whose election is contested.

Any money deposited as security for costs by a petitioner in opposition to a petition contesting an election must be returned to such petitioner if the judgment of the court is to confirm the election or to declare as elected the person whose election is contested.

(Source: P.A. 78-255; 78-891; 78-1297.)".