HB0285 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 05599 MLM 15613 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB0285

Introduced , by Rep. Mike Fortner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/7-10	from Ch. 46, par. 7-10
10 ILCS 5/7-43	from Ch. 46, par. 7-43
10 ILCS 5/7-44	from Ch. 46, par. 7-44
10 ILCS 5/7-60	from Ch. 46, par. 7-60
10 ILCS 5/19-3	from Ch. 46, par. 19-3
10 ILCS 5/19-4.5 new
10 ILCS 5/19-5	from Ch. 46, par. 19-5
10 ILCS 5/19-8	from Ch. 46, par. 19-8
10 ILCS 5/19-12.1	from Ch. 46, par. 19-12.1
10 ILCS 5/20-3	from Ch. 46, par. 20-3
10 ILCS 5/20-4	from Ch. 46, par. 20-4
10 ILCS 5/20-4.5 new
10 ILCS 5/20-5	from Ch. 46, par. 20-5
10 ILCS 5/20-8	from Ch. 46, par. 20-8
10 ILCS 5/7-2 rep.
10 ILCS 5/7-3 rep.
10 ILCS 5/Art. 10 rep.

Amends the Election Code. Creates an open-primary system. Provides that primary ballots shall list each candidate for office, regardless of party affiliation, participating in the primary election. Provides that the 2 candidates in any primary that received the most votes in the primary election, regardless of party affiliation of the candidates, shall be the only 2 candidates certified for participation in the general election. Makes conforming changes.

A BILL FOR

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 7-10, 7-43, 7-44, 7-60, 19-3, 19-4, 19-5, 19-8, 19-12.1, 20-3, 20-4, 20-5, and 20-8 and by adding Sections 19-4.5 and 20-4.5 as follows:

(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.................. 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 that the candidate prefers, 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 election 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 election for 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

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, then the candidate's petition for nomination must contain the number of signatures equal to 0.4% of the number of votes cast in that district for the candidate for his or her political party for the office of Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected, but in no event less than 500 signatures. If a candidate seeks to run for judicial office in a 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 circuit or subcircuit was regularly scheduled to be elected, but in no event less than 1,000 signatures in circuits and subcircuits located in the First Judicial District or 500 signatures in every other Judicial District.

(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. In the case of the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, a joint petition including one candidate for each of those offices must be filed.

(Source: P.A. 96-1018, eff. 1-1-11; 97-81, eff. 7-5-11.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-43) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-43)

Sec. 7-43. Every person having resided in this State 6 months and in the precinct 30 days next preceding any primary therein who shall be a citizen of the United States of the age of 18 or more years shall be entitled to vote at such primary.

The following regulations shall be applicable to primaries:

No person shall be entitled to vote at a primary:

(a) Unless he declares his party affiliations as required by this Article.

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank).

(c.5) If that person has participated in the town political party caucus, under Section 45-50 of the Township Code, of another political party by signing an affidavit of voters attending the caucus within 45 days before the first day of the calendar month in which the primary is held.

(d) (Blank).

(a) In cities, villages, and incorporated towns having a board of election commissioners, only voters registered as provided by Article 6 of this Act shall be entitled to vote at such primary.

(b) No person shall be entitled to vote at a primary unless he or she is registered under the provisions of Articles 4, 5, or 6 of this Act, when his registration is required by any of said Articles to entitle him or her to vote at the election with reference to which the primary is held.

A person (i) who filed a statement of candidacy for a partisan office as a qualified primary voter of an established political party or (ii) who voted the ballot of an established political party at a general primary election may not file a statement of candidacy as a candidate of a different established political party or as an independent candidate for a partisan office to be filled at the general election immediately following the general primary for which the person filed the statement or voted the ballot. A person may file a statement of candidacy for a partisan office as a qualified primary voter of an established political party regardless of any prior filing of candidacy for a partisan office or voting the ballot of an established political party at any prior election.

(Source: P.A. 97-681, eff. 3-30-12; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-44) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-44)

Sec. 7-44. Voters; primary ballot. Any person desiring to vote at a primary shall state his or her name and , residence and party affiliation to the primary judges, one of whom shall thereupon announce the same in a distinct tone of voice, sufficiently loud to be heard by all persons in the polling place. When article 4, 5, or 6 is applicable the Certificate of Registered Voter therein prescribed shall be made and signed and the official poll record shall be made. If the person desiring to vote is not challenged, one of the primary judges shall give to him or her one, and only one, primary ballot listing each candidate for office, regardless of party affiliation, participating in the primary election of the political party with which he declares himself affiliated, on the back of which the such primary judge shall endorse his or her initials in such manner that they may be seen when the primary ballot is properly folded. If the person desiring to vote is challenged he or she shall not receive a primary ballot from the primary judges until he or she shall have established his or her right to vote as hereinafter provided in this Article. No person who refuses to state his party affiliation shall be allowed to vote at a primary.

A person who declares his party affiliation with a statewide established political party and requests a primary ballot of such party may nonetheless also declare his affiliation with a political party established only within a political subdivision, and may also vote in the primary of such local party on the same election day, provided that such voter may not vote in both such party primaries with respect to offices of the same political subdivision. However, no person declaring his affiliation with a statewide established political party may vote in the primary of any other statewide political party on the same election day.

(Source: P.A. 81-1535.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-60) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-60)

Sec. 7-60. Not less than 74 days before the date of the general election, the State Board of Elections shall certify to the county clerks the names of each of the candidates who have been nominated as shown by the proclamation of the State Board of Elections as a canvassing board or who have been nominated to fill a vacancy in nomination and direct the election authority to place upon the official ballot for the general election the names of such candidates in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification, except as otherwise provided in this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 2 candidates in any primary that received the most votes in the primary election, regardless of party affiliation of the candidates, shall be the only 2 candidates certified for participation in the general election.

Not less than 68 days before the date of the general election, each county clerk shall certify the names of each of the candidates for county offices who have been nominated as shown by the proclamation of the county election authority or who have been nominated to fill a vacancy in nomination and declare that the names of such candidates for the respective offices shall be placed upon the official ballot for the general election in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon the certification, except as otherwise provided by this Section. Each county clerk shall place a copy of the certification on file in his or her office and at the same time issue to the State Board of Elections a copy of such certification. In addition, each county clerk in whose county there is a board of election commissioners shall, not less than 68 days before the date of the general election, issue to such board a copy of the certification that has been filed in the county clerk's office, together with a copy of the certification that has been issued to the clerk by the State Board of Elections, with directions to the board of election commissioners to place upon the official ballot for the general election in that election jurisdiction the names of all candidates that are listed on such certifications, in the same manner and in the same order as shown upon such certifications, except as otherwise provided in this Section.

Whenever there are two or more persons nominated by the same political party for multiple offices for any board, the name of the candidate of such party receiving the highest number of votes in the primary election as a candidate for such office, as shown by the official election returns of the primary, shall be certified first under the name of such offices, and the names of the remaining candidates of such party for such offices shall follow in the order of the number of votes received by them respectively at the primary election as shown by the official election results.

No person who is shown by the final proclamation to have been nominated or elected at the primary as a write-in candidate shall have his or her name certified unless such person shall have filed with the certifying office or board within 10 days after the election authority's proclamation a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10, a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1, and a receipt for the filing of a statement of economic interests in relation to the unit of government to which he or she has been elected or nominated.

Each county clerk and board of election commissioners shall determine by a fair and impartial method of random selection the order of placement of established political party candidates for the general election ballot. Such determination shall be made within 30 days following the canvass and proclamation of the results of the general primary in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners and shall be open to the public. Seven days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given, by each such election authority, to the County Chairman of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. Each election authority shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the election authority office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. However, a board of election commissioners may elect to place established political party candidates on the general election ballot in the same order determined by the county clerk of the county in which the city under the jurisdiction of such board is located.

Each certification shall indicate, where applicable, the following:

(1) The political party affiliation of the candidates for the respective offices;

(2) If there is to be more than one candidate elected to an office from the State, political subdivision or district;

(3) If the voter has the right to vote for more than one candidate for an office;

(4) The term of office, if a vacancy is to be filled for less than a full term or if the offices to be filled in a political subdivision are for different terms.

The State Board of Elections or the county clerk, as the case may be, shall issue an amended certification whenever it is discovered that the original certification is in error.

(Source: P.A. 96-1008, eff. 7-6-10.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-3)

Sec. 19-3. The application for vote by mail ballot shall be substantially in the following form:

APPLICATION FOR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT

To be voted at the .... election in the County of .... and State of Illinois, in the .... precinct of the (1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in the City of ....

I state that I am a resident of the .... precinct of the (1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in the city of .... residing at .... in such city or town in the county of .... and State of Illinois; that I have lived at such address for .... month(s) last past; that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be held therein on ....; and that I wish to vote by vote by mail ballot.

I hereby make application for an official ballot or ballots to be voted by me at such election, and I agree that I shall return such ballot or ballots to the official issuing the same prior to the closing of the polls on the date of the election or, if returned by mail, postmarked no later than election day, for counting no later than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day.

I understand that this application is made for an official vote by mail ballot or ballots to be voted by me at the election specified in this application and that I must submit a separate application for an official vote by mail ballot or ballots to be voted by me at any subsequent election.

Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Section 29-10 of the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct.

....

*fill in either (1), (2) or (3).

Post office address to which ballot is mailed: ...............

However, if application is made for a primary election ballot, such application shall require the applicant to designate the name of the political party with which the applicant is affiliated.

If application is made electronically, the applicant shall mark the box associated with the above described statement included as part of the online application certifying that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct, and a signature is not required.

Any person may produce, reproduce, distribute, or return to an election authority the application for vote by mail ballot. Upon receipt, the appropriate election authority shall accept and promptly process any application for vote by mail ballot submitted in a form substantially similar to that required by this Section, including any substantially similar production or reproduction generated by the applicant.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-4.5 new)

Sec. 19-4.5. Absentee primary ballots.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person entitled to vote by absentee ballot at a primary shall not be required to declare his or her political party affiliation, and shall be provided with the ballot listing all candidates for offices for which the absentee voter is entitled to vote at that primary. The ballots provided for absentee voters shall be the same open-primary ballots as provided under 7-44 of this Act.

(b) With respect to the marking, casting, and counting of primary ballots, absentee voting shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 7-43 and 7-44 of this Code as well as the provisions of this Article.

(10 ILCS 5/19-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-5)

Sec. 19-5. It shall be the duty of the election authority to fold the ballot or ballots in the manner specified by the statute for folding ballots prior to their deposit in the ballot box, and to enclose such ballot or ballots in an envelope unsealed to be furnished by him, which envelope shall bear upon the face thereof the name, official title and post office address of the election authority, and upon the other side a printed certification in substantially the following form:

I state that I am a resident of the .... precinct of the (1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in the city of .... residing at .... in such city or town in the county of .... and State of Illinois, that I have lived at such address for .... months last past; and that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be held on .....

*fill in either (1), (2) or (3).

I further state that I personally marked the enclosed ballot in secret.

Under penalties of perjury as provided by law pursuant to Section 29-10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this certification are true and correct.

.......................

If the ballot is to go to an elector who is physically incapacitated and needs assistance marking the ballot, the envelope shall bear upon the back thereof a certification in substantially the following form:

I state that I am a resident of the .... precinct of the (1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in the city of .... residing at .... in such city or town in the county of .... and State of Illinois, that I have lived at such address for .... months last past; that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be held on ....; that I am physically incapable of personally marking the ballot for such election.

*fill in either (1), (2) or (3).

I further state that I marked the enclosed ballot in secret with the assistance of

.................................

(Individual rendering assistance)

.................................

(Residence Address)

Under penalties of perjury as provided by law pursuant to Section 29-10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this certification are true and correct.

.......................

In the case of a voter with a physical incapacity, marking a ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the assistance of another individual, other than a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical incapacity necessitates such assistance.

In the case of a physically incapacitated voter, marking a ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the assistance of another individual, other than a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical incapacity necessitates such assistance.

Provided, that if the ballot enclosed is to be voted at a primary election, the certification shall designate the name of the political party with which the voter is affiliated.

In addition to the above, the election authority shall provide printed slips giving full instructions regarding the manner of marking and returning the ballot in order that the same may be counted, and shall furnish one of such printed slips to each of such applicants at the same time the ballot is delivered to him. Such instructions shall include the following statement: "In signing the certification on the vote by mail ballot envelope, you are attesting that you personally marked this vote by mail ballot in secret. If you are physically unable to mark the ballot, a friend or relative may assist you after completing the enclosed affidavit. Federal and State laws prohibit a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless you are the spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), your employer, your employer's agent or an officer or agent of your union from assisting voters with physical disabilities."

In addition to the above, if a ballot to be provided to an elector pursuant to this Section contains a public question described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6 and the territory concerning which the question is to be submitted is not described on the ballot due to the space limitations of such ballot, the election authority shall provide a printed copy of a notice of the public question, which shall include a description of the territory in the manner required by Section 16-7. The notice shall be furnished to the elector at the same time the ballot is delivered to the elector.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-8)

Sec. 19-8. Time and place of counting ballots.

(a) (Blank.)

(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by that election authority before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and may be processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is received by the election authority in the central ballot counting location of the election authority, but the results of the processing may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).

(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots.

Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and, if the certification date is election day or earlier and the ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the ballot shall not be counted.

If an election authority is using an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed no later than election day.

(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by the election authority at any time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots that are mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that are received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same periods provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots received by the election authority after the closing of the polls on an election day shall be endorsed by the election authority receiving them with the day and hour of receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.

(f) Counting required under this Section to begin on election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been counted.

(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 and, with respect to primaries, in Section 19-4.5 of this Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition, within 2 days after a vote by mail ballot is received, but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of that vote by mail ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the vote by mail voter is otherwise qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or official determines that the signatures do not match, or that the vote by mail voter is not qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot, then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a vote by mail ballot may be rejected by the election judge or official:

(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed;

(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace period ballot;

(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or

(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.

If the election judge or official determines that any of these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

(g-5) If a vote by mail ballot is rejected by the election judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the vote by mail voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of the contested vote by mail ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.

A vote by mail ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots.

(g-10) All vote by mail ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.

(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-12.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-12.1)

Sec. 19-12.1. Any qualified elector who has secured an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card in accordance with the Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that the person named thereon has a Class 1A or Class 2 disability or any qualified voter who has a permanent physical incapacity of such a nature as to make it improbable that he will be able to be present at the polls at any future election, or any voter who is a resident of (i) a federally operated veterans' home, hospital, or facility located in Illinois or (ii) a facility licensed or certified pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act and has a condition or disability of such a nature as to make it improbable that he will be able to be present at the polls at any future election, may secure a voter's identification card for persons with disabilities or a nursing home resident's identification card, which will enable him to vote under this Article as a physically incapacitated or nursing home voter. For the purposes of this Section, "federally operated veterans' home, hospital, or facility" means the long-term care facilities at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Illiana Health Care System, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Marion VA Medical Center, and Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

Application for a voter's identification card for persons with disabilities or a nursing home resident's identification card shall be made either: (a) in writing, with voter's sworn affidavit, to the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, and shall be accompanied by the affidavit of the attending physician, advanced practice nurse, or a physician assistant specifically describing the nature of the physical incapacity or the fact that the voter is a nursing home resident and is physically unable to be present at the polls on election days; or (b) by presenting, in writing or otherwise, to the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, proof that the applicant has secured an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card indicating that the person named thereon has a Class 1A or Class 2 disability. Upon the receipt of either the sworn-to application and the physician's, advanced practice nurse's, or a physician assistant's affidavit or proof that the applicant has secured an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card indicating that the person named thereon has a Class 1A or Class 2 disability, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall issue a voter's identification card for persons with disabilities or a nursing home resident's identification card. Such identification cards shall be issued for a period of 5 years, upon the expiration of which time the voter may secure a new card by making application in the same manner as is prescribed for the issuance of an original card, accompanied by a new affidavit of the attending physician, advanced practice nurse, or a physician assistant. The date of expiration of such five-year period shall be made known to any interested person by the election authority upon the request of such person. Applications for the renewal of the identification cards shall be mailed to the voters holding such cards not less than 3 months prior to the date of expiration of the cards.

Each voter's identification card for persons with disabilities or nursing home resident's identification card shall bear an identification number, which shall be clearly noted on the voter's original and duplicate registration record cards. In the event the holder becomes physically capable of resuming normal voting, he must surrender his voter's identification card for persons with disabilities or nursing home resident's identification card to the county clerk or board of election commissioners before the next election.

The holder of a voter's identification card for persons with disabilities or a nursing home resident's identification card may make application by mail for an official ballot within the time prescribed by Section 19-2. Such application shall contain the same information as is included in the form of application for ballot by a physically incapacitated elector prescribed in Section 19-3 except that it shall also include the applicant's voter's identification card for persons with disabilities card number and except that it need not be sworn to. If an examination of the records discloses that the applicant is lawfully entitled to vote, he shall be mailed a ballot as provided in Section 19-4 and, if applicable, in Section 19-4.5. The ballot envelope shall be the same as that prescribed in Section 19-5 for voters with physical disabilities, and the manner of voting and returning the ballot shall be the same as that provided in this Article for other vote by mail ballots, except that a statement to be subscribed to by the voter but which need not be sworn to shall be placed on the ballot envelope in lieu of the affidavit prescribed by Section 19-5.

Any person who knowingly subscribes to a false statement in connection with voting under this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

For the purposes of this Section, "nursing home resident" includes a resident of (i) a federally operated veterans' home, hospital, or facility located in Illinois or (ii) a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act, the MC/DD Act, or the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. For the purposes of this Section, "federally operated veterans' home, hospital, or facility" means the long-term care facilities at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Illiana Health Care System, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Marion VA Medical Center, and Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

(Source: P.A. 98-104, eff. 7-22-13; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-180, eff. 7-29-15; 99-581, eff. 1-1-17; 99-642, eff. 6-28-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/20-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-3)

Sec. 20-3. The election authority shall furnish the following applications for registration by mail or vote by mail ballot which shall be considered a method of application in lieu of the official postcard.

1. Members of the United States Service, citizens of the United States temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States, and certified program participants under the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence Act may make application within the periods prescribed in Sections 20-2 or 20-2.1, as the case may be. Such application shall be substantially in the following form:

"APPLICATION FOR BALLOT

To be voted at the ............ election in the precinct in which is located my residence at ..............., in the city/village/township of ............(insert home address) County of ........... and State of Illinois.

I state that I am a citizen of the United States; that on (insert date of election) I shall have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct for 30 days; that on the above date I shall be the age of 18 years or above; that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at that election; that I am (check category 1, 2, or 3 below):

1. ( ) a member of the United States Service,

2. ( ) a citizen of the United States temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States and that I expect to be absent from the said county of my residence on the date of holding such election, and that I will have no opportunity to vote in person on that day.

3. ( ) a certified program participant under the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence Act.

I hereby make application for an official ballot or ballots to be voted by me at such election if I am absent from the said county of my residence, and I agree that I shall return said ballot or ballots to the election authority postmarked no later than election day, for counting no later than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day or shall destroy said ballot or ballots.

(Check below only if category 2 or 3 and not previously registered)

( ) I hereby make application to become registered as a voter and agree to return the forms and affidavits for registration to the election authority not later than 30 days before the election.

Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29 of the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct.

.........................

Post office address or service address to which registration materials or ballot should be mailed

.........................

.........................

.........................

........................"

If application is made for a primary election ballot, such application shall designate the name of the political party with which the applicant is affiliated.

Such applications may be obtained from the election authority having jurisdiction over the person's precinct of residence.

2. A spouse or dependent of a member of the United States Service, said spouse or dependent being a registered voter in the county, may make application on behalf of said person in the office of the election authority within the periods prescribed in Section 20-2 which shall be substantially in the following form:

"APPLICATION FOR BALLOT to be voted at the........... election in the precinct in which is located the residence of the person for whom this application is made at.............(insert residence address) in the city/village/township of......... County of.......... and State of Illinois.

I certify that the following named person................ (insert name of person) is a member of the United States Service.

I state that said person is a citizen of the United States; that on (insert date of election) said person shall have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct for which this application is made for 30 days; that on the above date said person shall be the age of 18 years or above; that said person is lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at that election; that said person is a member of the United States Service, and that in the course of his duties said person expects to be absent from his county of residence on the date of holding such election, and that said person will have no opportunity to vote in person on that day.

I hereby make application for an official ballot or ballots to be voted by said person at such election and said person agrees that he shall return said ballot or ballots to the election authority postmarked no later than election day, for counting no later than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day, or shall destroy said ballot or ballots.

I hereby certify that I am the (mother, father, sister, brother, husband or wife) of the said elector, and that I am a registered voter in the election precinct for which this application is made. (Strike all but one that is applicable.)

Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct.

Name of applicant ......................

Residence address ........................

City/village/township........................

Service address to which ballot should be mailed:

.........................

.........................

.........................

........................"

If application is made for a primary election ballot, such application shall designate the name of the political party with which the person for whom application is made is affiliated.

Such applications may be obtained from the election authority having jurisdiction over the voting precinct in which the person for whom application is made is entitled to vote.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/20-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-4)

Sec. 20-4. Immediately upon the receipt of the official postcard or an application as provided in Section 20-3 within the times heretofore prescribed, the election authority shall ascertain whether or not such applicant is legally entitled to vote as requested, including verification of the applicant's signature by comparison with the signature on the official registration record card, if any. If the election authority ascertains that the applicant is lawfully entitled to vote, it shall enter the name, street address, ward and precinct number of such applicant on a list to be posted in his or its office in a place accessible to the public. Within one day after posting the name and other information of an applicant for a ballot, the election authority shall transmit that name and posted information to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain the names and other information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees. As soon as the official ballot is prepared the election authority shall immediately deliver the same to the applicant in person, by mail, by facsimile transmission, or by electronic transmission as provided in Section 20-4.5, when applicable, and this Article.

If any such election authority receives a second or additional application which it believes is from the same person, he or it shall submit it to the chief judge of the circuit court or any judge of that court designated by the chief judge. If the chief judge or his designate determines that the application submitted to him is a second or additional one, he shall so notify the election authority who shall disregard the second or additional application.

The election authority shall maintain a list for each election of the voters to whom it has issued vote by mail ballots. The list shall be maintained for each precinct within the jurisdiction of the election authority. Prior to the opening of the polls on election day, the election authority shall deliver to the judges of election in each precinct the list of registered voters in that precinct to whom vote by mail ballots have been issued.

Election authorities may transmit by facsimile or other electronic means a ballot simultaneously with transmitting an application for vote by mail ballot; however, no such ballot shall be counted unless an application has been completed by the voter and the election authority ascertains that the applicant is lawfully entitled to vote as provided in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/20-4.5 new)

Sec. 20-4.5. Primary ballots.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person entitled to vote by absentee ballot at a primary shall not be required to declare his or her political party affiliation and shall be provided with a ballot including all candidates, regardless of party affiliation of the candidates, for offices for which the absentee voter is entitled to vote at that primary.

(b) With respect to the marking, casting, and counting of primary ballots, absentee voting shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 7-43 and 7-44 of this Code as well as the provisions of this Article.

(c) When voting absentee at a primary, the voter shall be instructed to discard or otherwise destroy any ballot that the voter does not intend to cast. Such a discarded or destroyed ballot is not the ballot the voter agreed in the absentee ballot application to return to the election authority.

(10 ILCS 5/20-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-5)

Sec. 20-5. The election authority shall fold the ballot or ballots in the manner specified by the statute for folding ballots prior to their deposit in the ballot box and shall enclose such ballot in an envelope unsealed to be furnished by it, which envelope shall bear upon the face thereof the name, official title and post office address of the election authority, and upon the other side of such envelope there shall be printed a certification in substantially the following form:

"CERTIFICATION

I state that I am a resident/former resident of the ....... precinct of the city/village/township of ............, (Designation to be made by Election Authority) or of the .... ward in the city of ........... (Designation to be made by Election Authority) residing at ................ in said city/village/township in the county of ........... and State of Illinois; that I am a

1. ( ) member of the United States Service

2. ( ) citizen of the United States temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States

3. ( ) nonresident civilian citizen

and desire to cast the enclosed ballot pursuant to Article 20 of the The Election Code; that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at the ........... election to be held on ............

I further state that I marked the enclosed ballot in secret.

Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29 of the The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this certification are true and correct.

...............(Name)

.....................

(Service Address)

"

.....................

.....................

.....................

"

If the ballot enclosed is to be voted at a primary election, the certification shall designate the name of the political party with which the voter is affiliated.

In addition to the above, the election authority shall provide printed slips giving full instructions regarding the manner of completing the forms and affidavits for registration by mail or the manner of marking and returning the ballot in order that the same may be counted, and shall furnish one of the printed slips to each of the applicants at the same time the registration materials or ballot is delivered to him.

In addition to the above, if a ballot to be provided to an elector pursuant to this Section contains a public question described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6 and the territory concerning which the question is to be submitted is not described on the ballot due to the space limitations of such ballot, the election authority shall provide a printed copy of a notice of the public question, which shall include a description of the territory in the manner required by Section 16-7. The notice shall be furnished to the elector at the same time the ballot is delivered to the elector.

The envelope in which such registration or such ballot is mailed to the voter as well as the envelope in which the registration materials or the ballot is returned by the voter shall have printed across the face thereof two parallel horizontal red bars, each one-quarter inch wide, extending from one side of the envelope to the other side, with an intervening space of one-quarter inch, the top bar to be one and one-quarter inches from the top of the envelope, and with the words "Official Election Balloting Material-VIA AIR MAIL" between the bars. In the upper right corner of such envelope in a box, there shall be printed the words: "U.S. Postage Paid 42 USC 1973". All printing on the face of such envelopes shall be in red, including an appropriate inscription or blank in the upper left corner of return address of sender.

The envelope in which the ballot is returned to the election authority may be delivered (i) by mail, postage paid, (ii) in person, by the spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister of the voter, or (iii) by a company engaged in the business of making deliveries of property and licensed as a motor carrier of property by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law.

Election authorities transmitting ballots by facsimile or electronic transmission shall, to the extent possible, provide those applicants with the same instructions, certification, and other materials required when sending by mail.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; revised 10-25-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/20-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-8)

Sec. 20-8. Time and place of counting ballots.

(a) (Blank.)

(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by that election authority may be processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is received by the election authority in the central ballot counting location of the election authority, but the results of the processing may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).

(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots.

Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and, if the certification date is election day or earlier and the ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the ballot shall not be counted.

If an election authority is using an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed no later than election day.

(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by the election authority at any time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballot that are mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that are received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same periods provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots received by the election authority after the closing of the polls on the day of election shall be endorsed by the person receiving the ballots with the day and hour of receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.

(f) Counting required under this Section to begin on election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been counted.

(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 and, with respect to primaries, in Section 20-4.5 of this Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition, within 2 days after a ballot subject to this Article is received, but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of that ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a ballot under this Article, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or official determines that the signatures do not match, or that the voter is not qualified to cast a ballot under this Article, then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a ballot subject to this Article may be rejected by the election judge or official:

(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed;

(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace period ballot;

(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or

(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.

If the election judge or official determines that any of these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

(g-5) If a ballot subject to this Article is rejected by the election judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of the contested ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.

A ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots.

(g-10) All ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.

(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-2 rep.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-3 rep.)

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 10 rep.)

Section 10. The Election Code is amended by repealing Sections 7-2 and 7-3 and Article 10.