SB1529ham002 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie

Filed: 5/27/2016

09900SB1529ham002 LRB099 06102 MLM 49228 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1529

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1529, AS AMENDED, by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 1-3, 1-12, 1A-16.5, 1A-16.8, 4-8, 4-20, 4-33, 5-7, 5-28, 5-43, 6-35, 6-65, 6-79, 9-3, 10-6, 19-3, 19-4, 19-8, 20-2, 20-2.1, 20-2.2, 20-2.3, 20-3, 20-8, 20-10, 24C-12 and 29-5, and by adding Sections 1-13 and 1A-50 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 1-3)

Sec. 1-3. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Election" includes the submission of all questions of public policy, propositions, and all measures submitted to popular vote, and includes primary elections when so indicated by the context.

2. "Regular election" means the general, general primary, consolidated and consolidated primary elections regularly scheduled in Article 2A. The even numbered year municipal primary established in Article 2A is a regular election only with respect to those municipalities in which a primary is required to be held on such date.

3. "Special election" means an election not regularly recurring at fixed intervals, irrespective of whether it is held at the same time and place and by the same election officers as a regular election.

4. "General election" means the biennial election at which members of the General Assembly are elected. "General primary election", "consolidated election" and "consolidated primary election" mean the respective elections or the election dates designated and established in Article 2A of this Code.

5. "Municipal election" means an election or primary, either regular or special, in cities, villages, and incorporated towns; and "municipality" means any such city, village or incorporated town.

6. "Political or governmental subdivision" means any unit of local government, or school district in which elections are or may be held. "Political or governmental subdivision" also includes, for election purposes, Regional Boards of School Trustees, and Township Boards of School Trustees.

7. The word "township" and the word "town" shall apply interchangeably to the type of governmental organization established in accordance with the provisions of the Township Code. The term "incorporated town" shall mean a municipality referred to as an incorporated town in the Illinois Municipal Code, as now or hereafter amended.

8. "Election authority" means a county clerk or a Board of Election Commissioners.

9. "Election Jurisdiction" means (a) an entire county, in the case of a county in which no city board of election commissioners is located or which is under the jurisdiction of a county board of election commissioners; (b) the territorial jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners; and (c) the territory in a county outside of the jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners. In each instance election jurisdiction shall be determined according to which election authority maintains the permanent registration records of qualified electors.

10. "Local election official" means the clerk or secretary of a unit of local government or school district, as the case may be, the treasurer of a township board of school trustees, and the regional superintendent of schools with respect to the various school officer elections and school referenda for which the regional superintendent is assigned election duties by The School Code, as now or hereafter amended.

11. "Judges of election", "primary judges" and similar terms, as applied to cases where there are 2 sets of judges, when used in connection with duties at an election during the hours the polls are open, refer to the team of judges of election on duty during such hours; and, when used with reference to duties after the closing of the polls, refer to the team of tally judges designated to count the vote after the closing of the polls and the holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 13-6.2 or 14-5.2. In such case, where, after the closing of the polls, any act is required to be performed by each of the judges of election, it shall be performed by each of the tally judges and by each of the holdover judges.

12. "Petition" of candidacy as used in Sections 7-10 and 7-10.1 shall consist of a statement of candidacy, candidate's statement containing oath, and sheets containing signatures of qualified primary electors bound together.

13. "Election district" and "precinct", when used with reference to a 30-day residence requirement, means the smallest constituent territory in which electors vote as a unit at the same polling place in any election governed by this Act.

14. "District" means any area which votes as a unit for the election of any officer, other than the State or a unit of local government or school district, and includes, but is not limited to, legislative, congressional and judicial districts, judicial circuits, county board districts, municipal and sanitary district wards, school board districts, and precincts.

15. "Question of public policy" or "public question" means any question, proposition or measure submitted to the voters at an election dealing with subject matter other than the nomination or election of candidates and shall include, but is not limited to, any bond or tax referendum, and questions relating to the Constitution.

16. "Ordinance providing the form of government of a municipality or county pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution" includes ordinances, resolutions and petitions adopted by referendum which provide for the form of government, the officers or the manner of selection or terms of office of officers of such municipality or county, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4, 6 or 7 of Article VII of the Constitution.

17. "List" as used in Sections 4-11, 4-22, 5-14, 5-29, 6-60, and 6-66 shall include a computer tape or computer disc or other electronic data processing information containing voter information.

18. "Accessible" means accessible to persons with disabilities and elderly individuals for the purpose of voting or registration, as determined by rule of the State Board of Elections.

19. "Elderly" means 65 years of age or older.

20. "Person with a disability" means a person having a temporary or permanent physical disability.

21. "Leading political party" means one of the two political parties whose candidates for governor at the most recent three gubernatorial elections received either the highest or second highest average number of votes. The political party whose candidates for governor received the highest average number of votes shall be known as the first leading political party and the political party whose candidates for governor received the second highest average number of votes shall be known as the second leading political party.

22. "Business day" means any day in which the office of an election authority, local election official or the State Board of Elections is open to the public for a minimum of 7 hours.

23. "Homeless individual" means any person who has a nontraditional residence, including, but not limited to, a shelter, day shelter, park bench, street corner, or space under a bridge.

24. "Signature" means a name signed in ink or in digitized form. This definition does not apply to a nominating or candidate petition or a referendum petition.

25. "Intelligent mail barcode tracking system" means a printed trackable barcode attached to the return business reply envelope for mail-in ballots under Article 19 or Article 20 that allows an election authority to determine the date the envelope was mailed in absence of a postmark.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-12)

Sec. 1-12. Public university voting.

(a) Each appropriate election authority shall, in addition to the early voting conducted at locations otherwise required by law, conduct early voting, grace period registration, and grace period voting at the student union on the campus of a public university within the election authority's jurisdiction. The voting required by this subsection (a) to be conducted on campus must be conducted from the 6th day before a general primary or general election until and including the 4th day before a general primary or general election from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and as otherwise required by Article 19A of this Code, except that the voting required by this subsection (a) need not be conducted during a consolidated primary or consolidated election. If an election authority has voting equipment that can accommodate a ballot in every form required in the election authority's jurisdiction, then the election authority shall extend early voting and grace period registration and voting under this Section to any registered voter in the election authority's jurisdiction. However, if the election authority does not have voting equipment that can accommodate a ballot in every form required in the election authority's jurisdiction, then the election authority may limit early voting and grace period registration and voting under this Section to voters in precincts where the public university is located and precincts bordering the university. Each public university shall make the space available at the student union for, and cooperate and coordinate with the appropriate election authority in, the implementation of this subsection (a).

(b) (Blank).

(c) For the purposes of this Section, "public university" means the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Chicago State University, Governors State University, Southern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, and Northeastern Illinois University.

(d) For the purposes of this Section, "student union" means the Student Center at 750 S. Halsted on the University of Illinois-Chicago campus; the Public Affairs Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield or a new building completed after the effective date of this Act housing student government at the University of Illinois at Springfield; the Illini Union at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; the SIUC Student Center at the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale campus; the Morris University Center at the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville campus; the University Union at the Western Illinois University at the Macomb campus; the Holmes Student Center at the Northern Illinois University campus; the University Union at the Eastern Illinois University campus; NEIU Student Union at the Northeastern Illinois University campus; the Bone Student Center at the Illinois State University campus; the Cordell Reed Student Union at the Chicago State University campus; and the Hall of Governors in Building D at the Governors State University campus.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-13 new)

Sec. 1-13. Forms of signature. The making and signing of any form, including an application to register, a certificate authorizing cancellation of a registration or authorizing a transfer of registration, an application to vote, a provisional ballot, or affidavit, but not including a nominating or candidate petition or a referendum petition, may be by a signature written in ink or in digitized form.

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.5)

Sec. 1A-16.5. Online voter registration.

(a) The State Board of Elections shall establish and maintain a system for online voter registration that permits a person to apply to register to vote or to update his or her existing voter registration. In accordance with technical specifications provided by the State Board of Elections, each election authority shall maintain a voter registration system capable of receiving and processing voter registration application information, including electronic signatures, from the online voter registration system established by the State Board of Elections.

(b) The online voter registration system shall employ security measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of voter registration applications submitted electronically pursuant to this Section.

(c) The Board may receive voter registration information provided by applicants using the State Board of Elections' website, may cross reference that information with data or information contained in the Secretary of State's database in order to match the information submitted by applicants, and may receive from the Secretary of State the applicant's digitized signature upon a successful match of that applicant's information with that contained in the Secretary of State's database.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who is qualified to register to vote and who has an authentic Illinois driver's license or State identification card issued by the Secretary of State may submit an application to register to vote electronically on a website maintained by the State Board of Elections.

(e) An online voter registration application shall contain all of the information that is required for a paper application as provided in Section 1A-16 of this Code, except that the applicant shall be required to provide:

(1) the applicant's full Illinois driver's license or State identification card number;

(2) the last 4 digits of the applicant's social security number; and

(3) the date the Illinois driver's license or State identification card was issued.

(f) For an applicant's registration or change in registration to be accepted, the applicant shall mark the box associated with the following statement included as part of the online voter registration application:

"By clicking on the box below, I swear or affirm all of the following:

(1) I am the person whose name and identifying information is provided on this form, and I desire to register to vote in the State of Illinois.

(2) All the information I have provided on this form is true and correct as of the date I am submitting this form.

(3) I authorize the Secretary of State to transmit to the State Board of Elections my signature that is on file with the Secretary of State and understand that such signature will be used by my local election authority on this online voter registration application for admission as an elector as if I had signed this form personally.".

(g) Immediately upon receiving a completed online voter registration application, the online voter registration system shall send, by electronic mail, a confirmation notice that the application has been received. Within 48 hours of receiving such an application, the online voter registration system shall send by electronic mail, a notice informing the applicant of whether the following information has been matched with the Secretary of State database:

(1) that the applicant has an authentic Illinois driver's license or State identification card issued by the Secretary of State and that the driver's license or State identification number provided by the applicant matches the driver's license or State identification card number for that person on file with the Secretary of State;

(2) that the date of issuance of the Illinois driver's license or State identification card listed on the application matches the date of issuance of that card for that person on file with the Secretary of State;

(3) that the date of birth provided by the applicant matches the date of birth for that person on file with the Secretary of State; and

(4) that the last 4 digits of the applicant's social security number matches the last 4 digits for that person on file with the Secretary of State.

(h) If the information provided by the applicant matches the information on the Secretary of State's databases for any driver's license and State identification card holder and is matched as provided in subsection (g) above, the online voter registration system shall:

(1) retrieve from the Secretary of State's database files an electronic copy of the applicant's signature from his or her Illinois driver's license or State identification card and such signature shall be deemed to be the applicant's signature on his or her online voter registration application;

(2) within 2 days of receiving the application, forward to the county clerk or board of election commissioners having jurisdiction over the applicant's voter registration: (i) the application, along with the applicant's relevant data that can be directly loaded into the jurisdiction's voter registration system and (ii) a copy of the applicant's electronic signature and a certification from the State Board of Elections that the applicant's driver's license or State identification card number, driver's license or State identification card date of issuance, and date of birth and social security information have been successfully matched.

(i) Upon receipt of the online voter registration application, the county clerk or board of election commissioners having jurisdiction over the applicant's voter registration shall promptly search its voter registration database to determine whether the applicant is already registered to vote at the address on the application and whether the new registration would create a duplicate registration. If the applicant is already registered to vote at the address on the application, the clerk or board, as the case may be, shall send the applicant by first class mail, and electronic mail if the applicant has provided an electronic mail address on the original voter registration form for that address, a disposition notice as otherwise required by law informing the applicant that he or she is already registered to vote at such address. If the applicant is not already registered to vote at the address on the application and the applicant is otherwise eligible to register to vote, the clerk or board, as the case may be, shall:

(1) enter the name and address of the applicant on the list of registered voters in the jurisdiction; and

(2) send by mail, and electronic mail if the applicant has provided an electronic mail address on the voter registration form, a disposition notice to the applicant as otherwise provided by law setting forth the applicant's name and address as it appears on the application and stating that the person is registered to vote.

(j) An electronic signature of the person submitting a duplicate registration application or a change of address form that is retrieved and imported from the Secretary of State's driver's license or State identification card database as provided herein may, in the discretion of the clerk or board, be substituted for and replace any existing signature for that individual in the voter registration database of the county clerk or board of election commissioners.

(k) Any new registration or change of address submitted electronically as provided in this Section shall become effective as of the date it is received by the county clerk or board of election commissioners having jurisdiction over said registration. Disposition notices prescribed in this Section shall be sent within 5 business days of receipt of the online application or change of address by the county clerk or board of election commissioners.

(l) All provisions of this Code governing voter registration and applicable thereto and not inconsistent with this Section shall apply to online voter registration under this Section. All applications submitted on a website maintained by the State Board of Elections shall be deemed timely filed if they are submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on the 16th day final day for voter registration prior to an election. After the registration period for an upcoming election has ended and until the 2nd day following such election, the web page containing the online voter registration form on the State Board of Elections website shall inform users of the procedure for grace period voting.

(m) The State Board of Elections shall maintain a list of the name, street address, e-mail address, and likely precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be, of people who apply to vote online through the voter registration system and those names and that information shall be stored in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees.

(n) The Illinois State Board of Elections shall develop or cause to be developed an online voter registration system able to be accessed by at least the top two most used mobile electronic operating systems by January 1, 2016.

(o) (Blank).

(p) Each State department that maintains an Internet website must include a hypertext link to the homepage website maintained and operated pursuant to this Section 1A-16.5. For the purposes of this Section, "State department" means the departments of State Government listed in Section 5-15 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (General Provisions and Departments of State Government).

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.8)

Sec. 1A-16.8. Automatic transfer of registration based upon information from the National Change of Address database. The State Board of Elections shall cross-reference the statewide voter registration database against the United States Postal Service's National Change of Address database twice each calendar year, April 15 and October 1 in odd-numbered years and April 15 and December 1 in even-numbered years, and shall share the findings with the election authorities. An election authority shall automatically register any voter who has moved into its jurisdiction from another jurisdiction in Illinois or has moved within its jurisdiction provided that:

(1) the election authority whose jurisdiction includes the new registration address provides the voter an opportunity to reject the change in registration address through a mailing, sent by non-forwardable mail, to the new registration address, and

(2) when the election authority whose jurisdiction includes the previous registration address is a different election authority, then that election authority provides the same opportunity through a mailing, sent by forwardable mail, to the previous registration address.

This change in registration shall trigger the same inter-jurisdictional or intra-jurisdictional workflows as if the voter completed a new registration card, including the cancellation of the voter's previous registration. Should the registration of a voter be changed from one address to another within the State and should the voter appear at the polls and offer to vote from the prior registration address, attesting that the prior registration address is the true current address, the voter, if confirmed by the election authority as having been registered at the prior registration address and canceled only by the process authorized by this Section, shall be issued a regular ballot, and the change of registration address shall be canceled. If the election authority is unable to immediately confirm the registration, the voter shall be issued a provisional ballot and the provisional ballot shall be counted.

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

(10 ILCS 5/1A-50 new)

Sec. 1A-50. The ERIC Operations Trust Fund. The ERIC Operations Trust Fund (Trust Fund) is created as a nonappropriated trust fund to be held outside of the State treasury, with the State Treasurer as ex officio custodian. The Trust Fund shall be financed by a combination of private donations and by appropriations by the General Assembly. The Board may accept from all sources, contributions, grants, gifts, bequeaths, legacies of money, and securities to be deposited into the Trust Fund. All deposits shall become part of the Trust Fund corpus. Moneys in the Trust Fund are not subject to appropriation and shall be used by the Board solely for the costs and expenses related to the participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center pursuant to this Code.

All gifts, grants, assets, funds, or moneys received by the Board for the purpose of participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center shall be deposited and held in the Trust Fund by the State Treasurer separate and apart from all public moneys or funds of this State and shall be administered by the Board exclusively for the purposes set forth in this Section. All moneys in the Trust Fund shall be invested and reinvested by the State Treasurer. All interest accruing from these investments shall be deposited in the Trust Fund.

The ERIC Operations Trust Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative charge-backs, or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that would in any way transfer any amounts from the ERIC Operations Trust Fund into any other fund of the State.

(10 ILCS 5/4-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-8)

Sec. 4-8. The county clerk shall provide a sufficient number of blank forms for the registration of electors, which shall be known as registration record cards and which shall consist of loose leaf sheets or cards, of suitable size to contain in plain writing and figures the data hereinafter required thereon or shall consist of computer cards of suitable nature to contain the data required thereon. The registration record cards, which shall include an affidavit of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in duplicate.

The registration record card shall contain the following and such other information as the county clerk may think it proper to require for the identification of the applicant for registration:

Name. The name of the applicant, giving surname and first or Christian name in full, and the middle name or the initial for such middle name, if any.

Sex.

Residence. The name and number of the street, avenue, or other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit or room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home the lot number, and such additional clear and definite description as may be necessary to determine the exact location of the dwelling of the applicant. Where the location cannot be determined by street and number, then the section, congressional township and range number may be used, or such other description as may be necessary, including post-office mailing address. In the case of a homeless individual, the individual's voting residence that is his or her mailing address shall be included on his or her registration record card.

Term of residence in the State of Illinois and precinct. This information shall be furnished by the applicant stating the place or places where he resided and the dates during which he resided in such place or places during the year next preceding the date of the next ensuing election.

Nativity. The state or country in which the applicant was born.

Citizenship. Whether the applicant is native born or naturalized. If naturalized, the court, place, and date of naturalization.

Date of application for registration, i.e., the day, month and year when applicant presented himself for registration.

Age. Date of birth, by month, day and year.

Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time of registration, which would require assistance in voting.

The county and state in which the applicant was last registered.

Electronic mail address, if any.

Signature of voter. The applicant, after the registration and in the presence of a deputy registrar or other officer of registration shall be required to sign his or her name in ink or digitized form to the affidavit on both the original and duplicate registration record cards.

Signature of deputy registrar or officer of registration.

In case applicant is unable to sign his name, he may affix his mark to the affidavit. In such case the officer empowered to give the registration oath shall write a detailed description of the applicant in the space provided on the back or at the bottom of the card or sheet; and shall ask the following questions and record the answers thereto:

Father's first name.

Mother's first name.

From what address did the applicant last register?

Reason for inability to sign name.

Each applicant for registration shall make an affidavit in substantially the following form:

AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION

STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF .......

I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States; that on the date of the next election I shall have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct in which I reside 30 days and that I intend that this location shall be my residence; that I am fully qualified to vote, and that the above statements are true.

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

(His or her signature or mark)

Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).

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

Signature of registration officer. (To be signed in presence of registrant.)

Space shall be provided upon the face of each registration record card for the notation of the voting record of the person registered thereon.

Each registration record card shall be numbered according to precincts, and may be serially or otherwise marked for identification in such manner as the county clerk may determine.

The registration cards shall be deemed public records and shall be open to inspection during regular business hours, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. On written request of any candidate or objector or any person intending to object to a petition, the election authority shall extend its hours for inspection of registration cards and other records of the election authority during the period beginning with the filing of petitions under Sections 7-10, 8-8, 10-6 or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of electoral board hearings on any objections to petitions containing signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction of the election authority. The extension shall be for a period of hours sufficient to allow adequate opportunity for examination of the records but the election authority is not required to extend its hours beyond the period beginning at its normal opening for business and ending at midnight. If the business hours are so extended, the election authority shall post a public notice of such extended hours. Registration record cards may also be inspected, upon approval of the officer in charge of the cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by certified judges and poll watchers and challengers at the polling place on election day, but only to the extent necessary to determine the question of the right of a person to vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically handle the registration record cards.

Updated copies of computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information shall be furnished by the county clerk within 10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year and within 10 days after each registration period is closed to the State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the Board. For the purposes of this Section, a registration period is closed 27 days before the date of any regular or special election. Registration information shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, sex, residence, telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation, if applicable, precinct, ward, township, county, and representative, legislative and congressional districts. In the event of noncompliance, the State Board of Elections is directed to obtain compliance forthwith with this nondiscretionary duty of the election authority by instituting legal proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the election authority maintains the registration information. The costs of furnishing updated copies of tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034 per name of registered voters in the election jurisdiction, but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from appropriations made to the State Board of Elections for reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The State Board shall furnish copies of such tapes, discs, other electronic data or compilations thereof to state political committees registered pursuant to the Illinois Campaign Finance Act or the Federal Election Campaign Act and to governmental entities, at their request and at a reasonable cost. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of voter registration information, the disclosure of electronic voter registration records to any person or entity other than to a State or local political committee and other than to a governmental entity for a governmental purpose is specifically prohibited except as follows: subject to security measures adopted by the State Board of Elections which, at a minimum, shall include the keeping of a catalog or database, available for public view, including the name, address, and telephone number of the person viewing the list as well as the time of that viewing, any person may view the centralized statewide voter registration list on a computer screen at the Springfield office of the State Board of Elections, during normal business hours other than during the 27 days before an election, but the person viewing the list under this exception may not print, duplicate, transmit, or alter the list. Copies of the tapes, discs, or other electronic data shall be furnished by the county clerk to local political committees and governmental entities at their request and at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost of the tapes, discs, et cetera for this purpose would be the cost of duplication plus 15% for administration. The individual representing a political committee requesting copies of such tapes shall make a sworn affidavit that the information shall be used only for bona fide political purposes, including by or for candidates for office or incumbent office holders. Such tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be used under any circumstances by any political committee or individuals for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes. If such tapes contain information on county residents related to the operations of county government in addition to registration information, that information shall not be used under any circumstances for commercial solicitation or other business purposes. The prohibition in this Section against using the computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes shall be prospective only from the effective date of this amended Act of 1979. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.

The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October 1, 1987, such regulations as may be necessary to ensure uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing of voter registration information. The regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, specifications for uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to be employed by the election authorities of this State in the electronic data processing of voter registration information. Each election authority utilizing electronic data processing of voter registration information shall comply with such regulations on and after May 15, 1988.

If the applicant for registration was last registered in another county within this State, he shall also sign a certificate authorizing cancellation of the former registration. The certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

To the County Clerk of.... County, Illinois. (or)

To the Election Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.

This is to certify that I am registered in your (county) (city) and that my residence was ............................

Having moved out of your (county) (city), I hereby authorize you to cancel said registration in your office.

Dated at ...., Illinois, on (insert date).

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

(Signature of Voter)

Attest: ................, County Clerk, ............. County, Illinois.

The cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately by the County Clerk to the County Clerk (or election commission as the case may be) where the applicant was formerly registered. Receipt of such certificate shall be full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 10-1-13.)

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

Sec. 4-20. The original registration cards shall remain permanently in the office of the county clerk or election authority except as destroyed as provided in Section 4-5.01; shall be filed alphabetically without regard to precincts; and shall be known as the master file. The master file may be kept in a computer-based voter registration file or paper format, provided a secondary digital back-up is kept off site. The digital file shall be searchable and remain current with all registration activity conducted by the county clerk or election authority. The duplicate registration cards shall constitute the official registry of voters for all elections subject to the provisions of this Article 4, shall be filed by precincts alphabetically or geographically so as to correspond with the arrangement of the list for such precincts respectively, compiled pursuant to Section 4-11 of this Article, and shall be known as the precinct file. The duplicate cards for use in conducting elections shall be delivered to the judges of election by the county clerk in a suitable binder or other device, which shall be locked and sealed in accordance with the directions to be given by the county clerk and shall also be suitably indexed for convenient use by the precinct officers. The duplicate cards shall be delivered to the judges of election for use at the polls for elections at the same time as the official ballots are delivered to them, and shall be returned to the county clerk by the judges of election within the time provided for the return of the official ballots. The county clerk shall determine the manner of delivery and return of such duplicate cards, and shall at all other times retain them at his office except for such use of them as may be made under this Article with respect to registration not at the office of the county clerk.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/4-33)

Sec. 4-33. Computerization of voter records.

(a) The State Board of Elections shall design a registration record card that, except as otherwise provided in this Section, shall be used in duplicate by all election authorities in the State adopting a computer-based voter registration file as provided in this Section. The Board shall prescribe the form and specifications, including but not limited to the weight of paper, color, and print of the cards. The cards shall contain boxes or spaces for the information required under Sections 4-8 and 4-21; provided that the cards shall also contain: (i) A space for a person to fill in his or her Illinois driver's license number if the person has a driver's license; (ii) A space for a person without a driver's license to fill in the last four digits of his or her social security number if the person has a social security number.

(b) The election authority may develop and implement a system to prepare, use, and maintain a computer-based voter registration file that includes a computer-stored image of the signature of each voter. The computer-based voter registration file may be used for all purposes for which the original registration cards are to be used, provided that a system for the storage of at least one copy of the original registration cards remains in effect. In the case of voter registration forms received via an online voter registration system, the original registration cards will include the signature received from the Secretary of State database. The electronic file shall be the master file.

(b-2) The election authority may develop and implement a system to maintain registration cards in digital form using digitized signatures, which may be stored in a computer-based voter registration file under subsection (b) of this Section. The making and signing of any form, including an application to register and a certificate authorizing cancellation of a registration or authorizing a transfer of registration may be by a signature written in ink or by a digitized signature.

(c) Any system created, used, and maintained under subsection (b) of this Section shall meet the following standards:

(1) Access to any computer-based voter registration file shall be limited to those persons authorized by the election authority, and each access to the computer-based voter registration file, other than an access solely for inquiry, shall be recorded.

(2) No copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of any computer-based voter registration file that includes any computer-stored image of the signature of any registered voter shall be made available to the public outside of the offices of the election authority.

(3) Any copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of any computer-based voter registration file that includes a computer-stored image of the signature of a registered voter shall be produced in such a manner that it cannot be reproduced.

(4) Each person desiring to vote shall sign an application for a ballot, and the signature comparison authorized in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code may be made to a copy of the computer-stored image of the signature of the registered voter.

(5) Any voter list produced from a computer-based voter registration file that includes computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters and is used in a polling place during an election shall be preserved by the election authority in secure storage until the end of the second calendar year following the election in which it was used.

(d) Before the first election in which the election authority elects to use a voter list produced from the computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters in a computer-based voter registration file for signature comparison in a polling place, the State Board of Elections shall certify that the system used by the election authority complies with the standards set forth in this Section. The State Board of Elections may request a sample poll list intended to be used in a polling place to test the accuracy of the list and the adequacy of the computer-stored images of the signatures of the registered voters.

(e) With respect to a jurisdiction that has copied all of its voter signatures into a computer-based registration file, all references in this Act or any other Act to the use, other than storage, of paper-based voter registration records shall be deemed to refer to their computer-based equivalents.

(f) Nothing in this Section prevents an election authority from submitting to the State Board of Elections a duplicate copy of some, as the State Board of Elections shall determine, or all of the data contained in each voter registration record that is part of the electronic master file. The duplicate copy of the registration record shall be maintained by the State Board of Elections under the same terms and limitations applicable to the election authority and shall be of equal legal dignity with the original registration record maintained by the election authority as proof of any fact contained in the voter registration record.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

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

Sec. 5-7. The county clerk shall provide a sufficient number of blank forms for the registration of electors which shall be known as registration record cards and which shall consist of loose leaf sheets or cards, of suitable size to contain in plain writing and figures the data hereinafter required thereon or shall consist of computer cards of suitable nature to contain the data required thereon. The registration record cards, which shall include an affidavit of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in duplicate.

The registration record card shall contain the following and such other information as the county clerk may think it proper to require for the identification of the applicant for registration:

Name. The name of the applicant, giving surname and first or Christian name in full, and the middle name or the initial for such middle name, if any.

Sex.

Residence. The name and number of the street, avenue, or other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit or room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home the lot number, and such additional clear and definite description as may be necessary to determine the exact location of the dwelling of the applicant, including post-office mailing address. In the case of a homeless individual, the individual's voting residence that is his or her mailing address shall be included on his or her registration record card.

Term of residence in the State of Illinois and the precinct. Which questions may be answered by the applicant stating, in excess of 30 days in the State and in excess of 30 days in the precinct.

Nativity. The State or country in which the applicant was born.

Citizenship. Whether the applicant is native born or naturalized. If naturalized, the court, place and date of naturalization.

Date of application for registration, i.e., the day, month and year when applicant presented himself for registration.

Age. Date of birth, by month, day and year.

Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time of registration, which would require assistance in voting.

The county and state in which the applicant was last registered.

Electronic mail address, if any.

Signature of voter. The applicant, after the registration and in the presence of a deputy registrar or other officer of registration shall be required to sign his or her name in ink or digitized form to the affidavit on the original and duplicate registration record card.

Signature of Deputy Registrar.

In case applicant is unable to sign his name, he may affix his mark to the affidavit. In such case the officer empowered to give the registration oath shall write a detailed description of the applicant in the space provided at the bottom of the card or sheet; and shall ask the following questions and record the answers thereto:

Father's first name .......................

Mother's first name .......................

From what address did you last register?

Reason for inability to sign name.

Each applicant for registration shall make an affidavit in substantially the following form:

AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION

State of Illinois)

)ss County of )

I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States; that on the date of the next election I shall have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct in which I reside 30 days; that I am fully qualified to vote. That I intend that this location shall be my residence and that the above statements are true.

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

(His or her signature or mark)

Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).

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

Signature of Registration Officer. (To be signed in presence of Registrant.)

Space shall be provided upon the face of each registration record card for the notation of the voting record of the person registered thereon.

Each registration record card shall be numbered according to towns and precincts, wards, cities and villages, as the case may be, and may be serially or otherwise marked for identification in such manner as the county clerk may determine.

The registration cards shall be deemed public records and shall be open to inspection during regular business hours, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. On written request of any candidate or objector or any person intending to object to a petition, the election authority shall extend its hours for inspection of registration cards and other records of the election authority during the period beginning with the filing of petitions under Sections 7-10, 8-8, 10-6 or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of electoral board hearings on any objections to petitions containing signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction of the election authority. The extension shall be for a period of hours sufficient to allow adequate opportunity for examination of the records but the election authority is not required to extend its hours beyond the period beginning at its normal opening for business and ending at midnight. If the business hours are so extended, the election authority shall post a public notice of such extended hours. Registration record cards may also be inspected, upon approval of the officer in charge of the cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by certified judges and poll watchers and challengers at the polling place on election day, but only to the extent necessary to determine the question of the right of a person to vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically handle the registration record cards.

Updated copies of computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information shall be furnished by the county clerk within 10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year and within 10 days after each registration period is closed to the State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the Board. For the purposes of this Section, a registration period is closed 27 days before the date of any regular or special election. Registration information shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, sex, residence, telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation, if applicable, precinct, ward, township, county, and representative, legislative and congressional districts. In the event of noncompliance, the State Board of Elections is directed to obtain compliance forthwith with this nondiscretionary duty of the election authority by instituting legal proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the election authority maintains the registration information. The costs of furnishing updated copies of tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034 per name of registered voters in the election jurisdiction, but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from appropriations made to the State Board of Elections for reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The State Board shall furnish copies of such tapes, discs, other electronic data or compilations thereof to state political committees registered pursuant to the Illinois Campaign Finance Act or the Federal Election Campaign Act and to governmental entities, at their request and at a reasonable cost. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of voter registration information, the disclosure of electronic voter registration records to any person or entity other than to a State or local political committee and other than to a governmental entity for a governmental purpose is specifically prohibited except as follows: subject to security measures adopted by the State Board of Elections which, at a minimum, shall include the keeping of a catalog or database, available for public view, including the name, address, and telephone number of the person viewing the list as well as the time of that viewing, any person may view the centralized statewide voter registration list on a computer screen at the Springfield office of the State Board of Elections, during normal business hours other than during the 27 days before an election, but the person viewing the list under this exception may not print, duplicate, transmit, or alter the list. Copies of the tapes, discs or other electronic data shall be furnished by the county clerk to local political committees and governmental entities at their request and at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost of the tapes, discs, et cetera for this purpose would be the cost of duplication plus 15% for administration. The individual representing a political committee requesting copies of such tapes shall make a sworn affidavit that the information shall be used only for bona fide political purposes, including by or for candidates for office or incumbent office holders. Such tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be used under any circumstances by any political committee or individuals for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes. If such tapes contain information on county residents related to the operations of county government in addition to registration information, that information shall not be used under any circumstances for commercial solicitation or other business purposes. The prohibition in this Section against using the computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes shall be prospective only from the effective date of this amended Act of 1979. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.

The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October 1, 1987, such regulations as may be necessary to ensure uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing of voter registration information. The regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, specifications for uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to be employed by the election authorities of this State in the electronic data processing of voter registration information. Each election authority utilizing electronic data processing of voter registration information shall comply with such regulations on and after May 15, 1988.

If the applicant for registration was last registered in another county within this State, he shall also sign a certificate authorizing cancellation of the former registration. The certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

To the County Clerk of .... County, Illinois. To the Election Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.

This is to certify that I am registered in your (county) (city) and that my residence was .....

Having moved out of your (county) (city), I hereby authorize you to cancel said registration in your office.

Dated at .... Illinois, on (insert date).

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

(Signature of Voter)

Attest ......, County Clerk, ........ County, Illinois.

The cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately by the county clerk to the county clerk (or election commission as the case may be) where the applicant was formerly registered. Receipt of such certificate shall be full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 10-1-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/5-28) (from Ch. 46, par. 5-28)

Sec. 5-28. The original registration record cards shall remain permanently in the office of the county clerk or election authority except as destroyed as provided in Section 5-6; shall be filed alphabetically without regard to precincts; and shall be known as the master file. The master file may be kept in a computer-based voter registration file or paper format, provided a secondary digital back-up is kept off site. The digital file shall be searchable and remain current with all registration activity conducted by the county clerk or election authority. The duplicate registration record cards shall constitute the official registry of voters for all elections and shall be filed by precincts and townships. The duplicate cards for use in conducting elections shall be delivered to the judges of election by the county clerk in a suitable binder or other device, which shall be locked and sealed in accordance with the directions to be given by the county clerk and shall also be suitably indexed for convenient use by the precinct officers. The precinct files shall be delivered to the judges of election for use at the polls for elections at the same time as the official ballots are delivered to them, and shall be returned to the county clerk by the judges of election within the time provided for the return of the official ballots. The county clerk shall determine the manner of return and delivery of such file.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/5-43)

Sec. 5-43. Computerization of voter records.

(a) The State Board of Elections shall design a registration record card that, except as otherwise provided in this Section, shall be used in duplicate by all election authorities in the State adopting a computer-based voter registration file as provided in this Section. The Board shall prescribe the form and specifications, including but not limited to the weight of paper, color, and print of the cards. The cards shall contain boxes or spaces for the information required under Sections 5-7 and 5-28.1; provided that the cards shall also contain: (i) A space for the person to fill in his or her Illinois driver's license number if the person has a driver's license; (ii) A space for a person without a driver's license to fill in the last four digits of his or her social security number if the person has a social security number.

(b) The election authority may develop and implement a system to prepare, use, and maintain a computer-based voter registration file that includes a computer-stored image of the signature of each voter. The computer-based voter registration file may be used for all purposes for which the original registration cards are to be used, provided that a system for the storage of at least one copy of the original registration cards remains in effect. In the case of voter registration forms received via an online voter registration system, the original registration cards will include the signature received from the Secretary of State database. The electronic file shall be the master file.

(b-2) The election authority may develop and implement a system to maintain registration cards in digital form using digitized signatures, which may be stored in a computer-based voter registration file under subsection (b) of this Section. The making and signing of any form, including an application to register and a certificate authorizing cancellation of a registration or authorizing a transfer of registration may be by a signature written in ink or by a digitized signature.

(c) Any system created, used, and maintained under subsection (b) of this Section shall meet the following standards:

(1) Access to any computer-based voter registration file shall be limited to those persons authorized by the election authority, and each access to the computer-based voter registration file, other than an access solely for inquiry, shall be recorded.

(2) No copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of any computer-based voter registration file that includes any computer-stored image of the signature of any registered voter shall be made available to the public outside of the offices of the election authority.

(3) Any copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of any computer-based voter registration file that includes a computer-stored image of the signature of a registered voter shall be produced in such a manner that it cannot be reproduced.

(4) Each person desiring to vote shall sign an application for a ballot, and the signature comparison authorized in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code may be made to a copy of the computer-stored image of the signature of the registered voter.

(5) Any voter list produced from a computer-based voter registration file that includes computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters and is used in a polling place during an election shall be preserved by the election authority in secure storage until the end of the second calendar year following the election in which it was used.

(d) Before the first election in which the election authority elects to use a voter list produced from the computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters in a computer-based voter registration file for signature comparison in a polling place, the State Board of Elections shall certify that the system used by the election authority complies with the standards set forth in this Section. The State Board of Elections may request a sample poll list intended to be used in a polling place to test the accuracy of the list and the adequacy of the computer-stored images of the signatures of the registered voters.

(e) With respect to a jurisdiction that has copied all of its voter signatures into a computer-based registration file, all references in this Act or any other Act to the use, other than storage, of paper-based voter registration records shall be deemed to refer to their computer-based equivalents.

(f) Nothing in this Section prevents an election authority from submitting to the State Board of Elections a duplicate copy of some, as the State Board of Elections shall determine, or all of the data contained in each voter registration record that is part of the electronic master file. The duplicate copy of the registration record shall be maintained by the State Board of Elections under the same terms and limitations applicable to the election authority and shall be of equal legal dignity with the original registration record maintained by the election authority as proof of any fact contained in the voter registration record.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-35) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-35)

Sec. 6-35. The Boards of Election Commissioners shall provide a sufficient number of blank forms for the registration of electors which shall be known as registration record cards and which shall consist of loose leaf sheets or cards, of suitable size to contain in plain writing and figures the data hereinafter required thereon or shall consist of computer cards of suitable nature to contain the data required thereon. The registration record cards, which shall include an affidavit of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in duplicate. The duplicate of which may be a carbon copy of the original or a copy of the original made by the use of other method or material used for making simultaneous true copies or duplications.

The registration record card shall contain the following and such other information as the Board of Election Commissioners may think it proper to require for the identification of the applicant for registration:

Name. The name of the applicant, giving surname and first or Christian name in full, and the middle name or the initial for such middle name, if any.

Sex.

Residence. The name and number of the street, avenue, or other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit or room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home the lot number, and such additional clear and definite description as may be necessary to determine the exact location of the dwelling of the applicant, including post-office mailing address. In the case of a homeless individual, the individual's voting residence that is his or her mailing address shall be included on his or her registration record card.

Term of residence in the State of Illinois and the precinct.

Nativity. The state or country in which the applicant was born.

Citizenship. Whether the applicant is native born or naturalized. If naturalized, the court, place, and date of naturalization.

Date of application for registration, i.e., the day, month and year when the applicant presented himself for registration.

Age. Date of birth, by month, day and year.

Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time of registration, which would require assistance in voting.

The county and state in which the applicant was last registered.

Electronic mail address, if any.

Signature of voter. The applicant, after registration and in the presence of a deputy registrar or other officer of registration shall be required to sign his or her name in ink or digitized form to the affidavit on both the original and the duplicate registration record card.

Signature of deputy registrar.

In case applicant is unable to sign his name, he may affix his mark to the affidavit. In such case the registration officer shall write a detailed description of the applicant in the space provided at the bottom of the card or sheet; and shall ask the following questions and record the answers thereto:

Father's first name .........................

Mother's first name .........................

From what address did you last register? ....

Reason for inability to sign name ...........

Each applicant for registration shall make an affidavit in substantially the following form:

AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION

State of Illinois ) )ss County of ....... )

I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States, that on the day of the next election I shall have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct 30 days and that I intend that this location is my residence; that I am fully qualified to vote, and that the above statements are true.

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

(His or her signature or mark)

Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).

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

Signature of registration officer (to be signed in presence of registrant).

Space shall be provided upon the face of each registration record card for the notation of the voting record of the person registered thereon.

Each registration record card shall be numbered according to wards or precincts, as the case may be, and may be serially or otherwise marked for identification in such manner as the Board of Election Commissioners may determine.

The registration cards shall be deemed public records and shall be open to inspection during regular business hours, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. On written request of any candidate or objector or any person intending to object to a petition, the election authority shall extend its hours for inspection of registration cards and other records of the election authority during the period beginning with the filing of petitions under Sections 7-10, 8-8, 10-6 or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of electoral board hearings on any objections to petitions containing signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction of the election authority. The extension shall be for a period of hours sufficient to allow adequate opportunity for examination of the records but the election authority is not required to extend its hours beyond the period beginning at its normal opening for business and ending at midnight. If the business hours are so extended, the election authority shall post a public notice of such extended hours. Registration record cards may also be inspected, upon approval of the officer in charge of the cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by certified judges and poll watchers and challengers at the polling place on election day, but only to the extent necessary to determine the question of the right of a person to vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically handle the registration record cards.

Updated copies of computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information shall be furnished by the Board of Election Commissioners within 10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year and within 10 days after each registration period is closed to the State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the State Board. For the purposes of this Section, a registration period is closed 27 days before the date of any regular or special election. Registration information shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, sex, residence, telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation, if applicable, precinct, ward, township, county, and representative, legislative and congressional districts. In the event of noncompliance, the State Board of Elections is directed to obtain compliance forthwith with this nondiscretionary duty of the election authority by instituting legal proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the election authority maintains the registration information. The costs of furnishing updated copies of tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034 per name of registered voters in the election jurisdiction, but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from appropriations made to the State Board of Elections for reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The State Board shall furnish copies of such tapes, discs, other electronic data or compilations thereof to state political committees registered pursuant to the Illinois Campaign Finance Act or the Federal Election Campaign Act and to governmental entities, at their request and at a reasonable cost. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of voter registration information, the disclosure of electronic voter registration records to any person or entity other than to a State or local political committee and other than to a governmental entity for a governmental purpose is specifically prohibited except as follows: subject to security measures adopted by the State Board of Elections which, at a minimum, shall include the keeping of a catalog or database, available for public view, including the name, address, and telephone number of the person viewing the list as well as the time of that viewing, any person may view the centralized statewide voter registration list on a computer screen at the Springfield office of the State Board of Elections, during normal business hours other than during the 27 days before an election, but the person viewing the list under this exception may not print, duplicate, transmit, or alter the list. Copies of the tapes, discs or other electronic data shall be furnished by the Board of Election Commissioners to local political committees and governmental entities at their request and at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost of the tapes, discs, et cetera for this purpose would be the cost of duplication plus 15% for administration. The individual representing a political committee requesting copies of such tapes shall make a sworn affidavit that the information shall be used only for bona fide political purposes, including by or for candidates for office or incumbent office holders. Such tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be used under any circumstances by any political committee or individuals for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes. If such tapes contain information on county residents related to the operations of county government in addition to registration information, that information shall not be used under any circumstances for commercial solicitation or other business purposes. The prohibition in this Section against using the computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes shall be prospective only from the effective date of this amended Act of 1979. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.

The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October 1, 1987, such regulations as may be necessary to ensure uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing of voter registration information. The regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, specifications for uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to be employed by the election authorities of this State in the electronic data processing of voter registration information. Each election authority utilizing electronic data processing of voter registration information shall comply with such regulations on and after May 15, 1988.

If the applicant for registration was last registered in another county within this State, he shall also sign a certificate authorizing cancellation of the former registration. The certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

To the County Clerk of .... County, Illinois.

To the Election Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.

This is to certify that I am registered in your (county) (city) and that my residence was ..... Having moved out of your (county), (city), I hereby authorize you to cancel that registration in your office.

Dated at ...., Illinois, on (insert date).

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

(Signature of Voter)

Attest ...., Clerk, Election Commission of the City of...., Illinois.

The cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately by the clerk of the Election Commission to the county clerk, (or Election Commission as the case may be) where the applicant was formerly registered. Receipt of such certificate shall be full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 10-1-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-65) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-65)

Sec. 6-65.

The duplicate registration record cards shall remain permanently in the office of the Board of Election Commissioners; shall be filed alphabetically without regard to wards or precincts; and shall be known as the master file. The master file may be kept in a computer-based voter registration file or paper format, provided a secondary digital back-up is kept off site. The digital file shall be searchable and remain current with all registration activity conducted by the Board of Election Commissioners. The original registration record cards shall constitute the official precinct registry of voters; shall be filed by wards and precincts; and shall be known as the precinct file. The original cards shall be delivered to the judges of election by the Board of Election Commissioners in a suitable binder or other device, which shall be locked and sealed in accordance with directions to be given by the Board of Election Commissioners and shall also be suitably indexed for convenient use by the precinct officers. The precinct files shall be delivered to the precinct officers for use at the polls, on the day of election and shall be returned to the Board of Election Commissioners immediately after the close of the polls. The board shall determine by rules the manner of delivery and return to such file. At all other times the precinct file shall be retained at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners except for such use of it as may be made under this Article with respect to registration not at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners.

(Source: P.A. 78-934.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-79)

Sec. 6-79. Computerization of voter records.

(a) The State Board of Elections shall design a registration record card that, except as otherwise provided in this Section, shall be used in duplicate by all election authorities in the State adopting a computer-based voter registration file as provided in this Section. The Board shall prescribe the form and specifications, including but not limited to the weight of paper, color, and print of the cards. The cards shall contain boxes or spaces for the information required under Sections 6-31.1 and 6-35; provided that the cards shall also contain: (i) A space for the person to fill in his or her Illinois driver's license number if the person has a driver's license; (ii) A space for a person without a driver's license to fill in the last four digits of his or her social security number if the person has a social security number.

(b) The election authority may develop and implement a system to prepare, use, and maintain a computer-based voter registration file that includes a computer-stored image of the signature of each voter. The computer-based voter registration file may be used for all purposes for which the original registration cards are to be used, provided that a system for the storage of at least one copy of the original registration cards remains in effect. In the case of voter registration forms received via an online voter registration system, the original registration cards will include the signature received from the Secretary of State database. The electronic file shall be the master file.

(b-2) The election authority may develop and implement a system to maintain registration cards in digital form using digitized signatures, which may be stored in a computer-based voter registration file under subsection (b) of this Section. The making and signing of any form, including an application to register and a certificate authorizing cancellation of a registration or authorizing a transfer of registration may be by a signature written in ink or by a digitized signature.

(c) Any system created, used, and maintained under subsection (b) of this Section shall meet the following standards:

(1) Access to any computer-based voter registration file shall be limited to those persons authorized by the election authority, and each access to the computer-based voter registration file, other than an access solely for inquiry, shall be recorded.

(2) No copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of any computer-based voter registration file that includes any computer-stored image of the signature of any registered voter shall be made available to the public outside of the offices of the election authority.

(3) Any copy, summary, list, abstract, or index of any computer-based voter registration file that includes a computer-stored image of the signature of a registered voter shall be produced in such a manner that it cannot be reproduced.

(4) Each person desiring to vote shall sign an application for a ballot, and the signature comparison authorized in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code may be made to a copy of the computer-stored image of the signature of the registered voter.

(5) Any voter list produced from a computer-based voter registration file that includes computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters and is used in a polling place during an election shall be preserved by the election authority in secure storage until the end of the second calendar year following the election in which it was used.

(d) Before the first election in which the election authority elects to use a voter list produced from the computer-stored images of the signatures of registered voters in a computer-based voter registration file for signature comparison in a polling place, the State Board of Elections shall certify that the system used by the election authority complies with the standards set forth in this Section. The State Board of Elections may request a sample poll list intended to be used in a polling place to test the accuracy of the list and the adequacy of the computer-stored images of the signatures of the registered voters.

(e) With respect to a jurisdiction that has copied all of its voter signatures into a computer-based registration file, all references in this Act or any other Act to the use, other than storage, of paper-based voter registration records shall be deemed to refer to their computer-based equivalents.

(f) Nothing in this Section prevents an election authority from submitting to the State Board of Elections a duplicate copy of some, as the State Board of Elections shall determine, or all of the data contained in each voter registration record that is part of the electronic master file. The duplicate copy of the registration record shall be maintained by the State Board of Elections under the same terms and limitations applicable to the election authority and shall be of equal legal dignity with the original registration record maintained by the election authority as proof of any fact contained in the voter registration record.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-3)

Sec. 9-3. Political committee statement of organization.

(a) Every political committee shall file with the State Board of Elections a statement of organization within 10 business days of the creation of such committee, except any political committee created within the 30 days before an election shall file a statement of organization within 2 business days in person, by facsimile transmission, or by electronic mail. Any change in information previously submitted in a statement of organization shall be reported, as required for the original statement of organization by this Section, within 10 days following that change. A political committee that acts as both a state political committee and a local political committee shall file a copy of each statement of organization with the State Board of Elections and the county clerk. The Board shall impose a civil penalty of $50 per business day upon political committees for failing to file or late filing of a statement of organization. Such penalties shall not exceed $5,000, and shall not exceed $10,000 for statewide office political committees. There shall be no fine if the statement is mailed and postmarked at least 72 hours prior to the filing deadline.

In addition to the civil penalties authorized by this Section, the State Board of Elections or any other political committee may apply to the circuit court for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction against the political committee to cease the expenditure of funds and to cease operations until the statement of organization is filed.

For the purpose of this Section, "statewide office" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, and State Comptroller.

(b) The statement of organization shall include:

(1) the name and address of the political committee and the designation required by Section 9-2;

(2) the scope, area of activity, party affiliation, and purposes of the political committee;

(3) the name, address, and position of each custodian of the committee's books and accounts;

(4) the name, address, and position of the committee's principal officers, including the chairman, treasurer, and officers and members of its finance committee, if any;

(5) the name and address of any sponsoring entity;

(6) a statement of what specific disposition of residual fund will be made in the event of the dissolution or termination of the committee;

(7) a listing of all banks or other financial institutions, safety deposit boxes, and any other repositories or custodians of funds used by the committee; and

(8) the amount of funds available for campaign expenditures as of the filing date of the committee's statement of organization.

For purposes of this Section, a "sponsoring entity" is (i) any person, organization, corporation, or association that contributes at least 33% of the total funding of the political committee or (ii) any person or other entity that is registered or is required to register under the Lobbyist Registration Act and contributes at least 33% of the total funding of the political committee.

(c) Each statement of organization required to be filed in accordance with this Section shall be verified, dated, and signed by either the treasurer of the political committee making the statement or the candidate on whose behalf the statement is made and shall contain substantially the following verification:

"VERIFICATION:

I declare that this statement of organization (including any accompanying schedules and statements) has been examined by me and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, is a true, correct, and complete statement of organization as required by Article 9 of the Election Code. I understand that willfully filing a false or incomplete statement is subject to a civil penalty of at least $1,001 and up to $5,000. ................ .......................................... (date of filing) (signature of person making the statement)".

(d) The statement of organization for a ballot initiative committee also shall include a verification signed by the chairperson of the committee that (i) the committee is formed for the purpose of supporting or opposing a question of public policy, (ii) all contributions and expenditures of the committee will be used for the purpose described in the statement of organization, (iii) the committee may accept unlimited contributions from any source, provided that the ballot initiative committee does not make contributions or expenditures in support of or opposition to a candidate or candidates for nomination for election, election, or retention, and (iv) failure to abide by these requirements shall deem the committee in violation of this Article.

(d-5) The statement of organization for an independent expenditure committee also shall include a verification signed by the chairperson of the committee that (i) the committee is formed for the exclusive purpose of making independent expenditures, (ii) all contributions and expenditures of the committee will be used for the purpose described in the statement of organization, (iii) the committee may accept unlimited contributions from any source, provided that the independent expenditure committee does not make contributions to any candidate political committee, political party committee, or political action committee, and (iv) failure to abide by these requirements shall deem the committee in violation of this Article.

(e) For purposes of implementing the changes made by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, every political committee in existence on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall file the statement required by this Section with the Board by December 31, 2010.

(Source: P.A. 96-832, eff. 7-1-10; 97-766, eff. 7-6-12.)

(10 ILCS 5/10-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 10-6)

Sec. 10-6. Time and manner of filing. Certificates of nomination and nomination papers for the nomination of candidates for offices to be filled by electors of the entire State, or any district not entirely within a county, or for congressional, state legislative or judicial offices, shall be presented to the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 141 nor less than 134 days previous to the day of election for which the candidates are nominated. The State Board of Elections shall endorse the certificates of nomination or nomination papers, as the case may be, and the date and hour of presentment to it. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all other certificates for the nomination of candidates shall be filed with the county clerk of the respective counties not more than 141 but at least 134 days previous to the day of such election. Certificates of nomination and nomination papers for the nomination of candidates for school district offices to be filled at consolidated elections shall be filed with the county clerk or county board of election commissioners of the county election authority in which the principal office of the school district is located not more than 113 nor less than 106 days before the consolidated election. Certificates of nomination and nomination papers for the nomination of candidates for the other offices of political subdivisions to be filled at regular elections other than the general election shall be filed with the local election official of such subdivision:

(1) (Blank);

(2) not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the consolidated election; or

(3) not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the general primary in the case of municipal offices to be filled at the general primary election; or

(4) not more than 99 nor less than 92 days before the consolidated primary in the case of municipal offices to be elected on a nonpartisan basis pursuant to law (including without limitation, those municipal offices subject to Articles 4 and 5 of the Municipal Code); or

(5) not more than 113 nor less than 106 days before the municipal primary in even numbered years for such nonpartisan municipal offices where annual elections are provided; or

(6) in the case of petitions for the office of multi-township assessor, such petitions shall be filed with the election authority not more than 113 nor less than 106 days before the consolidated election.

However, where a political subdivision's boundaries are co-extensive with or are entirely within the jurisdiction of a municipal board of election commissioners, the certificates of nomination and nomination papers for candidates for such political subdivision offices shall be filed in the office of such Board.

(Source: P.A. 98-691, eff. 7-1-14.)

(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 midnight preceding 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. 97-766, eff. 7-6-12; 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-4)

Sec. 19-4. Mailing or delivery of ballots; time. Immediately upon the receipt of such application either by mail or electronic means, not more than 90 days nor less than 5 days prior to such election, or by personal delivery not more than 90 days nor less than one day prior to such election, at the office of such election authority, it shall be the duty of such election authority to examine the records to ascertain whether or not such applicant is lawfully entitled to vote as requested, including a verification of the applicant's signature by comparison with the signature on the official registration record card, and if found so to be entitled to vote, to post within one business day thereafter the name, street address, ward and precinct number or township and district number, as the case may be, of such applicant given on a list, the pages of which are to be numbered consecutively to be kept by such election authority for such purpose in a conspicuous, open and public place accessible to the public at the entrance of the office of such election authority, and in such a manner that such list may be viewed without necessity of requesting permission therefor. Within one day after posting the name and other information of an applicant for a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall transmit by electronic means pursuant to a process established by the State Board of Elections that name and other posted information to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and other information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees. Within 2 business days after posting a name and other information on the list within its office, but no sooner than 40 days before an election, the election authority shall mail, postage prepaid, or deliver in person in such office an official ballot or ballots if more than one are to be voted at said election. Mail delivery of Temporarily Absent Student ballot applications pursuant to Section 19-12.3 shall be by nonforwardable mail. However, for the consolidated election, vote by mail ballots for certain precincts may be delivered to applicants not less than 25 days before the election if so much time is required to have prepared and printed the ballots containing the names of persons nominated for offices at the consolidated primary. The election authority shall enclose with each vote by mail ballot or application written instructions on how voting assistance shall be provided pursuant to Section 17-14 and a document, written and approved by the State Board of Elections, informing the vote by mail voter of the required postage for returning the application and ballot, and enumerating the circumstances under which a person is authorized to vote by vote by mail ballot pursuant to this Article; such document shall also include a statement informing the applicant that if he or she falsifies or is solicited by another to falsify his or her eligibility to cast a vote by mail ballot, such applicant or other is subject to penalties pursuant to Section 29-10 and Section 29-20 of the Election Code. Each election authority shall maintain a list of the name, street address, ward and precinct, or township and district number, as the case may be, of all applicants who have returned vote by mail ballots to such authority, and the name of such vote by mail voter shall be added to such list within one business day from receipt of such ballot. If the vote by mail ballot envelope indicates that the voter was assisted in casting the ballot, the name of the person so assisting shall be included on the list. The list, the pages of which are to be numbered consecutively, shall be kept by each election authority in a conspicuous, open, and public place accessible to the public at the entrance of the office of the election authority and in a manner that the list may be viewed without necessity of requesting permission for viewing.

Each 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 by mail.

Each election authority shall maintain a list for each election of voters to whom it has issued temporarily absent student ballots. The list shall be maintained for each election jurisdiction within which such voters temporarily abide. Immediately after the close of the period during which application may be made by mail or electronic means for vote by mail ballots, each election authority shall mail to each other election authority within the State a certified list of all such voters temporarily abiding within the jurisdiction of the other election authority.

In the event that the return address of an application for ballot by a physically incapacitated elector is that of a facility licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, within the jurisdiction of the election authority, and the applicant is a registered voter in the precinct in which such facility is located, the ballots shall be prepared and transmitted to a responsible judge of election no later than 9 a.m. on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday immediately preceding the election as designated by the election authority under Section 19-12.2. Such judge shall deliver in person on the designated day the ballot to the applicant on the premises of the facility from which application was made. The election authority shall by mail notify the applicant in such facility that the ballot will be delivered by a judge of election on the designated day.

All applications for vote by mail ballots shall be available at the office of the election authority for public inspection upon request from the time of receipt thereof by the election authority until 30 days after the election, except during the time such applications are kept in the office of the election authority pursuant to Section 19-7, and except during the time such applications are in the possession of the judges of election.

(Source: P.A. 98-104, eff. 7-22-13; 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-180, eff. 7-29-15.)

(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 15th day before election 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 a date preceding the 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 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.)

(10 ILCS 5/20-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-2)

Sec. 20-2. Any member of the United States Service, otherwise qualified to vote, who expects in the course of his duties to be absent from the county in which he resides on the day of holding any election may make application for a vote by mail ballot to the election authority having jurisdiction over his precinct of residence on the official postcard or on a form furnished by the election authority as prescribed by Section 20-3 of this Article not less than 10 days before the election. A request pursuant to this Section shall entitle the applicant to a vote by mail ballot for every election in one calendar year. The original application for ballot shall be kept in the office of the election authority for one year as authorization to send a ballot to the voter for each election to be held within that calendar year. A certified copy of such application for ballot shall be sent each election with the vote by mail ballot to the election authority's central ballot counting location to be used in lieu of the original application for ballot. No registration shall be required in order to vote pursuant to this Section.

Ballots under this Section shall be mailed by the election authority in the manner prescribed by Section 20-5 of this Article and not otherwise. Ballots voted under this Section must be returned postmarked no later than midnight preceding election day and received for counting at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day.

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

(10 ILCS 5/20-2.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.1)

Sec. 20-2.1. Citizens of the United States temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States who are not registered but otherwise qualified to vote and who expect to be absent from their county of residence during the periods of voter registration provided for in Articles 4, 5 or 6 of this Code and on the day of holding any election, may make simultaneous application to the election authority having jurisdiction over their precinct of residence for registration by mail and vote by mail ballot not less than 30 days before the election. Such application may be made on the official postcard or on a form furnished by the election authority as prescribed by Section 20-3 of this Article or by facsimile or electronic transmission. A request pursuant to this Section shall entitle the applicant to a vote by mail ballot for every election in one calendar year. The original application for ballot shall be kept in the office of the election authority for one year as authorization to send a ballot to the voter for each election to be held within that calendar year. A certified copy of such application for ballot shall be sent each election with the vote by mail ballot to the election authority's central ballot counting location to be used in lieu of the original application for ballot.

Registration shall be required in order to vote pursuant to this Section. However, if the election authority receives one of such applications after 30 days but not less than 10 days before a Federal election, said applicant shall be sent a ballot containing the Federal offices only and registration for that election shall be waived.

Ballots under this Section shall be delivered by the election authority in the manner prescribed by Section 20-5 of this Article in person, by mail, or, if requested by the applicant and the election authority has the capability, by facsimile transmission or by electronic transmission.

Ballots voted under this Section must be returned postmarked no later than midnight preceding election day and received for counting at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day.

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

(10 ILCS 5/20-2.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.2)

Sec. 20-2.2. Any non-resident civilian citizen, otherwise qualified to vote, may make application to the election authority having jurisdiction over his precinct of former residence for a vote by mail ballot containing the Federal offices only not less than 10 days before a Federal election. Such application may be made on the official postcard or by facsimile or electronic transmission. A request pursuant to this Section shall entitle the applicant to a vote by mail ballot for every election in one calendar year at which Federal offices are filled. The original application for ballot shall be kept in the office of the election authority for one year as authorization to send a ballot to the voter for each election to be held within that calendar year at which Federal offices are filled. A certified copy of such application for ballot shall be sent each election with the vote by mail ballot to the election authority's central ballot counting location to be used in lieu of the original application for ballot. No registration shall be required in order to vote pursuant to this Section. Ballots under this Section shall be delivered by the election authority in the manner prescribed by Section 20-5 of this Article in person, by mail, or, if requested by the applicant and the election authority has the capability, by facsimile transmission or by electronic transmission. Ballots voted under this Section must be returned postmarked no later than midnight preceding election day and received for counting at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day.

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

(10 ILCS 5/20-2.3) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.3)

Sec. 20-2.3. Members of the Armed Forces and their spouses and dependents. Any member of the United States Armed Forces while on active duty, and his or her spouse and dependents, otherwise qualified to vote, who expects in the course of his or her duties to be absent from the county in which he or she resides on the day of holding any election, in addition to any other method of making application for vote by mail ballot under this Article, may make application for a vote by mail ballot to the election authority having jurisdiction over his or her precinct of residence by a facsimile machine or electronic transmission not less than 10 days before the election.

Ballots under this Section shall be delivered by the election authority in the manner prescribed by Section 20-5 of this Article in person, by mail, or, if requested by the applicant and the election authority has the capability, by facsimile transmission or by electronic transmission. Ballots voted under this Section must be returned postmarked no later than midnight preceding election day and received for counting at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day.

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

(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 midnight preceding 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 midnight preceding 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.)

(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 15th day before election 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 a date preceding the 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 by midnight preceding the opening of the polls on 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 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.)

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

Sec. 20-10. Pollwatchers shall be permitted to be present during the casting of the vote by mail voters' ballots, each political party, candidate and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned. Such pollwatchers shall be subject to the same provisions as are provided for pollwatchers in Sections 7-34 and 17-23 of this Code, and shall be permitted to observe the election judges making the signature comparison between that which is on the ballot envelope and that which is on the permanent voter registration record card taken from the master file and the vote of any vote by mail voter may be challenged for cause the same as if he were present and voted in person, and the judges of the election or a majority thereof shall have power and authority to hear and determine the legality of such ballot; Provided, however, that if a challenge to any vote by mail voter's right to vote is sustained, notice of the same must be given by the judges of election by mail addressed to the voter's mailing address as stated in the certification and application for ballot.

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

(10 ILCS 5/24C-12)

Sec. 24C-12. Procedures for Counting and Tallying of Ballots. In an election jurisdiction where a Direct Recording Electronic Voting System is used, the following procedures for counting and tallying the ballots shall apply:

Before the opening of the polls, the judges of elections shall assemble the voting equipment and devices and turn the equipment on. The judges shall, if necessary, take steps to activate the voting devices and counting equipment by inserting into the equipment and voting devices appropriate data cards containing passwords and data codes that will select the proper ballot formats selected for that polling place and that will prevent inadvertent or unauthorized activation of the poll-opening function. Before voting begins and before ballots are entered into the voting devices, the judges of election shall cause to be printed a record of the following: the election's identification data, the device's unit identification, the ballot's format identification, the contents of each active candidate register by office and of each active public question register showing that they contain all zero votes, all ballot fields that can be used to invoke special voting options, and other information needed to ensure the readiness of the equipment and to accommodate administrative reporting requirements. The judges must also check to be sure that the totals are all zeros in the counting columns and in the public counter affixed to the voting devices.

After the judges have determined that a person is qualified to vote, a voting device with the proper ballot to which the voter is entitled shall be enabled to be used by the voter. The ballot may then be cast by the voter by marking by appropriate means the designated area of the ballot for the casting of a vote for any candidate or for or against any public question. The voter shall be able to vote for any and all candidates and public measures appearing on the ballot in any legal number and combination and the voter shall be able to delete, change or correct his or her selections before the ballot is cast. The voter shall be able to select candidates whose names do not appear upon the ballot for any office by entering electronically as many names of candidates as the voter is entitled to select for each office.

Upon completing his or her selection of candidates or public questions, the voter shall signify that voting has been completed by activating the appropriate button, switch or active area of the ballot screen associated with end of voting. Upon activation, the voting system shall record an image of the completed ballot, increment the proper ballot position registers, and shall signify to the voter that the ballot has been cast. Upon activation, the voting system shall also print a permanent paper record of each ballot cast as defined in Section 24C-2 of this Code. This permanent paper record shall (i) be printed in a clear, readily readable format that can be easily reviewed by the voter for completeness and accuracy and (ii) either be self-contained within the voting device or be deposited by the voter into a secure ballot box. No permanent paper record shall be removed from the polling place except by election officials as authorized by this Article. All permanent paper records shall be preserved and secured by election officials in the same manner as paper ballots and shall be available as an official record for any recount, redundant count, or verification or retabulation of the vote count conducted with respect to any election in which the voting system is used. The voter shall exit the voting station and the voting system shall prevent any further attempt to vote until it has been properly re-activated. If a voting device has been enabled for voting but the voter leaves the polling place without casting a ballot, 2 judges of election, one from each of the 2 major political parties, shall spoil the ballot.

Throughout the election day and before the closing of the polls, no person may check any vote totals for any candidate or public question on the voting or counting equipment. Such equipment shall be programmed so that no person may reset the equipment for reentry of ballots unless provided the proper code from an authorized representative of the election authority.

The precinct judges of election shall check the public register to determine whether the number of ballots counted by the voting equipment agrees with the number of voters voting as shown by the applications for ballot. If the same do not agree, the judges of election shall immediately contact the offices of the election authority in charge of the election for further instructions. If the number of ballots counted by the voting equipment agrees with the number of voters voting as shown by the application for ballot, the number shall be listed on the "Statement of Ballots" form provided by the election authority.

The totals for all candidates and propositions shall be tabulated. One copy of an "In-Precinct Totals Report" shall be generated by the automatic tabulating equipment for return to the election authority. One copy of an "In-Precinct Totals Report" shall be generated and posted in a conspicuous place inside the polling place, provided that any authorized pollwatcher or other official authorized to be present in the polling place to observe the counting of ballots is present. The judges of election shall provide, if requested, a set for each authorized pollwatcher or other official authorized to be present in the polling place to observe the counting of ballots. In addition, sufficient time shall be provided by the judges of election to the pollwatchers to allow them to copy information from the copy which has been posted.

Until December 31, 2019 2015, in elections at which fractional cumulative votes are cast for candidates, the tabulation of those fractional cumulative votes may be made by the election authority at its central office location, and 4 copies of a "Certificate of Results" shall be printed by the automatic tabulation equipment and shall be posted in 4 conspicuous places at the central office location where those fractional cumulative votes have been tabulated.

If instructed by the election authority, the judges of election shall cause the tabulated returns to be transmitted electronically to the offices of the election authority via modem or other electronic medium.

The precinct judges of election shall select a bi-partisan team of 2 judges, who shall immediately return the ballots in a sealed container, along with all other election materials and equipment as instructed by the election authority; provided, however, that such container must first be sealed by the election judges with filament tape or other approved sealing devices provided for the purpose in a manner that the ballots cannot be removed from the container without breaking the seal or filament tape and disturbing any signatures affixed by the election judges to the container. The election authority shall keep the office of the election authority, or any receiving stations designated by the authority, open for at least 12 consecutive hours after the polls close or until the ballots and election material and equipment from all precincts within the jurisdiction of the election authority have been returned to the election authority. Ballots and election materials and equipment returned to the office of the election authority which are not signed and sealed as required by law shall not be accepted by the election authority until the judges returning the ballots make and sign the necessary corrections. Upon acceptance of the ballots and election materials and equipment by the election authority, the judges returning the ballots shall take a receipt signed by the election authority and stamped with the time and date of the return. The election judges whose duty it is to return any ballots and election materials and equipment as provided shall, in the event the ballots, materials or equipment cannot be found when needed, on proper request, produce the receipt which they are to take as above provided.

(Source: P.A. 96-1549, eff. 3-10-11; 97-766, eff. 7-6-12.)

(10 ILCS 5/29-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 29-5)

Sec. 29-5. Voting more than once. Any person who, having voted once, knowingly during any election on the same election day where the ballot or machine lists any of the same candidates and issues listed on the ballot or machine previously used for voting by that person, (a) files an application to vote in the same or another polling place, or (b) accepts a ballot or enters a voting machine (except to legally give assistance pursuant to the provisions of this Code), shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony; however, if a person has delivered a ballot or ballots to an election authority as a vote by mail voter and due to a change of circumstances is able to and does vote in the precinct of his residence on election day, shall not be deemed to be in violation of this Code.

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

(10 ILCS 5/20-6 rep.)

Section 10. The Election Code is amended by repealing Section 20-6.

Section 15. The Township Code is amended by changing Section 45-20 as follows:

(60 ILCS 1/45-20)

Sec. 45-20. Caucus result; filing nomination papers; certifying candidates.

(a) The township central committee shall canvass and declare the result of the caucus.

(b) The chairman of the township central committee shall, not more than 113 nor less than 106 days before the township election, file nomination papers as provided in this Section. The nomination papers shall consist of (i) a certification by the chairman of the names of all candidates for office in the township nominated at the caucus and (ii) a statement of candidacy by each candidate in the form prescribed in the general election law. The nomination papers shall be filed in the office of the township clerk, except that if the township is entirely within the corporate limits of a city, village, or incorporated town under the jurisdiction of a board of election commissioners, the nomination papers shall be filed in the office of the board of election commissioners instead of the township clerk.

(c) The township clerk shall certify the candidates so nominated to the proper election authorities not less than 68 61 days before the township election. The election shall be conducted in accordance with the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 97-81, eff. 7-5-11.)

Section 20. The School Code is amended by changing Section 9-10 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/9-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-10)

Sec. 9-10. Candidates for office - Nominating petitions. Candidates for the office of school director shall be nominated by petition signed by at least 25 voters or 5% of the voters, whichever is less, residing within the district and filed with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located.

Nominations for members of boards of education, including non-high school boards of education shall be made by a petition signed by at least 50 voters or 10% of the voters, whichever is less, residing within the district and shall be filed with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, the form of such petitions shall be substantially as follows:

NOMINATING PETITIONS

(LEAVE OUT THE INAPPLICABLE PART.)

To the (County Clerk or County Board of Election Commissioners) .... of .... County:

We the undersigned, being (.... or more) (or 10% or more) (or 5% or more) of the voters residing within said district, hereby petition that .... who resides at .... in the (city or village) of .... in Township .... (or who resides outside any city, village or incorporated town and in Township ....) in said district shall be a candidate for the office of .... of the board of education (or board of directors) (full term) (vacancy) to be voted for at the election to be held on (insert date).

Name: .................. Address: ...................

In the designation of the name of a candidate on a petition for nomination, the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof may be used in addition to the candidate's surname. If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition, then (i) the candidate's name on the petition must be followed by "formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)" and (ii) the petition must be accompanied by the candidate's affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the period specified in clause (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate's name for the ballot, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's or parents' surname, marriage to assume a spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or declaration of invalidity of marriage to assume a former surname. No other designation, such as a political slogan, as defined by Section 7-17 of the Election Code, title or degree, or nickname suggesting or implying possession of a title, degree or professional status, or similar information may be used in connection with the candidate's surname.

Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located a receipt from the county clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.

All petitions for the nomination of members of a board of education shall be filed with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located within the time provided for by the general election law. The county clerk or the county board of election commissioners shall receive and file only those petitions which include a statement of candidacy, the required number of voter signatures, the notarized signature of the petition circulator and a receipt from the County Clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic interest on or before the last day to file as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. The county clerk or the county board of election commissioners may have petition forms available for issuance to potential candidates, and may give notice of the petition filing period by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district not less than 10 days prior to the first day of filing. The county clerk or the county board of election commissioners shall make certification to the proper election authorities in accordance with the general election law.

The county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located shall notify the candidates for whom a petition for nomination is filed or the appropriate committee of the obligations under the Campaign Financing Act as provided in the general election law. Such notice shall be given on a form prescribed by the State Board of Elections and in accordance with the requirements of the general election law. The county clerk or county board of election commissioners shall within 7 days of filing or on the last day for filing, whichever is earlier, acknowledge to the petitioner in writing the office's acceptance of the petition.

A candidate for membership on the board of education or for office as a school director, who has petitioned for nomination to fill a full term and to fill a vacant term to be voted upon at the same election, must withdraw his or her petition for nomination from either the full term or the vacant term by written declaration.

In all newly organized districts the petition for the nomination of candidates for members of the board of education at the first election shall be addressed to and filed with the regional superintendent of schools in the manner herein specified for the petitions for members of a board of education. For such election the regional superintendent shall fulfill all duties otherwise assigned to the secretary of the board of education.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

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