(10 ILCS 5/17-18.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-18.1)
Sec. 17-18.1.
Wherever the judicial retention ballot to be used in
any general election contains the names of more than 15 judges on a
separate paper ballot, the County Clerk or Board of Election
Commissioners as the case may be, shall designate special judges of
election for the purpose of tallying and canvassing the votes cast for
and against the propositions for the retention of judges in office in
such places and at such times as the County Clerk or Board of Election
Commissioners determine. Special judges of election shall be designated
from certified lists submitted by the respective chairmen of the county
central committees of the two leading political parties. In the event
that the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners as the case may
be, decides that the counting of the retention ballots shall be
performed in the precinct where such ballots are cast, 2 special judges
of election shall be designated to tally and canvass the vote of each
precinct with one being named from each of the 2 leading political
parties.
In the event that the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners
decides that the judicial retention ballots from several precincts shall
be tallied and canvassed in a central or common location, then each
major political party shall be entitled to an equal number of special
election judges in each such central or common location. The County
Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners, as the case may be, shall
inform, no later than 75 days prior to such election, the respective
chairmen of the county central committees of the location or locations
where the counting of retention ballots will be done, the number of names
to be included on the certified lists, and the number of special
election judges to be selected from those lists. If the certified list
for either party is not submitted within thirty days after the chairmen
have been so informed, the County Clerk or Board of Election
Commissioners shall designate special judges of election for that party
in whatever manner it determines.
The County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners shall apply to
the Circuit Court for the confirmation of the special judges of election
designated under this Section. The court shall confirm or refuse to
confirm such designations as the interest of the public may require.
Those confirmed shall be officers of the court and subject to its
disciplinary powers.
The County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners shall, in the
exercise of sound discretion, prescribe the forms, materials and
supplies together with the procedures for completion and return thereof
for use in such election by special judges of election. The special
judges of election designated under this Section shall have full
responsibility and authority for tallying and canvassing the votes
pertaining to the retention of judges and the return of ballots and
supplies.
If the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners decides that
the counting of the retention ballots shall be performed in the precinct
where such ballots were cast, at least 2 ballot boxes shall be provided
for paper retention ballots, one of which shall be used from the opening
of the polls until 9:00 a.m. and from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. and the
second of which shall be used from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and from
3:00 p.m. until the closing of the polls; provided that if additional
ballot boxes are provided, the additional boxes shall be used instead of
reusing boxes used earlier. At the close of each such period of use, a
ballot box used for retention ballots shall be immediately unsealed and
opened and the ballots therein counted and tallied by the special judges
of election. After counting and tallying the retention ballots, the
special judges of election shall place the counted ballots in a
container provided for that purpose by the County Clerk or Board of
Election Commissioners and clearly marked with the appropriate printing
and shall thereupon seal such container. One such container shall be
provided for each of the four time periods and clearly designated as the
container for the respective period. The tally shall be recorded on
sheets provided by the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners
and designated as tally sheets for the respective time periods. Before a
ballot box may be reused, it shall in the presence of all of the judges
of election be verified to be empty, whereupon it shall be resealed.
After the close of the polls, and after the tally of votes cast by vote by mail
voters, the special judges of election shall add together the
tallies of all the ballot boxes used throughout the day, and complete
the canvass of votes for retention of judges in the manner established
by this Act. All of these procedures shall be carried out within the
clear view of the other judges of election. The sealed containers of
used retention ballots shall be returned with other voted ballots to the
County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners in the manner provided
by this Act.
The compensation of a special judge of election may not exceed $30
per judge per precinct or district canvassed.
This Section does not affect any other office or the conduct of any
other election held at the same time as the election for the retention
of judges in office.
(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)
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