State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
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Public Act 91-0352

SB387 Enrolled                                LRB9102407MWpcA

    AN ACT to amend the Election Code  by  changing  Sections
7-30, 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, 13-4, 13-8, 14-1, 14-5, and 14-7.

    Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

    Section 5.  The Election  Code  is  amended  by  changing
Sections  7-30, 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, 13-4, 13-8, 14-1, 14-5, and
14-7 as follows:

    (10 ILCS 5/7-30) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-30)
    Sec. 7-30. Previous to any vote being taken, the  primary
judges   shall  severally  subscribe  and  take  an  oath  or
affirmation in the following form, to-wit:
    "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as  the  case  may  be),
that I will support the Constitution of the United States and
the   Constitution   of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  will
faithfully and  honestly  discharge  the  duties  of  primary
judge,  according  to the best of my ability, and that I have
resided in this State for 30 days, (and only in the case of a
primary judge in counties of less  than  500,000  inhabitants
the  following:  in this precinct 30 days next preceding this
primary), (and in the case of a registered voter, am entitled
to vote at this primary).
    All persons subscribing the oath as  aforesaid,  and  all
persons  actually serving as primary judges, whether sworn or
not, shall be deemed to be and  are  hereby  declared  to  be
officers of the circuit court of their respective counties.
(Source: P.A. 80-178; 80-704; 80-1364.)

    (10 ILCS 5/13-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-1)
    Sec.  13-1.  In counties not under township organization,
the county board of commissioners shall at its meeting in May
in each even-numbered year appoint in each election  precinct
5   capable   and   discreet  persons  electors  meeting  the
qualifications of Section 13-4  to  be  judges  of  election.
Where  neither  voting machines nor electronic, mechanical or
electric voting systems are used, the county board  may,  for
any  precinct  with respect to which the board considers such
action necessary or  desirable  in  view  of  the  number  of
voters,  and  shall  for  general  elections for any precinct
containing  more  than  600  registered  voters,  appoint  in
addition to the 5 judges  of  election  a  team  of  5  tally
judges.  In  such  precincts  the  judges  of  election shall
preside over the election during  the  hours  the  polls  are
open,  and  the  tally  judges,  with  the  assistance of the
holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 13-6.2,  shall
count  the  vote after the closing of the polls. However, the
County  Board  of  Commissioners  may  appoint  3  judges  of
election to serve  in  lieu  of  the  5  judges  of  election
otherwise  required by this Section to serve in any emergency
referendum, or in any odd-year regular  election  or  in  any
special primary or special election called for the purpose of
filling  a  vacancy  in  the  office of representative in the
United States Congress or to  nominate  candidates  for  such
purpose.      The   tally   judges  shall  possess  the  same
qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner  and
with  the  same  division  between  political  parties  as is
provided for judges of election.
    In addition to such precinct judges, the county board  of
commissioners  shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each,
who shall  possess  the  same  qualifications  and  shall  be
appointed  in  the  same  manner  and  with the same division
between political parties as is provided for other judges  of
election.  The number of such panels of judges required shall
be determined by regulations of the State Board of  Elections
which  shall  base  the required numbers of special panels on
the number of registered voters in the  jurisdiction  or  the
number  of absentee ballots voted at recent elections, or any
combination of such factors.
    Such appointment shall  be  confirmed  by  the  court  as
provided  in  Section  13-3  of  this Article. No more than 3
persons of the same political party shall be appointed judges
of the same election precinct or election  judge  panel.  The
appointment shall be made in the following manner: The county
board  of commissioners shall select and approve 3 persons as
judges of election in each election precinct from a certified
list,  furnished  by  the  chairman  of  the  County  Central
Committee of  the  first  leading  political  party  in  such
precinct;  and  the  county board of commissioners shall also
select and approve 2 persons as judges of  election  in  each
election  precinct  from  a  certified list, furnished by the
chairman of  the  County  Central  Committee  of  the  second
leading  political  party.  However,  if  only  3  judges  of
election  serve  in  each  election  precinct, no more than 2
persons of the  same  political  party  shall  be  judges  of
election  in  the same election precinct; and which political
party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political
party  is  entitled  to  one  judge  of  election  shall   be
determined  in  the  same manner as set forth in the next two
preceding sentences with regard to 5 election judges in  each
precinct.  Such certified list shall be filed with the county
clerk  not less than 10 days before the annual meeting of the
county board of commissioners. Such list  shall  be  arranged
according  to  precincts. The chairman of each county central
committee shall, insofar as possible, list persons who reside
within the precinct in which they are  to  serve  as  judges.
However,  he may, in his sole discretion, submit the names of
persons who reside outside the precinct but within the county
embracing the precinct in which they are to serve.  He  must,
however,  submit  the  names  of  at least 2 residents of the
precinct for each precinct in which his party is  to  have  3
judges  and  must submit the name of at least one resident of
the precinct for each precinct in which his party is to  have
2 judges. The county board of commissioners shall acknowledge
in  writing  to each county chairman the names of all persons
submitted on such certified list  and  the  total  number  of
persons listed thereon. If no such list is filed or such list
is incomplete (that is, no names or an insufficient number of
names  are  furnished  for  certain  election precincts), the
county board of commissioners shall  make  or  complete  such
list  from  the  names  contained  in  the  supplemental list
provided for in Section 13-1.1.  The  election  judges  shall
hold  their  office  for  2 years from their appointment, and
until their successors  are  duly  appointed  in  the  manner
provided in this Act. The county board of commissioners shall
fill  all vacancies in the office of judge of election at any
time in the manner provided in this Act.
(Source: P.A. 87-1052.)

    (10 ILCS 5/13-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-2)
    Sec. 13-2.  In counties under the  township  organization
the  county  board  shall  at  its  meeting  in  May  in each
even-numbered year except in counties containing a population
of 3,000,000 inhabitants or over and except when such  judges
are  appointed  by  election  commissioners,  select  in each
election precinct in  the  county,  5  capable  and  discreet
persons  electors  to be judges of election who shall possess
the qualifications required by  this  Act  for  such  judges.
Where  neither  voting machines nor electronic, mechanical or
electric voting systems are used, the county board  may,  for
any  precinct  with respect to which the board considers such
action necessary or  desirable  in  view  of  the  number  of
voters,  and  shall  for  general  elections for any precinct
containing  more  than  600  registered  voters,  appoint  in
addition to the 5 judges  of  election  a  team  of  5  tally
judges.  In  such  precincts  the  judges  of  election shall
preside over the election during  the  hours  the  polls  are
open,  and  the  tally  judges,  with  the  assistance of the
holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 13-6.2,  shall
count  the  vote  after  the  closing of the polls. The tally
judges shall possess the same  qualifications  and  shall  be
appointed  in  the  same  manner  and  with the same division
between political  parties  as  is  provided  for  judges  of
election.
    However,  the  county  board  may  appoint  3  judges  of
election  to  serve  in  lieu  of  the  5  judges of election
otherwise required by this Section to serve in any  emergency
referendum,  or  in  any  odd-year regular election or in any
special primary or special election called for the purpose of
filling a vacancy in the  office  of  representative  in  the
United  States  Congress  or  to nominate candidates for such
purpose.
    In addition to such precinct  judges,  the  county  board
shall  appoint  special  panels  of  3 judges each, who shall
possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the
same manner and with  the  same  division  between  political
parties  as  is  provided  for  other judges of election. The
number of such panels of judges required shall be  determined
by  regulations  of the State Board of Elections, which shall
base the required number of special panels on the  number  of
registered  voters  in  the  jurisdiction  or  the  number of
absentee ballots voted at recent elections or any combination
of such factors.
    No more than 3 persons of the same political party  shall
be   appointed  judges  in  the  same  election  district  or
undivided precinct. The election of the judges of election in
the various election precincts shall be made in the following
manner: The county board shall select and approve  3  of  the
election  judges  in  each  precinct  from  a  certified list
furnished by the chairman of the County Central Committee  of
the  first  leading political party in such election precinct
and shall also select and approve 2  judges  of  election  in
each election precinct from a certified list furnished by the
chairman  of  the  County  Central  Committee  of  the second
leading political party in such election  precinct.  However,
if only 3 judges of election serve in each election precinct,
no  more  than 2 persons of the same political party shall be
judges of election in the same election precinct;  and  which
political party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which
political party is entitled to one judge of election shall be
determined  in  the  same manner as set forth in the next two
preceding sentences with regard to 5 election judges in  each
precinct.   The  respective County Central Committee chairman
shall notify the county board by June 1 of each  odd-numbered
year  immediately  preceding the annual meeting of the county
board whether or not such certified list  will  be  filed  by
such  chairman.  Such  list  shall  be  arranged according to
precincts. The chairman  of  each  county  central  committee
shall,  insofar  as  possible, list persons who reside within
the precinct in which they are to serve as  judges.  However,
he  may,  in his sole discretion, submit the names of persons
who  reside  outside  the  precinct  but  within  the  county
embracing the precinct in which they are to serve.  He  must,
however,  submit  the  names  of  at least 2 residents of the
precinct for each precinct in which his party is  to  have  3
judges  and  must submit the name of at least one resident of
the precinct for each precinct in which his party is to  have
2  judges. Such certified list, if filed, shall be filed with
the county clerk not less than  20  days  before  the  annual
meeting   of   the  county  board.  The  county  board  shall
acknowledge in writing to each county chairman the  names  of
all  persons  submitted  on such certified list and the total
number of persons listed thereon. If no such list is filed or
the list is incomplete (that is, no names or an  insufficient
number   of   names   are   furnished  for  certain  election
precincts), the county board shall make or complete such list
from the names contained in the  supplemental  list  provided
for  in  Section  13-1.1. Provided, further, that in any case
where a township has been or shall be redistricted, in  whole
or  in part, subsequent to one general election for Governor,
and prior to the next, the judges of election to be  selected
for  all  new  or altered precincts shall be selected in that
one of the methods above detailed, which shall be  applicable
according  to  the  facts and circumstances of the particular
case, but the majority of such judges for each such  precinct
shall be selected from the first leading political party, and
the  minority judges from the second leading political party.
Provided, further, that in counties having  a  population  of
1,000,000  inhabitants  or  over  the  selection of judges of
election shall be made in the same manner in all respects  as
in  other  counties,  except  that the provisions relating to
tally judges are inapplicable to  such  counties  and  except
that  the county board shall meet during the month of January
for the purpose of making such selection and the chairman  of
each  county  central committee shall notify the county board
by the preceding October 1 whether or not the certified  list
will  be  filed.  Such  judges  of  election shall hold their
office for 2 years from their  appointment  and  until  their
successors  are duly appointed in the manner provided in this
Act. The county board shall fill all vacancies in the  office
of  judges  of  elections  at  any  time in the manner herein
provided.
    Such selections under this Section shall be confirmed  by
the  circuit  court  as  provided  in  Section  13-3  of this
Article.
(Source: P.A. 86-1028; 87-1052.)
    (10 ILCS 5/13-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-3)
    Sec.  13-3.  After  the  judges  of  election  have  been
selected and approved as hereinbefore provided, a  report  of
such  selections  shall be made by the county board and filed
in the circuit court, and application shall then be  made  by
the  county  board  to  the  court for their confirmation and
appointment, whereupon the court shall enter  an  order  that
cause  be  shown, if any exists, against the confirmation and
appointment of such persons so named on or before the opening
of the court on a day to be fixed by the  court.  The  county
board  shall  immediately  give  notice of such order and the
names of all such  judges  so  reported  to  such  court  for
confirmation  and  their residence and the precinct for which
they were selected by causing a notice to be published in one
or more newspapers in the  county  and  if  no  newspaper  be
published  therein  then  by  posting such notice in 5 of the
most public places in the county.   The  notice  shall  state
that  a  list  of  judges of election is available for public
inspection in the office of the  election  authority.  If  no
cause  to  the  contrary is shown prior to the day fixed, and
if, in each precinct, at least one judge representing each of
the two major political parties has  been  certified  by  the
county  clerk  as  having satisfactorily completed within the
preceding 6 months the training course  and  examination  for
judges  of election, as provided in Section 13-2.1 and 13-2.2
of this Act, such appointment shall  be  confirmed  by  order
entered by that court.
    If  in  any precinct the requisite 2 judges have not been
so certified by the county  clerk  as  having  satisfactorily
completed such course and examination, the county clerk shall
immediately  notify  all  judges  in  that precinct, to whose
appointment there is no other objection, that all such judges
shall attend the next such course.  The  county  clerk  shall
then  certify  to the court that all such judges have been so
notified (and such certification need contain no detail other
than a mere recital). The appointment of  such  judges  shall
then be confirmed by order entered by the court. If any judge
so  notified  and  so confirmed fails to attend the next such
course, such failure shall subject  such  judge  to  possible
removal from office at the option of the election authority.
    If  objections  to  the appointment of any judge be filed
prior to the day fixed  by  the  court  for  confirmation  of
judges, the court shall hear such objections and the evidence
introduced in support thereof, and shall confirm or refuse to
confirm  such  nominations as the interests of the public may
require. No reasons may be given for the refusal to  confirm.
If  any  vacancy  exists  at any time the county board shall,
subject to the provisions of Section 13-1.1,  further  report
and  nominate  persons  to fill such vacancies so existing in
the manner aforesaid, and a  court  in  the  same  way  shall
consider  such  nominations  and  shall  confirm or refuse to
confirm  the  same  in  the  manner   aforesaid.   Upon   the
confirmation  of such judges, at any time, a commission shall
issue to each of such judges, under the seal of  such  court,
and  appropriate  forms shall be prepared by the county clerk
of each county for such purpose and furnished to  the  county
board,   and   after  confirmation  and  acceptance  of  such
commission, such judges shall thereupon  become  officers  of
such  court.  If  a vacancy occurs so late that nomination by
the county board and application to and confirmation  by  the
court  cannot  be  had  before  the  election, then the court
shall, subject to the provisions of Section 13-1.1,  make  an
appointment  and  issue  a  commission  to  such  officer  or
officers,  and  when  thus  appointed  such  officer shall be
considered an officer of the court and subject  to  the  same
rules  as  if  nominated by the county board and confirmed by
the court, and any judge, however appointed, and at  whatever
time,  shall be considered an officer of court and be subject
to the same control and punishment in  case  of  misbehavior.
Not more than 10 business days after the day of election, the
county  clerk  shall  compile  a  list  containing  the name,
address and party affiliation of each judge of  election  who
served  on  the day of election, and shall preserve such list
and make it available for public inspection and copying for a
period of not more than one year from the date of receipt  of
such  list.   Copies  of  such  list  shall  be available for
purchase at a cost not to exceed the cost of duplication. The
board has the right, at any time, in case of  misbehavior  or
neglect  of  duty,  to remove any judge of election and cause
such vacancy to be filled in accordance with this Act. Except
for judges appointed under subsection (b)  of  Section  13-4,
the  board  shall  have the right, at any time, to remove any
judge of election for failing to vote the primary  ballot  of
the  political  party he represents, at a primary election at
which he served as such judge, and shall cause  such  vacancy
to  be  filled  in  accordance with this Act. The board shall
remove any judge of election who, twice during the same  term
of  office,  fails  to provide for the opening of the polling
place at the time prescribed in Section 17-1 or Section 18-2,
whichever  is  applicable,   unless   such   delay   can   be
demonstrated by the judge of election to be beyond his or her
control.  In  the event that any judge of election is removed
for cause, the board shall specify such cause in writing  and
make  such  writing a matter of public record, with a copy to
be sent to the  appropriate  county  chairman  who  made  the
initial   recommendation   of  the  election  judge.  If  any
vacancies occur or exist more than 15  days  before  election
the judges appointed to such places must be confirmed by such
court.  The  county  board  shall  not voluntarily remove any
judge within 15 days of such  election  except  for  flagrant
misbehavior,   incapacity   or  dishonesty,  and  the  reason
therefor must afterward be reported in writing to such  court
and made a matter of public record, with a copy to be sent to
the   appropriate   county  chairman  who  made  the  initial
recommendation of the election judge. Provided  further  that
where  a vacancy in the office of judge of election exists 20
days or less prior to  any  election  in  counties  having  a
population  of  3,000,000  or more inhabitants, or where such
vacancy exists 10 days or  less  prior  to  any  election  in
counties  having  less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the county
clerk shall, subject to the  provisions  of  Section  13-1.1,
appoint  a  person  of the same major political party to fill
such vacancy and issue a commission thereto. The name of  the
officer  so  appointed  shall  be  reported to the court as a
matter of record and after acceptance of such commission such
person shall  be  liable  in  the  same  manner  as  officers
regularly  appointed by the county board and confirmed by the
court. The county clerk shall have the power on election  day
to  remove  without  cause any judge of election appointed by
the other judges of election pursuant to Section 13-7 and  to
appoint another judge of election to serve for that election.
Such  substitute  judge  of  election must be selected, where
possible, pursuant to the provisions of  Section  13-1.1  and
must be qualified in accordance with Section 13-4.
    If  any  precinct  has  increased  in  voter registration
beyond the maximum of  800  provided  in  Section  11-2,  the
county  clerk  may  appoint  one additional judge of election
from each political party for each 200 voters  in  excess  of
800.
(Source: P.A. 90-672, eff. 7-31-98.)

    (10 ILCS 5/13-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-4)
    Sec. 13-4. Qualifications.
    (a)  All  persons  elected  or  chosen  judge of election
must: (1) be citizens of the United States  and  entitled  to
vote  at  the next election, except as provided in subsection
(b); (2) be of good repute and  character;  (3)  be  able  to
speak, read and write the English language; (4) be skilled in
the  four  fundamental  rules  of  arithmetic; (5) be of good
understanding and capable; (6)  not  be  candidates  for  any
office  at  the election and not be elected committeemen; and
(7) reside in the precinct in which they are selected to act,
except that in each precinct, not more than one judge of each
party may be appointed from outside such precinct. Any  judge
selected to serve in any precinct in which he is not entitled
to  vote must reside within and be entitled to vote elsewhere
within the county which encompasses  the  precinct  in  which
such  judge  is  appointed.  Such  judge  must meet the other
qualifications of this Section.
    (b)  An election authority may  establish  a  program  to
permit  a  person who is not entitled to vote to be appointed
as an election judge if, as of the date of  the  election  at
which the person serves as a judge, he or she:
         (1)  is a U.S. citizen;
         (2)  is  a  senior  in  good  standing enrolled in a
    public or private secondary school;
         (3)  has a cumulative grade point average equivalent
    to at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
         (4)  has the written approval of  the  principal  of
    the  secondary  school  he  or she attends at the time of
    appointment;
         (5)  has the written approval of his or  her  parent
    or legal guardian;
         (6)  has   satisfactorily   completed  the  training
    course for  judges  of  election  described  in  Sections
    13-2.1 and 13-2.2; and
         (7)  meets  all other qualifications for appointment
    and service as an election judge.
    No more than one election  judge  qualifying  under  this
subsection  may serve per political party per precinct. Prior
to appointment, a judge qualifying under this subsection must
certify in writing to the election  authority  the  political
party the judge chooses to affiliate with.
    Students   appointed   as   election  judges  under  this
subsection shall not be counted as absent from school on  the
day they serve as judges.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 834.)

    (10 ILCS 5/13-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-8)
    Sec.  13-8.  Before  any vote is taken, the judges of the
election shall  severally  subscribe  and  take  an  oath  or
affirmation, in the following form:
    "I  do  solemnly  swear  (or affirm, as the case may be),
that I will support the Constitution of the United States and
the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and  that  I  will
faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of the office of judge of
election, according to the best of my ability,  and  (in  the
case  of  a  registered  voter, that I am entitled to vote at
this election)."
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3838.)

    (10 ILCS 5/14-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-1)
    Sec.  14-1.  (a)  The  board  of  election  commissioners
established or existing under Article 6 shall,  at  the  time
and  in  the  manner  provided  in Section 14-3.1, select and
choose 5  persons  electors,  men  or  women,  as  judges  of
election   for   each  precinct  in  such  city,  village  or
incorporated town.
    Where neither voting machines nor electronic,  mechanical
or  electric  voting  systems are used, the board of election
commissioners may, for any precinct with respect to which the
board considers such action necessary or desirable in view of
the number of voters, and shall for general elections for any
precinct containing more than 600 registered voters,  appoint
in  addition  to  the  5 judges of election a team of 5 tally
judges. In  such  precincts  the  judges  of  election  shall
preside  over  the  election  during  the hours the polls are
open, and the  tally  judges,  with  the  assistance  of  the
holdover  judges designated pursuant to Section 14-5.2, shall
count the vote after the closing  of  the  polls.  The  tally
judges  shall  possess  the  same qualifications and shall be
appointed in the same  manner  and  with  the  same  division
between  political  parties  as  is  provided  for  judges of
election.  The   foregoing   provisions   relating   to   the
appointment of tally judges are inapplicable in counties with
a population of 1,000,000 or more.
    (b)  To qualify as judges the persons electors must:
    (1) be citizens of the United States;
    (2) be of good repute and character;
    (3)  be  able  to  speak,  read  and  write  the  English
language;
    (4) be skilled in the 4 fundamental rules of arithmetic;
    (5) be of good understanding and capable;
    (6)  not be candidates for any office at the election and
not be elected committeemen;
    (7) reside and be entitled to vote  in  the  precinct  in
which  they  are  selected  to  serve,  except  that  in each
precinct not more  than  one  judge  of  each  party  may  be
appointed from outside such precinct.  Any judge so appointed
to  serve in any precinct in which he is not entitled to vote
must be entitled to vote elsewhere within  the  county  which
encompasses the precinct in which such judge is appointed and
such  judge  must  otherwise  meet the qualifications of this
Section.
    (c)  An election authority may  establish  a  program  to
permit  a  person who is not entitled to vote to be appointed
as an election judge if, as of the date of  the  election  at
which the person serves as a judge, he or she:
         (1)  is a U.S. citizen;
         (2)  is  a  senior  in  good  standing enrolled in a
    public or private secondary school;
         (3)  has a cumulative grade point average equivalent
    to at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
         (4)  has the written approval of  the  principal  of
    the  secondary  school  he  or she attends at the time of
    appointment;
         (5)  has the written approval of his or  her  parent
    or legal guardian;
         (6)  has   satisfactorily   completed  the  training
    course for  judges  of  election  described  in  Sections
    13-2.1, 13-2.2, and 14-4.1; and
         (7)  meets  all other qualifications for appointment
    and service as an election judge.
    No more than one election  judge  qualifying  under  this
subsection  may serve per political party per precinct. Prior
to appointment, a judge qualifying under this subsection must
certify in writing to the election  authority  the  political
party the judge chooses to affiliate with.
    Students   appointed   as   election  judges  under  this
subsection shall not be counted as absent from school on  the
day they serve as judges.
    (d)  The  board  of  election  commissioners may select 2
additional judges of election, one from  each  of  the  major
political  parties,  for  each 200 voters in excess of 600 in
any precinct having more than 600  voters  as  authorized  by
Section   11--3.   These  additional  judges  must  meet  the
qualifications prescribed in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 80-779.)

    (10 ILCS 5/14-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-5)
    Sec. 14-5. After the judges are selected and have  agreed
to  serve  as  provided  in Sections 14-1 to 14-4, inclusive,
then a report of such selections shall be made and  filed  in
the court, and application shall then be made by the board to
the  circuit  court  for  their confirmation and appointment,
whereupon the court shall enter an order that cause be shown,
if any exists, against the confirmation  and  appointment  of
such  persons so named, on or before the opening of the court
on a day  to  be  fixed  by  the  court.  And  the  board  of
commissioners shall immediately give notice of such order and
the  names  of  all such judges so reported to such court for
confirmation, and their residence and the precinct for  which
they  were  selected,  by causing a notice to be published in
one or more newspapers in such city, village or  incorporated
town,  and if no newspaper be published in such city, village
or incorporated town, then by posting such notice in 3 of the
most public places in such city, village or town.  The notice
shall state that a list of judges of  election  is  available
for   public   inspection  in  the  office  of  the  election
authority. If no cause to the contrary is shown prior to  the
day  fixed,  and  if,  in  each  precinct, at least one judge
representing each of the two major political parties has been
certified  by  the   board   of   commissioners   as   having
satisfactorily  completed  within  the preceding 6 months the
training course and examination for judges  of  election,  as
provided  in  Section  14-4.1  of  this Act such appointments
shall be confirmed by order entered by that court.
    If in any precinct the requisite 2 judges have  not  been
so   certified  by  the  board  of  commissioners  as  having
satisfactorily completed such  course  and  examination,  the
board of commissioners shall immediately notify all judges in
that  precinct,  to  whose  appointment  there  is  no  other
objection,  that  all  such judges shall attend the next such
course. The board of commissioners shall then certify to  the
court  that  all  such judges have been so notified (and such
certification need  contain  no  detail  other  than  a  mere
recital).  The  appointment  of  such  judges  shall  then be
confirmed by order entered by the  court.  If  any  judge  so
notified  and  so  confirmed  fails  to  attend the next such
course, such failure shall subject  such  judge  to  possible
removal from office at the option of the election authority.
    If  objections  to  the  appointment of any such judge is
filed prior to the day fixed by the court for confirmation of
judges, the court shall hear such objections and the evidence
introduced in support thereof, and shall confirm or refuse to
confirm such nominations, as the interests of the public  may
require.  No reasons may be given for the refusal to confirm.
If any vacancies exist by reason of the action of such  board
or  otherwise, at any time, the board of commissioners shall,
subject to the provisions of Section 14-3.2,  further  report
and  nominate  persons  to fill such vacancies so existing in
the manner aforesaid, and a  court  in  the  same  way  shall
consider  such  nominations  and  shall  confirm or refuse to
confirm  the  same  in  the  manner   aforesaid.   Upon   the
confirmation  of such judges, at any time, a commission shall
issue to each of such judges, under the seal of  such  court,
and  appropriate  forms  shall  be  prepared  by the board of
commissioners for such purpose. After such  confirmation  and
acceptance  of  such  commission, such judges shall thereupon
become officers of such court. If a vacancy  occurs  so  late
that  application  to and confirmation by the court cannot be
had before the election,  then  the  board  of  commissioners
shall,  subject  to the provisions of Section 14-3.2, make an
appointment  and  issue  a  commission  to  such  officer  or
officers, and when  thus  appointed  such  officer  shall  be
considered  an  officer  of the court and subject to the same
rules and punishment, in case of misbehavior, as if confirmed
by the court,  and  any  judge,  however  appointed,  and  at
whatever  time,  shall be considered an officer of court, and
be subject to the same control  and  punishment  in  case  of
misbehavior.  Not more than 10 business days after the day of
election, the board of election commissioners shall compile a
list containing the name, address and  party  affiliation  of
each judge of election who served on the day of election, and
shall  preserve  such  list  and make it available for public
inspection and copying for a period of not more than one year
from the date of receipt of such list.  Copies of  such  list
shall  be  available for purchase at a cost not to exceed the
cost of duplication. The board of commissioners has the right
at any time, in case of misbehavior or neglect  of  duty,  to
remove any judge of election, and shall cause such vacancy to
be  filled  in  accordance  with  this Act. Except for judges
appointed under subsection (c) of Section 14-1, the board has
the right, at any time, to remove any judge of  election  for
failing  to vote the primary ballot of the political party he
represents at a primary election at which he served  as  such
judge,   and  shall  cause  such  vacancy  to  be  filled  in
accordance with this Act. The board shall remove any judge of
election who, twice during the same term of office, fails  to
provide  for  the  opening  of  the polling place at the time
prescribed in Section 17-1  or  Section  18-2,  whichever  is
applicable,  unless  such  delay  can  be demonstrated by the
judge of election to be beyond his or  her  control.  In  the
event  that  any  judge of election is removed for cause, the
board shall specify such  cause  in  writing  and  make  such
writing  a matter of public record, with a copy to be sent to
the  appropriate  county  chairman  who  made   the   initial
recommendation of the election judges. The judges of election
must be appointed and confirmed at least 35 days prior to the
next election.
    If  any  vacancy  shall  occur or exist, more than 5 days
before election the judges appointed to such places  must  be
confirmed   by  such  court.  Such  commissioners  shall  not
voluntarily remove any judge within 5 days of such  election,
except  for  flagrant  misbehavior, incapacity or dishonesty,
and the reasons  therefor  must  afterwards  be  reported  in
writing  to  such  court  and made a matter of public record,
with a copy to be sent to the appropriate county chairman who
made the initial recommendation of  the  election  judge.  If
such  removal  be wilful and without cause, the commissioners
shall be punished  for  contempt  of  court  and  subject  to
removal.  The  board of election commissioners shall have the
power on election day to remove without cause  any  judge  of
election  appointed  by the other judges of election pursuant
to Section 14-6 and to appoint another judge of  election  to
serve  for  that  election. Such substitute judge of election
must be selected, where possible, pursuant to the  provisions
of  Section  14-3.2  and must be qualified in accordance with
Section 14-1.
(Source: P.A. 90-672, eff. 7-31-98.)

    (10 ILCS 5/14-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 14-7)
    Sec. 14-7. Immediately after  the  confirmation  of  such
judges   by   the   circuit  court,  the  Board  of  Election
Commissioners shall notify each  judge  of  election  of  his
appointment  and  shall  immediately  mail  to  the  judge of
election his commission.
    Previous to any vote  being  taken,  judges  of  election
shall  severally subscribe and take an oath or affirmation in
the following form:
    "I,...., residing at .... in the city (village  or  town)
of  ....  in  the  State  of  Illinois, do solemnly swear (or
affirm) (in the case of a registered voter, that I am a legal
voter in the .... ward of the city (village or town), of ....
in the State of Illinois); that I will support the  laws  and
constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the State of
Illinois, and that I will faithfully and  honestly  discharge
the  duties  of  the office of judge of election for the ....
precinct of the .... ward of the city (village  or  town)  of
....,  in  the  county  of  ....,  in  the State of Illinois,
according to the best of my ability."
(Source: P.A. 80-704.)

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