Bill Text: IL HB2431 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Provides that members of the General Assembly and the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall be elected by ranked-choice voting. Provides for ranked-choice ballots to be produced. Provides that voters may rank their choice for candidates for those offices and provides for interpretations of certain ballot marks. Provides that tallying ranked-choice votes proceeds in rounds. Provides that in each round, the number of votes for each continuing candidate must be counted, that each continuing ballot counts as one vote for its highest-ranked continuing candidate for that round, and that exhausted ballots are not counted for any continuing candidate. Provides that if only 2 candidates remain, the candidate with the higher vote total wins, and that if more than 2 candidates remain, the last-place candidate is eliminated and another round of tallying is to commence. Provides that rounds continue until a winner is found. Makes conforming changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-04 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB2431 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB2431-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2431 Introduced , by Rep. Nabeela Syed SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/1-3 from Ch. 46, par. 1-3
10 ILCS 5/16-3 from Ch. 46, par. 16-3
10 ILCS 5/16-4.2 new
10 ILCS 5/17-11 from Ch. 46, par. 17-11
10 ILCS 5/17-18 from Ch. 46, par. 17-18
10 ILCS 5/17-18.2 new
10 ILCS 5/18-5 from Ch. 46, par. 18-5
10 ILCS 5/18-9 from Ch. 46, par. 18-9
Amends the Election Code. Provides that members of the General Assembly and the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall be elected by ranked-choice voting. Provides for ranked-choice ballots to be produced. Provides that voters may rank their choice for candidates for those offices and provides for interpretations of certain ballot marks. Provides that tallying ranked-choice votes proceeds in rounds. Provides that in each round, the number of votes for each continuing candidate must be counted, that each continuing ballot counts as one vote for its highest-ranked continuing candidate for that round, and that exhausted ballots are not counted for any continuing candidate. Provides that if only 2 candidates remain, the candidate with the higher vote total wins, and that if more than 2 candidates remain, the last-place candidate is eliminated and another round of tallying is to commence. Provides that rounds continue until a winner is found. Makes conforming changes.
LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
A BILL FOR
HB2431 LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
AN ACT concerning elections.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
Sections 1-3, 16-3, 17-11, 17-18, 18-5, and 18-9 and by adding
Sections 16-4.2 and 17-18.2 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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.
26. "Office elected by ranked-choice voting" means any
member of the General Assembly, as well as the offices of
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of
State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. These offices shall only be
elected by ranked-choice voting during a general or special
election, and not during a primary, consolidated primary, or
similar election.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)
(10 ILCS 5/16-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 16-3)
Sec. 16-3. (a) Except as provided in Section 16-4.2 of
this Code, the The names of all candidates to be voted for in

HB2431 - 7 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
each election district or precinct shall be printed on one
ballot, except as is provided in Sections 16-6, 16-6.1, and
21-1.01 of this Code and except as otherwise provided in this
Code with respect to the odd year regular elections and the
emergency referenda. The lettering of candidate names on a
ballot shall be in both capital and lowercase letters in
conformance with standard English language guidelines, unless
compliance is not feasible due to the election system utilized
by the election authority. All nominations of any political
party shall be placed under the party appellation or title of
such party as designated in the certificates of nomination or
petitions. The names of all independent candidates shall be
printed upon the ballot in a column or columns under the
heading "independent" arranged under the names or titles of
the respective offices for which such independent candidates
shall have been nominated and so far as practicable, the name
or names of any independent candidate or candidates for any
office shall be printed upon the ballot opposite the name or
names of any candidate or candidates for the same office
contained in any party column or columns upon said ballot. The
ballot shall contain no other names, except that in cases of
electors for President and Vice-President of the United
States, the names of the candidates for President and
Vice-President may be added to the party designation and words
calculated to aid the voter in his choice of candidates may be
added, such as "Vote for one," or "Vote for not more than

HB2431 - 8 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
three"." If no candidate or candidates file for an office and
if no person or persons file a declaration as a write-in
candidate for that office, then below the title of that office
the election authority instead shall print "No Candidate".
When an electronic voting system is used which utilizes a
ballot label booklet, the candidates and questions shall
appear on the pages of such booklet in the order provided by
this Code; and, in any case where candidates for an office
appear on a page which does not contain the name of any
candidate for another office, and where less than 50% of the
page is utilized, the name of no candidate shall be printed on
the lowest 25% of such page. On the back or outside of the
ballot, so as to appear when folded, shall be printed the words
"Official Ballot", followed by the designation of the polling
place for which the ballot is prepared, the date of the
election and a facsimile of the signature of the election
authority who has caused the ballots to be printed. The
ballots shall be of plain white paper, through which the
printing or writing cannot be read. However, ballots for use
at the nonpartisan and consolidated elections may be printed
on different color paper, except blue paper, whenever
necessary or desirable to facilitate distinguishing between
ballots for different political subdivisions. In the case of
nonpartisan elections for officers of a political subdivision,
unless the statute or an ordinance adopted pursuant to Article
VII of the Constitution providing the form of government

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therefor requires otherwise, the column listing such
nonpartisan candidates shall be printed with no appellation or
circle at its head. The party appellation or title, or the word
"independent" at the head of any column provided for
independent candidates, shall be printed in letters not less
than one-fourth of an inch in height and a circle one-half inch
in diameter shall be printed at the beginning of the line in
which such appellation or title is printed, provided, however,
that no such circle shall be printed at the head of any column
or columns provided for such independent candidates. The names
of candidates shall be printed in letters not less than
one-eighth nor more than one-fourth of an inch in height, and
at the beginning of each line in which a name of a candidate is
printed a square shall be printed, the sides of which shall be
not less than one-fourth of an inch in length. However, the
names of the candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
on the same ticket shall be printed within a bracket and a
single square shall be printed in front of the bracket. The
list of candidates of the several parties and any such list of
independent candidates shall be placed in separate columns on
the ballot in such order as the election authorities charged
with the printing of the ballots shall decide; provided, that
the names of the candidates of the several political parties,
certified by the State Board of Elections to the several
county clerks shall be printed by the county clerk of the
proper county on the official ballot in the order certified by

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the State Board of Elections. Any county clerk refusing,
neglecting or failing to print on the official ballot the
names of candidates of the several political parties in the
order certified by the State Board of Elections, and any
county clerk who prints or causes to be printed upon the
official ballot the name of a candidate, for an office to be
filled by the Electors of the entire State, whose name has not
been duly certified to him upon a certificate signed by the
State Board of Elections shall be guilty of a Class C
misdemeanor.
(b) When an electronic voting system is used which
utilizes a ballot card, on the inside flap of each ballot card
envelope there shall be printed a form for write-in voting
which shall be substantially as follows:
WRITE-IN VOTES
(See card of instructions for specific information.
Duplicate form below by hand for additional write-in votes.)
.............................
Title of Office
( ) .............................
Name of Candidate
Write-in lines equal to the number of candidates for which
a voter may vote shall be printed for an office only if one or
more persons filed declarations of intent to be write-in
candidates or qualify to file declarations to be write-in
candidates under Sections 17-16.1 and 18-9.1 when the

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certification of ballot contains the words "OBJECTION
PENDING".
(c) When an electronic voting system is used which uses a
ballot sheet, the instructions to voters on the ballot sheet
shall refer the voter to the card of instructions for specific
information on write-in voting. Below each office appearing on
such ballot sheet there shall be a provision for the casting of
a write-in vote. Write-in lines equal to the number of
candidates for which a voter may vote shall be printed for an
office only if one or more persons filed declarations of
intent to be write-in candidates or qualify to file
declarations to be write-in candidates under Sections 17-16.1
and 18-9.1 when the certification of ballot contains the words
"OBJECTION PENDING".
(d) When such electronic system is used, there shall be
printed on the back of each ballot card, each ballot card
envelope, and the first page of the ballot label when a ballot
label is used, the words "Official Ballot," followed by the
number of the precinct or other precinct identification, which
may be stamped, in lieu thereof and, as applicable, the number
and name of the township, ward or other election district for
which the ballot card, ballot card envelope, and ballot label
are prepared, the date of the election and a facsimile of the
signature of the election authority who has caused the ballots
to be printed. The back of the ballot card shall also include a
method of identifying the ballot configuration such as a

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listing of the political subdivisions and districts for which
votes may be cast on that ballot, or a number code identifying
the ballot configuration or color coded ballots, except that
where there is only one ballot configuration in a precinct,
the precinct identification, and any applicable ward
identification, shall be sufficient. Ballot card envelopes
used in punch card systems shall be of paper through which no
writing or punches may be discerned and shall be of sufficient
length to enclose all voting positions. However, the election
authority may provide ballot card envelopes on which no
precinct number or township, ward or other election district
designation, or election date are preprinted, if space and a
preprinted form are provided below the space provided for the
names of write-in candidates where such information may be
entered by the judges of election. Whenever an election
authority utilizes ballot card envelopes on which the election
date and precinct is not preprinted, a judge of election shall
mark such information for the particular precinct and election
on the envelope in ink before tallying and counting any
write-in vote written thereon. If some method of insuring
ballot secrecy other than an envelope is used, such
information must be provided on the ballot itself.
(e) In the designation of the name of a candidate on the
ballot, 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

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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 for nomination, nomination
papers, or certificate of nomination for that office,
whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate's name on the
ballot 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, papers,
or certificate must be accompanied by the candidate's
affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the
period specified in (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 or removing the candidate's name from the ballot,
as appropriate, but these requirements do not apply to name
changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's
or parents' surname, marriage or civil union to assume a
spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or civil union or
declaration of invalidity of marriage or civil union to assume
a former surname or a name change that conforms the
candidate's name to his or her gender identity. No other
designation such as a political slogan, 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. For purposes of this

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Section, a "political slogan" is defined as any word or words
expressing or connoting a position, opinion, or belief that
the candidate may espouse, including, but not limited to, any
word or words conveying any meaning other than that of the
personal identity of the candidate. A candidate may not use a
political slogan as part of his or her name on the ballot,
notwithstanding that the political slogan may be part of the
candidate's name.
(f) The State Board of Elections, a local election
official, or an election authority shall remove any
candidate's name designation from a ballot that is
inconsistent with subsection (e) of this Section. In addition,
the State Board of Elections, a local election official, or an
election authority shall not certify to any election authority
any candidate name designation that is inconsistent with
subsection (e) of this Section.
(g) If the State Board of Elections, a local election
official, or an election authority removes a candidate's name
designation from a ballot under subsection (f) of this
Section, then the aggrieved candidate may seek appropriate
relief in circuit court.
Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are
used, the provisions of this Section may be modified as
required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever
is applicable.
Nothing in this Section shall prohibit election

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authorities from using or reusing ballot card envelopes which
were printed before January 1, 1986 (the effective date of
Public Act 84-820).
(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23;
103-467, eff. 8-4-23; revised 7-23-24.)
(10 ILCS 5/16-4.2 new)
Sec. 16-4.2. Ranked-choice ballots.
(a) For an election for an office elected by ranked-choice
voting that has more than 2 choices, the ballot shall be laid
out to allow the voter to rank the candidates for an office in
order of preference. Space shall be provided for a voter to
include one write-in candidate if he or she desires. The
ballot shall be as simple and easy to understand as possible.
Any ballot laid out in such a manner shall be tallied in
accordance with Section 17-18.2 of this Code.
(b) All other requirements of this Article apply with
regards to ballots for offices elected by ranked-choice voting
to the extent that they do not contradict the provisions of
this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.
(10 ILCS 5/17-11) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-11)
Sec. 17-11. On receipt of his ballot the voter shall
forthwith, and without leaving the inclosed space, retire
alone, or accompanied by children as provided in Section 17-8,
to one of the voting booths so provided and shall prepare his

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ballot by making in the appropriate margin or place a cross (X)
opposite the name of the candidate of his choice for each
office to be filled, or by writing in the name of the candidate
of his choice in a blank space on said ticket, making a cross
(X) opposite thereto; and in case of a question submitted to
the vote of the people, by making in the appropriate margin or
place a cross (X) against the answer he desires to give. A
cross (X) in the square in front of the bracket enclosing the
names of a team of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant
Governor counts as one vote for each of such candidates.
Before leaving the voting booth the voter shall fold his
ballot in such manner as to conceal the marks thereon. He shall
then vote forthwith in the manner herein provided, except that
the number corresponding to the number of the voter on the poll
books shall not be indorsed on the back of his ballot. He shall
mark and deliver his ballot without undue delay, and shall
quit said inclosed space as soon as he has voted; except that
immediately after voting, the voter shall be instructed
whether the voting equipment, if used, accepted or rejected
the ballot or identified the ballot as under-voted for a
statewide constitutional office. A voter whose ballot is
identified as under-voted may return to the voting booth and
complete the voting of that ballot. A voter whose ballot is not
accepted by the voting equipment may, upon surrendering the
ballot, request and vote another ballot. The voter's
surrendered ballot shall be initialed by the election judge

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and handled as provided in the appropriate Article governing
that voting equipment.
No voter shall be allowed to occupy a voting booth already
occupied by another, nor remain within said inclosed space
more than ten minutes, nor to occupy a voting booth more than
five minutes in case all of said voting booths are in use and
other voters waiting to occupy the same. No voter not an
election officer, shall, after having voted, be allowed to
re-enter said inclosed space during said election. No person
shall take or remove any ballot from the polling place before
the close of the poll. No voter shall vote or offer to vote any
ballot except such as he has received from the judges of
election in charge of the ballots. Any voter who shall, by
accident or mistake, spoil his ballot, may, on returning said
spoiled ballot, receive another in place thereof only after
the word "spoiled" has been written in ink diagonally across
the entire face of the ballot returned by the voter.
Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are
used, the provisions of this section may be modified as
required or authorized by Article 24, 24A, 24B, or 24C,
whichever is applicable, except that the requirements of this
Section that (i) the voter must be notified of the voting
equipment's acceptance or rejection of the voter's ballot or
identification of an under-vote for a statewide constitutional
office and (ii) the voter shall have the opportunity to
correct an under-vote or surrender the ballot that was not

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accepted and vote another ballot shall not be modified.
Where a ranked-choice balloting is used for an office
elected by ranked-choice balloting, the voter may rank his or
her preferences for the candidates for that office. A voter
shall not be required to rank all candidates for that office. A
cross (X) for only one candidate shall be interpreted as a vote
of rank 1 for that particular candidate, with no other
candidate being ranked. Crosses (X) for 2 or more candidates
shall not count as votes for any candidate, and shall cause the
ballot to be identified as under-voted, subject to the
provisions for under-voted ballots under Section 18-5.
(Source: P.A. 94-288, eff. 1-1-06; 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)
(10 ILCS 5/17-18) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-18)
Sec. 17-18. Immediately upon closing the polls the judges
shall proceed to canvass the votes polled. They shall first
count the whole number of ballots in the box. If 2 or more
ballots are folded together so as to appear to have been cast
by the same person, all of the ballots so folded together shall
be marked and returned with the other ballots in the same
conditions, as near as may be, in which they were found when
first opened, but shall not be counted. If the remaining
ballots shall be found to exceed the number of applications
for ballot, the ballots shall be replaced in the box, and the
box closed and well shaken and again opened and one of the
judges shall publicly draw out so many ballots unopened as

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shall be equal to such excess; and the number of the ballots
agreeing with the poll lists, or being made to agree. Such
excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not Counted" and signed
by a majority of the judges and shall be placed in the "After
6:00 p.m. Defective Ballots Envelope". The number of excess
ballots shall be noted in the remarks section of the
Certificate of Results. "Excess" ballots shall not be counted
in the total of "defective" ballots.
The judges shall then proceed to count and record the
votes; and when the judges of election shall open and read the
ballots, 3 judges, with at least one from each political party
from which the precinct judges were chosen, shall carefully
and correctly mark down upon the three tally sheets the vote
each candidate has received, in a separate box prepared for
that purpose, with the name of such candidate at the head of
such box, and the office designated by the votes such
candidate shall fill. Whenever a proposition is submitted to
the electors at the same election, the ballots for or against
such proposition shall always be canvassed, counted or
tallied. The votes shall be canvassed in the room or place
where the election is held, and the judges shall not allow the
ballot box, or any of the ballots, or the applications for
ballot, or any of the tally sheets to be removed or carried
away from such room or place, until the canvass of the vote is
completed, and the returns carefully enveloped and sealed up
as provided by law.

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Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are
used, the provisions of this section may be modified as
required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever
is applicable.
Where ranked-choice ballot tallying is used for an office
elected by ranked-choice voting, the provisions of this
Section may be modified as required or authorized by Section
16-4.2 or Section 17-18.2 of this Code, whichever is
applicable.
(Source: P.A. 83-333.)
(10 ILCS 5/17-18.2 new)
Sec. 17-18.2. Ranked-choice ballot tallying.
(a) As used in this Section,
"Batch elimination" means the simultaneous defeat of
multiple candidates for whom it is mathematically impossible
to be elected.
"Continuing ballot" means a ballot that is not an
exhausted ballot.
"Continuing candidate" means a candidate who has not been
defeated.
"Exhausted ballot" means a ballot that does not rank any
continuing candidate, contains an overvote at the highest
continuing ranking or contains 2 or more sequential skipped
rankings before its highest continuing ranking.
"Highest continuing ranking" means the highest ranking on

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a voter's ballot for a continuing candidate.
"Last-place candidate" means the candidate with the fewest
votes in a round of the ranked-choice voting tallying.
"Mathematically impossible to be elected," with respect to
a candidate, means either:
(1) the candidate cannot be elected because the
candidate's vote total in a round of the ranked-choice
voting tabulation plus all votes that could possibly be
transferred to the candidate in future rounds from
candidates with fewer votes or an equal number of votes
would not be enough to surpass the candidate with the
next-higher vote total in the round; or
(2) the candidate has a lower vote total than a
candidate described in subparagraph (1) of this
definition.
"Overvote" means a circumstance in which a voter has
ranked more than one candidate at the same ranking.
"Round" means an instance of the sequence of voting
tabulation steps established in subsection (b) of this
Section.
"Skipped ranking" means a circumstance in which a voter
has left a ranking blank and ranks a candidate at a subsequent
ranking.
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this
Section, the following procedures are used to determine the
winner in an election for an office elected by ranked-choice

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voting. Tallying must proceed in rounds. In each round, the
number of votes for each continuing candidate must be counted.
Each continuing ballot counts as one vote for its
highest-ranked continuing candidate for that round. Exhausted
ballots are not counted for any continuing candidate. The
round then ends with one of the following 2 potential
outcomes:
(1) If there are 2 or fewer continuing candidates, the
candidate with the most votes is declared the winner of
the election.
(2) If there are more than 2 continuing candidates,
the last-place candidate is defeated and a new round
begins.
(c) A tie under this Section between candidates for the
most votes in the final round or a tie between last-place
candidates in any round must be decided by lot, and the
candidate chosen by lot is defeated. The result of the tie
resolution must be recorded and reused in the event of a
recount. Election authorities may resolve prospective ties
between candidates before the election.
(d) Modification of a ranked-choice voting ballot and
tabulation is permitted in accordance with the following:
(1) The number of allowable rankings may be limited to
no fewer than 6.
(2) Two or more candidates may be defeated
simultaneously by batch elimination in any round of

HB2431 - 23 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
tabulation.
(e) For all statutory and constitutional provisions in the
State pertaining to the rights of political parties, the
number of votes cast for a party's candidate for an office
elected by ranked-choice voting is the number of votes
credited to that candidate after the initial counting in the
first round described in subsection (b).
(f) The State Board of Elections may adopt rules to
implement the provisions of this Section.
(10 ILCS 5/18-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-5)
Sec. 18-5. Any person desiring to vote and whose name is
found upon the register of voters by the person having charge
thereof, shall then be questioned by one of the judges as to
his nativity, his term of residence at present address,
precinct, State and United States, his age, whether
naturalized and if so the date of naturalization papers and
court from which secured, and he shall be asked to state his
residence when last previously registered and the date of the
election for which he then registered. The judges of elections
shall check each application for ballot against the list of
voters registered in that precinct to whom grace period, vote
by mail, and early ballots have been issued for that election,
which shall be provided by the election authority and which
list shall be available for inspection by pollwatchers. A
voter applying to vote in the precinct on election day whose

HB2431 - 24 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
name appears on the list as having been issued a grace period,
vote by mail, or early ballot shall not be permitted to vote in
the precinct, except that a voter to whom a vote by mail ballot
was issued may vote in the precinct if the voter submits to the
election judges that vote by mail ballot for cancellation. If
the voter is unable to submit the vote by mail ballot, it shall
be sufficient for the voter to submit to the election judges
(i) a portion of the vote by mail ballot if the vote by mail
ballot was torn or mutilated or (ii) an affidavit executed
before the election judges specifying that (A) the voter never
received a vote by mail ballot or (B) the voter completed and
returned a vote by mail ballot and was informed that the
election authority did not receive that vote by mail ballot.
If such person so registered shall be challenged as
disqualified, the party challenging shall assign his reasons
therefor, and thereupon one of the judges shall administer to
him an oath to answer questions, and if he shall take the oath
he shall then be questioned by the judge or judges touching
such cause of challenge, and touching any other cause of
disqualification. And he may also be questioned by the person
challenging him in regard to his qualifications and identity.
But if a majority of the judges are of the opinion that he is
the person so registered and a qualified voter, his vote shall
then be received accordingly. But if his vote be rejected by
such judges, such person may afterward produce and deliver an
affidavit to such judges, subscribed and sworn to by him

HB2431 - 25 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
before one of the judges, in which it shall be stated how long
he has resided in such precinct, and state; that he is a
citizen of the United States, and is a duly qualified voter in
such precinct, and that he is the identical person so
registered. In addition to such an affidavit, the person so
challenged shall provide to the judges of election proof of
residence by producing 2 forms of identification showing the
person's current residence address, provided that such
identification may include a lease or contract for a residence
and not more than one piece of mail addressed to the person at
his current residence address and postmarked not earlier than
30 days prior to the date of the election, or the person shall
procure a witness personally known to the judges of election,
and resident in the precinct (or district), or who shall be
proved by some legal voter of such precinct or district, known
to the judges to be such, who shall take the oath following,
viz:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a resident of
this election precinct (or district), and entitled to vote at
this election, and that I have been a resident of this State
for 30 days last past, and am well acquainted with the person
whose vote is now offered; that he is an actual and bona fide
resident of this election precinct (or district), and has
resided herein 30 days, and as I verily believe, in this State,
30 days next preceding this election.
The oath in each case may be administered by one of the

HB2431 - 26 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
judges of election, or by any officer, resident in the
precinct or district, authorized by law to administer oaths.
Also supported by an affidavit by a registered voter residing
in such precinct, stating his own residence, and that he knows
such person; and that he does reside at the place mentioned and
has resided in such precinct and state for the length of time
as stated by such person, which shall be subscribed and sworn
to in the same way. For purposes of this Section, the
submission of a photo identification issued by a college or
university, accompanied by either (i) a copy of the
applicant's contract or lease for a residence or (ii) one
piece of mail addressed to the person at his or her current
residence address and postmarked not earlier than 30 days
prior to the date of the election, shall be sufficient to
establish proof of residence. Whereupon the vote of such
person shall be received, and entered as other votes. But such
judges, having charge of such registers, shall state in their
respective books the facts in such case, and the affidavits,
so delivered to the judges, shall be preserved and returned to
the office of the commissioners of election. Blank affidavits
of the character aforesaid shall be sent out to the judges of
all the precincts, and the judges of election shall furnish
the same on demand and administer the oaths without criticism.
Such oaths, if administered by any other officer than such
judge of election, shall not be received. Whenever a proposal
for a constitutional amendment or for the calling of a

HB2431 - 27 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
constitutional convention is to be voted upon at the election,
the separate blue ballot or ballots pertaining thereto shall
be placed on top of the other ballots to be voted at the
election in such manner that the legend appearing on the back
thereof, as prescribed in Section 16-6 of this Act, shall be
plainly visible to the voter, and in this fashion the ballots
shall be handed to the voter by the judge.
Immediately after voting, the voter shall be instructed
whether the voting equipment, if used, accepted or rejected
the ballot or identified the ballot as under-voted. A voter
whose ballot is identified as under-voted for an office
elected by ranked-choice voting a statewide constitutional
office may return to the voting booth and complete the voting
of that ballot. A voter whose ballot is not accepted by the
voting equipment may, upon surrendering the ballot, request
and vote another ballot. If a ballot for an office elected by
ranked-choice voting is considered under-voted because the
ballot has crosses (X) for 2 or more candidates, the voter may,
upon surrendering the ballot, request and vote upon another
ballot. The voter's surrendered ballot shall be initialed by
the election judge and handled as provided in the appropriate
Article governing that voting equipment.
The voter shall, upon quitting the voting booth, deliver
to one of the judges of election all of the ballots, properly
folded, which he received. The judge of election to whom the
voter delivers his ballots shall not accept the same unless

HB2431 - 28 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
all of the ballots given to the voter are returned by him. If a
voter delivers less than all of the ballots given to him, the
judge to whom the same are offered shall advise him in a voice
clearly audible to the other judges of election that the voter
must return the remainder of the ballots. The statement of the
judge to the voter shall clearly express the fact that the
voter is not required to vote such remaining ballots but that
whether or not he votes them he must fold and deliver them to
the judge. In making such statement the judge of election
shall not indicate by word, gesture or intonation of voice
that the unreturned ballots shall be voted in any particular
manner. No new voter shall be permitted to enter the voting
booth of a voter who has failed to deliver the total number of
ballots received by him until such voter has returned to the
voting booth pursuant to the judge's request and again quit
the booth with all of the ballots required to be returned by
him. Upon receipt of all such ballots the judges of election
shall enter the name of the voter, and his number, as above
provided in this Section, and the judge to whom the ballots are
delivered shall immediately put the ballots into the ballot
box. If any voter who has failed to deliver all the ballots
received by him refuses to return to the voting booth after
being advised by the judge of election as herein provided, the
judge shall inform the other judges of such refusal, and
thereupon the ballot or ballots returned to the judge shall be
deposited in the ballot box, the voter shall be permitted to

HB2431 - 29 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
depart from the polling place, and a new voter shall be
permitted to enter the voting booth.
The judge of election who receives the ballot or ballots
from the voter shall announce the residence and name of such
voter in a loud voice. The judge shall put the ballot or
ballots received from the voter into the ballot box in the
presence of the voter and the judges of election, and in plain
view of the public. The judges having charge of such registers
shall then, in a column prepared thereon, in the same line of,
the name of the voter, mark "Voted" or the letter "V".
No judge of election shall accept from any voter less than
the full number of ballots received by such voter without
first advising the voter in the manner above provided of the
necessity of returning all of the ballots, nor shall any such
judge advise such voter in a manner contrary to that which is
herein permitted, or in any other manner violate the
provisions of this Section; provided, that the acceptance by a
judge of election of less than the full number of ballots
delivered to a voter who refuses to return to the voting booth
after being properly advised by such judge shall not be a
violation of this Section.
Where ranked-choice ballot tallying is used for an office
elected by ranked-choice voting, the voter may rank his or her
preferences for the candidates for that office. A voter shall
not be required to rank all candidates for that office. A cross
(X) for only one candidate shall be interpreted as a vote of

HB2431 - 30 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
rank 1 for that particular candidate, with no other candidate
being ranked. Crosses (X) for 2 or more candidates shall not
count as votes for any candidate, and shall cause the ballot to
be identified as under-voted, shall be subject to the
provisions for under-voted ballots in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)
(10 ILCS 5/18-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-9)
Sec. 18-9. The judges of election shall first count the
whole number of ballots in the box. If the ballots shall be
found to exceed the number of applications for ballot, they
shall reject the ballots, if any, found folded inside of a
ballot. And if the ballots and the applications for ballot
still do not agree after such rejection, the ballots shall be
replaced in the box and the box closed and well shaken, and
again opened; and one of the judges shall publicly draw out so
many ballots unopened as shall be equal to such excess. Such
excess ballots shall be marked "Excess-Not Counted" and signed
by a majority of judges and shall be placed in the "After 6:00
p.m. Defective Ballots Envelope". The number of excess ballots
shall be noted in the remarks section of the Certificate of
Results. "Excess" ballots shall not be counted in the total of
"defective" ballots. And the ballots and applications for
ballot being made to agree in this way, the judges shall
proceed to count the votes in the following manner: The judges
shall open the ballots and place those which contain the same

HB2431 - 31 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
names together, so that the several kinds shall be in separate
piles or on separate files. Each of the judges shall examine
the separate files which are, or are supposed to be, alike, and
exclude from such files any which may have a name or an
erasure, or in any manner shall be different from the others of
such file. One of the judges shall then take one file of the
kind of ballots which contain the same names, and count them by
tens, carefully examining each name on each of the ballots.
Such judge shall then pass the ten ballots aforesaid to the
judge sitting next to him, who shall count them in the same
manner, who shall then pass them to a third judge, who shall
also count them in the same manner. Then the third judge shall
call the names of the persons named in the ten ballots, and the
offices for which they are designated, and 2 of the judges, who
did not assist in the counting shall tally ten votes for each
of such persons, except as herein otherwise provided. When the
judges shall have gone through such file of ballots,
containing the same names, and shall count them by tens in the
same way, and shall call the names of the persons named in the
ballots and the office for which they are designated, the
tally judges shall tally the votes by tens for each of such
persons in the same manner as in the first instance. When the
counting of each file of ballots which contain the same names
shall be completed, the tally judges shall compare their
tallies together and ascertain the total number of ballots of
that kind so canvassed; and when they agree upon the number,

HB2431 - 32 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
one of them shall announce it in a loud voice to the other
judges. The judges shall then canvass the other kinds of
ballots which do not correspond, those containing names partly
from one kind of ballots and partly from another, being those
from which the name of the person proper to be voted for on
such ballots has been omitted or erased, usually called
"scratched tickets". They shall be canvassed separately by one
of the judges sitting between 2 other judges, which judge
shall call each name to the tally judges and the office for
which it is designated, and the other judges looking at the
ballot at the same time, and the tally judges making tally of
the same. When all the ballots have been canvassed in this
manner, the tally judges shall compare their tallies together,
and ascertain the total number of votes received by each
candidate and when they agree upon the numbers one of them
shall announce in a loud voice to the judges the number of
votes received by each candidate on each of the kinds of
ballots containing his name, the number received by him on
scratch tickets, and the total number of votes received by
him.
The votes for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant
Governor shall be counted and tallied jointly.
Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are
used, the provisions of this section may be modified as
required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever
is applicable.

HB2431 - 33 - LRB104 09846 SPS 19914 b
Where ranked-choice ballot tallying is used for an office
elected by ranked-choice voting, the provisions of this
Section may be modified as required or authorized by Section
16-4.2 of this Code and the judges shall abide by Section
17-18.2 of this Code, as applicable.
(Source: P.A. 89-700, eff. 1-17-97.)