Election Calendar: Focus on important dates

By Peter M. Murphy
Legal/Legislative Counsel

This 1987 calendar focuses on the nomination and election of commissioners of park districts.

Peter M. Murphy

For purposes of this calendar, "election authority" means the county clerk and "local election official" means the secretary of the park district.

Some dates as shown in this calendar fall either on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday. Chapter 1, Section 1012, Illinois Revised Statutes, 1985, extends time periods for legal acts, specifically where the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday. However, the law is unclear as to what extent this Section modifys statutory dates for election procedures. Given this uncertainty, legal counsel for the local election official should be contacted if there is any question as to such dates.

All citations contained herein are Illinois Revised Statutes, 1985.

Consolidated Election Schedule

First Tuesday in April
(April 7, 1987)

1986
Tuesday, Oct. 28

First day to circulate nomination papers for nonpartisan candidates for park boards who file January 19 through January 26, 1987 — 90 days preceeding the last day to file such papers.

Thursday, Nov. 20

First day notice of intention to file a petition to create a political subdivision whose officers are to be elected, rather than appointed, may be published in a newspaper within the proposed political subdivision or, if none, in a newspaper of general circulation within the proposed territory.

Friday, Dec. 19

Last day to file petition to create a political subdivision with the appropriate circuit court clerk.

Note: Objections can be filed on or before the date of the hearing with the appropriate circuit court clerk.

Note: If initial officers are to be elected at the election tor creation of a new unit of government, candidates for such offices shall file nomination papers 78 to 71 days before such election.

Saturday, Dec. 20

Last day notice of intention to file a petition to create a political subdivision whose officers are to be elected, rather than appointed, may be published in a newspaper within the proposed political subdivision, or if none, in a newspaper of general circulation within the proposed territory.

1987
Monday, Jan. 19
First day for filing in office of the local election official.

Monday, Jan. 19
Last day for filing of petitions for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy (local). (Except: proposition to create a political subdivision.)

Monday, Jan. 26
Last day to file objections to petitions for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy.

Monday, Jan. 26
Last day certificates of nomination may be filed in office of local election official, with Statement of Candidacy, Loyalty, Oath and receipt for filing Statement of Economic Interests for each candidate.

Note: Seven days written notice of the time and place for conducting lottery for simultaneous filings shall be given by the local election official to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction entitled to have poll-watchers present at the last consolidated election. Notice must also be posted. We recommend notifying all candidates involved in the lottery.

Monday, Jan. 26

Last day for filing a Statement of Economic Interests with the county clerk as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. The receipt must be filed with the local election official or election authority who received the nomination papers.

Sunday, Feb. 1
Last day for local governing boards to adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow a binding public question to appear on the ballot.

Monday, Feb. 2
Last day for filing objections to nomination petitions of nonpartisan candidates in the office of the local election official or election authority.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 28 November/December 1986

Wednesday, Feb. 4
Last day lottery shall be conducted by the local election official when two or more petitions are received simultaneously for the same offices by more than one nonpartisan candidate, as of the opening hour of the filing period (Jan. 19, 1987).

Thursday, Feb. 5
Last day candidate may file withdrawal of candidacy in the office of the local election official.

Thursday, Feb. 5
Last day for the circuit court clerk and the local election official to certify any question of public policy to each election authority having jurisdiction over the political subdivision.

Thursday, Feb. 5
Last day for local election official to certify offices and the names of candidates to appear on the Consolidated Election ballot to the election authority.

Thursday, Feb. 26
First day for any registered voter presently within the confines of the United States who expects to be absent from his county of residence on election day to make application by mail or in person to the election authority for an official ballot.

Sunday, March 8
First day for election authority to publish notice of Consolidated Election and notice of referenda.

Sunday, March 15
Last day for election authority to supply absentee materials to local election officials who conduct in-person absentee voting.

Thursday, April 2
Last day for election authority to receive application by mail from any registered voter presently within the confines of the United States, who expects to be absent from his county of residence on election day and the last day for the election authority to mail such ballot.

Saturday, April 4
Last day for election authority to have official ballots available for inspection by candidates or their agents.

Monday, April 6
Last day for election authority in counties having a population under 500,000 to publish a list of all nominations that are to be voted for at the Consolidated Election.

Tuesday, April 7
Consolidated Election.

Thursday, April 9
Last day for election authority to transmit election results to local election official (two days after election authority receives complete returns).

Friday, April 10
Last day for local election official to transmit election results to canvassing board (24 hours after local election official receives results).

Tuesday, April 14
Last day for canvassing of election results by local canvassing board and the proclamation of winners.

Note: Each local canvassing board shall immediately transmit a signed copy or original duplicate of its completed abstract of votes to each election authority having jurisdiction over any of the territory of their respective political subdivision and one copy to the State Board of Elections.

If a local canvassing board canvassed the results of a public question submitted to referendum by the circuit court, a signed copy or a duplicate of the abstract of votes shall be transmitted to the proper court, separately.

The election authority shall issue a certificate of election to each person declared elected to an office by such local canvassing board.

Within five days after proclamation, petitions for discovery recount may be filed by any qualified individual.

Gov. signs liability insurance bill Legislation designed to ease the liability insurance problems now confronted by Illinois park districts and other units of local government was signed into law on Sept. 26. This law. Public Act 84-1431, takes effect on Nov. 24. Copies of the law and additional information are available from Peter M. Murphy, IAPD legal/legislative counsel, 217 E. Monroe, Suite 101, Springfield, IL 62701. Phone (217) 523-4554.

Tailgate highlights

Various State and federal lawmakers were among the 250 participants at the fall Legislative Tailgate sponsored by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAFD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA). U.S. Sen. Alan Dixon (D), center, chats with IAPD Pres. Roger Toohey (left) and State Rep. Tom McMaster (R-73). Additional photos appear on the next page.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 29 November/December 1986

Also enjoying the pre-football game festivities were (left to right) State Sen. Jim Rupp (R-51), Sen. Frank Watson (R-55), Rep. John McNamara (D-27) and Rep. Gordon Ropp (R-88). IAPD board member Betsy Gillies (center) from the Urbana Park District introduces IAPD Pres. Roger Tbohey and State Rep. Helen Satterthwaite (D-103). State Rep. John Dunn (D-101), right, chats with Peter M. Murphy, IAPD legal/legislative counsel.

Tax information Comprehensive tax information regarding all units of local government is available from the Illinois Department of Revenue. The most recent data on park districts is based on 1984 equalized assessed valuations. These statistics provide the answers to the following interesting questions regarding the impact of park districts statewide. Park district tax facts 1. For every dollar taxpayers invest in local parks and recreation, there is a return to the Illinois economy of what amount? 2. How many park districts levied a corporate tax in 1985? 3. What park district levying taxes had the smallest corporate extension for 1985? 4. What was the lowest total levy made by a park district in 1985? 5. How many park districts levied under $10,000 for corporate purposes? 6. What park district had the lowest overall rate? 7. What is the total EAV of all park districts in Illinois? 8. What park district, besides Chicago, had the highest EAV? 9. Is the Chicago Park District's total EAV: (a) $6 billion? (b) $10 billion? (br) $15 billion? (d) $25 billion? 10. How many park districts are located in more than one county? 11. How many park districts are located in more than two counties? 12. How many park districts leved more than $1 million? 13. List the park districts with the top five extensions. 14. In 1984, how many park districts had an EAV of over $1 billion? 15. How many Illinois park districts levied no taxes in 1985?

Illinois Parks and Recreation 30 November/December 1986

Tax Fact Answers

1. $2.50

2. 317

3. Carrier Mills zero, but levied $5,523 for bonds and interest

4. Pleasant View - $511.26

5. 42

6. Pleasant View Park District (.0064)

7. $52,094,845,695

8. Rockford - $996,336,923

9. (c) $15 billion

10. 4

11. 25

12. 46

13. Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Decatur and Schaumburg

14. One - Chicago

15. 7

Illinois Parks and Recreation 34 November/December 1986