Election Calender 2003

Election Calender 2003
Prepared by Peter M. Murphy, IAPD General Counsel
For the purposes of this calendar, "Local Election Official" means the clerk or secretary of a unit of local government or park district and forest preserve. "Business Day" means any day in which the office of an election authority, local election official or the State Board of Election is open to the public for a minimum of seven hours. (10 ILCS 5/1-5) "Election Authority" means the county clerk, the municipal board of election commissioners, or the county board of election commissioners.

FILING AND REGISTRATION DATES

(a) If the first or last day fixed by law to do any act required or allowed by this Code falls on a State holiday or a Saturday or a Sunday, the period shall extend through the first business day next following the day otherwise fixed as the last day for filing or the close of registration, irrespective of whether any election authority or local election official conducts business on the State holiday, Saturday, or Sunday.

(b) For the purposes of this Section, "State holiday" means New Year's Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, President's Day, Casimer Pulaski's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and any other day from time to time declared by the President of the United States or the Governor of Illinois to be a day during which the agencies of the State of Illinois that are ordinarily open to do business with the public shall be closed for business. (10 ILCS 5/1-6b; Public Act 90-672)

THE BOARD INTERPRETS PUBLIC ACT 90-672 TO PERMIT THE EXTENSION OF DEADLINES WHICH CREATE A RIGHT IN THE PUBLIC, NOT WHEN THE DEADLINE IMPOSES A DUTY ON AN ELECTION OFFICER.

CONSOLIDATED
PRIMARY ELECTION
Last Tuesday in February
February 25, 2003
Pools open 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
2002

Thursday, OCTOBER 10
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. (10 ILCS 5/ 28-2(g))

Saturday, NOVEMBER 9
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. (10 ILCS 5/28-2(g))

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 12
Last day to file petition (must contain original sheets signed by voters and circulators) to create a political subdivision with the appropriate circuit court clerk. (10 ILCS 5/28-2(b))

NOTE: Objections can be filed on or before the date of the hearing with the appropriate circuit court clerk. (10 ILCS 5/28-4)

NOTE: If initial officers are to be elected at the election for creation of a new unit of government, candidates for such offices shall file nomination papers 78-71 days before such election. (December 9-16, 2002. (10 ILCS 5/10-6)

NOTE: The circuit court clerk shall publish the hearing date for a public policy petition filed in his/her office not later than 14 days after the petition is actually filed, but at least 5 days before actual hearing (final orders within 7 days of hearing).

Monday, NOVEMBER 19
Last day to file objections to petition to create a political subdivision with the appropriate officer or board. (10 ILCS 5/28-4)

Monday, DECEMBER 9
Last day for filing of petitions (must contain original sheets signed by voters and circulators) for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy (local). (Exception: proposition to create a political subdivision) (10 ILCS 5/28-2, 28-6, 28-7)

Monday, DECEMBER 16
Last day to file objections to petitions for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy (local). (Exception: proposition to create a political subdivision or propositions initiated under the provisions of the Liquor Control Act) (10 ILCS 5/10-8, 28-4)

Monday, DECEMBER 23
Last day for local governing boards to adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow a binding public question to appear on the ballot. (EXCEPTION: Township boards may place advisory (10 ILCS 5/28-2; 60 ILCS 1/80-80)

Thursday, DECEMBER 26
Last day for the circuit court clerk and the local election official to certify any question of public policy to the election authority having jurisdiction over the political subdivision. (10 ILCS 5/28-5)

2003

Thursday, JANUARY 2
First day for citizens of the United States temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States who are not registered but otherwise qualified to vote and who expect to be absent from their county of residence on election day to make simultaneous application to the election authority having jurisdiction over his/her precinct of residence for absentee registration and an absentee ballot. (10 ILCS 5/20-2.1/20-3)

November/December 2002 17

Thursday, JANUARY 16
First day for any registered voter presently within the confines of the United States who expects to be absent from his/her county of residence on election day to make application by mail or in person to the election authority for an official ballot. (10 ILCS 5/19-2)

NOTE: Most first time voters who register by mail must vote in person, either in person absentee voting (at the office of the election authority or authorized municipal, township or road district clerk), as a hospitalized or nursing home voter, or at the precinct polling place. For exceptions see 42 USC 1973gg-4(c) and SBE rule, title 26, Section 216.90.

NOTE: Certain situations other than absence from county of residence also permit application for absentee ballot to be made. (10 ILCS 5/19-3)

Thursday, JANUARY 16
Last day for civic organizations and proposition proponents or opponents to register their names and addresses of their principal officers with the proper election authority if the organization wants to qualify for pollwatchers at the Consolidated Primary Election. (10 ILCS 5/7-34)

Sunday, JANUARY 26
First day for election authority to publish notice of primary and notice of referenda. Notice must include the color of the primary ballots. (May include list of precinct polling addresses.) The election authority shall post a copy of the notice at the principal office of the election authority. The local election official shall also post a copy of the notice at the principal office of the political or governmental subdivision. If there is no principal office, the election official shall post the notice at the building in which the governing body of the political or governmental subdivision held its first meeting of the calendar year in which the referenda is being held. (10 ILCS 5/7-15, 7-18, 12-5)

Monday, JANUARY 27
Last day for citizens of the United States temporarily residing outside the United States who are not registered but otherwise qualified to vote and who expect to be absent from their county of residence on election day to make simultaneous application to the election authority having jurisdiction over their precinct of residence for absentee registration and an absentee ballot and the last day for the election authority to mail such ballot. (10 ILCS 5/20-2.1/20-3)

Sunday, FEBRUARY 2
Last day for election authority to supply absentee materials to local election officials (qualified municipal, township and road district clerks) who conduct in-person absentee voting. (10 ILCS 5/19-2.1)

Monday, FEBRUARY 3
First day for local election officials (qualified municipal, township, and road district clerks) to conduct in-person absentee voting. (10 ILCS 5/19-2.1)

Tuesday, FEBRUARY 18
Last day for any voter who is a member of the United States Service and his spouse and dependents of voting age who expect to be absent from the county of residence on election day to make application for an official ballot (may make application via facsimile machine or other method of electronic transmission) to the election authority having jurisdiction over their precinct residence, and the last day for the election authority to mail such ballot. (10 ILCS 5/ 20-2, 20-2.3, 20-3)

Thursday, FEBRUARY 20

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. (10 ILCS 5/19-2)

Note: First time voters who registered by mail must vote in person, either absentee in person (at the office of the election authority or authorized municipal, township or road district clerk) or at the polling place. For exceptions, see 42 USC 1973GG-4(c) and SBE rule, title 26, Section 216.90.

Note: Certain situations other than absence from county of residence also permit application for absentee ballot to be made. (10 ILCS 5/19-3)

Thursday, MARCH 14
Last day for local election authority to publish the specimen ballot. (10 ILCS 5/7-21)

Monday, FEBRUARY 24
Last day for any registered voter presently within the United States, who expects to be absent from his county of residence on election day, to make application in person to the election authority, or municipal, township, or road district clerk who is authorized to conduct absentee voting. (10 ILCS 5/19-2)

TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 25, 2003
CONSOLIDATED PRIMARY
ELECTION

Thursday, FEBRUARY 27
Last day for election authority to transmit election results to local election officials (48 hours after election authority receives complete results). Board of Election Commissioners canvass for municipalities which have adopted Article 6. [10 ILCS 5/7-56(7), 7-56(8)]

Tuesday, MARCH 4
Last for canvassing election results by local canvassing board. [10 ILCS 5/7-56(8), 22-17(c)]

Tuesday, MARCH 4
Last day or proclamation of nominees by the local canvassing board. (10 ILCS 5/7-58)

CONSOLIDATED ELECTION
First Tuesday
April, 2003

Wednesday OCTOBER 23
First day to circulate nomination papers (must be original sheets signed by voters and circulators) For nonpartisan candidates for township and municipal libraries, library districts, park districts, school boards, and forest preserve districts who file January 15 - January 23, 2001 -90 days preceding the last day to file such papers. (10 ILCS 5/ 10-4)

Thursday, NOVEMBER 14
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. (10 ILCS 5/ 28-2)

Saturday, DECEMBER 14
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. (10 ILCS 5/ 28-2)

Monday, DECEMBER 16
Last day to file petition (must contain original sheets signed by

18 Illinois Parks and Recreation

voters and circulators) to create a political subdivision with the appropriate circuit court clerk. (10 ILCS 5/28-2)

NOTE: Objections can be filed on or before the date of the hearing with the appropriate circuit court clerk. (10 ILCS 5/28-4)

NOTE: If initial officers are to be elected at the election for creation of a new unit or government, candidates for such offices shall file nominating papers 78-71 days before such election. (10 ILCS 5/10-6)

NOTE: See the specific statute governing the unit of local government to be established for filing procedures. (10 ILCS 5/28-4)

Monday, DECEMBER 23

Last day to file objection to petition to create a political subdivision with the appropriate officer or board. (10 ILCS 5/28-4)

2003

Tuesday, JANUARY 2
First day any voter who is a member of the United States Service and his spouse or dependents of voting age who expect to be absent from their county of residence on election day to make application (may make application via facsimile machine or other method of electronic transmission) for an official ballot to the election authority having jurisdiction over their precinct residence and the last day for the election authority to mail such ballots. (10 ILCS 5/ 20-2.3,20-3)

NOTE: No registration shall be required in order to vote pursuant to this section.

Monday, JANUARY 13
First day for filing in office of the local election official or Board of Election Commissioners original nominating petitions (must contain original sheets signed by voters and circulators) for nonpartisan candidates in park districts and forest preserves. (10 ILCS 5/10-6(2); 10-6(6))

*Filing is 78-71 days prior to the election. January 20, 2003 is the 71st day prior to the April 1 Consolidated Election. Because January 20 is the date of observance of Martin Luther King's Birthday, the last day of filing is extended to January 21, 2003 regardless of whether the office to the local election official or election authority is open

Tuesday, JANUARY 13
Last day for filing petitions (must contain original sheets signed by voters and circulators) for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy (local). (Exception: proposition to create a political subdivision.) (10 ILCS 5/28-2, 28-6, 28-7)

Tuesday, JANUARY 21
Last day to file objections to petitions for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy. (Exception: proposition to create a political subdivision.) (10 ILCS 5/10-8, 28-4)

Tuesday JANUARY 23
Last day for filing in the office of the local election official or Board of Election Commissioners original nomination petitions for nonpartisan candidates in road districts/township and municipal libraries, library districts, park districts, school boards, and forest preserve districts. (10 ILCS 5/10-6(2), 10-6(6))

Tuesday, JANUARY 27
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. (10 ILCS 5/ 10-5; 5 ILCS 420/4A)

Monday, JANUARY 27
Last day for local governing boards to adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow a binding public question to appear on the ballot. (EXCEPTION: Township boards may place advisory referenda on the ballot by resolution) (10 ILCS 5/28-2; 60 ILCS 1/80-80)

Tuesday, JANUARY 28
Last day for an individual who has filed for two or more incompatible offices to withdraw from all but one of the offices with the local election official or election authority. (10 ILCS 5/10-8 (10 ILCS 5/10-7)

Tuesday, JANUARY 28
Last day for filing objections to nomination petitions of new political party, nonpartisan and independent candidates and certificates of nomination for established party caucus candidates in the office of the local election official or election authority. (10 ILCS 5/10-8)

Thursday, JANUARY 30
Last day lottery shall be conducted by the local election official when two or more petitions are received simultaneously for the same office by more than one (1) independent candidate or more than one (1) new political party/or by more than one (1) nonpartisan candidate, as of the opening hour of the filing period (January 13, 2003). (10 ILCS 5/10-6.2)

Thursday, JANUARY 30
Last day set by statute for candidate to file Withdrawal of Candidacy in the office of the local election official or election authority. (Excluding aldermanic candidates, City of Chicago.) (10 ILCS 5/10-7, 65 ILCS 20/ 21-29)

Thursday, JANUARY 30
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. (10 ILCS 5/ 28-51

Thursday, JANUARY 30
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. (10 ILCS 5/ 10-15)

Saturday, FEBRUARY 15
Last day for the election authority to have a sufficient number of ballots printed and available in his office for mailing to persons in the United States Service or their spouse and dependents and citizens temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States. (10 ILCS 5/16-5.01)

Thursday, FEBRUARY 20
Last day for civic organizations and proposition proponents and opponents to register their names and addresses and the names and addresses of their principal officers with the proper election authority. (10 ILCS 5/17-23, 18-6)

November/December 2002 19

Sunday, MARCH 2
First day for election authority to publish notice of Consolidated Election and notice of referenda. (May include a list of precinct polling place addresses.) The election authority shall post a copy of the notice at the principal office of the political or governmental subdivision. If there is no principal office, the local election official shall post the notice at the building in which the governing body of the political or governmental subdivision held its first meeting of the calendar year in which the referenda is being held. (10 ILCS 5/12-4, 12-5)

Tuesday, MARCH 4
Last day for citizens of the United States temporarily residing outside the United States who are not registered but otherwise qualified to vote and who expect to be absent from their county of residence on election day to make simultaneous application to the election authority having jurisdiction over their precinct of residence for absentee registration and an absentee ballot and the last day for the election authority to mail such ballot. (10 ICS5/20-2.1, 20-3)

Sunday, MARCH 9
Last day for election authority to supply absentee materials to local election officials (qualified municipal, township and road district clerks) who conduct in-person absentee voting. (10 ILCS 5/19-2.1)

Monday, MARCH 10
First day for local election official (qualified municipal, township, and road district clerks) to conduct in-person absentee voting. (10 ILCS 5/19-2.1)

Saturday, MARCH 22
Last day for election authority to publish notice of Consolidated Election and notice of referenda. (May include a list of precinct polling place addresses.) The election authority shall post a copy of the notice at the principal office of the political or governmental subdivision. If there is no principal office, the local election official shall post the notice at the building in which the governing body of the apolitical or governmental subdivision held its first meeting of the calendar year in which the referenda is being held. (10 ILCS 5/12-4, 12-5)

Tuesday, MARCH 25

Last day (by 5:00 P.M.) a person may file a notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the proper election authority. (10 ILCS 5/17-16.1,18-9.1)

Thursday, MARCH 27
First day that a qualified voter who has been admitted to a hospital not more than five (5) days before an election shall be entitled to personal delivery of an absentee ballot by making application with the election authority.

NOTE: This provision for absentee voting is available through election day if the process can be completed and the voted ballot returned to the election authority in sufficient time for delivery to the ballot to the polling place before 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, MARCH 27
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. (10 ILCS 5/19-2)

NOTE: FIRST TIME VOTERS WHO REGISTERED BY MAIL MUST VOTE IN PERSON, EITHER ABSENTEE IN PERSON VOTING OR AT THE POLLING PLACE. For exceptions, see 42 USC 1973gg-4(c) and SBE Rule, Title 26, Section 215.90.

NOTE: Certain situations other than absence from county of residence also permit application for absentee ballot to be made. (10 ILCS 5/19-3)

Friday, MARCH 28
Last day for election authority to have official ballots available for inspection by candidates or their agents. (10 ILCS 5/16-5)

Monday, MARCH 31
Last day for election authority in counties having a population under 500,000 to publish a list of all the nominations that are to be voted for at the Consolidated Election. (10 ILCS 5/16-10)

Tuesday, APRIL 1
Date when authorized local election officials shall deliver in person absentee ballots to the proper polling place before the close of the polling place. All unused in-person absentee voting supplies are to be returned to the office of the election authority. (10 ILCS 5/19-2.1)

Tuesday,
APRIL 1, 2003
CONSOLIDATED ELECTION

Thursday, APRIL 3
Last day for election authorities to transmit election results to local election officials (2 days after election authority receives complete returns). Board of Election Commissioners canvass for municipalities which have adopted Article 6. (10 ILCS 5/ 17-22,18-14)

Friday, APRIL 4
Last day for local election official to transmit election results to canvassing board (24 hours after local election official receives results). (10 ILCS 5/17-22, 18-14)

Tuesday, APRIL 8
Last day for canvassing election results by local canvassing board and the proclamation of winners. (10 ILCS 5/22-17)

ABSTRACT OF VOTES
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. (10 ILCS 5/22-18)

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 (10 ILCS 5/22-18)

AFTER PROCLAMATION CERTIFICATE OF ELECT/ON
The election authority shall issue a certificate of election to each person declared elected to an office by such local canvassing board. (10 ILCS 5/22-18) For political subdivisions which are multi-county, the election authority of the county where the principal office of the political subdivision is located shall make the certificate of election. (10 ILCS 5/22-18)

WRITE-IN CANDIDATES
Each successful write-in candidate shall file the following documents with the proper election authority or the State Board of Elections within 10 days from the proclamation by the appropriate board. (1)A Loyalty Oath (optional) (2) A Statement of Candidacy, and (3) A receipt for filing of a Statement of Economic Interests (10 ILCS 5/7-60)

DISCOVERY RECOUNT
Within 5 days after the last day for proclamation, petitions for discovery recount may be filed by any qualified individual with the appropriate election authority(ies). (10 ILCS 5/22-9.1)

ELECTION CONTEST
The circuit court shall hear certain election contests. Individuals should refer to the particular statute which governs their unit of government. (10 ILCS 5/23-4, 23-5, 23-6.1)

November/December 2002 20