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SB 1661

ELEC CD-REDUCE PRECINCT JUDGES

104th Regular Session Introduced by Julie Morrison and 1 co-sponsor

Allows counties to run precincts with three election judges instead of five, with partisan balance limited to two of the same party.

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Bill Summary · SB 1661

Summary — SB 1661 (Election Code: reduce precinct judges)

Overview / Purpose

SB 1661 amends the Election Code to allow election authorities (county boards or other designated election authorities) to reduce the number of judges of election assigned to a precinct from five to three. The change applies statewide by amending Sections 13‑1, 13‑2, 14‑1 and 14‑3.1 of the Election Code and makes conforming edits throughout those sections.

Key provisions

  • Authorizes an election authority to reduce the number of judges of election in each precinct to three (3) judges in lieu of the five (5) judges currently required in most precincts.
  • Requires that when only three judges serve in a precinct, no more than two judges may be members of the same political party (conforming the partisan balance rules to a 3‑judge team).
  • Preserves other existing provisions about additional “tally” judges in large precincts (for vote counting in precincts above statutory thresholds) and other appointment and qualification requirements, while making conforming adjustments to account for the 3‑judge option.
  • Specifies that the change results in conforming modifications to multiple Election Code sections (13‑1, 13‑2, 14‑1, 14‑3.1).

Who would be affected

  • County election authorities and county boards responsible for appointing precinct judges.
  • Judges of election (potentially fewer appointees required per precinct).
  • Political parties (allocation rules for party representation among precinct judges change when precincts adopt three judges).
  • Voters and election administrators (operational effects described below).

Procedural / timeline status

  • Introduced: Feb 5, 2025 (Sen. Julie A. Morrison as sponsor in the introduced draft).
  • Referred to Assignments and to relevant committees (Elections/Executive as noted in bill history).
  • Current status reported: Rule 3‑9(a) / Re‑referred to Assignments (per bill record provided).
  • Companion/related bill: HB 2946.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Administrative: may reduce the number of personnel needed per precinct (lower recruiting/training burden and cost).
  • Operational: fewer judges could increase workload at polling places, affect check‑in, provisional ballot handling and post‑closing procedures; jurisdictions may need to adjust staffing models (e.g., use holdover judges or special panels).
  • Partisan balance: party representation rules are adjusted for 3‑judge teams (no more than 2 judges of the same party), which may affect appointment dynamics in closely contested areas.
  • Local discretion: the change delegates flexibility to election authorities to determine whether to adopt a 3‑judge model for particular precincts.

Sponsors

  • MCKELVEY (listed as primary)
  • Julie A. Morrison (primary sponsor in the introduced Illinois draft)
  • Sally J. Turner (cosponsor)

(Amends: 10 ILCS 5/13‑1, 13‑2, 14‑1, 14‑3.1 — Election Code sections listed in the introduced text.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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