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HB 2716

ELEC CD-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Maurice West

Allows county election authorities in township counties to combine two contiguous townships into one election precinct based on defined criteria and voter convenience.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2716

Summary — HB 2716 (ELEC CD — Township Organization)

Status: Rule 19(a) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee
Introduced: Feb 6–12, 2025 (Rep. Maurice A. West, II)
Primary statutory target: 10 ILCS 5/11‑1 (Illinois Election Code, Section 11‑1)

Note on source text: The provided document also contains unrelated text from an Arizona bill about school building blueprints. That Arizona text is not part of the Illinois Election Code amendment described by the bill title and main text below; this summary focuses on the Illinois election provisions titled “ELEC CD‑TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.”

Main purpose

HB 2716 amends Section 11‑1 of the Illinois Election Code to give election authorities in counties under township organization explicit authority and criteria to combine two contiguous townships into a single election precinct. The change is intended to provide a statutorily defined process and objective criteria for when such combinations are permissible.

Key provisions and changes

  • Adds a specific provision allowing an election authority in a county under township organization to combine a township with an adjacent township to constitute one election precinct if:
    • The townships are contiguous; and
    • At least two of the following four conditions are met:
    • The election authority certifies to the State Board of Elections that the townships have been combined into one election precinct for the two preceding general elections.
    • The combined townships have no more than 1,800 registered voters.
    • There are no more than 500 registered voters in any precinct within either township.
    • A majority of the board of township trustees in both townships vote to combine and notify the election authority.
  • Requires the election authority to consider voter convenience and election integrity when deciding whether to combine townships into one precinct.
  • Reaffirms that, in counties under township organization, each town shall constitute at least one election precinct.
  • Retains other existing provisions in Section 11‑1 regarding precinct boundary changes, polling place notices (including a 60‑day request rule for municipalities), reassignment of voters when there are 50 or fewer local‑election‑eligible registered voters in a precinct, and protections for ballot secrecy and election integrity.

Who is affected

  • Election authorities in counties under township organization (they gain explicit criteria and discretionary authority).
  • Boards of township trustees (their majority vote can be one of the criteria permitting combination).
  • State Board of Elections (receives certification under one criterion).
  • Registered voters in townships that could be combined — potential changes to polling places and precinct assignments.
  • County boards insofar as they have existing responsibilities for precinct boundary adjustments under the Election Code.

Practical effects and considerations

  • Administrative efficiency: combining small or low‑turnout townships could reduce the number of precincts/polling places and associated costs.
  • Voter access and convenience: consolidation could increase travel distance to polling places or change where voters go, though the bill requires election authorities to consider convenience.
  • Election integrity: the bill requires consideration of integrity and includes thresholds (voter counts and prior combined election history) intended to limit ad hoc consolidations.
  • Local control: formal approval by a majority of township trustees can be one path to combination, giving local officials a direct role.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Bill introduced in early February 2025; legislative record shows multiple committee references and Rule 19(a) re‑referral to Rules Committee (March 21, 2025). Further committee action awaits.
  • If enacted, the amendment would modify 10 ILCS 5/11‑1 and apply to precinct organization in counties under township organization going forward.

If you want, I can:
- Extract and display the exact amended statutory text side‑by‑side with the current statute, or
- Prepare a one‑page explainer on likely operational steps election authorities would take to implement a combination under this bill.

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

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