ELEC CD-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION

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

Allows counties under township organization to combine contiguous townships into one precinct under certain limits, easing admin but weighing voter access and election integrity.

Main purpose

SB 1659 amends Section 11-1 of the Illinois Election Code to give election authorities in counties that operate under township organization explicit authority to combine two contiguous townships into a single election precinct under defined conditions. The change is intended to provide more flexibility for precinct configuration where populations are small or other qualifying conditions exist, while directing officials to weigh voter convenience and election integrity when making decisions.

Key provisions

Permitted action: In counties under township organization, an election authority may combine a township with an adjacent (contiguous) township so the two together constitute one election precinct.

Conditions: Two or more of the following must be satisfied before combining townships:

The election authority certifies to the State Board of Elections that the townships were 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 for both townships vote to combine and inform the election authority.

Decision-making standard: The election authority must consider voter convenience and election integrity in determining whether to combine townships.

Preservation: The bill retains language that, in counties under township organization, each town shall constitute at least one election precinct (i.e., the change is not intended to eliminate minimum precinct representation for towns).

Who is affected

Voters in townships located in counties under township organization (particularly small or sparsely populated townships).

County election authorities (responsible for approving and certifying precinct combinations).

Township trustees (their approval can be a deciding factor).

State Board of Elections (receives certifications and serves as reference for prior-combination condition).

Procedural / implementation notes

The combination requires contiguity of townships and fulfillment of at least two enumerated conditions.

One condition allows prior practice (certification that the townships were combined for the two preceding general elections) to justify continuing the combination.

The bill does not prescribe an implementation timeline beyond the certification/conditions; standard notice, polling-place and election-administration rules continue to apply.

Potential impacts and considerations

Administrative efficiency: May reduce the number of precincts in low-population areas, lowering staffing and materials costs.

Voter access: Consolidation could increase travel for some voters and should be evaluated for impacts on access, especially for elderly or transportation-limited residents.

Election integrity and convenience: The bill explicitly requires election authorities to balance these factors, but practical impacts will depend on local implementation and public notice.

Local control: Township trustee approval is one avenue for local input; in some cases a majority trustee vote is sufficient to meet the bill’s standard.

Legal reference: Amends 10 ILCS 5/11-1 (Election Code, Sec. 11‑1).

Bill