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HB 3031

Relating to oversight of West Virginia Fusion Center

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Butler and 6 co-sponsors

HB 3031 lets Illinois counties appoint unaffiliated judges of election, altering precinct and special panel partisan composition rules.

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Bill Summary · HB 3031

Bill Summary — HB 3031 (104th General Assembly)

Important note: The bill package provided is internally inconsistent. The heading lists the title as “Relating to housing; and declaring an emergency,” but the statutory text and amendments plainly amend the Illinois Election Code. This summary treats the enacted content (Election Code amendments) as the operative subject of HB 3031.

Short summary

HB 3031 amends multiple provisions of the Illinois Election Code (notably 10 ILCS 5/13-1, 13-2, 13-3, 13-4, 14-1, 14-3.1, 14-4, 14-5) to give county election authorities discretion to appoint judges of election who are unaffiliated with a political party and to make conforming selection and appointment changes. The change modifies how precinct judges and special panels are selected and adjusts party-composition limits for polling place teams.

Key provisions

  • Authorizes county boards of commissioners (election authorities) to appoint judges of election who are unaffiliated with any political party, at the county board’s discretion.
  • Adjusts appointment composition rules:
    • For precincts with five judges, no more than three persons of the same political party may serve; if a county appoints an unaffiliated judge, the composition limit becomes two judges from the same party plus one unaffiliated judge.
    • For precincts with three judges, no more than two persons of the same political party may serve; if an unaffiliated judge is appointed the composition is one judge from each party and one unaffiliated.
  • Maintains the use of certified lists from county central committees for partisan appointees; adds processes for selecting an unaffiliated judge when the county chooses to appoint one (including application procedures prescribed by the county board).
  • Extends discretion to include special panels of judges (3-judge panels) used for counting or other duties, and requires conforming language in related sections.
  • Retains existing administrative rules such as certified lists to be filed with the county clerk at least 10 days before the county board’s annual meeting and provisions for filling vacancies.

Who is affected

  • County boards of commissioners (or equivalent election authorities) — gain discretion to appoint unaffiliated judges.
  • County central committees and party chairs — retain responsibilities to supply certified lists and may be affected by changes to partisan composition of precinct teams.
  • Prospective judges of election — residents unaffiliated with a party may now be eligible for appointment in some precincts.
  • Voters and election administration — potential changes in partisan balance at polling places and in special panels.

Procedural/timeline

  • Introduced: February 6, 2025 (Rep. Janet Yang Rohr).
  • Committee and floor actions occurred through June 2025; recommendations to pass were filed.
  • Passed both chambers late June 2025.
  • Governor signed: July 18, 2025.
  • Enacted as Chapter 497, 2025 Laws; effective date listed as July 17, 2025.
  • Bill caption includes “declaring an emergency,” indicating intent for expedited/early effect consistent with the stated effective date.

Potential impacts & considerations

  • Expands flexibility for counties to reduce strict two‑party control of precinct judge appointments, potentially increasing participation by unaffiliated residents and changing polling-place partisan balance.
  • Could alter political dynamics of poll staffing, training needs, and dispute resolution at precincts.
  • Implementation will require counties to adopt application/selection procedures for unaffiliated judges and to update appointment practices and records.

Sponsor: Rep. Janet Yang Rohr.

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

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