104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB2004 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/7-99 new10 ILCS 5/16-99 new10 ILCS 5/17-99 new10 ILCS 5/18-99 new10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new Amends the Election Code. Creates the Ranked-Choice Voting Article. Provides that a unit of local government may allow for any local primary election, general election, or special election to be conducted by ranked-choice voting. Sets forth provisions concerning ranked choice voting elections. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB2004 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/7-99 new10 ILCS 5/16-99 new10 ILCS 5/17-99 new10 ILCS 5/18-99 new10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new 10 ILCS 5/7-99 new 10 ILCS 5/16-99 new 10 ILCS 5/17-99 new 10 ILCS 5/18-99 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new 10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new Amends the Election Code. Creates the Ranked-Choice Voting Article. Provides that a unit of local government may allow for any local primary election, general election, or special election to be conducted by ranked-choice voting. Sets forth provisions concerning ranked choice voting elections. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB2004 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/7-99 new10 ILCS 5/16-99 new10 ILCS 5/17-99 new10 ILCS 5/18-99 new10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new 10 ILCS 5/7-99 new 10 ILCS 5/16-99 new 10 ILCS 5/17-99 new 10 ILCS 5/18-99 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new 10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new
10 ILCS 5/7-99 new
10 ILCS 5/16-99 new
10 ILCS 5/17-99 new
10 ILCS 5/18-99 new
10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new
10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new
Amends the Election Code. Creates the Ranked-Choice Voting Article. Provides that a unit of local government may allow for any local primary election, general election, or special election to be conducted by ranked-choice voting. Sets forth provisions concerning ranked choice voting elections. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b
LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b
A BILL FOR
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SB2004 LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b
1 AN ACT concerning elections.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
5 Sections 2A-1.2 and 10-6 and by adding Sections 7-99, 16-99,
6 17-99, 18-99, and Article 22A as follows:
7 (10 ILCS 5/7-99 new)
8 Sec. 7-99. Ranked-choice voting. For an election conducted
9 using ranked-choice voting, the provisions of this Article may
10 be modified or interpreted to the extent necessary to
11 implement the provisions of Article 22A.
12 (10 ILCS 5/16-99 new)
13 Sec. 16-99. Ranked-choice voting.For an election conducted
14 using ranked-choice voting, the provisions of this Article may
15 be modified or interpreted to the extent necessary to
16 implement ranked-choice voting elections under Article 22A.
17 (10 ILCS 5/17-99 new)
18 Sec. 17-99. Ranked-choice voting. For an election
19 conducted using ranked-choice voting, the provisions of this
20 Article may be modified or interpreted to the extent necessary
21 to implement the provisions of Article 22A.
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB2004 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/7-99 new10 ILCS 5/16-99 new10 ILCS 5/17-99 new10 ILCS 5/18-99 new10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new 10 ILCS 5/7-99 new 10 ILCS 5/16-99 new 10 ILCS 5/17-99 new 10 ILCS 5/18-99 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new 10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new 10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new
10 ILCS 5/7-99 new
10 ILCS 5/16-99 new
10 ILCS 5/17-99 new
10 ILCS 5/18-99 new
10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new
10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new
Amends the Election Code. Creates the Ranked-Choice Voting Article. Provides that a unit of local government may allow for any local primary election, general election, or special election to be conducted by ranked-choice voting. Sets forth provisions concerning ranked choice voting elections. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b
LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b
A BILL FOR
10 ILCS 5/7-99 new
10 ILCS 5/16-99 new
10 ILCS 5/17-99 new
10 ILCS 5/18-99 new
10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new
10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new
10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new
LRB104 11266 SPS 21350 b
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1 (10 ILCS 5/18-99 new)
2 Sec. 18-99. Ranked-choice voting. For an election
3 conducted using ranked-choice voting, the provisions of this
4 Article may be modified or interpreted to the extent necessary
5 to implement the provisions of Article 22A.
6 (10 ILCS 5/Art. 22A heading new)
7 ARTICLE 22A. RANKED-CHOICE VOTING
8 (10 ILCS 5/22A-1 new)
9 Sec. 22A-1. Definitions. As used in this Article:
10 "Active ballot" means a ballot that counts for an active
11 candidate.
12 "Active candidate" means any candidate who has not been
13 eliminated or elected.
14 "Ranking" means the number available to be assigned by a
15 voter to a candidate to express the voter's preference for
16 that candidate.
17 "Round" means an instance of the sequence of vote
18 tabulation.
19 (10 ILCS 5/22A-5 new)
20 Sec. 22A-5. Ranked-choice voting in local elections.
21 (a) A unit of local government may allow for any local
22 primary election, general election, or special election to be
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1 conducted by ranked-choice voting in accordance with this
2 Article. A unit of local government that conducts its general
3 election or special election by ranked-choice voting may do so
4 without holding a separate primary election or runoff
5 election.
6 (b) A unit of local government that implements
7 ranked-choice voting shall:
8 (1) specify whether the system will be used for
9 single-seat elections, multi-seat elections, or both;
10 (2) ensure that voting systems used are compatible
11 with ranked-choice voting and are certified by the State
12 Board of Elections; and
13 (3) provide voter education materials to inform the
14 electorate about ranked-choice voting.
15 (10 ILCS 5/22A-10 new)
16 Sec. 22A-10. Ranked-choice voting ballot. In an election
17 conducted by ranked-choice voting, the ballot shall allow
18 voters to rank candidates in order of preference as follows:
19 (1) in a single-winner ranked-choice voting election,
20 the ballot shall allow voters to rank at least 5
21 candidates, including declared write-in candidates; or
22 (2) in a multi-winner ranked-choice voting election,
23 the ballot shall allow voters to rank at least 4 more
24 candidates than the number of seats to be nominated or
25 elected, including declared write-in candidates.
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1 If there are fewer candidates than the number of rankings
2 required in this Section, the number of rankings may be
3 reduced as necessary. The number of rankings allowed in an
4 election for any office shall be uniform for all elections for
5 that office in this State.
6 (10 ILCS 5/22A-15 new)
7 Sec. 22A-15. Application of ranked-choice voting to
8 localities.
9 (a) In any an election for one office is conducted by
10 ranked-choice voting, each ballot counts as one vote for its
11 highest-ranked active candidate. The candidate with the
12 highest number of votes at the end of tabulation is nominated
13 or elected. The tabulation of votes proceeds in rounds as
14 follows:
15 (1) if no active candidate has received a majority of
16 active ballots, the active candidate with the fewest votes
17 is eliminated, and votes for the eliminated candidate
18 count for each ballot's next-ranked active candidate; and
19 (2) if a candidate is ranked the highest on a majority
20 of active ballots, the tabulation of votes is complete.
21 (b) In an election for more than one office conducted by
22 ranked-choice voting, each ballot counts in whole or in part
23 for its highest-ranked active candidate. Candidates are
24 nominated or elected if they receive the minimum whole number
25 of votes needed to win. To determine the threshold required to
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1 win, the total number of valid votes cast shall be divided by
2 the sum of one and the number of seats to be filled, rounded
3 down to the nearest whole number, and added by one. If a
4 candidate receives more votes than the threshold, part of each
5 vote received by that candidate counts for each ballot's
6 next-ranked active candidate instead. If no active candidate
7 meets the threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is
8 eliminated and votes for that candidate count for each
9 ballot's next-ranked active candidate. The State Board of
10 Elections shall establish guidelines and best practices for
11 administering multi-winner ranked-choice elections.
12 (c) Ballots in a ranked-choice voting election shall be
13 treated as follows:
14 (1) an under-vote does not count as an active or
15 inactive ballot in any round of tabulation of that
16 election;
17 (2) an inactive ballot is a ballot that ceases during
18 tabulation to count for any candidate for the remainder of
19 tabulation of the election for that office because either:
20 (A) all candidates ranked on the ballot have
21 become inactive; or
22 (B) the ballot includes an over-vote and any
23 candidates ranked higher than the over-vote have
24 become inactive;
25 (3) during tabulation, a ballot shall remain active
26 and continue to count for its highest-ranked active
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1 candidate notwithstanding any skipped ranking or repeated
2 ranking on the ballot; and
3 (4) if a candidate withdraws, dies, or for any reason
4 becomes disqualified after the ballots have been printed,
5 the candidate shall be treated as an eliminated candidate
6 during tabulation unless a ranking for that candidate is
7 to be deemed to be a ranking for a substitute candidate
8 under applicable law.
9 (d) If 2 or more candidates are tied with the fewest number
10 of votes, and tabulation cannot continue until the tie is
11 resolved, the tie shall be resolved by lot. Election officials
12 may resolve prospective ties between candidates prior to
13 tabulation. The result of any tie resolution must be recorded
14 and reused in the event of a recount.
15 (e) As used in this Section:
16 "Overvote" means a voter ranks more than one candidate at
17 the same ranking.
18 "Repeated ranking" means a voter ranks the same candidate
19 at multiple rankings.
20 "Skipped ranking" means a voter leaves a ranking
21 unassigned but ranks a candidate at a subsequent ranking.
22 "Undervote" means a voter does not rank any candidates in
23 an election for a particular office.
24 (10 ILCS 5/22A-20 new)
25 Sec. 22A-20. Rulemaking. Notwithstanding any law to the
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1 contrary, the State Board of Elections shall adopt any rules
2 necessary to implement this Article, including a process to
3 release: (1) unofficial preliminary round-by-round results on
4 election night; (2) unofficial preliminary ballot-level
5 ranking data in a machine-readable and searchable open format
6 no later than when the counting of ballots is complete; (3)
7 official final round-by-round results upon certification of
8 the results; and (4) official final ballot-level ranking data
9 in a machine-readable and searchable open format upon
10 certification of the results.
11 (10 ILCS 5/22A-25 new)
12 Sec. 22A-25. Software standards. The State Board of
13 Elections shall establish standards for the use of existing
14 vote tabulating software in elections conducted by
15 ranked-choice voting. Any person, firm, or corporation
16 manufacturing, owning, or offering for sale any vote
17 tabulation software designed to be used with existing voting
18 systems may apply to the State Board of Elections, in the
19 manner prescribed by the State Board of Elections, to have
20 examined a production version of the software. A unit of local
21 government that makes the decision to conduct elections by
22 ranked-choice voting shall provide for the use of vote
23 tabulating software approved by the State Board of Elections
24 in the elections.
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1 Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
2 severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
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