Bill > SB2004

This bill amends the Illinois Election Code to enable local governments to adopt ranked-choice voting (RCV) for local primary, general, and special elections. Under RCV, voters can rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting just one candidate. For single-winner elections, ballots will allow voters to rank at least 5 candidates, while multi-winner elections will allow ranking of at least 4 more candidates than the number of seats available. When no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and votes for that candidate are redistributed to voters' next-ranked candidates. This process continues until a candidate receives a majority or the remaining candidates meet a specific vote threshold. Local governments choosing to implement RCV must specify whether it will be used for single-seat or multi-seat elections, ensure voting systems are compatible and certified, and provide voter education materials. The State Board of Elections will establish guidelines, software standards, and rules for implementing RCV, including requirements for releasing round-by-round and ballot-level voting data. The bill aims to provide local jurisdictions with more flexible voting options and potentially increase voter engagement by allowing more nuanced candidate preferences.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2004&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104