Bill > HB4613

This bill amends the Election Code to ensure that all ballot measures, which are public questions, constitutional amendments, referendums, or other propositions submitted to voters, are written in plain language and include a clear summary. "Plain language" is defined as wording that is easy to understand, avoiding complex legal terms, passive sentences, unnecessary semicolons, and double negatives. The bill also mandates that ballot measure summaries describe the primary purpose of the measure and its material legal effect if approved or rejected, and these summaries must be neutral, avoid legal jargon, state the impact of both "Yes" and "No" votes, and be written at an eighth-grade reading level, with specific word limits for statewide and local measures. The State Board of Elections and local election authorities will be responsible for reviewing these measures and summaries for compliance, and registered voters will have the right to challenge any ballot measure or summary that does not meet these new readability standards, with courts empowered to order revisions if non-compliance is found.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4613&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104