10 ILCS 5/17-18.1
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 10 - ELECTIONS|10 ILCS 5/ - Election Code.|Article 17 - Conduct of Elections and Making Returns

 (from Ch. 46, par. 17-18.1)Sec. 17-18.1.   Wherever the judicial retention ballot to be used in  any general election contains the names of more than 15 judges on a  separate paper ballot, the County Clerk or Board of Election  Commissioners as the case may be, shall designate special judges of  election for the purpose of tallying and canvassing the votes cast for  and against the propositions for the retention of judges in office in  such places and at such times as the County Clerk or Board of Election  Commissioners determine. Special judges of election shall be designated  from certified lists submitted by the respective chairmen of the county  central committees of the two leading political parties. In the event  that the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners as the case may  be, decides that the counting of the retention ballots shall be  performed in the precinct where such ballots are cast, 2 special judges  of election shall be designated to tally and canvass the vote of each  precinct with one being named from each of the 2 leading political  parties.In the event that the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners  decides that the judicial retention ballots from several precincts shall  be tallied and canvassed in a central or common location, then each  major political party shall be entitled to an equal number of special  election judges in each such central or common location. The County  Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners, as the case may be, shall  inform, no later than 75 days prior to such election, the respective  chairmen of the county central committees of the location or locations  where the counting of retention ballots will be done, the number of names  to be included on the certified lists, and the number of special  election judges to be selected from those lists. If the certified list  for either party is not submitted within thirty days after the chairmen  have been so informed, the County Clerk or Board of Election  Commissioners shall designate special judges of election for that party  in whatever manner it determines.The County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners shall apply to  the Circuit Court for the confirmation of the special judges of election  designated under this Section. The court shall confirm or refuse to  confirm such designations as the interest of the public may require.  Those confirmed shall be officers of the court and subject to its  disciplinary powers.The County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners shall, in the  exercise of sound discretion, prescribe the forms, materials and  supplies together with the procedures for completion and return thereof  for use in such election by special judges of election. The special  judges of election designated under this Section shall have full  responsibility and authority for tallying and canvassing the votes  pertaining to the retention of judges and the return of ballots and  supplies.If the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners decides that  the counting of the retention ballots shall be performed in the precinct  where such ballots were cast, at least 2 ballot boxes shall be provided  for paper retention ballots, one of which shall be used from the opening  of the polls until 9:00 a.m. and from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. and the  second of which shall be used from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and from  3:00 p.m. until the closing of the polls; provided that if additional  ballot boxes are provided, the additional boxes shall be used instead of  reusing boxes used earlier. At the close of each such period of use, a  ballot box used for retention ballots shall be immediately unsealed and  opened and the ballots therein counted and tallied by the special judges  of election. After counting and tallying the retention ballots, the  special judges of election shall place the counted ballots in a  container provided for that purpose by the County Clerk or Board of  Election Commissioners and clearly marked with the appropriate printing  and shall thereupon seal such container. One such container shall be  provided for each of the four time periods and clearly designated as the  container for the respective period. The tally shall be recorded on  sheets provided by the County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners  and designated as tally sheets for the respective time periods. Before a  ballot box may be reused, it shall in the presence of all of the judges  of election be verified to be empty, whereupon it shall be resealed.  After the close of the polls, and after the tally of votes cast by vote by mail   voters, the special judges of election shall add together the  tallies of all the ballot boxes used throughout the day, and complete  the canvass of votes for retention of judges in the manner established  by this Act. All of these procedures shall be carried out within the  clear view of the other judges of election. The sealed containers of  used retention ballots shall be returned with other voted ballots to the  County Clerk or Board of Election Commissioners in the manner provided  by this Act.The compensation of a special judge of election may not exceed $30  per judge per precinct or district canvassed.This Section does not affect any other office or the conduct of any  other election held at the same time as the election for the retention  of judges in office.  (Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)