(10 ILCS 5/19-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-10)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 98-1171)
Sec. 19-10. Pollwatchers may be appointed to observe in-person absentee voting procedures and view all reasonably requested records relating to the conduct of the election, provided the secrecy of the ballot is not impinged, at the office of the election authority as well as at municipal, township or road district clerks' offices where such absentee voting is conducted. Such pollwatchers shall qualify and be appointed in the same manner as provided in Sections 7-34 and 17-23, except each candidate, political party or organization of citizens may appoint only one pollwatcher for each location where in-person absentee voting is conducted. Pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois and possess valid pollwatcher credentials.
In the polling place on election day, pollwatchers shall be permitted to be present during the casting of the absent voters' ballots and the vote of any absent voter may be challenged for cause the same as if he were present and voted in person, and the judges of the election or a majority thereof shall have power and authority to hear and determine the legality of such ballot; Provided, however, that if a challenge to any absent voter's right to vote is sustained, notice of the same must be given by the judges of election by mail addressed to the voter's place of residence.
Where certain absent voters' ballots are counted on the day of the election in the office of the election authority as provided in Section 19-8 of this Act, each political party, candidate and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned. Such pollwatchers shall be subject to the same provisions as are provided for pollwatchers in Sections 7-34 and 17-23 of this Code, and shall be permitted to observe the election judges making the signature comparison between that which is on the ballot envelope and that which is on the permanent voter registration record card taken from the master file.
(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03; 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 98-1171)
Sec. 19-10. Pollwatchers may be appointed to observe early voting procedures and view all reasonably requested records relating to the conduct of the election, provided the secrecy of the ballot is not impinged, at the office of the election authority as well as at municipal, township or road district clerks' offices where such early voting is conducted. Such pollwatchers shall qualify and be appointed in the same manner as provided in Sections 7-34 and 17-23, except each candidate, political party or organization of citizens may appoint only one pollwatcher for each location where early voting is conducted. Pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois and possess valid pollwatcher credentials.
Where certain vote by mail voters' ballots are counted on the day of the election in the office of the election authority as provided in Section 19-8 of this Act, each political party, candidate and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned. Such pollwatchers shall be subject to the same provisions as are provided for pollwatchers in Sections 7-34 and 17-23 of this Code, and shall be permitted to observe the election judges making the signature comparison between that which is on the ballot envelope and that which is on the permanent voter registration record card taken from the master file.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015