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HB4613 - 104th General Assembly

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4613

Introduced 2/3/2026, by Rep. Maurice A. West, II

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/16-7

from Ch. 46, par. 16-7
10 ILCS 5/28-14 new

Amends the Election Code. Provides that every ballot measure to be
placed on a ballot shall be written in plain language and include a ballot
measure summary that describes the primary purpose of the ballot measure
and the material legal effect if the ballot measure is approved or
rejected. Sets forth provisions concerning the preparation of ballot
measures and ballot measure summaries. Provides that a registered voter
may challenge a ballot measure or ballot measure summary for
non-compliance with the provision. Makes conforming changes.
LRB104 17988 SPS 31425 b

A BILL FOR

HB4613
LRB104 17988 SPS 31425 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
Section 16-7 and by adding Section 28-14 as follows:

6

(10 ILCS 5/16-7)

(from Ch. 46, par. 16-7)
7

Sec. 16-7.
Whenever a public question is to be submitted
8
to be voted upon and has been initiated and certified in
9
accordance with Article 28 of this Code, the election
10
authorities to whom the question is certified shall print the
11
question on the ballot for the proper election
in accordance
12
with Section 28-14
, and shall cause it to be submitted in the
13
proper precincts to those electors entitled by reason of their
14
residency to vote on such question.
15

The substance of such public measure shall be clearly
16
indicated on a separate ballot, and two spaces shall be left
17
upon the right-hand margin thereof, one for the votes favoring
18
the public measure, to be designated by the word, "Yes", and
19
one for the votes opposing the measure, to be designated by the
20
word, "No", as in the form herein given:
21
---------------------

22

Shall (here print YES

23
the substance of the
------------------------------

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LRB104 17988 SPS 31425 b
1
public measure). NO

2
-------------------------------------------------------------
3

The elector shall designate his vote by a cross mark,
4
thus: (X). Any such separate ballot shall be printed on paper
5
of sufficient size so that when folded once it shall be large
6
enough to contain the following words, which shall be printed
7
on the back, "Ballot for (name of public measure to be voted
8
on)." Such ballot shall be handed to the elector at the same
9
time as the ballot containing the names of the candidates, and
10
returned therewith by the elector to the proper office in the
11
manner designated by this Act. All provisions of this Act
12
relating to ballots shall apply to such separate ballot,
13
except as herein otherwise provided. Such separate ballot or
14
ballots shall be printed upon paper of a distinctly different
15
color from any other ballot for candidates used at such
16
election and from those for the question of retention in
17
office of judges and of constitutional amendments and as near
18
as may be practicable, be of uniform size. Any variation in the
19
size of such ballots shall not impair their validity.
20

In the case of a public question described in subsection
21
(b) of Section 28-6, the election authority shall include on
22
the ballot the description of the territory concerning which
23
the question is to be submitted, as set forth in the
24
certification of the public question or, where the question is
25
initiated by petition filed with the authority, as set forth
26
in such petition. If the election authority determines the

HB4613
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LRB104 17988 SPS 31425 b
1
description cannot be included within the space limitations of
2
the ballot, the election authority shall prepare large printed
3
copies of a notice of the public question, which shall include
4
the description. The notice shall be prominently displayed in
5
the polling place of each precinct in which the question is to
6
be submitted.
7

In precincts in which voting machines are used, separate
8
ballots shall not be required if such voting machines permit
9
the casting of votes on such proposition.
10

An electronic voting system authorized by Article 24A may
11
be used in voting and tabulating the ballots on a public
12
measure. When an electronic voting system is used, which
13
utilizes a ballot label booklet and ballot card, there shall
14
be used in the ballot label booklet a separate ballot label
15
page or pages as required for such public measures or
16
propositions. The page or pages for such public measures or
17
propositions shall be of a color separate and distinct from
18
the ballot label page or pages used for candidates and from
19
those used for the propositions of retention in office of
20
judges and of constitutional amendments. The ballot card
21
provided for recording the voter's vote or choice on public
22
measures or propositions may be the same card as is used for
23
recording his vote for candidates. More than one public
24
measure or proposition may be placed on the same ballot label
25
page or series of pages and may be voted or recorded on the
26
same column or series of columns on the same ballot card, and

HB4613
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LRB104 17988 SPS 31425 b
1
all columns on the ballot card may be of the same color.
2

However, at the nonpartisan, consolidated primary, and
3
consolidated elections, the proposition for a public question
4
relating to a political subdivision shall be placed on the
5
ballot together with the ballot for the nomination or election
6
of officers of such political subdivision to be voted upon at
7
the same election, unless such placement is not feasible.
8
(Source: P.A. 84-1467.)

9

(10 ILCS 5/28-14 new)
10

Sec. 28-14.
Plain language and readability standards.
11

(a) As used in this Section:
12

"Ballot measure" means any public question, constitutional
13
amendment, referendum, or other proposition submitted to
14
voters under this Article.
15

"Plain language" means wording that is clear, concise,
16
logically organized, and written so that the intended audience
17
can understand it without specialized legal knowledge. "Plain
18
language" does not include wording that:
19

(1) contains more than one passive sentence;
20

(2) uses unnecessary semicolons rather than separate
21

sentences; or
22

(3) contains double negatives.
23

"Readability standard" means an objective measure of text
24
complexity, as determined by the Flesch-Kincaid readability
25
test.

HB4613
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LRB104 17988 SPS 31425 b
1

(b) Every ballot measure to be placed on a ballot shall be
2
written in plain language and shall include a ballot measure
3
summary that describes the primary purpose of the ballot
4
measure and the material legal effect if the ballot measure is
5
approved or rejected.
6

(c) A ballot measure summary required under subsection (b)
7
shall:
8

(1) be neutral, non-argumentative, and avoid the
9

unnecessary use of legal terms;
10

(2) state the effect of a "Yes" vote and of a "No"
11

vote;
12

(3) be written to have a Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
13

score no higher than the eighth grade; and
14

(4) be no longer than 75 words for statewide ballot
15

measures or 50 words for local ballot measures.
16

(d) The State Board of Elections, in consultation with the
17
Attorney General, shall prepare and review statewide ballot
18
measures and ballot measure summaries for compliance with this
19
Section before certification. A local election authority shall
20
prepare and review local ballot measures and ballot measure
21
summaries for compliance with this Section before
22
certification.
23

(e) A registered voter may challenge a ballot measure or
24
ballot measure summary for non-compliance with this Section.
25
If a court finds that a ballot measure or a ballot measure
26
summary does not comply, it may order that the State Board of

HB4613
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LRB104 17988 SPS 31425 b
1
Elections or local election authority make revisions necessary
2
to satisfy the requirements of this Section.

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