(Proposed – Fall 2009)

RULES OF PROCEDURE TO BE ADOPTED BY THE COOK COUNTY OFFICERS ELECTORAL BOARD FOR THE HEARING AND PASSING UPON OF OBJECTIONS TO THE NOMINATION PAPERS OF CANDIDATES FOR OFFICES WHICH ARE COTERMINOUS WITH OR LESS THAN THE COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS

1. Appearance by an objector or by a candidate at the hearing on objections may be in person or by counsel. All parties appearing before the Board must file a completed Appearance form. On the appearance form each party must provide the Board with telephone numbers at which that party can be reached at any time during the day and at night.
2. On the day set for the hearing of objections, both the objector and the candidate are required to be present in person or by counsel and to be ready for the hearing of their case.
3. The Board will grant no continuances or resetting of hearings on objections except for good cause shown. The Board may schedule proceedings in a case to extend beyond the initial day set for hearing.
4. If a candidate fails to appear for the hearing, a default judgment may be entered and the objections contained in the objector's petition shall be confessed against the candidate only upon a determination by the Board that the objector's petition sets forth valid grounds for the removal of the candidate's name from the ballot. If an objector fails to appear for the hearing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, default the objector and dismiss the objection. The Board has the sole discretion as to grant or deny a motion to withdraw an objection or objections. The Board may, in its sole discretion require a preliminary showing of proof on the validity of any objection.
5. Preliminary motions and objections to an objector's petition in the nature of a motion to strike the objections may be heard first or taken with the case-in-chief. If the objections to an objector's petition are sustained, the objector's petition shall be overruled and the validity of the petitions shall be sustained. If objections to a portion of an objector's petition are sustained, that part of the objector's petition shall be overruled.
6. The permanent registration records of the jurisdiction or jurisdictions involved shall be received as evidence with respect to all objections to which the material contained in such records is relevant. Relevant issues include, but are not limited to, whether the signer is a registered voter; whether the signer is a qualified elector, if required; whether the signature is that of a registered voter whose signature purports to appear on the petition; whether the signer, or the candidate are residents of the political subdivision involved; and whether the signer is registered to vote at the address shown beside the signature on the petition in question. The Board may make appropriate provisions when an election authority has computerized its registration records, or otherwise created electronically stored registration records.

   When ordered by the Electoral Board, petitions and objections shall be compared with those permanent registration records by the Office of the County Clerk's Election Department or the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. The objector and the candidate each shall have the right to have designated and duly authorized representatives present at such comparison during their good conduct. The comparison shall commence at the time specified by the Electoral Board and the failure of the candidate, objector or their duly authorized representatives to timely appear for said comparison shall neither delay nor in any way affect the validity of the comparison Notice to the Parties will be given at the telephone numbers listed on their Appearance forms and notice may be given as late as 9:00 p.m. the evening before.

7. Representatives of the objector or candidate may object to the findings of the election authority's representative, which objection shall be noted by the election authority's representative. In no case shall a review of the result of the examination of an individual record or the presentation of additional evidence as to that record be permitted when no objection was made to the finding at the time of the comparison.
8. Following the examination of the registration records, any candidate or objector who has made timely objections to the findings of the examinations and who requests so in writing, may have a further hearing as to the results of the records examination at a time fixed by the Board before it rules on the findings from the examination. This request shall be styled "Rule 8 Motion". Such Motion must specify, for each finding objected to, the sheet, line, name and address of the petition signer, and other information as is appropriate including the basis of the objection to the finding. The information required in the Motion must be set forth fully therein and not by way of reference to, or incorporation of, any other document. The Motion must be delivered to the opposing party or parties and the Board within 24 hours after the completion of the examination, (or the latter of the examinations, if separate examinations are held by the County Clerk and the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners) without any additional action by the Board, an Election Authority or the parties. At the hearing on the Motion, the parties may present evidence including, but not limited to, affidavits as to the genuineness of signatures and live testimony.

In respect to motions under this Rule, and other matters the Board will consider such other evidence as may be submitted, including, but not limited to, other documentary evidence, affidavits, and oral testimony. In view of the fact that the Board must hear and pass upon objections within a limited time, extended examination and cross examination of witnesses will not be permitted. The Board will not be bound by rules of procedure or rules of evidence which obtain in courts of law, although it may take guidance from such rules.

9. Within the parameters of the law, the Electoral Board will only consider written objections, and the written specifications of such objections to the original petitions, as set forth in the objector's petition. No Answer or Response to the Objector’s Petition need be filed.
10. All arguments of counsel and evidence must be confined to the points raised by the objections and specifications, if any, to the objector's petition, and by the objector's petition and specifications with respect to the nomination papers. The parties shall be limited to 15 minutes each for the presentation of their case, unless the Board extends the period of presentation.
11. If the objections to the nomination papers, or sufficient part thereof, are sustained, the nomination papers will be held invalid, and the Board will state its findings in a decision in writing, noting the objections which is has sustained. If the objections, or a sufficient part thereof, are overruled, the nomination papers will be held valid, and the Board will state its findings in a written decision. In the event that the Board is sitting with only two members, and the two members do not agree as to the validity of any objection, that objection shall not be sustained.
12. After the Electoral Board convenes on the date and at the time set, it will be in session continuously until all objections have been considered and disposed of, and, if necessary, in the sole discretion of the Board, its session will be extended or recessed from time to time.

Honorable David Orr, Cook County Clerk, Chairman

Honorable Anita Alvarez, State’s Attorney of Cook County, Member

Honorable Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Member

COOK COUNTY OFFICERS ELECTORAL BOARD

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