Illinois State Board of Elections

The meeting included procedural matters such as roll calls and a directive to use microphones clearly for accurate transcription. A significant portion of the meeting involved recognizing staff service awards for 15, 20, 25, and 35 years of dedicated service across various divisions. Out of order business involved an appeal concerning campaign disclosure penalty assessments (Case 4A14 BE versus Maria for the 49th Ward 25 a.m. 105). The committee discussed granting the appeal in part and denying it in part, reducing the total penalty assessment from $7,000 to $2,000 based on the hearing officer's recommendation and election code provisions for third offenses. A settlement offer of $1,000 for $2,000 in fines was recommended for denial due to insufficient payment ratios. The board subsequently moved to grant the appeal in part and deny it in part.

The meeting involved discussions regarding equipment malfunction and the subsequent resumption of proceedings. A key action taken was the approval of the minutes from the January 8th executive session. The session concluded with a motion to adjourn.

The meeting commenced with a roll call following a break. Key discussions involved a motion and subsequent approval of the minutes for the December 9th executive session. Following the approval, a motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and passed, with the next meeting scheduled for February 18th.

The meeting reconvened into open session following a closed hearing. Key discussions included the finding that a complaint in agenda item 388 (Robin versus Jim Dodge for mayor) was not filed on justifiable grounds concerning alleged election code violations. A modification was suggested to include a disclosure statement regarding a transfer out by Jim Dodge in his September 2025 quarterly report. The board also granted final approval for Liberty Vote USA regarding the Democracy Suite 5.6E voting system, which had been acquired from Dominion Voting Systems. Furthermore, the board reviewed and approved the FY27 appropriation request, which included funding for ongoing programmatic initiatives, operational requirements, and technology infrastructure upgrades, noting that the increase from FY26 was primarily due to personnel costs and the three-year election cycle. A request was made to analyze five years of budgeting receivables and deficits to ensure trajectory accuracy. Finally, the board received informational reports on special judicial candidate filing, the legislative agenda calendar for the spring session, and other operational updates.

The meeting commenced with a recess of the State Board of Elections to reconvene as the State Officer's Electoral Board. Key discussions focused on electoral board cases, including a motion to vacate a dismissal for want of prosecution in the Miller versus Brown case, which was ultimately denied due to lack of jurisdiction according to counsel's recommendation, although arguments were made concerning the non-final nature of such a dismissal. The board also ruled on the Durban versus More case, sustaining the objection and recommending the candidate's name not be certified to the March 2026 primary ballot due to insufficient signatures and failure to name a lieutenant governor. Furthermore, the board addressed the Paul versus Templeton records examination case, accepting recommendations that resulted in the candidate having 520 valid signatures after considering motions related to filing delays and signature validity.