10 ILCS 5/17-18.1
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.
10 ILCS 5/17-18.1