SB1197 Summary: Illinois Election Integrity Act

• Requires election authorities to conduct a 10% hand audit of votes cast on election day for statewide offices, countywide offices, federal races, and municipal races with over 50,000 registered voters.

• Mandates independent parallel tabulation and audits by licensed public accounting firms for every race and proposition in each election, with initial results due within 72 hours and operational reports within 21 days.

• Creates an independent election audit committee in each jurisdiction with at least 5 members, including political party representatives and election judges, to oversee the parallel audit process and issue requests for proposals.

• Establishes the Illinois Election Integrity Fund as a special state treasury fund supported by voluntary tax checkoffs, with approximately $2 million required for the first election cycle to fund required audits.

• Requires optical scan and direct recording electronic voting systems to meet federal Election Assistance Commission standards and independent testing authority requirements; allows early voting locations using only electronic systems to provide paper ballots upon voter request.