All the roles on the 2018 Illinois Primary Ballot explained

Enter if you dare…to learn more about state and local government bureaucracy

On March 20, 2018 you will choose the direction of Illinois and your political party by deciding who will appear in the November general election. The primary ballot is big, but we’re here to help. For all political offices, you’ll be deciding who should be on the ballot in November. For party offices, you’ll be electing officials directly. This guide explains what each office does so you can walk into the voting booth with confidence. Vote on or before March 20, 2018 and make your voice heard!

State/Federal Offices

Overview:

The Illinois State Constitution establishes six elected offices in the state’s Executive Branch: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. They are each elected every four years in the general election in November, when registered voters also elect candidates for federal office. To be eligible to run for these offices you have to be a U.S. citizen, be at least twenty-five years old, and have resided in Illinois for at least three years. At the primary, you choose between the candidates running for the nomination of one political party. You can choose at the time you cast your primary ballot which party you want to help nominate candidates for. However, you cannot vote for some candidates from one political party and some from another political party. Your ballot will only have candidates from one political party to choose from.

Governor: The highest executive office in the state government. The governor executes the laws passed by the Illinois General Assembly, and has the power to approve or veto new laws that the general assembly passes. The governor can also appoint officials to assist with running the state government, subject to approval from the Illinois state Senate. If the governor resigns, is removed from office, or is otherwise incapacitated, the Lieutenant Governor is first in line to become acting Governor, followed by the Attorney General. If any of the other executive offices become vacant (other than the Lieutenant Governor), the governor can appoint their replacement. The governor can also grant pardons and gives a yearly address at the beginning of the yearly general assembly session.

Official website: https://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/default.aspx

Lieutenant Governor: The second highest executive office in the state government. The governor and lieutenant governor run on the same ticket. The lieutenant governor helps the governor execute the state’s laws and carries out duties and responsibilities delegated by the governor and by statute. For example, the lieutenant governor is responsible for the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council and the Military Economic Development Committee.

Official website: https://www2.illinois.gov/ltg/issues/Pages/default.aspx

Attorney General: The highest legal officer in the state. The attorney general is an advocate for the interests of the state and its residents. The attorney general’s duties include helping the general assembly pass laws, and litigating to make sure that laws are enforced.

Official website: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/

Secretary of State: In charge of record-keeping for the state. The secretary of state maintains a record of the Illinois general assembly’s activities as well as the state’s executive branch activities. The secretary of state maintains the state’s driver’s license and vehicle registration databases, manages registrations for corporations, lobbyists and notaries public, and oversees the state library and state archive.

Official website: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/

Comptroller: The state’s top financial officer, in charge of the state’s fiscal accounts (meaning the state’s money from taxes and fees). The comptroller signs state employees’ paychecks and gives the state treasurer the order to disburse funds from the state’s fiscal accounts to pay the state’s bills. The comptroller acts as an auditor for the state’s fiscal accounts.

Official website: https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/

Treasurer: In charge of keeping track of investing the state’s fiscal accounts (meaning the state’s money from taxes and fees), and disbursing funds from them as ordered by the state comptroller.

Official website: http://www.illinoistreasurer.gov/

Congressional Representative: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, one part of the U.S. federal legislature (the other being the U.S. Senate) that passes federal laws. States are divided up into districts that are each represented by one Representative in the federal House of Representatives. The state determines the boundaries of the congressional districts based on population, and congressional representatives advocate for their district’s interests in the federal House of Representatives. Representatives are all elected to two-year terms, and there are no term limits. The U.S. House of Representatives initiates federal revenue bills, as well as the impeachment process for federal executive officers.

Official website: https://www.house.gov/

State Representative: Member of the Illinois House of Representatives, one part of the Illinois legislature, called the General Assembly. Illinois has 118 House of Representatives districts, each of which elects one representative to advocate for the district’s interests in the state House of Representatives. The state is in charge of drawing the district boundaries, based on the population data in the census every ten years. State representatives are all elected to two-year terms, and there are no term limits. To serve as state representative you must be twenty-one years or older, and have lived in the district you would represent for at least two years.

Official website: http://www.ilga.gov/house/

State Senator: Member of the Illinois Senate, one part of the Illinois legislature, called the General Assembly. Illinois has 59 Senate districts. The state is in charge of drawing the district boundaries, based on the population data in the census every ten years. State senators are elected to either two-year or four-year terms, and the terms are staggered so that some senate seats are up for election every two years, and in some years all senate seats are up for election. To serve as state senator you must be twenty-one years or older, and have lived in the district you would represent for at least two years.

Official website: http://www.ilga.gov/senate/

Regional Offices

Regional Superintendent of Schools: An education system officer that oversees their Regional Office of Education. The regional superintendent of schools supervises the school districts within the county, and is in charge of working with the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts to make sure that school districts adhere to state legal and curriculum requirements. There are forty-five regional superintendents of schools in Illinois. Regional superintendents distribute state and federal education funds, and also provide support services to schools to ensure that they are providing high quality education and meeting state and federal education requirements.

Official website: https://www.isbe.net/roe
More info: http://iarss.org/role-of-regional-superintendent/
More info: http://ilcounty.org/upload/files/Regional-Supt.-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Judge-Appellate: A member of the Illinois Appellate Court, which is part of the Illinois state court system. Illinois has five Appellate Court Districts, and the districts can have one or more Divisions which are each made up of between four and nine justices. The appellate court hears and reviews a circuit court judge’s decisions. There are currently fifty-four appellate court judgeships, though the Illinois General Assembly can change this.

Official website: http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/AppellateCourt/default.asp
More info: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con6.htm

Judge-Circuit: A member of the Illinois Circuit Court system, which is part of the Illinois state court system. Illinois has twenty-four districts each with their own circuit court. A district is made up of one or more counties, depending on the population in the area. Cook County has its own circuit court, as do six counties in the Chicago metropolitan area. The rest of Illinois’ circuit courts are made up of two or more contiguous counties. A circuit court judge can hear and rule on cases on nearly any subject; the two main exceptions are cases to do with redistricting the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor’s fitness. The circuit court is the first place most cases will be heard in the state court system. Circuit court judges are elected to six year terms and there are no term limits. Circuit court judges can appoint Associate Circuit Court Judges for four year terms, to help manage the caseload in their districts. Associate circuit court judges hear nearly all of the same types of cases as elected circuit court judges. There is a Chief Circuit Court Judge for each district, who is elected by a secret ballot by the district’s circuit court judges.

Official website: http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/CircuitCourt/default.asp
More info: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con6.htm

Judge-Subcircuit: A member of the Illinois Circuit Court system. Some circuit court districts with very large populations are divided up into subcircuits, and subcircuit judges have essentially the same responsibilities and authority as a Circuit Court Judge. For example, the Cook Circuit Court has fifteen subcircuits. A circuit court judge can hear and rule on cases on nearly any subject; the two main exceptions are cases to do with redistricting the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor’s fitness. The circuit court is the first place most cases will be heard in the state court system.

Official website: http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/CircuitCourt/default.asp
More info: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con6.htm

County Government Offices

Overview

The Illinois State Constitution mandates that every county in Illinois must have an elected County Board. All counties elect a treasurer, clerk, and sheriff. Counties can also choose to elect or appoint other officers including coroner, recorder, assessor, auditor, etc. This means that the county level offices you see on your ballot will vary depending on how your county government is set up. County level officers are generally elected to four year terms and there are no term limits.

Counties governments can be set up in three ways: township form, commission form, or home rule form. Most counties follow a township form, though seventeen counties follow a commission form of government. Cook County is the only home rule county.

According to state law, all county governments must

• elect a chairman who runs the board or commission meetings,
• hold meetings at regularly scheduled times,
• publish meeting reports,
• provide space for county offices (including a courthouse, jail, court buildings and administrative offices),
• create and oversee an annual budget,
• investigate financial claims brought against the county and represent the county’s financial interests in court when necessary.

Based on local laws and ordinances county governments do many other things, including (but not limited to):

• issue bonds,
• oversee public health and safety,
• oversee land use planning,
• provide employment procedures,
• provide public parks, fairs, etc.,
• provide social services,
• construct roads, highways, bridges, lighting, etc.,
• support the local election authority.

Official website: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con7.htm
More info: http://www.ilcounty.org/upload/files/County-Board-Fact-Sheet.pdf

County Government Offices on All Ballots

County Clerk: The top record keeper and administrative officer in the county. The county clerk, working with a local election board or commission, oversees local, state, and federal elections, which includes overseeing polling places, providing information about how and where to vote, s well as information about how and where to register to vote. The county clerk also keeps vital records including birth, marriage, civil union, and death certificates, and certifies notaries public.

More info: http://ilcounty.org/upload/files/County-Clerk-Fact-Sheet.pdf

County Treasurer: The top financial officer in the county, responsible for overseeing all the county’s tax revenue and other money and disbursing funds from the county’s accounts as ordered by the county board and required by law. Property taxes, Mobile Home Local Service Taxes, and inheritance taxes are paid to the county treasurer’s office, and the treasurer also keeps track of the tax money received by the county’s many tax bodies (parks, libraries, etc.). The treasurer invests county funds that are not immediately needed.

More info: http://ilcounty.org/upload/files/Treasurer-Fact-Sheet.pdf

County Sheriff: The top law enforcement officer in the county. The sheriff oversees the county police force, the county jail, provides protection for the courthouse, conducts process serving for court summonses, and carries out evictions. As most counties have municipal areas with their own police forces, the sheriff and their office often concentrate on the unincorporated areas of the county. Like other law enforcement officers, the sheriff can make arrests, serve warrants, and issue citations. The sheriff can appoint deputies with limited powers to help carry out their duties.

More info: http://ilcounty.org/upload/files/Sheriff-Fact-Sheet.pdf

County Government Offices (depending on residence):

County Board Member: A county board member representing a district or precinct within the county for county boards that follow the township form of organization. The County Board Chairman is elected by the county board members. A county board member helps carry out all the functions and responsibilities of the county board, as listed above, which are divided up among a variety of committees.

County Board Commissioner: A county board member representing a district or precinct within the county for county boards that follow the commission form of organization. A county board commissioner helps carry out all the functions and responsibilities of the county board, as listed above. The county board commissioners elect a chairman on a yearly basis.

Cook County Board President: The top executive officer of the Cook County government. Presents the Cook County Board of Commissioners with a balanced budget. The Cook county board president runs county board meetings and oversees county departments. The president also approves or vetoes ordinances and resolutions passed by the county board. With the advice and consent of the county board the president appoints people to various boards and commissions within the county’s jurisdiction.

More info: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/agency/office-president-0

County Auditor: An independent county officer that evaluates county departments’ operations and financial management. Illinois law requires that counties with populations larger than 75,000 elect a county auditor. The auditor reviews county expenditures, provides reports on county finances, monitors tax dollars, conducts internal investigations, and provides information on its activities and the county’s operations and financial status to the public.

More info: http://ilcounty.org/upload/files/Auditor-Fact-Sheet.pdf

County Assessor: A county official who ensures that land and property is correctly valued. The assessor assigns value to county property using a mass appraisal system. The assessor also works with other government agencies to facilitate economic development, get affordable housing built, and create new jobs. The assessor reviews and assigns value on a rotating basis to one-third of the county’s land parcels each year to ensure that they are valued appropriately. The assessed value of property affects how much property tax the owner pays, and by extension, also affects how much revenue goes to local governments and schools.

More info: http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/Office/About-Office.aspx

County Coroner: A county official who investigates and certifies cause of death when death appears to be of an unnatural or violent cause. A coroner may conduct an investigation as well as a formal hearing called an inquest to help determine the cause of death and outline any additional necessary legal proceedings. After completing an investigation, the coroner files the death certificate with the appropriate clerk (municipal or county).

More info: http://www.ilcounty.org/upload/files/Coroner-Fact-Sheet-new.pdf

County Recorder: Keeps track of county land records, including mortgages, deeds and liens. These records are necessary to demonstrate ownership of land. The recorder also maintains records of the plats (property maps outlining the borders of land property) for the county. The recorder maintains an archive of all of these land records that the public can freely access.

More info: http://ilcounty.org/upload/files/Recorder-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Sanitation District Commissioners/Trustees:

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Commissioner: A member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commission, which oversees the health and safety of the public by protecting Lake Michigan. The commission is made up of nine members, three of whom are elected at a time to six year terms. The commission monitors water quality, works to prevent flooding, and manages water use from Lake Michigan, including wastewater treatment.

More info: http://www.mwrd.org/irj/portal/anonymous/Home

North Shore Water Reclamation District Trustee: A member of the North Shore Water Reclamation District that oversees wastewater treatment for the eastern part of Lake County Illinois. The board is made up of five trustees, who are elected to two or four year terms.

More info: http://www.northshoresanitary.org/

Board of Review: A member of the Cook County Board of Review, which reconsiders property assessments (assignment of value) in Chicago and Cook County. There are three members on the board, and each represents a different geographical part of Cook County. Residents can appeal to the board if they think their real property (land, residential, commercial, and condominium property) is overvalued, and the board will investigate and make a ruling about the property in question, potentially lowering the property tax owed.

More info: https://cookcountyboardofreview.com/

Partisan Offices (Elected at the Primary)

State Central Committeeman/Committeewoman: A member of the state central committee for each political party in the state. The state central committee for each party is in charge of their party’s state organization. For the Democratic party there are two people, one man and one woman, serving at all times for each district. The Democrats’ districts correspond to the federal congressional representative districts, meaning that there are thirty-six central committee members. The Republican party has eighteen state central committeemen and elects them at the county conventions rather than during the primary.

Official Democratic website: http://ildems.com/illinois-democrats/state-central-committee
Official Republican website: https://illinois.gop/who-we-are/officials/
More info: http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/2018CanGuide.pdf

Party Precinct Committeemen/Committeepeople: An official of the local political party, representing a precinct within a city, town, or unincorporated area. Precinct committeepeople can become deputy registrars, and they help provide outreach and organization in their communities on behalf of their political party.

Official Democratic website: http://ildcca.org/2016/03/interested-becoming-precinct-committeeman/

Official Republican website: http://www.irrpac.com/how-to-become-a-precinct-committeemen/