ELECTIONS-TECH

SB 497 amends the Illinois Election Code to clarify the procedures for handling objections to candidate nominations and public policy petitions. The bill requires electoral boards to notify relevant parties within 24 hours and hold hearings between three and five days after receiving objection petitions. It grants these boards the authority to issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents, adopt rules for evidence presentation, and presume the accuracy of random signature samples unless challenged with new evidence. This legislation directly affects electoral boards, candidates, petition proponents, and objectors by standardizing the timeline and powers used to resolve disputes over ballot access.