ELECTIONS-NON PARTISAN OFFICES

Amends the Election Code. Provides for the election of Supreme, Appellate, and Circuit Court judges, State's Attorneys, and sheriffs at the general election on a non-partisan (now, partisan) basis. Requires those seeking nomination as candidates for those offices to circulate and file non-partisan petitions to appear on the general primary ballot. Makes the minimum number of petition signatures required for the offices of State's Attorney and sheriff the lesser of 500 (or 3,000 in Cook County) or 0.5 % of the number of votes cast in the county (or counties, if a multi-county office) at the last general election (now, 0.5% of the number of votes of the relevant political party cast in the county or counties at the last general election). Limits the number of candidates nominated for each of those offices at the general primary to twice the number of persons to be elected to that office at the general election. Effective January 1, 2011.