Springfield, IL-(Effingham Radio)-Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would require local election authorities to report election data in a standardized format statewide, a move supporters say would improve efficiency and consistency, but critics warn could open the door to greater state oversight of local election administration.
Senate Bill 3057, sponsored by Sen. Sally Turner would standardize how local election authorities format and submit election data already required by law. The proposal does not expand what data is reported but aims to resolve long-standing inconsistencies among Illinois’ 108 election authorities in how that information is submitted to the state.
Turner dismissed concerns that standardizing election data could centralize control or limit local flexibility, emphasizing that the bill deals only with how data is formatted, not how elections are run or policies are set.
The bill also does not mandate audits, Turner said, though she acknowledged that standardized data could make future audits easier and more efficient.
Story from IRN
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