In interviewing many voters, Citizens found that most of them did not understand the method which is used in counting the votes for retention of judges. Most of the voters believed that if they left the yes or no boxes next to the judge's name blank, they were voting against the judge. This is not true.

Under Illinois statute 10 ILCS 5/7A-1, it is stated: "The affirmative vote of three-fifths of the electors voting on the question shall elect the Judge to the office for a term commencing ... ."

If you leave the boxes blank, your vote is not a NO vote, it is not a vote at all, and is not counted. You have not voted against the judge.

For an example, take the assumed figure of 100 voters. If 50 voters vote yes, normally it would be considered that the judge received only 50 votes out of 100 votes, and he did not make the mandatory 60% (three-fifths) of the required vote.

However if 50 voters vote yes, 25 voters vote no, and 25 voters leave the boxes blank, the blank boxes are not counted. Therefore, there were only 75 votes cast in the election, and the judge received 50 votes out of the 75 votes cast, or a total of 67% of the votes cast. The judge needs a minimum 60% retention vote to be retained. The judge remains in office for another term of 6 or 10 years, depending on the court to which the judge is assigned.

This is an example of where a blank vote is equivalent to a yes vote.

If you intended to vote against the judge, you must specifically vote NO, otherwise you have voted for someone you did not intend to vote for.

Vote, but vote only for honest, impartial, and competent judges.

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October 22, 1998
Revised October 30, 2000