Illinois lawmakers push uniform election reporting to enhance voter
confidence
[February 11, 2026]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – 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, R-Beason, 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.
“When one jurisdiction uses three lowercase letters and another uses
three uppercase letters, it creates problems,” she said. “This helps
them all be on the same page.”
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.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with centralizing elections,” Turner
said. “It’s just uniformity, how the data is entered so that when it
comes into the system, it all lines up.”
The bill also does not mandate audits, Turner said, though she
acknowledged that standardized data could make future audits easier and
more efficient.
Turner said standardization will help election officials more easily
detect errors and streamline data management.
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“When all the information comes in the same format, it’s clearer, easier
to read, and easier to audit,” she said. “This ensures the data is
reliable and improves overall election integrity.”
Cost concerns have surfaced, particularly for rural counties with
limited resources. However, both Turner and the board said no new
expenses are expected.
Many election vendors already provide software updates to meet state
requirements, and system modifications are anticipated as part of the
state board’s ongoing efforts to modernize the voter registration
system.
“Generally, as a clerk, when you have a contract with an election
vendor, updates and changes to meet the State Board of Elections’
requirements are already included in what you pay,” said Turner. “So,
there shouldn’t be any additional costs for election authorities because
many vendors are already handling these updates.”
The board told TCS that “no system modifications and/or additional costs
are anticipated.”
Under SB 3057, standardized reporting would begin ahead of the 2028
general primary election, with data required to be submitted at least 75
days before each election.
Turner noted that the bill does not change what data is collected, only
how it is recorded.
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