Illinois Statutes § 5/18-11 Tallying procedure for propositions

Whenever any proposition is submitted to a vote of the people and is printed or written upon the same ticket, with the names of candidates for office, the names, together with such proposition, shall be canvassed in the following manner: All the ballots shall be first separated into 3 piles; the first pile containing all the ballots in favor of such proposition; the second pile containing all the ballots against such proposition, and the third pile containing all the ballots not mentioning such proposition, or being neither for nor against such proposition. Each of the judges shall then examine each pile and see that the separation has been properly made. Then the first pile shall be counted by tens, and the result announced to the tally judges who shall tally the same by tens. And so the second pile shall be counted, announced and tallied, and likewise the third pile, if necessary. Whereupon the tally judges shall announce to the judges the number of votes for and the number of votes against such proposition. The ballots for or against any proposition submitted shall always be canvassed, counted and tallied after the names of candidates for any office are canvassed, counted or tallied.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.