Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force, Feb.[February] 15, 1839.

AN ACT to amend an act, entitled “An act regulating elections,” in force June 1, 1829.
1

Election for Rep.[Representatives] to Congress.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That on the first Monday of August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, and on the first Monday of August every second year thereafter, an election shall be held for so many Representatives to Congress as this State shall be entitled to at that time.

Section of act repealed.

Sec. 2. The twenty-sixth section of an act, entitled “An act regulating elections,” in force June 1, 1829, be, and the same is hereby, repealed.2

Elections to fill vacancies of Gen. Assembly.

Sec. 3. Elections to fill vacancies in either branch of the General Assembly, occurring during the sessions of the Legislature, may be held on such notice, not less than five nor more than twenty days, as the Governor may direct in the writ of election issued to fill such vacancy.3

Approved, February 15, 1839.

1William A. Richardson introduced SB 96 in the Senate on January 18, 1839. The Senate passed the bill on January 25. On February 4, the House of Representatives amended the bill by adding a third section. The House passed the bill as amended on February 9. On February 12, the Senate concurred with the House amendment. On February 15, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1838. 11th G. A., 1st sess., 286, 321, 337-38, 370, 394, 395, 402; Illinois Senate Journal. 1838. 11th G. A., 1st sess., 187, 200, 225-26, 308, 318, 332, 341.

2Section twenty-six of the 1829 act stipulated the dates for congressional elections. In 1836, the House of Representatives debated and rejected a bill that would have repealed this section.
“An Act Regulating Elections,” 10 January 1829, The Revised Laws of Illinois (1829), 255.

3On February 4, 1839, the House of Representatives amended the bill by adding the third section. Sections nineteen and twenty-four of the 1829 act governed the filling of vacancies.
Illinois House Journal. 1838. 11th G. A., 1st sess., 338; “An Act Regulating Elections,” 251, 254-55.