1964 Illinois elections explained

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 3, 1964.^[1]

Primaries were held on April 14, 1964.^[1]

Election information

Turnout

In the primary, turnout was 41.74% with 2,154,941 ballots cast (1,062,320 Democrat and 1,092,621 Republican).^{[1] [2]}

In the general election, turnout was 86.67% with 4,796,641 ballots cast.^{[1] [2]}

Federal elections

United States President

See main article: 1964 United States presidential election in Illinois.

See also: 1964 United States presidential election.

Illinois voted for the Democratic ticket of Lyndon B. Johnson and Hubert Humphrey.^[1]

United States House

See also: 1964 United States House of Representatives elections.

All 24 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1964.

Democrats flipped one seat, leaving the Illinois House delegation to consist of 13 Democrats and 11 Republicans.

State elections

Governor

See main article: 1964 Illinois gubernatorial election.

Incumbent Governor Otto Kerner Jr., a Democrat, won reelection.

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent lieutenant governor Samuel H. Shapiro, a Democrat, won reelection to a second term.

General election

Attorney general

Incumbent attorney general William G. Clark, a Democrat, was reelected to a second term.

General election

Secretary of State

The incumbent Secretary of State was William H. Chamberlain, a Democrat appointed in 1964. He did not seek reelection. Democrat Paul Powell was elected to succeed him in office.

General election

Auditor of Public Accounts

Incumbent Auditor of Public Accounts Michael Howlett, a Democrat, was reelected to a second term, defeating Republican challenger John Kirby.

Democratic primary

Howlett won the Democratic primary unopposed.

Republican primary

John Kirby won the Republican primary.

Candidates

• John William Chapman, former Lieutenant Governor
• Maurice W. Coburn, 1962 Illinois Treasurer candidate, former administrative assistant to the Governor of Illinois (1956–1960), chairman of the Illinois Veterans League, 44th Ward Precinct Captain, former President of the Young Conservative Club, lawyer^[3]
• Louis "Lou" Haenle
• James P. Hennessy
• Gordon E. Kerr, Illinois State Senator
• John Kirby
• Walter E. McCarron, Cook County Coroner^[4]
• Sherwin Willens, businessman

Results

General election

State Senate

Seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1964. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

State House of Representatives

See main article: 1964 Illinois House of Representatives election. All 177 seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1964. Due to the state's failure to redistrict, the election was held at-large, with all candidates listed on one ballot that contained 236 names and spread 33 inches long.^[5] Both the Democrats and the Republicans nominated 118 candidates.^[6] Voters could vote for up to 177 candidates, and a straight-ticket option was also available.

Every Democratic candidate won, flipping the chamber and giving Democrats a super-majority in the state House. Democrats won a total of 118 seats to Republican's 59 seats.

Trustees of University of Illinois

An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois.

The election saw the reelection of first term Democratic incumbent Howard Clement, second-term Democratic incumbent Harold Pogue, as well as fellow Democratic incumbent Theodore A. Jones (who had been appointed to fill a vacancy in 1963).^[1]

Ballot measures

Two ballot measures were put before voters in 1966, both of them legislatively referred constitutional amendments.

In order to be placed on the ballot, proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendments needed to be approved by two-thirds of each house of the Illinois General Assembly.^[7] In order to be approved, they required approval of either two-thirds of those voting on the amendment itself or a majority of all ballots cast in the general elections.^[1]

Annual Legislative Sessions Amendment

The Annual Legislative Sessions Amendment, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, was put to a vote. It would have amended Section 9 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution. It failed to meet either threshold for passage.^[1]

Annual Legislative Sessions Amendment
Option	Votes	% of votes on referendum	% of all ballots cast
text align=center	Yes	text align=center	2,290,263	text align=center	63.10	text align=center	47.75
text align=center	No	text align=center	1,339,540	text align=center	36.90	text align=center	27.93
text align=center	Total votes	text align=center	3,629,803	text align=center	100	text align=center	75.67
	Voter turnout	colspan=3 text align=right	65.58%

Continuity of Governmental Operations in Periods of Emergency Amendment

The Continuity of Governmental Operations in Periods of Emergency Amendment, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, was put to a vote. It would have amended Section 35 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution. It failed to meet either threshold for passage.^[1]

Continuity of Governmental Operations in Periods of Emergency Amendment
Option	Votes	% of votes on referendum	% of all ballots cast
text align=center	Yes	text align=center	1,808,491	text align=center	50.62	text align=center	37.70
text align=center	No	text align=center	1,275,871	text align=center	35.71	text align=center	26.60
text align=center	Total votes	text align=center	3,572,966	text align=center	100	text align=center	74.49
	Voter turnout	colspan=3 text align=right	64.56%

Local elections

Local elections were held.

Notes and References

1. Web site: OFFICIAL VOTE of the STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 1964 JUDICIAL ELECTION, 1963–1964 • PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL, 14, 1964 . Illinois State Board of Elections . 1 July 2020 .
2. Web site: OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1986 . www.elections.il.gov . Illinois State Board of Elections . 10 April 2020 .
3. News: Maurice W. Coburn . Belvidere Daily Republican . 13 April 1964.
4. Web site: WALTER MCCARRON, 85, FORMER COUNTY CORONER . chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune . 2 July 2020 . 27 September 1985.
5. News: Wehrwein. Austin. October 29, 1964. BALLOT IN ILLINOIS BIG AS BATH TOWEL. New York Times. March 8, 2021.
6. Web site: Hardy. Rick Pearson and Thomas. RULING REKINDLES VISIONS OF '64 'BEDSHEET' BALLOT. 2021-03-08. chicagotribune.com. December 17, 1991 . en-US.
7. Illinois Constitution of 1870 ARTICLE XIV Section 2