Illinois Statutes Chapter 65. Municipalities § 5/7-1-6. Referendum; authorization

§ 7-1-6. (a) If the vote is in favor of annexing the described territory, the corporate authorities on their own motion may order a referendum on the question. If the corporate authorities reject annexation, or do not order a referendum, then within the 30 day period a petition may be filed with the municipal clerk requesting that the question of the annexation of the described territory be submitted to the electors of the annexing municipality. The petition shall be signed by electors of the annexing municipality equal in number to 10% of the entire vote cast for all candidates for mayor or president of the annexing municipality at the last preceding general municipal election. The municipal clerk shall certify the proposition to the proper election authority for submission to the electors at an election in accordance with the general election law and shall send, by registered mail, a notice of the date of the prospective referendum to the highway commissioner of each road district within which the described territory is situated.

(b) If a majority of the electors voting on this question favor annexation, the decision of the corporate authorities, if in favor of annexation, shall be final. If a majority of the electors voting on this question favor annexation, after the corporate authorities have rejected annexation, the decision of the electors shall be final. In either case, the described territory shall thereupon be a part of the annexing municipality.

(c) If the vote is against annexation, no further proceedings shall be had on that petition for annexation, and no action in favor of the annexation shall have any effect. After the referendum, the municipal clerk shall promptly send written notice of the results of the referendum by registered mail to the highway commissioner of each road district within which the described territory is situated. This, however, shall not prevent the subsequent annexation of the described territory upon another petition.

(d) If a municipal clerk fails to send any notice to a highway commissioner as required by this Section, the municipality shall reimburse the road district served by that highway commissioner for any loss or liability caused by that failure.