Treasurer Incumbent
Treasurer Adlai Stevenson III, a Democrat, did not seek a second term, instead opting to run for United States Senate. Democrat
Alan J. Dixon was elected to succeed him in office. Since Adlai Stevenson III assumed his U.S. Senate seat November 17, due to the nature of it being a special election, there was a brief vacancy in the treasurer's office before Dixon would assume office. Therefore, Governor
Richard B. Ogilvie appointed Republican
Charles W. Woodford to serve as treasurer from November 17 until Dixon took office on January 3.
Democratic primary Republican primary General election Superintendent of Public Instruction Incumbent
Superintendent of Public Instruction Ray Page, a Republican seeking a third term, was defeated by Democrat
Michael Bakalis.
Democratic primary Republican primary General election State Senate Seats in the
Illinois Senate were up for election in 1970. While there was a 29-29 member split in the chamber after the election, Democrats flipped control of the chamber since there was a Democratic lieutenant governor (
Paul Simon).
State House of Representatives Seats in the
Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1970. Republicans retained control of the chamber.
Trustees of University of Illinois Elections were held to elect Trustees of
University of Illinois system. This included a regularly scheduled election of three seats, and a special election to fill a vacancy.
Regular election The regular to fill three seats saw the election new Democratic members William D. Forsyth Jr., George W. Howard III, and Earl L. Neal. In order to be approved, they required votes equal to a majority of those who voted in the 1970 elections, or two thirds of those voting specifically on the measure.
Illinois Ad Valorem Tax Prohibition Amendment The Ad Valorem Tax Prohibition Amendment, also known as "Amendment 1", prohibited the taxation of personal property by
valuation.
Illinois Anti-Pollution Amendment The Illinois Anti-Pollution Amendment, also known as "Amendment 2", approved the Anti-pollution Bond Act. Bond measures needed a vote equal to majority of the votes cast for whichever chamber of the Illinois General Assembly had the highest cumulative vote count.
Illinois Banking Act Amendment The Illinois Banking Act Amendment, also known as "Amendment 3", enabled state chartered banks to have the same powers as national banks.
Ballot measures (December 15) A December 15 special election was held in which the proposed 1970
Constitution of Illinois itself was up for election, as were several constitutional convention referral items. The constitutional convention referral items would only take effect if the new constitution itself was approved. The constitution (authored at the
Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention) and all amendments to amend it were required to be approved by at least half of all those casting ballots in the election.
Appoint All Judges Amendment The Appoint All Judges Amendment was a ballot question which asked voters whether judges should be appointed by the governor from a list of nominees or elected by the people. If voters had voted for appointment, Illinois' constitution would have contained an article outlining a
Missouri Plan-syle "merit selection" system in which the governor would nominate judicial appointees that had first been recommended by judicial nominating commission. The
Illinois Bar Association had
endorsed a vote for appointed judges. However, the state's voters instead opted to retain direct election of judges.
Death Penalty Amendment The Death Penalty Amendment proposed abolishing the
death penalty in Illinois. It was defeated. It was defeated. ==Local elections==