AUTHORITY: Authorized by Title IV Section 402 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) (42 USC 15512) and Section 10-5 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act [5 ILCS 100/10-5] and Section 1A-8(9) of the Election Code [10 ILCS 5/1A-8(9)].STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
a) At the request of the hearing examiner or either party and prior to the hearing, the hearing examiner may direct the parties or their attorneys to appear at a specified time and place for a conference, for the purposes listed in this subsection (a). The purposes for these conferences shall include:
1) the simplification of issues;
2) the necessity or desirability of amending the complaint;
3) the possibility of stipulations of fact;
4) the limitation of the number of witnesses;
5) and other matters that may aid in the simplification of the evidence and disposition of the proceeding.
b) In exercising discretion, the hearing examiner shall give due consideration to the time requirements of Section 150.30(f).