1962 Illinois elections

In the primary election, turnout was 38.76% with 2,109,975 ballots cast (1,171,443 Democratic and 938,532 Republican).[1][2][3]

In the general election, turnout was 74.67% with 3,812,120 ballots cast.[1][3][4]

Incumbent Republican Everett M. Dirksen won reelection to a third term

Illinois had redistricted. It had lost one congressional seat as a result of reapportionment following the 1960 United States Census. The remaining 24 Illinois seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1962.

Before the election, Illinois had 14 Democratic seats and 11 Republican seats. In 1962, 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans were elected in Illinois.

1962 Illinois State Treasurer election

November 6, 1962
Turnout	70.67%[1][3]
Nominee William J. Scott Francis S. Lorenz Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,831,925 1,776,090 Percentage 50.77% 49.23%
Treasurer before election Francis S. Lorenz Democratic Elected Treasurer William J. Scott Republican

Incumbent Treasurer Francis S. Lorenz, a Democrat appointed in 1961, lost reelection to Republican William J. Scott.

1962 Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction election

November 6, 1962
Turnout	70.25%[1][3]
Nominee Ray Page George T. Wilkins Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,812,671 1,773,758 Percentage 50.54% 49.46%
Superintendent before election George T. Wilkins Democratic Elected Superintendent Ray Page Republican

Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction George T. Wilkins, a Democrat seeking a second term, was defeated by Republican Ray Page.

1962 Clerk of the Supreme Court election

November 6, 1962
Turnout	69.84%[1][3]
Nominee Fae Searcy James P. Alexander Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,824,126 1,741,010 Percentage 51.17% 48.83%
Clerk before election Fae Searcy Republican Elected Clerk Fae Searcy Republican

Incumbent Clerk of the Supreme Court Fae Searcy, a Republican, won reelection to a second full term.

Instead of being listed by her own name, Searcy opted to be listed on the ballot in both the primary and general election as "Ms. Earle Benjamin Searcy".[1][2][4]

Seats in the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1962. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1962. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

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

The election saw the reelection of incumbent second-term Republican Wayne A. Johnston, first-term Republican Earl M. Hughes, and fellow Republican Timothy W. Swain (who had been appointed in 1955, and elected to his first full term in 1956).[5][4]

Special judicial elections were held April 10 to fill vacancies. Additionally, the Superior Court of Cook County held elections on November 6.[1]

Elections were held to fill seven vacancies on the Superior Court of Cook County. Democratic nominees defeated their Republican opponents in all seven elections.[4] The Superior Court of Cook County also held regularly-scheduled elections on November 6.[1]

Two ballot measures were put before voters in 1962. One was a legislatively referred state statute and one was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.[1]

In order to be approved, legislatively referred state statues required the support of a majority of those voting on the statute.[1] 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.[6] 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]

The General Banking Law Amendment was approved by voters as a legislatively referred state statute. It made modified the state's banking law.[7]

Voters approved the Judicial Amendment, which amended Article VI of the 1870 Constitution of Illinois.[4]

In order for constitutional amendments to be passed by voters, they required either two-thirds support among those specifically voting on the measure or 50% support among all ballots cast in the elections.[8][9]