1964 Illinois elections

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]

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

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.

1964 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 1960 November 3, 1964 1968 →
Turnout	84.15%[1][2]
Nominee Otto Kerner Jr. Charles H. Percy Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,418,394 2,239,095 Percentage 51.93% 48.08%
County Results Kerner:      50–60%      60–70% Percy:      50-60%      60-70%
Governor before election Otto Kerner Jr. Democratic Elected Governor Otto Kerner Jr. Democratic

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

1964 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial election

← 1960 November 3, 1964 1968 →
Turnout	82.13%[1][2]
Nominee Samuel H. Shapiro John Altorfer Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,462,823 2,082,624 Percentage 54.18% 45.82%
Lieutenant Governor before election Samuel H. Shapiro Democratic Elected Lieutenant Governor Samuel H. Shapiro Democratic

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

1964 Illinois Attorney General election

← 1960 November 3, 1964 1968 →
Turnout	82.06%[1][2]
Nominee William G. Clark Elroy C. Sandquist Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,530,971 2,010,553 Percentage 55.73% 44.47%
Attorney General before election William G. Clark Democratic Elected Attorney General William G. Clark Democratic

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

1964 Illinois Secretary of State election

← 1960 November 3, 1964 1968 →
Turnout	82.14%[1][2]
Nominee Paul Powell Elmer J. Hoffman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,517,226 2,028,670 Percentage 55.37% 44.63%
County results Powell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hoffman:      50–60%      60–70%
Secretary of State before election William H. Chamberlain Democratic Elected Secretary of State Paul Powell Democratic

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.

1964 Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts election

← 1960 November 3, 1964 1968 →
Turnout	81.88%[1]
Nominee Michael Howlett John Kirby Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,513,831 2,017,951 Percentage 55.47% 44.53
Auditor of Public Accounts before election Michael Howlett Democratic Elected Auditor of Public Accounts Michael Howlett Democratic

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

Howlett won the Democratic primary unopposed.

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^[4]
• Louis "Lou" Haenle
• James P. Hennessy
• Gordon E. Kerr, Illinois State Senator
• John Kirby
• Walter E. McCarron, Cook County Coroner^[5]
• Sherwin Willens, businessman

Results

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

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.^[6] Both the Democrats and the Republicans nominated 118 candidates.^[7] Voters could vote for up to 177 candidates, and a straight-ticket option was also available.^[6]

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.^[7]

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][8]

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.^[9] 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 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]

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]

Local elections were held.