HB6198 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 21601 PJG 69832 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB6198

Introduced , by Rep. Renée Kosel

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/19A-15

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, when the religious holidays of Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday occur during the early voting period, an election authority may close an early voting place on those days, provided that the early voting place remains open 2 hours later on at least 2 weekdays during the final week of the early voting period. Provides that the election authority shall notify the State Board of Elections of any closure and shall provide notice to the public of the closure and the extended hours during the final week. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 19A-15 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/19A-15)

Sec. 19A-15. Period for early voting; hours.

(a) The period for early voting by personal appearance begins the 22nd day preceding a general primary, consolidated primary, consolidated, or general election and extends through the 5th day before election day.

(b) A permanent polling place for early voting must remain open during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; except that, in addition to the hours required by this subsection, a permanent early voting polling place designated by an election authority under subsection (c) of Section 19A-10 must remain open for a total of at least 8 hours on any holiday during the early voting period and a total of at least 14 hours on the final weekend during the early voting period.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), an election authority may close an early voting polling place if the building in which the polling place is located has been closed by the State or unit of local government in response to a severe weather emergency. In the event of a closure, the election authority shall conduct early voting on the 2nd day before election day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The election authority shall notify the State Board of Elections of any closure and shall make reasonable efforts to provide notice to the public of the extended early voting period.

(d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), when the religious holidays of Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday occur during the early voting period, an election authority may close an early voting place on those days, provided that the early voting place remains open 2 hours later on at least 2 weekdays during the final week of the early voting period. The election authority shall notify the State Board of Elections of any closure and shall provide notice to the public of the closure and the extended hours during the final week.

(Source: P.A. 96-637, eff. 1-1-10; 97-81, eff. 7-5-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.