SB1253 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 08141 SMS 53207 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB1253

Introduced 2/6/2019, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/19A-15

Amends the Election Code. Requires a permanent polling place for early voting to remain open beginning the 22nd day (rather than the 15th day) before an election. Makes changes to the hours a permanent polling place for early voting must remain open. Requires certain permanent polling places to be open a total of at least 16 hours (rather than 14 hours) on the final weekend during the early voting period. 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 40th day preceding a general primary, consolidated primary, consolidated, or general election and extends through the end of the day before election day.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this Section, a permanent polling place for early voting must remain open beginning the 22nd 15th day before an election through the end of the day before election day 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, except that beginning 11 8 days before election day, a permanent polling place for early voting must remain open during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 7:00 p.m., everyday and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays, and 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays; except that, in addition to the hours required by this subsection, a permanent polling place designated by an election authority under subsections (c), (d), and (e) 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 16 14 hours on the final weekend during the early voting period.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (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 or other force majeure. 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 an alternative location for early voting.

(d) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 97-81, eff. 7-5-11; 97-766, eff. 7-6-12; 98-4, eff. 3-12-13; 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

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