HB1322 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 07871 MGM 28010 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB1322

Introduced 2/4/2015, by Rep. Barbara Wheeler

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/19A-15

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority may close an early voting place on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday, provided that the early voting place remains open 2 hours later on the 3 days immediately preceding Good Friday. 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.

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)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 98-1171)

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

(a) The period for early voting by personal appearance begins the 15th day preceding a general primary, consolidated primary, consolidated, or general election and extends through the 3rd day before election day, except that for the 2014 general election the period for early voting by personal appearance shall extend through the 2nd day before election day.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this Section, 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 and holidays, and 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sundays; 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. For the 2014 general election, 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, except that beginning 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 7:00 p.m.. For the 2014 general election, a permanent polling place for early voting shall remain open during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays; except that, in addition to the hours required by this subsection (b), a permanent early voting place designated by an election authority under subsection (c) of Section 19A-10 must remain open for 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), in 2013 only, an election authority may close an early voting place on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday, provided that the early voting place remains open 2 hours later on the 3 days immediately preceding Good Friday April 3, 4, and 5 of 2013. 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. 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.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 98-1171)

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 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 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 7:00 p.m., 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 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) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), an election authority may close an early voting place on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday, provided that the early voting place remains open 2 hours later on the 3 days immediately preceding Good Friday. 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. (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 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.