SB3937 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 22885 HLH 71679 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB3937

Introduced 11/14/2012, by Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/1-4	from Ch. 46, par. 1-4
10 ILCS 5/19A-15

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, if the last day of the filing period for petitions for nomination is the day before a State holiday, the Board may, by proclamation, authorize the office in which petitions must be filed to remain open until noon (instead of 5:00 P.M.) on the last day of the filing period. Provides that the proclamation must be issued before the first day for circulating petitions for nomination for that filing period, except that a proclamation for the 2013 consolidated election period must be issued within 7 business days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that polling places for early voting may remain open from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (instead of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. 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 Sections 1-4 and 19A-15 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 1-4)

Sec. 1-4. In any case in which this Act prescribes a period of time within which petitions for nomination must be filed, the office in which petitions must be filed shall remain open for the receipt of such petitions until 5:00 P.M. on the last day of the filing period. If the last day of the filing period is the day before a State holiday, the Board may, by proclamation, authorize the office in which petitions must be filed to remain open until noon on the last day of the filing period. That proclamation must be issued before the first day for circulating petitions for nomination for that filing period, except that a proclamation for the 2013 consolidated election period must be issued within 7 business days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/19A-15)

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.

(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 either 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 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.

(Source: P.A. 96-637, eff. 1-1-10; 97-81, eff. 7-5-11; 97-766, eff. 7-6-12.)

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