SB2395 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 08267 NHT 38369 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB2395

Introduced 2/15/2013, by Sen. Andy Manar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/22-21

from Ch. 122, par. 22-21

Amends the School Code. Provides that each public high school shall be designated by the school board as a place of registry where registration officers and deputy registration officers may accept the registrations of electors who are students of the high school. Allows the school board to adopt a resolution governing the location of the place of registry on high school property and when the registration officers and deputy registration officers are allowed on high school property to accept registrations. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 22-21 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/22-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-21)

Sec. 22-21. Elections and voter registration; use - Use of school buildings.

(a) Every school board shall offer to the appropriate officer or board having responsibility for providing polling places for elections the use of any and all buildings under its jurisdiction for any and all elections to be held, if so requested by such appropriate officer or board.

(b) Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small United States national flags, or some other marker a distance of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting, which shall be known as the polling room. If the polling room is located within a building that is a public or private school and the distance of 100 horizontal feet ends within the interior of the building, then the markers shall be placed outside of the building at each entrance used by voters to enter that building on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfare or walkway. If the polling room is located within a public or private school building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the polling room used by voters to engage in voting. If the polling room is located in a public or private school building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on a floor above or below the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed a distance of 100 feet from the nearest elevator or staircase used by voters on the ground floor to access the floor where the polling room is located. The area within where the markers are placed shall be known as a campaign free zone, and electioneering is prohibited pursuant to this subsection.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone, whether publicly or privately owned, is a public forum for the time that the polls are open on an election day. At the request of election officers any publicly owned building must be made available for use as a polling place. A person shall have the right to congregate and engage in electioneering on any polling place property while the polls are open beyond the campaign free zone, including but not limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection shall be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in electioneering on all polling place property beyond the campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an election day.

(c) Each public high school shall be designated by the school board as a place of registry where registration officers and deputy registration officers may accept the registrations of electors who are students of the high school. The school board may adopt a resolution governing the location of the place of registry on high school property and when the registration officers and deputy registration officers are allowed on high school property to accept registrations.

(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03.)

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