100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2992

 

Introduced , by Rep. Justin Slaughter

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/11-2  from Ch. 46, par. 11-2
10 ILCS 5/11-4  from Ch. 46, par. 11-4
10 ILCS 5/19A-10

    Amends the Election Code. Provides that no polling place may be located in a police station or place with an armed guard unless there is no other viable option in the precinct. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.


LRB100 08712 MLM 18848 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2992LRB100 08712 MLM 18848 b

1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
5Sections 11-2, 11-4, and 19A-10 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/11-2)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-2)
7    Sec. 11-2. The County Board in each county, except in
8counties having a population of 3,000,000 inhabitants or over,
9shall, at its regular meeting in June, divide its election
10precincts which contain more than 800 voters, into election
11districts so that each district shall contain, as near as may
12be practicable, 500 voters, and not more in any case than 800.
13Whenever the County Board ascertains that any election precinct
14contains more than 600 registered voters, it may divide such
15precinct, at its regular meeting in June, into election
16precincts so that each precinct shall contain, as nearly as may
17be practicable, 500 voters. Insofar as is practicable, each
18precinct shall be situated within a single congressional,
19legislative and representative district and in not more than
20one County Board district and one municipal ward. In order to
21situate each precinct within a single district or ward, the
22County Board shall change the boundaries of election precincts
23after each decennial census as soon as is practicable following

 

 

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1the completion of congressional and legislative redistricting.
2In determining whether a division of precincts should be made,
3the county board may anticipate increased voter registration in
4any precinct in which there is in progress new construction of
5dwelling units which will be occupied by voters more than 30
6days before the next election. Each district shall be composed
7of contiguous territory in as compact form as can be for the
8convenience of the electors voting therein. The several county
9boards in establishing districts shall describe them by metes
10and bounds and number them. And so often thereafter as it shall
11appear by the number of votes cast at the general election held
12in November of any year, that any election district or
13undivided election precinct contains more than 800 voters, the
14County Board of the county in which the district or precinct
15may be, shall at its regular meeting in June, or an adjourned
16meeting in July next, after such November election, redivide or
17readjust such election district or election precinct, so that
18no district or election precinct shall contain more than the
19number of votes above specified. If for any reason the County
20Board fails in any year to redivide or readjust the election
21districts or election precinct, then the districts or precincts
22as then existing shall continue until the next regular June
23meeting of the County Board; at which regular June meeting or
24an adjourned meeting in July the County Board shall redivide or
25readjust the election districts or election precincts in manner
26as herein required. When at any meeting of the County Board any

 

 

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1redivision, readjustment or change in name or number of
2election districts or election precincts is made by the County
3Board, the County Clerk shall immediately notify the State
4Board of Elections of such redivision, readjustment or change.
5The County Board in every case shall fix and establish the
6places for holding elections in its respective county and all
7elections shall be held at the places so fixed. The polling
8places shall in all cases be upon the ground floor in the front
9room, the entrance to which is in a highway or public street
10which is at least 40 feet wide, and is as near the center of the
11voting population of the precinct as is practicable, and for
12the convenience of the greatest number of electors to vote
13thereat; provided, however, where the County Board is unable to
14secure a suitable polling place within the boundaries of a
15precinct, it may select a polling place at the most
16conveniently located suitable place outside the precinct; but
17in no case shall an election be held in any room used or
18occupied as a saloon, dramshop, bowling alley or as a place of
19resort for idlers and disreputable persons, billiard hall or in
20any room connected therewith by doors or hallways. In addition,
21no election shall be held in a police station or in a place
22with an armed guard unless there is no other viable option in
23the precinct. No person shall be permitted to vote at any
24election except at the polling place for the precinct in which
25he resides, except as otherwise provided in this Section or
26Article 19 of this Act. In counties having a population of

 

 

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13,000,000 inhabitants or over the County Board shall divide its
2election precincts and shall fix and establish places for
3holding elections as hereinbefore provided during the month of
4January instead of at its regular meeting in June or at an
5adjourned meeting in July.
6    However, in the event that additional divisions of election
7precincts are indicated after a division made by the County
8Board in the month of January, such additional divisions may be
9made by the County Board in counties having a population of
103,000,000 inhabitants or over, at the regular meeting in June
11or at adjourned meeting in July. The county board of such
12county may divide or readjust precincts at any meeting of the
13county board when the voter registration in a precinct has
14increased beyond 800 and an election is scheduled before the
15next regular January or June meeting of the county board.
16    When in any city, village or incorporated town territory
17has been annexed thereto or disconnected therefrom, which
18annexation or disconnection becomes effective after election
19precincts or election districts have been established as above
20provided in this Section, the clerk of the municipality shall
21inform the county clerk thereof as provided in Section 4-21,
225-28.1, or 6-31.1, whichever is applicable. In the event that a
23regular meeting of the County Board is to be held after such
24notification and before any election, the County Board shall,
25at its next regular meeting establish new election precinct
26lines in affected territory. In the event that no regular

 

 

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1meeting of the County Board is to be held before such election
2the county clerk shall, within 5 days after being so informed,
3call a special meeting of the county board on a day fixed by
4him not more than 20 days thereafter for the purpose of
5establishing election precincts or election districts in the
6affected territory for the ensuing elections.
7    At any consolidated primary or consolidated election at
8which municipal officers are to be elected, and at any
9emergency referendum at which a public question relating to a
10municipality is to be voted on, notwithstanding any other
11provision of this Code, the election authority shall establish
12a polling place within such municipality, upon the request of
13the municipal council or board of trustees at least 60 days
14before the election and provided that the municipality provides
15a suitable polling place. To accomplish this purpose, the
16election authority may establish an election precinct
17constituting a single municipality of under 500 population for
18all elections, notwithstanding the minimum precinct size
19otherwise specified herein.
20    Notwithstanding the above, when there are no more than 50
21registered voters in a precinct who are entitled to vote in a
22local government or school district election, the election
23authority having jurisdiction over the precinct is authorized
24to reassign such voters to one or more polling places in
25adjacent precincts, within or without the election authority's
26jurisdiction, for that election. For the purposes of such local

 

 

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1government or school district election only, the votes of the
2reassigned voters shall be tallied and canvassed as votes from
3the precinct of the polling place to which such voters have
4been reassigned. The election authority having jurisdiction
5over the precinct shall approve all administrative and polling
6place procedures. Such procedures shall take into account voter
7convenience, and ensure that the integrity of the election
8process is maintained and that the secrecy of the ballot is not
9violated.
10    Except in the event of a fire, flood or total loss of heat
11in a place fixed or established by any county board or election
12authority pursuant to this Section as a polling place for an
13election, no election authority shall change the location of a
14polling place so established for any precinct after notice of
15the place of holding the election for that precinct has been
16given as required under Article 12 unless the election
17authority notifies all registered voters in the precinct of the
18change in location by first class mail in sufficient time for
19such notice to be received by the registered voters in the
20precinct at least one day prior to the date of the election.
21    The provisions of this Section apply to all precincts,
22including those where voting machines or electronic voting
23systems are used.
24(Source: P.A. 86-867.)
 
25    (10 ILCS 5/11-4)  (from Ch. 46, par. 11-4)

 

 

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1    Sec. 11-4. It shall be the duty of the Board of Election
2Commissioners, established under Article 6 of this Act, to
3appoint the place of registry in each precinct for the first
4registration under Article 6 of this Act and the places for
5registry in subsequent registrations in the manner provided by
6such Article, and also the polling place in each precinct in
7such city, village or incorporated town which has adopted or is
8operating under said Article 6, and to give public notice
9thereof, and shall cause the same to be fitted up, warmed,
10lighted and cleaned, but in each election precinct and in each
11area for which a registration place is designated such place or
12places shall be in the most public, orderly and convenient
13portions thereof, and no building or part of a building shall
14be designated or used as a place of registry, or revision of
15registration, or as a polling place, in which spirituous or
16intoxicating liquor is sold. Provided, however, where the Board
17of Election Commissioners is unable to secure a suitable
18polling place within the boundaries of a precinct, it may
19select a polling place on a street immediately adjacent to and
20adjoining the precinct. Said Board of Election Commissioners
21may demand of the chief of police or the sheriff, to furnish
22officers of the law to attend during the progress of any
23registration, revision or election, at any place or places of
24registration, or any polling place, or places, designated by
25said commissioners, or to attend at any meeting of said
26commissioners. Said officers of the law, shall be furnished by

 

 

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1said chief of police or sheriff and shall be stationed in the
2place or places of registration and polling place or places in
3such manner as said commissioners shall direct, and during said
4assignment shall be under the direction and control of the
5election commissioners.
6    No polling place shall be located at a police station or
7place with an armed officer unless there is no other viable
8option in the precinct. The limitation imposed by this
9amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly shall not be
10construed to limit the Board of Election Commissioners to
11demand the chief of police or sheriff to furnish officers of
12the law as provided by this Section.
13    Notwithstanding the above, when there are no more than 50
14registered voters in a precinct who are entitled to vote in a
15local government or school district election, the election
16authority having jurisdiction over the precinct, is authorized
17to reassign such voters to one or more polling places in
18adjacent precincts, within or without the election authority's
19jurisdiction, for that election. For the purposes of such local
20government or school district election only, the votes of the
21reassigned voters shall be tallied and canvassed as votes from
22the precinct of the polling place to which such voters have
23been reassigned. The election authority having jurisdiction
24over the precinct shall approve all administrative and polling
25place procedures. Such procedures shall take into account voter
26convenience, and ensure that the integrity of the election

 

 

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1process is maintained and that the secrecy of the ballot is not
2violated.
3    Except in the event of a fire, flood or total loss of heat
4in a place fixed or established by the Board of Election
5Commissioners pursuant to this Section as a polling place for
6an election, no election authority shall change the location of
7a polling place so established for any precinct after notice of
8the place of holding the election for that precinct has been
9given as required under Article 12 unless the election
10authority notifies all registered voters in the precinct of the
11change in location by first class mail in sufficient time for
12such notice to be received by the registered voters in the
13precinct at least one day prior to the date of the election.
14(Source: P.A. 86-867.)
 
15    (10 ILCS 5/19A-10)
16    Sec. 19A-10. Permanent polling places for early voting.
17    (a) An election authority may establish permanent polling
18places for early voting by personal appearance at locations
19throughout the election authority's jurisdiction, including
20but not limited to a municipal clerk's office, a township
21clerk's office, a road district clerk's office, or a county or
22local public agency office. Any person entitled to vote early
23by personal appearance may do so at any polling place
24established for early voting.
25    (b) (Blank).

 

 

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1    (c) During each general primary and general election, each
2election authority in a county with a population over 250,000
3shall establish at least one permanent polling place for early
4voting by personal appearance at a location within each of the
53 largest municipalities within its jurisdiction. If any of the
63 largest municipalities is over 80,000, the election authority
7shall establish at least 2 permanent polling places within the
8municipality. All population figures shall be determined by the
9federal census.
10    (d) During each general primary and general election, each
11board of election commissioners established under Article 6 of
12this Code in any city, village, or incorporated town with a
13population over 100,000 shall establish at least 2 permanent
14polling places for early voting by personal appearance. All
15population figures shall be determined by the federal census.
16    (e) During each general primary and general election, each
17election authority in a county with a population of over
18100,000 but under 250,000 persons shall establish at least one
19permanent polling place for early voting by personal
20appearance. The location for early voting may be the election
21authority's main office or another location designated by the
22election authority. The election authority may designate
23additional sites for early voting by personal appearance. All
24population figures shall be determined by the federal census.
25    (f) No permanent polling place required by this Section
26shall be located within 1.5 miles from another permanent

 

 

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1polling place required by this Section, unless such permanent
2polling place is within a municipality with a population of
3500,000 or more.
4    (g) No permanent polling place required by this Section
5shall be located at a police station or place with an armed
6guard unless there is no other viable location in the precinct.
7(Source: P.A. 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)
 
8    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
9becoming law.