97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB6198

 

Introduced , by Rep. Renée Kosel

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/19A-15

    Amends the Election Code. Provides that, when the religious holidays of Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday occur during the early voting period, an election authority may close an early voting place on those days, provided that the early voting place remains open 2 hours later on at least 2 weekdays during the final week of the early voting period. 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. Effective immediately.


LRB097 21601 PJG 69832 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB6198LRB097 21601 PJG 69832 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 Section
519A-15 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/19A-15)
7    Sec. 19A-15. Period for early voting; hours.
8    (a) The period for early voting by personal appearance
9begins the 22nd day preceding a general primary, consolidated
10primary, consolidated, or general election and extends through
11the 5th day before election day.
12    (b) A permanent polling place for early voting must remain
13open during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 9:00 a.m.
14to 5:00 p.m., on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on
15Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; except that, in addition to
16the hours required by this subsection, a permanent early voting
17polling place designated by an election authority under
18subsection (c) of Section 19A-10 must remain open for a total
19of at least 8 hours on any holiday during the early voting
20period and a total of at least 14 hours on the final weekend
21during the early voting period.
22    (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), an election
23authority may close an early voting polling place if the

 

 

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1building in which the polling place is located has been closed
2by the State or unit of local government in response to a
3severe weather emergency. In the event of a closure, the
4election authority shall conduct early voting on the 2nd day
5before election day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to
65:00 p.m. The election authority shall notify the State Board
7of Elections of any closure and shall make reasonable efforts
8to provide notice to the public of the extended early voting
9period.
10    (d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), when the
11religious holidays of Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter
12Sunday occur during the early voting period, an election
13authority may close an early voting place on those days,
14provided that the early voting place remains open 2 hours later
15on at least 2 weekdays during the final week of the early
16voting period. The election authority shall notify the State
17Board of Elections of any closure and shall provide notice to
18the public of the closure and the extended hours during the
19final week.
20(Source: P.A. 96-637, eff. 1-1-10; 97-81, eff. 7-5-11.)
 
21    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.