97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB1249

 

Introduced 2/8/2011, by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/4-110 new
10 ILCS 5/5-110 new
10 ILCS 5/6-110 new

    Amends the Election Code. Authorizes 17-year-olds to register to vote and requires election authorities to accept the registration of otherwise qualified 17-year-olds. Provides that if the election authority sends those records to the polling places, it must clearly indicate that those persons are ineligible to vote. Requires the Secretary of State and public assistance agencies that offer voter registration to offer registration to 17-year-olds. Requires the State Board of Elections to adopt implementing rules.


LRB097 07433 RLJ 47542 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1249LRB097 07433 RLJ 47542 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 adding Sections
54-110, 5-110, and 6-110 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/4-110 new)
7    Sec. 4-110. Registration of 17-year-olds. Notwithstanding
8any other provisions of this Code, a 17-year-old may register
9to vote, even though he or she is ineligible to vote until he
10or she reaches the age of 18. Election authorities must accept
11voter registration applications from 17-year-old citizens who
12are otherwise qualified to vote but for their age, even though
13they may truthfully declare on their registration application
14that they are not yet 18 as of the date of the next election.
15Election authorities may, but need not, include the
16registration materials of a 17-year-old registrant in the
17precinct book in elections that occur before he or she is
18eligible to vote, but if they do, the election authorities must
19clearly indicate that the citizen is ineligible to vote in the
20election. The Secretary of State and public assistance agencies
21must offer voter registration, when providing voter
22registration as specified in this Code, to 17-year-old citizens
23who are otherwise qualified to vote. The State Board of

 

 

SB1249- 2 -LRB097 07433 RLJ 47542 b

1Elections shall promulgate rules to implement this provision.
 
2    (10 ILCS 5/5-110 new)
3    Sec. 5-110. Registration of 17-year-olds. Notwithstanding
4any other provisions of this Code, a 17-year-old may register
5to vote, even though he or she is ineligible to vote until he
6or she reaches the age of 18. Election authorities must accept
7voter registration applications from 17-year-old citizens who
8are otherwise qualified to vote but for their age, even though
9they may truthfully declare on their registration application
10that they are not yet 18 as of the date of the next election.
11Election authorities may, but need not, include the
12registration materials of a 17-year-old registrant in the
13precinct book in elections that occur before he or she is
14eligible to vote, but if they do, the election authorities must
15clearly indicate that the citizen is ineligible to vote in the
16election. The Secretary of State and public assistance agencies
17must offer voter registration, when providing voter
18registration as specified in this Code, to 17-year-old citizens
19who are otherwise qualified to vote. The State Board of
20Elections shall promulgate rules to implement this provision.
 
21    (10 ILCS 5/6-110 new)
22    Sec. 6-110. Registration of 17-year-olds. Notwithstanding
23any other provisions of this Code, a 17-year-old may register
24to vote, even though he or she is ineligible to vote until he

 

 

SB1249- 3 -LRB097 07433 RLJ 47542 b

1or she reaches the age of 18. Election authorities must accept
2voter registration applications from 17-year-old citizens who
3are otherwise qualified to vote but for their age, even though
4they may truthfully declare on their registration application
5that they are not yet 18 as of the date of the next election.
6Election authorities may, but need not, include the
7registration materials of a 17-year-old registrant in the
8precinct book in elections that occur before he or she is
9eligible to vote, but if they do, the election authorities must
10clearly indicate that the citizen is ineligible to vote in the
11election. The Secretary of State and public assistance agencies
12must offer voter registration, when providing voter
13registration as specified in this Code, to 17-year-old citizens
14who are otherwise qualified to vote. The State Board of
15Elections shall promulgate rules to implement this provision.