SB1249 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 07433 RLJ 47542 b

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.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 adding Sections 4-110, 5-110, and 6-110 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/4-110 new)

Sec. 4-110. Registration of 17-year-olds. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, a 17-year-old may register to vote, even though he or she is ineligible to vote until he or she reaches the age of 18. Election authorities must accept voter registration applications from 17-year-old citizens who are otherwise qualified to vote but for their age, even though they may truthfully declare on their registration application that they are not yet 18 as of the date of the next election. Election authorities may, but need not, include the registration materials of a 17-year-old registrant in the precinct book in elections that occur before he or she is eligible to vote, but if they do, the election authorities must clearly indicate that the citizen is ineligible to vote in the election. The Secretary of State and public assistance agencies must offer voter registration, when providing voter registration as specified in this Code, to 17-year-old citizens who are otherwise qualified to vote. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules to implement this provision.

(10 ILCS 5/5-110 new)

Sec. 5-110. Registration of 17-year-olds. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, a 17-year-old may register to vote, even though he or she is ineligible to vote until he or she reaches the age of 18. Election authorities must accept voter registration applications from 17-year-old citizens who are otherwise qualified to vote but for their age, even though they may truthfully declare on their registration application that they are not yet 18 as of the date of the next election. Election authorities may, but need not, include the registration materials of a 17-year-old registrant in the precinct book in elections that occur before he or she is eligible to vote, but if they do, the election authorities must clearly indicate that the citizen is ineligible to vote in the election. The Secretary of State and public assistance agencies must offer voter registration, when providing voter registration as specified in this Code, to 17-year-old citizens who are otherwise qualified to vote. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules to implement this provision.

(10 ILCS 5/6-110 new)

Sec. 6-110. Registration of 17-year-olds. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, a 17-year-old may register to vote, even though he or she is ineligible to vote until he or she reaches the age of 18. Election authorities must accept voter registration applications from 17-year-old citizens who are otherwise qualified to vote but for their age, even though they may truthfully declare on their registration application that they are not yet 18 as of the date of the next election. Election authorities may, but need not, include the registration materials of a 17-year-old registrant in the precinct book in elections that occur before he or she is eligible to vote, but if they do, the election authorities must clearly indicate that the citizen is ineligible to vote in the election. The Secretary of State and public assistance agencies must offer voter registration, when providing voter registration as specified in this Code, to 17-year-old citizens who are otherwise qualified to vote. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules to implement this provision.