Public Act 0624 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1970 Enrolled LRB101 11083 SMS 56292 b

Public Act 101-0624

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 changing Sections 7-42 and 17-15 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/7-42) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-42)

Sec. 7-42.

(a) Any person entitled to vote at such primary shall, on the day of such primary, with the consent of his employer be entitled to absent himself from any service or employment in which he is then engaged or employed for a period of two hours between the time of opening and closing the polls. The employer may specify the hours during which said employe may absent himself.

(b) Beginning the 15th day before the primary election or on the day of the primary election, any student entitled to vote at such primary shall be entitled to be absent from school for a period of 2 hours during the school day in order to vote. The school may specify the hours during which the eligible student may be absent. A student who is absent from school under this subsection (b) is not considered absent for the purpose of calculating enrollment under Section 18-8.15 of the School Code.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-15) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-15)

Sec. 17-15.

(a) Any person entitled to vote at a general or special election or at any election at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote in this State, shall, on the day of such election, be entitled to absent himself from any services or employment in which he is then engaged or employed, for a period of 2 hours between the time of opening and closing the polls; and such voter shall not because of so absenting himself be liable to any penalty; Provided, however, that application for such leave of absence shall be made prior to the day of election. The employer may specify the hours during which said employee may absent himself as aforesaid, except that the employer must permit a 2-hour absence during working hours if the employee's working hours begin less than 2 hours after the opening of the polls and end less than 2 hours before the closing of the polls. No person or corporation shall refuse to an employee the privilege hereby conferred, nor shall subject an employee to a penalty, including a reduction in compensation due to an absence under this Section, because of the exercise of such privilege, nor shall directly or indirectly violate the provisions of this Section.

(b) Beginning the 15th day before a general or special election or any election at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote in this State or on the day of a general or special election or any election at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote in this State, any student entitled to vote at such election shall be entitled to be absent from school for a period of 2 hours during the school day in order to vote. The school may specify the hours during which the eligible student may be absent. A student who is absent from school under this subsection (b) is not considered absent for the purpose of calculating enrollment under Section 18-8.15 of the School Code.

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

Effective Date: 6/1/2020