SB2476 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 17023 RJF 32171 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2476

Introduced 1/30/2018, by Sen. Terry Link

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/19-3

from Ch. 46, par. 19-3

Amends the Election Code. Provides that any campaign, party, or other organization or individual that engages in a vote by mail operation in which voters are sent applications for vote by mail ballots shall also provide the voter with a postage-paid return envelope addressed only to the appropriate local election authority for that registered voter. Provides that removing, tampering with, or otherwise knowingly making the postmark on the application unreadable by the election authority shall establish a rebuttable presumption of a violation.

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 changing Section 19-3 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/19-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-3)

Sec. 19-3. The application for vote by mail ballot shall be substantially in the following form:

APPLICATION FOR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT

To be voted at the .... election in the County of .... and State of Illinois, in the .... precinct of the (1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in the City of ....

I state that I am a resident of the .... precinct of the (1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in the city of .... residing at .... in such city or town in the county of .... and State of Illinois; that I have lived at such address for .... month(s) last past; that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be held therein on ....; and that I wish to vote by vote by mail ballot.

I hereby make application for an official ballot or ballots to be voted by me at such election, and I agree that I shall return such ballot or ballots to the official issuing the same prior to the closing of the polls on the date of the election or, if returned by mail, postmarked no later than election day, for counting no later than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day.

I understand that this application is made for an official vote by mail ballot or ballots to be voted by me at the election specified in this application and that I must submit a separate application for an official vote by mail ballot or ballots to be voted by me at any subsequent election.

Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Section 29-10 of the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct.

....

*fill in either (1), (2) or (3).

Post office address to which ballot is mailed: ...............

However, if application is made for a primary election ballot, such application shall require the applicant to designate the name of the political party with which the applicant is affiliated.

If application is made electronically, the applicant shall mark the box associated with the above described statement included as part of the online application certifying that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct, and a signature is not required.

Any person may produce, reproduce, distribute, or return to an election authority the application for vote by mail ballot. Any campaign, party, or other organization or individual that engages in a vote by mail operation in which voters are sent applications for vote by mail ballots shall also provide the voter with a postage-paid return envelope addressed only to the appropriate local election authority for that registered voter. Removing, tampering with, or otherwise knowingly making the postmark on the application unreadable by the election authority shall establish a rebuttable presumption of a violation of this paragraph. Upon receipt, the appropriate election authority shall accept and promptly process any application for vote by mail ballot submitted in a form substantially similar to that required by this Section, including any substantially similar production or reproduction generated by the applicant.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)