SB0943 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 07987 MLM 18067 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB0943

Introduced 2/7/2017, by Sen. Andy Manar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/1A-16.8

Amends the Election Code. Requires the State Board of Elections, beginning no later than September 1, 2017, to utilize data provided as part of its membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center in order to cross-reference the statewide voter registration database against databases of relevant personal information kept by designated government agencies, including, but not limited to, driver's license information, at least 6 times each calendar year, and requires the Board to share findings with election authorities. Provides that if a voter has a registered change of address under certain provisions but claims to live at the prior address and the election authority is unable to immediately confirm registration at the prior address, the voter shall be permitted to register to vote a regular ballot, provided that he or she meets the documentary requirements for same-day registration. Provides that if the election authority is unable to confirm the registration and the voter does not meet the requirements for same-day registration, the voter shall be issued a provisional ballot. Provides that no voter shall be disqualified for voting due to an error relating to an update of registration. Effective immediately.

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 1A-16.8 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.8)

Sec. 1A-16.8. Automatic transfer of registration based upon information from the National Change of Address database. The State Board of Elections shall cross-reference the statewide voter registration database against the United States Postal Service's National Change of Address database twice each calendar year, April 15 and October 1 in odd-numbered years and April 15 and December 1 in even-numbered years, and shall share the findings with the election authorities. In addition, beginning no later than September 1, 2017, the State Board of Elections shall utilize data provided as part of its membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center in order to cross-reference the statewide voter registration database against databases of relevant personal information kept by designated government agencies, including, but not limited to, driver's license information kept by the Secretary of State, at least 6 times each calendar year and shall share the findings with election authorities. An election authority shall automatically register any voter who has moved into its jurisdiction from another jurisdiction in Illinois or has moved within its jurisdiction provided that:

(1) the election authority whose jurisdiction includes the new registration address provides the voter an opportunity to reject the change in registration address through a mailing, sent by non-forwardable mail, to the new registration address, and

(2) when the election authority whose jurisdiction includes the previous registration address is a different election authority, then that election authority provides the same opportunity through a mailing, sent by forwardable mail, to the previous registration address.

This change in registration shall trigger the same inter-jurisdictional or intra-jurisdictional workflows as if the voter completed a new registration card, including the cancellation of the voter's previous registration. Should the registration of a voter be changed from one address to another within the State and should the voter appear at the polls and offer to vote from the prior registration address, attesting that the prior registration address is the true current address, the voter, if confirmed by the election authority as having been registered at the prior registration address and canceled only by the process authorized by this Section, shall be issued a regular ballot, and the change of registration address shall be canceled. If the election authority is unable to immediately confirm the registration, the voter shall be permitted to register and vote a regular ballot, provided that he or she meets the documentary requirements for same-day registration. If the election authority is unable to confirm the registration and the voter does not meet the requirements for same-day registration, the voter shall be issued a provisional ballot. No voter shall be disqualified from voting due to an error relating to an update of registration under this Section.

As used in this Section, "designated government agency" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1A-16.6 of this Code.

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

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.