SB2326 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 15669 SMS 21033 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2326

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/1-3	from Ch. 46, par. 1-3
10 ILCS 5/4-8	from Ch. 46, par. 4-8
10 ILCS 5/4-8.01	from Ch. 46, par. 4-8.01
10 ILCS 5/5-7	from Ch. 46, par. 5-7
10 ILCS 5/5-7.01	from Ch. 46, par. 5-7.01
10 ILCS 5/6-35	from Ch. 46, par. 6-35
10 ILCS 5/6-35.01	from Ch. 46, par. 6-35.01
10 ILCS 5/7-47.1	from Ch. 46, par. 7-47.1
10 ILCS 5/7-48	from Ch. 46, par. 7-48
10 ILCS 5/12-1	from Ch. 46, par. 12-1
10 ILCS 5/17-14	from Ch. 46, par. 17-14
10 ILCS 5/19-2.4 new
10 ILCS 5/19-5	from Ch. 46, par. 19-5
10 ILCS 5/19A-40
10 ILCS 5/24C-11

Amends the Election Code. Changes the definition of "person with a disability" to include a person having an intellectual or developmental disability. Makes conforming changes throughout the Code. Requires an election authority to provide public notice 75 days (rather than 60 days) before each general and consolidated election calculated to reach elderly voters and voters with disabilities, of the availability of registration and voting aids under the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, of the availability of assistance in marking the ballot, procedures for voting by vote by mail ballot, and procedures for voting early by personal appearance. Provides that county clerks shall mail by non-forwardable mail an official ballot with a return identification envelope and a secrecy envelope not sooner than the 20th day before the date of any election and not later than the 14th day before the date of any election to each voter with a disability. Provides the State Board of Elections, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, rulemaking authority to allow recipients of a vote by mail ballot to return their ballot by other means than mail.

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 Sections 1-3, 4-8, 4-8.01, 5-7, 5-7.01, 6-35, 6-35.01, 7-47.1, 7-48, 12-1, 17-14, 19-5, 19A-40, and 24C-11 and by adding Section 19-2.4 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 1-3)

Sec. 1-3. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Election" includes the submission of all questions of public policy, propositions, and all measures submitted to popular vote, and includes primary elections when so indicated by the context.

2. "Regular election" means the general, general primary, consolidated and consolidated primary elections regularly scheduled in Article 2A. The even numbered year municipal primary established in Article 2A is a regular election only with respect to those municipalities in which a primary is required to be held on such date.

3. "Special election" means an election not regularly recurring at fixed intervals, irrespective of whether it is held at the same time and place and by the same election officers as a regular election.

4. "General election" means the biennial election at which members of the General Assembly are elected. "General primary election", "consolidated election" and "consolidated primary election" mean the respective elections or the election dates designated and established in Article 2A of this Code.

5. "Municipal election" means an election or primary, either regular or special, in cities, villages, and incorporated towns; and "municipality" means any such city, village or incorporated town.

6. "Political or governmental subdivision" means any unit of local government, or school district in which elections are or may be held. "Political or governmental subdivision" also includes, for election purposes, Regional Boards of School Trustees, and Township Boards of School Trustees.

7. The word "township" and the word "town" shall apply interchangeably to the type of governmental organization established in accordance with the provisions of the Township Code. The term "incorporated town" shall mean a municipality referred to as an incorporated town in the Illinois Municipal Code, as now or hereafter amended.

8. "Election authority" means a county clerk or a Board of Election Commissioners.

9. "Election Jurisdiction" means (a) an entire county, in the case of a county in which no city board of election commissioners is located or which is under the jurisdiction of a county board of election commissioners; (b) the territorial jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners; and (c) the territory in a county outside of the jurisdiction of a city board of election commissioners. In each instance election jurisdiction shall be determined according to which election authority maintains the permanent registration records of qualified electors.

10. "Local election official" means the clerk or secretary of a unit of local government or school district, as the case may be, the treasurer of a township board of school trustees, and the regional superintendent of schools with respect to the various school officer elections and school referenda for which the regional superintendent is assigned election duties by The School Code, as now or hereafter amended.

11. "Judges of election", "primary judges" and similar terms, as applied to cases where there are 2 sets of judges, when used in connection with duties at an election during the hours the polls are open, refer to the team of judges of election on duty during such hours; and, when used with reference to duties after the closing of the polls, refer to the team of tally judges designated to count the vote after the closing of the polls and the holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 13-6.2 or 14-5.2. In such case, where, after the closing of the polls, any act is required to be performed by each of the judges of election, it shall be performed by each of the tally judges and by each of the holdover judges.

12. "Petition" of candidacy as used in Sections 7-10 and 7-10.1 shall consist of a statement of candidacy, candidate's statement containing oath, and sheets containing signatures of qualified primary electors bound together.

13. "Election district" and "precinct", when used with reference to a 30-day residence requirement, means the smallest constituent territory in which electors vote as a unit at the same polling place in any election governed by this Act.

14. "District" means any area which votes as a unit for the election of any officer, other than the State or a unit of local government or school district, and includes, but is not limited to, legislative, congressional and judicial districts, judicial circuits, county board districts, municipal and sanitary district wards, school board districts, and precincts.

15. "Question of public policy" or "public question" means any question, proposition or measure submitted to the voters at an election dealing with subject matter other than the nomination or election of candidates and shall include, but is not limited to, any bond or tax referendum, and questions relating to the Constitution.

16. "Ordinance providing the form of government of a municipality or county pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution" includes ordinances, resolutions and petitions adopted by referendum which provide for the form of government, the officers or the manner of selection or terms of office of officers of such municipality or county, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4, 6 or 7 of Article VII of the Constitution.

17. "List" as used in Sections 4-11, 4-22, 5-14, 5-29, 6-60, and 6-66 shall include a computer tape or computer disc or other electronic data processing information containing voter information.

18. "Accessible" means accessible to persons with disabilities and elderly individuals for the purpose of voting or registration, as determined by rule of the State Board of Elections.

19. "Elderly" means 65 years of age or older.

20. "Person with a disability", "disability", "disabled voter", or "voter with a disability" means a person having a temporary or permanent physical disability or an intellectual or developmental disability.

21. "Leading political party" means one of the two political parties whose candidates for governor at the most recent three gubernatorial elections received either the highest or second highest average number of votes. The political party whose candidates for governor received the highest average number of votes shall be known as the first leading political party and the political party whose candidates for governor received the second highest average number of votes shall be known as the second leading political party.

22. "Business day" means any day in which the office of an election authority, local election official or the State Board of Elections is open to the public for a minimum of 7 hours.

23. "Homeless individual" means any person who has a nontraditional residence, including, but not limited to, a shelter, day shelter, park bench, street corner, or space under a bridge.

24. "Signature" means a name signed in ink or in digitized form. This definition does not apply to a nominating or candidate petition or a referendum petition.

25. "Intelligent mail barcode tracking system" means a printed trackable barcode attached to the return business reply envelope for mail-in ballots under Article 19 or Article 20 that allows an election authority to determine the date the envelope was mailed in absence of a postmark.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/4-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-8)

Sec. 4-8. The county clerk shall provide a sufficient number of blank forms for the registration of electors, which shall be known as registration record cards and which shall consist of loose leaf sheets or cards, of suitable size to contain in plain writing and figures the data hereinafter required thereon or shall consist of computer cards of suitable nature to contain the data required thereon. The registration record cards, which shall include an affidavit of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in duplicate.

The registration record card shall contain the following and such other information as the county clerk may think it proper to require for the identification of the applicant for registration:

Name. The name of the applicant, giving surname and first or Christian name in full, and the middle name or the initial for such middle name, if any.

Sex.

Residence. The name and number of the street, avenue, or other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit or room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home the lot number, and such additional clear and definite description as may be necessary to determine the exact location of the dwelling of the applicant. Where the location cannot be determined by street and number, then the section, congressional township and range number may be used, or such other description as may be necessary, including post-office mailing address. In the case of a homeless individual, the individual's voting residence that is his or her mailing address shall be included on his or her registration record card.

Term of residence in the State of Illinois and precinct. This information shall be furnished by the applicant stating the place or places where he resided and the dates during which he resided in such place or places during the year next preceding the date of the next ensuing election.

Nativity. The state or country in which the applicant was born.

Citizenship. Whether the applicant is native born or naturalized. If naturalized, the court, place, and date of naturalization.

Date of application for registration, i.e., the day, month and year when applicant presented himself for registration.

Age. Date of birth, by month, day and year.

Disability Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time of registration, which would require assistance in voting.

The county and state in which the applicant was last registered.

Electronic mail address, if any.

Signature of voter. The applicant, after the registration and in the presence of a deputy registrar or other officer of registration shall be required to sign his or her name in ink or digitized form to the affidavit on both the original and duplicate registration record cards.

Signature of deputy registrar or officer of registration.

In case applicant is unable to sign his name, he may affix his mark to the affidavit. In such case the officer empowered to give the registration oath shall write a detailed description of the applicant in the space provided on the back or at the bottom of the card or sheet; and shall ask the following questions and record the answers thereto:

Father's first name.

Mother's first name.

From what address did the applicant last register?

Reason for inability to sign name.

Each applicant for registration shall make an affidavit in substantially the following form:

AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION

STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF .......

I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States; that on the date of the next election I shall have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct in which I reside 30 days and that I intend that this location shall be my residence; that I am fully qualified to vote, and that the above statements are true.

..............................

(His or her signature or mark)

Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).

..................................

Signature of registration officer. (To be signed in presence of registrant.)

Space shall be provided upon the face of each registration record card for the notation of the voting record of the person registered thereon.

Each registration record card shall be numbered according to precincts, and may be serially or otherwise marked for identification in such manner as the county clerk may determine.

The registration cards shall be deemed public records and shall be open to inspection during regular business hours, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. On written request of any candidate or objector or any person intending to object to a petition, the election authority shall extend its hours for inspection of registration cards and other records of the election authority during the period beginning with the filing of petitions under Sections 7-10, 8-8, 10-6 or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of electoral board hearings on any objections to petitions containing signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction of the election authority. The extension shall be for a period of hours sufficient to allow adequate opportunity for examination of the records but the election authority is not required to extend its hours beyond the period beginning at its normal opening for business and ending at midnight. If the business hours are so extended, the election authority shall post a public notice of such extended hours. Registration record cards may also be inspected, upon approval of the officer in charge of the cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by certified judges and poll watchers and challengers at the polling place on election day, but only to the extent necessary to determine the question of the right of a person to vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically handle the registration record cards.

Updated copies of computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information shall be furnished by the county clerk within 10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year and within 10 days after each registration period is closed to the State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the Board. For the purposes of this Section, a registration period is closed 27 days before the date of any regular or special election. Registration information shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, sex, residence, telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation, if applicable, precinct, ward, township, county, and representative, legislative and congressional districts. In the event of noncompliance, the State Board of Elections is directed to obtain compliance forthwith with this nondiscretionary duty of the election authority by instituting legal proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the election authority maintains the registration information. The costs of furnishing updated copies of tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034 per name of registered voters in the election jurisdiction, but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from appropriations made to the State Board of Elections for reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The State Board shall furnish copies of such tapes, discs, other electronic data or compilations thereof to state political committees registered pursuant to the Illinois Campaign Finance Act or the Federal Election Campaign Act and to governmental entities, at their request and at a reasonable cost. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of voter registration information, the disclosure of electronic voter registration records to any person or entity other than to a State or local political committee and other than to a governmental entity for a governmental purpose is specifically prohibited except as follows: subject to security measures adopted by the State Board of Elections which, at a minimum, shall include the keeping of a catalog or database, available for public view, including the name, address, and telephone number of the person viewing the list as well as the time of that viewing, any person may view the centralized statewide voter registration list on a computer screen at the Springfield office of the State Board of Elections, during normal business hours other than during the 27 days before an election, but the person viewing the list under this exception may not print, duplicate, transmit, or alter the list. Copies of the tapes, discs, or other electronic data shall be furnished by the county clerk to local political committees and governmental entities at their request and at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost of the tapes, discs, et cetera for this purpose would be the cost of duplication plus 15% for administration. The individual representing a political committee requesting copies of such tapes shall make a sworn affidavit that the information shall be used only for bona fide political purposes, including by or for candidates for office or incumbent office holders. Such tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be used under any circumstances by any political committee or individuals for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes. If such tapes contain information on county residents related to the operations of county government in addition to registration information, that information shall not be used under any circumstances for commercial solicitation or other business purposes. The prohibition in this Section against using the computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes shall be prospective only from the effective date of this amended Act of 1979. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.

The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October 1, 1987, such regulations as may be necessary to ensure uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing of voter registration information. The regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, specifications for uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to be employed by the election authorities of this State in the electronic data processing of voter registration information. Each election authority utilizing electronic data processing of voter registration information shall comply with such regulations on and after May 15, 1988.

If the applicant for registration was last registered in another county within this State, he shall also sign a certificate authorizing cancellation of the former registration. The certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

To the County Clerk of.... County, Illinois. (or)

To the Election Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.

This is to certify that I am registered in your (county) (city) and that my residence was ............................

Having moved out of your (county) (city), I hereby authorize you to cancel said registration in your office.

Dated at ...., Illinois, on (insert date).

.................................

(Signature of Voter)

Attest: ................, County Clerk, ............. County, Illinois.

The cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately by the County Clerk to the County Clerk (or election commission as the case may be) where the applicant was formerly registered. Receipt of such certificate shall be full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 10-1-13; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/4-8.01) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-8.01)

Sec. 4-8.01. If an applicant for registration reports a permanent physical disability which would require assistance in voting, the county clerk shall mark all his registration cards in the right margin on the front of the card with a band of ink running the full margin which shall be of contrast to, and easily distinguishable from, the color of the card. If an applicant for registration declares upon properly witnessed oath, with his signature or mark affixed, that he cannot read the English language and that he will require assistance in voting, all his registration cards shall be marked in a manner similar to the marking on the cards of a voter who requires assistance because of physical disability, except that the marking shall be of a different distinguishing color. Following each election the cards of any voter who has requested assistance as a voter with a disability, and has stated that the disability is permanent, or who has received assistance because of inability to read the English language, shall be marked in the same manner.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

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

Sec. 5-7. The county clerk shall provide a sufficient number of blank forms for the registration of electors which shall be known as registration record cards and which shall consist of loose leaf sheets or cards, of suitable size to contain in plain writing and figures the data hereinafter required thereon or shall consist of computer cards of suitable nature to contain the data required thereon. The registration record cards, which shall include an affidavit of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in duplicate.

The registration record card shall contain the following and such other information as the county clerk may think it proper to require for the identification of the applicant for registration:

Name. The name of the applicant, giving surname and first or Christian name in full, and the middle name or the initial for such middle name, if any.

Sex.

Residence. The name and number of the street, avenue, or other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit or room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home the lot number, and such additional clear and definite description as may be necessary to determine the exact location of the dwelling of the applicant, including post-office mailing address. In the case of a homeless individual, the individual's voting residence that is his or her mailing address shall be included on his or her registration record card.

Term of residence in the State of Illinois and the precinct. Which questions may be answered by the applicant stating, in excess of 30 days in the State and in excess of 30 days in the precinct.

Nativity. The State or country in which the applicant was born.

Citizenship. Whether the applicant is native born or naturalized. If naturalized, the court, place and date of naturalization.

Date of application for registration, i.e., the day, month and year when applicant presented himself for registration.

Age. Date of birth, by month, day and year.

Disability Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time of registration, which would require assistance in voting.

The county and state in which the applicant was last registered.

Electronic mail address, if any.

Signature of voter. The applicant, after the registration and in the presence of a deputy registrar or other officer of registration shall be required to sign his or her name in ink or digitized form to the affidavit on the original and duplicate registration record card.

Signature of Deputy Registrar.

In case applicant is unable to sign his name, he may affix his mark to the affidavit. In such case the officer empowered to give the registration oath shall write a detailed description of the applicant in the space provided at the bottom of the card or sheet; and shall ask the following questions and record the answers thereto:

Father's first name .......................

Mother's first name .......................

From what address did you last register?

Reason for inability to sign name.

Each applicant for registration shall make an affidavit in substantially the following form:

AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION

State of Illinois)

)ss County of )

I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States; that on the date of the next election I shall have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct in which I reside 30 days; that I am fully qualified to vote. That I intend that this location shall be my residence and that the above statements are true.

..............................

(His or her signature or mark)

Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).

.........................................

Signature of Registration Officer. (To be signed in presence of Registrant.)

Space shall be provided upon the face of each registration record card for the notation of the voting record of the person registered thereon.

Each registration record card shall be numbered according to towns and precincts, wards, cities and villages, as the case may be, and may be serially or otherwise marked for identification in such manner as the county clerk may determine.

The registration cards shall be deemed public records and shall be open to inspection during regular business hours, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. On written request of any candidate or objector or any person intending to object to a petition, the election authority shall extend its hours for inspection of registration cards and other records of the election authority during the period beginning with the filing of petitions under Sections 7-10, 8-8, 10-6 or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of electoral board hearings on any objections to petitions containing signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction of the election authority. The extension shall be for a period of hours sufficient to allow adequate opportunity for examination of the records but the election authority is not required to extend its hours beyond the period beginning at its normal opening for business and ending at midnight. If the business hours are so extended, the election authority shall post a public notice of such extended hours. Registration record cards may also be inspected, upon approval of the officer in charge of the cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by certified judges and poll watchers and challengers at the polling place on election day, but only to the extent necessary to determine the question of the right of a person to vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically handle the registration record cards.

Updated copies of computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information shall be furnished by the county clerk within 10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year and within 10 days after each registration period is closed to the State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the Board. For the purposes of this Section, a registration period is closed 27 days before the date of any regular or special election. Registration information shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, sex, residence, telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation, if applicable, precinct, ward, township, county, and representative, legislative and congressional districts. In the event of noncompliance, the State Board of Elections is directed to obtain compliance forthwith with this nondiscretionary duty of the election authority by instituting legal proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the election authority maintains the registration information. The costs of furnishing updated copies of tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034 per name of registered voters in the election jurisdiction, but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from appropriations made to the State Board of Elections for reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The State Board shall furnish copies of such tapes, discs, other electronic data or compilations thereof to state political committees registered pursuant to the Illinois Campaign Finance Act or the Federal Election Campaign Act and to governmental entities, at their request and at a reasonable cost. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of voter registration information, the disclosure of electronic voter registration records to any person or entity other than to a State or local political committee and other than to a governmental entity for a governmental purpose is specifically prohibited except as follows: subject to security measures adopted by the State Board of Elections which, at a minimum, shall include the keeping of a catalog or database, available for public view, including the name, address, and telephone number of the person viewing the list as well as the time of that viewing, any person may view the centralized statewide voter registration list on a computer screen at the Springfield office of the State Board of Elections, during normal business hours other than during the 27 days before an election, but the person viewing the list under this exception may not print, duplicate, transmit, or alter the list. Copies of the tapes, discs or other electronic data shall be furnished by the county clerk to local political committees and governmental entities at their request and at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost of the tapes, discs, et cetera for this purpose would be the cost of duplication plus 15% for administration. The individual representing a political committee requesting copies of such tapes shall make a sworn affidavit that the information shall be used only for bona fide political purposes, including by or for candidates for office or incumbent office holders. Such tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be used under any circumstances by any political committee or individuals for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes. If such tapes contain information on county residents related to the operations of county government in addition to registration information, that information shall not be used under any circumstances for commercial solicitation or other business purposes. The prohibition in this Section against using the computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes shall be prospective only from the effective date of this amended Act of 1979. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.

The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October 1, 1987, such regulations as may be necessary to ensure uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing of voter registration information. The regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, specifications for uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to be employed by the election authorities of this State in the electronic data processing of voter registration information. Each election authority utilizing electronic data processing of voter registration information shall comply with such regulations on and after May 15, 1988.

If the applicant for registration was last registered in another county within this State, he shall also sign a certificate authorizing cancellation of the former registration. The certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

To the County Clerk of .... County, Illinois. To the Election Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.

This is to certify that I am registered in your (county) (city) and that my residence was .....

Having moved out of your (county) (city), I hereby authorize you to cancel said registration in your office.

Dated at .... Illinois, on (insert date).

....................

(Signature of Voter)

Attest ......, County Clerk, ........ County, Illinois.

The cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately by the county clerk to the county clerk (or election commission as the case may be) where the applicant was formerly registered. Receipt of such certificate shall be full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 10-1-13; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/5-7.01) (from Ch. 46, par. 5-7.01)

Sec. 5-7.01. If an applicant for registration reports a permanent physical disability which would require assistance in voting, the county clerk shall mark all his registration cards in the right margin on the front of the card with a band of ink running the full margin which shall be of contrast to, and easily distinguishable from, the color of the card. If an applicant for registration declares upon properly witnessed oath, with his signature or mark affixed, that he cannot read the English language and that he will require assistance in voting, all his registration cards shall be marked in a manner similar to the marking on the cards of a voter who requires assistance because of physical disability, except that the marking shall be of a different distinguishing color. Following each election the cards of any voter who has requested assistance as a voter with a disability, and has stated that the disability is permanent, or who has received assistance because of inability to read the English language, shall be marked in the same manner.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-35) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-35)

Sec. 6-35. The Boards of Election Commissioners shall provide a sufficient number of blank forms for the registration of electors which shall be known as registration record cards and which shall consist of loose leaf sheets or cards, of suitable size to contain in plain writing and figures the data hereinafter required thereon or shall consist of computer cards of suitable nature to contain the data required thereon. The registration record cards, which shall include an affidavit of registration as hereinafter provided, shall be executed in duplicate. The duplicate of which may be a carbon copy of the original or a copy of the original made by the use of other method or material used for making simultaneous true copies or duplications.

The registration record card shall contain the following and such other information as the Board of Election Commissioners may think it proper to require for the identification of the applicant for registration:

Name. The name of the applicant, giving surname and first or Christian name in full, and the middle name or the initial for such middle name, if any.

Sex.

Residence. The name and number of the street, avenue, or other location of the dwelling, including the apartment, unit or room number, if any, and in the case of a mobile home the lot number, and such additional clear and definite description as may be necessary to determine the exact location of the dwelling of the applicant, including post-office mailing address. In the case of a homeless individual, the individual's voting residence that is his or her mailing address shall be included on his or her registration record card.

Term of residence in the State of Illinois and the precinct.

Nativity. The state or country in which the applicant was born.

Citizenship. Whether the applicant is native born or naturalized. If naturalized, the court, place, and date of naturalization.

Date of application for registration, i.e., the day, month and year when the applicant presented himself for registration.

Age. Date of birth, by month, day and year.

Disability Physical disability of the applicant, if any, at the time of registration, which would require assistance in voting.

The county and state in which the applicant was last registered.

Electronic mail address, if any.

Signature of voter. The applicant, after registration and in the presence of a deputy registrar or other officer of registration shall be required to sign his or her name in ink or digitized form to the affidavit on both the original and the duplicate registration record card.

Signature of deputy registrar.

In case applicant is unable to sign his name, he may affix his mark to the affidavit. In such case the registration officer shall write a detailed description of the applicant in the space provided at the bottom of the card or sheet; and shall ask the following questions and record the answers thereto:

Father's first name .........................

Mother's first name .........................

From what address did you last register? ....

Reason for inability to sign name ...........

Each applicant for registration shall make an affidavit in substantially the following form:

AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION

State of Illinois ) )ss County of ....... )

I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States, that on the day of the next election I shall have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct 30 days and that I intend that this location is my residence; that I am fully qualified to vote, and that the above statements are true.

..............................

(His or her signature or mark)

Subscribed and sworn to before me on (insert date).

......................................

Signature of registration officer (to be signed in presence of registrant).

Space shall be provided upon the face of each registration record card for the notation of the voting record of the person registered thereon.

Each registration record card shall be numbered according to wards or precincts, as the case may be, and may be serially or otherwise marked for identification in such manner as the Board of Election Commissioners may determine.

The registration cards shall be deemed public records and shall be open to inspection during regular business hours, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. On written request of any candidate or objector or any person intending to object to a petition, the election authority shall extend its hours for inspection of registration cards and other records of the election authority during the period beginning with the filing of petitions under Sections 7-10, 8-8, 10-6 or 28-3 and continuing through the termination of electoral board hearings on any objections to petitions containing signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction of the election authority. The extension shall be for a period of hours sufficient to allow adequate opportunity for examination of the records but the election authority is not required to extend its hours beyond the period beginning at its normal opening for business and ending at midnight. If the business hours are so extended, the election authority shall post a public notice of such extended hours. Registration record cards may also be inspected, upon approval of the officer in charge of the cards, during the 27 days immediately preceding any election. Registration record cards shall also be open to inspection by certified judges and poll watchers and challengers at the polling place on election day, but only to the extent necessary to determine the question of the right of a person to vote or to serve as a judge of election. At no time shall poll watchers or challengers be allowed to physically handle the registration record cards.

Updated copies of computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information shall be furnished by the Board of Election Commissioners within 10 days after December 15 and May 15 each year and within 10 days after each registration period is closed to the State Board of Elections in a form prescribed by the State Board. For the purposes of this Section, a registration period is closed 27 days before the date of any regular or special election. Registration information shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, sex, residence, telephone number, if any, age, party affiliation, if applicable, precinct, ward, township, county, and representative, legislative and congressional districts. In the event of noncompliance, the State Board of Elections is directed to obtain compliance forthwith with this nondiscretionary duty of the election authority by instituting legal proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the election authority maintains the registration information. The costs of furnishing updated copies of tapes or discs shall be paid at a rate of $.00034 per name of registered voters in the election jurisdiction, but not less than $50 per tape or disc and shall be paid from appropriations made to the State Board of Elections for reimbursement to the election authority for such purpose. The State Board shall furnish copies of such tapes, discs, other electronic data or compilations thereof to state political committees registered pursuant to the Illinois Campaign Finance Act or the Federal Election Campaign Act and to governmental entities, at their request and at a reasonable cost. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of voter registration information, the disclosure of electronic voter registration records to any person or entity other than to a State or local political committee and other than to a governmental entity for a governmental purpose is specifically prohibited except as follows: subject to security measures adopted by the State Board of Elections which, at a minimum, shall include the keeping of a catalog or database, available for public view, including the name, address, and telephone number of the person viewing the list as well as the time of that viewing, any person may view the centralized statewide voter registration list on a computer screen at the Springfield office of the State Board of Elections, during normal business hours other than during the 27 days before an election, but the person viewing the list under this exception may not print, duplicate, transmit, or alter the list. Copies of the tapes, discs or other electronic data shall be furnished by the Board of Election Commissioners to local political committees and governmental entities at their request and at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost of the tapes, discs, et cetera for this purpose would be the cost of duplication plus 15% for administration. The individual representing a political committee requesting copies of such tapes shall make a sworn affidavit that the information shall be used only for bona fide political purposes, including by or for candidates for office or incumbent office holders. Such tapes, discs or other electronic data shall not be used under any circumstances by any political committee or individuals for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes. If such tapes contain information on county residents related to the operations of county government in addition to registration information, that information shall not be used under any circumstances for commercial solicitation or other business purposes. The prohibition in this Section against using the computer tapes or computer discs or other electronic data processing information containing voter registration information for purposes of commercial solicitation or other business purposes shall be prospective only from the effective date of this amended Act of 1979. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.

The State Board of Elections shall promulgate, by October 1, 1987, such regulations as may be necessary to ensure uniformity throughout the State in electronic data processing of voter registration information. The regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, specifications for uniform medium, communications protocol and file structure to be employed by the election authorities of this State in the electronic data processing of voter registration information. Each election authority utilizing electronic data processing of voter registration information shall comply with such regulations on and after May 15, 1988.

If the applicant for registration was last registered in another county within this State, he shall also sign a certificate authorizing cancellation of the former registration. The certificate shall be in substantially the following form:

To the County Clerk of .... County, Illinois.

To the Election Commission of the City of ...., Illinois.

This is to certify that I am registered in your (county) (city) and that my residence was ..... Having moved out of your (county), (city), I hereby authorize you to cancel that registration in your office.

Dated at ...., Illinois, on (insert date).

....................

(Signature of Voter)

Attest ...., Clerk, Election Commission of the City of...., Illinois.

The cancellation certificate shall be mailed immediately by the clerk of the Election Commission to the county clerk, (or Election Commission as the case may be) where the applicant was formerly registered. Receipt of such certificate shall be full authority for cancellation of any previous registration.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 10-1-13; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/6-35.01) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-35.01)

Sec. 6-35.01. If an applicant for registration reports a permanent physical disability which would require assistance in voting, the board of election commissioners shall mark all his registration cards in the right margin on the front of the card with a band of ink running the full margin which shall be of contrast to, and easily distinguishable from, the color of the card. If an applicant for registration declares upon properly witnessed oath, with his signature or mark affixed, that he cannot read the English language and that he will require assistance in voting, all his registration cards shall be marked in a manner similar to the marking on the cards of a voter who requires assistance because of physical disability, except that the marking shall be of a different distinguishing color. Following each election the cards of any voter who has requested assistance as a voter with a disability, and has stated that the disability is permanent, or who has received assistance because of inability to read the English language, shall be marked in the same manner.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-47.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-47.1)

Sec. 7-47.1. (a) In the case of an emergency, as determined by the State Board of Elections, or if the Board determines that all potential polling places have been surveyed by the election authority and that no accessible polling place, as defined by rule of the State Board of Elections, is available within a precinct nor is the election authority able to make a polling place within the precinct temporarily accessible, the Board, upon written application by the election authority, is authorized to grant an exemption from the accessibility requirements of the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (Public Law 98-435). Such exemption shall be valid for a period of 2 years.

(b) Any temporarily or permanently physically disabled voter who, because of structural features of the building in which the polling place is located, is unable to access or enter the polling place, may request that 2 judges of election of opposite party affiliation deliver a ballot to him or her at the point where he or she is unable to continue forward motion toward the polling place; but, in no case, shall a ballot be delivered to the voter beyond 50 feet of the entrance to the building in which the polling place is located. Such request shall be made to the election authority not later than the close of business at the election authority's office on the day before the election and on a form prescribed by the State Board of Elections. The election authority shall notify the judges of election for the appropriate precinct polling places of such requests.

Weather permitting, 2 judges of election shall deliver to the disabled voter the ballot which he or she is entitled to vote, a portable voting booth or other enclosure that will allow such voter to mark his or her ballot in secrecy, and a marking device.

(c) The voter must complete the entire voting process, including the application for ballot from which the judges of election shall compare the voter's signature with the signature on his or her registration record card in the precinct binder.

After the voter has marked his or her ballot and placed it in the ballot envelope (or folded it in the manner prescribed for paper ballots), the 2 judges of election shall return the ballot to the polling place and give it to the judge in charge of the ballot box who shall deposit it therein.

Pollwatchers as provided in Sections 7-34 and 17-23 of this Code shall be permitted to accompany the judges and observe the above procedure.

No assistance may be given to such voter in marking his or her ballot, unless the voter requests assistance and completes the affidavit required by Section 17-14 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 84-808.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-48) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-48)

Sec. 7-48. Any primary elector who may declare upon oath, properly witnessed and with his or her signature or mark affixed, that he or she requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, physical disability or inability to read, write or speak the English language, shall, upon request, be assisted in marking his or her primary ballot in the same manner as provided by this Act for general elections.

(Source: P.A. 84-808.)

(10 ILCS 5/12-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 12-1)

Sec. 12-1. At least 75 60 days prior to each general and consolidated election, the election authority shall provide public notice, calculated to reach elderly voters and voters with disabilities, of the availability of registration and voting aids under the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, of the availability of assistance in marking the ballot, procedures for voting by vote by mail ballot, and procedures for voting early by personal appearance.

At least 30 days before any general election, and at least 20 days before any special congressional election, the county clerk shall publish a notice of the election in 2 or more newspapers published in the county, city, village, incorporated town or town, as the case may be, or if there is no such newspaper, then in any 2 or more newspapers published in the county and having a general circulation throughout the community. The notice may be substantially as follows:

Notice is hereby given that on (give date), at (give the place of holding the election and the name of the precinct or district) in the county of (name county), an election will be held for (give the title of the several offices to be filled), which election will be open at 6:00 a.m. and continued open until 7:00 p.m. of that day.

Dated at .... on (insert date).

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-14) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-14)

Sec. 17-14. Any voter who declares upon oath, properly witnessed and with his or her signature or mark affixed, that he or she requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, physical disability or inability to read, write or speak the English language shall, upon request, be assisted in marking his or her ballot, by 2 judges of election of different political parties, to be selected by all judges of election of each precinct at the opening of the polls or by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union. A voter who presents an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card, issued to that person under the provisions of the Illinois Identification Card Act, indicating that such voter has a Class 1A or Class 2 disability under the provisions of Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act, or a voter who declares upon oath, properly witnessed, that by reason of any physical disability he is unable to mark his ballot shall, upon request, be assisted in marking his ballot by 2 of the election officers of different parties as provided above in this Section or by a person of the voter's choice other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union. Such voter shall state specifically the reason why he cannot vote without assistance and, in the case of a voter with a physical disability, what his physical disability is. Prior to entering the voting booth, the person providing the assistance, if other than 2 judges of election, shall be presented with written instructions on how assistance shall be provided. This instruction shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections and shall include the penalties for attempting to influence the voter's choice of candidates, party, or votes in relation to any question on the ballot and for not marking the ballot as directed by the voter. Additionally, the person providing the assistance shall sign an oath, swearing not to influence the voter's choice of candidates, party, or votes in relation to any question on the ballot and to cast the ballot as directed by the voter. The oath shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections and shall include the penalty for violating this Section. In the voting booth, such person shall mark the ballot as directed by the voter, and shall thereafter give no information regarding the same. The judges of election shall enter upon the poll lists or official poll record after the name of any elector who received such assistance in marking his ballot a memorandum of the fact and if the disability is permanent. Intoxication shall not be regarded as a physical disability, and no intoxicated person shall be entitled to assistance in marking his ballot.

No person shall secure or attempt to secure assistance in voting who is not blind, a person with a physical disability, or illiterate as herein provided, nor shall any person knowingly assist a voter in voting contrary to the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-2.4 new)

Sec. 19-2.4. Disability automatic vote by mail.

(a) For an election held on the date of a general election or consolidated election, the county clerk shall mail by non-forwardable mail an official ballot with a return identification envelope and a secrecy envelope not sooner than the 20th day before the date of the election and not later than the 14th day before the date of the election to each voter with a disability.

(b) For an election held on the date of a primary election or consolidated primary, the county clerk shall mail by non-forwardable mail an official ballot with a return identification envelope and a secrecy envelope not sooner than the 20th day before the date of the election and not later than the 14th day before the date of the election to each voter with a disability.

(c) The State Board of Elections, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, shall adopt rules that allow a recipient of a vote by mail ballot to return their ballot by other means than mail.

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

Sec. 19-5. It shall be the duty of the election authority to fold the ballot or ballots in the manner specified by the statute for folding ballots prior to their deposit in the ballot box, and to enclose such ballot or ballots in an envelope unsealed to be furnished by him, which envelope shall bear upon the face thereof the name, official title and post office address of the election authority, and upon the other side a printed certification in substantially the following form:

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 .... months last past; and that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be held on .....

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

I further state that I personally marked the enclosed ballot in secret.

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

.......................

If the ballot is to go to an elector who is physically incapacitated and needs assistance marking the ballot, the envelope shall bear upon the back thereof a certification in substantially the following form:

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 .... months last past; that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be held on ....; that I am physically incapable of personally marking the ballot for such election.

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

I further state that I marked the enclosed ballot in secret with the assistance of

.................................

(Individual rendering assistance)

.................................

(Residence Address)

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

.......................

In the case of a voter with a physical incapacity, marking a ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the assistance of another individual, other than a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical incapacity necessitates such assistance.

In the case of a physically incapacitated voter, marking a ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the assistance of another individual, other than a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical incapacity necessitates such assistance.

Provided, that if the ballot enclosed is to be voted at a primary election, the certification shall designate the name of the political party with which the voter is affiliated.

In addition to the above, the election authority shall provide printed slips giving full instructions regarding the manner of marking and returning the ballot in order that the same may be counted, and shall furnish one of such printed slips to each of such applicants at the same time the ballot is delivered to him. Such instructions shall include the following statement: "In signing the certification on the vote by mail ballot envelope, you are attesting that you personally marked this vote by mail ballot in secret. If you are physically unable to mark the ballot, a friend or relative may assist you after completing the enclosed affidavit. Federal and State laws prohibit a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless you are the spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), your employer, your employer's agent or an officer or agent of your union from assisting voters with physical disabilities."

In addition to the above, if a ballot to be provided to an elector pursuant to this Section contains a public question described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6 and the territory concerning which the question is to be submitted is not described on the ballot due to the space limitations of such ballot, the election authority shall provide a printed copy of a notice of the public question, which shall include a description of the territory in the manner required by Section 16-7. The notice shall be furnished to the elector at the same time the ballot is delivered to the elector.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/19A-40)

Sec. 19A-40. Enclosure of ballots in envelope. It is the duty of the election judge or official to fold the ballot or ballots in the manner specified by the statute for folding ballots prior to their deposit in the ballot box, and to enclose the ballot or ballots in an envelope unsealed to be furnished by him or her, which envelope shall bear upon the face thereof the name, official title, and post office address of the election authority, and upon the other side a printed certification in substantially the following form:

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 that city or town in the county of .... and State of Illinois, that I have lived at that address for .... months last past; that I am lawfully entitled to vote in that precinct at the .... election to be held on .... .

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

I further state that I personally marked the enclosed ballot in secret.

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

.......................

If the ballot enclosed is to be voted at a primary election, the certification shall designate the name of the political party with which the voter is affiliated.

In addition to the above, the election authority shall provide printed slips giving full instructions regarding the manner of marking and returning the ballot in order that the same may be counted, and shall furnish one of the printed slips to each of such applicants at the same time the ballot is delivered to him or her. The instructions shall include the following statement: "In signing the certification on the early ballot envelope, you are attesting that you personally marked this early ballot in secret. If you are physically unable to mark the ballot, a friend or relative may assist you. Federal and State laws prohibit your employer, your employer's agent, or an officer or agent of your union from assisting voters with physical disabilities."

In addition to the above, if a ballot to be provided to a voter pursuant to this Section contains a public question described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6 and the territory concerning which the question is to be submitted is not described on the ballot due to the space limitations of the ballot, the election authority shall provide a printed copy of a notice of the public question, which shall include a description of the territory in the manner required by Section 16-7. The notice shall be furnished to the voter at the same time the ballot is delivered to the voter.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/24C-11)

Sec. 24C-11. Functional requirements. A Direct Recording Electronic Voting System shall, in addition to satisfying the other requirements of this Article, fulfill the following functional requirements:

(a) Provide a voter in a primary election with the means of casting a ballot containing votes for any and all candidates of the party or parties of his or her choice, and for any and all non-partisan candidates and public questions and preclude the voter from voting for any candidate of any other political party except when legally permitted. In a general election, the system shall provide the voter with means of selecting the appropriate number of candidates for any office, and of voting on any public question on the ballot to which he or she is entitled to vote.

(b) If a voter is not entitled to vote for particular candidates or public questions appearing on the ballot, the system shall prevent the selection of the prohibited votes.

(c) Once the proper ballot has been selected, the system devices shall provide a means of enabling the recording of votes and the casting of said ballot.

(d) System voting devices shall provide voting choices that are clear to the voter and labels indicating the names of every candidate and the text of every public question on the voter's ballot. Each label shall identify the selection button or switch, or the active area of the ballot associated with it. The system shall be able to incorporate minimal, easy-to-follow on-screen instruction for the voter on how to cast a ballot.

(e) Voting devices shall (i) enable the voter to vote for any and all candidates and public questions appearing on the ballot for which the voter is lawfully entitled to vote, in any legal number and combination; (ii) detect and reject all votes for an office or upon a public question when the voter has cast more votes for the office or upon the public question than the voter is entitled to cast; (iii) notify the voter if the voter's choices as recorded on the ballot for an office or public question are fewer than or exceed the number that the voter is entitled to vote for on that office or public question and the effect of casting more or fewer votes than legally permitted; (iv) notify the voter if the voter has failed to completely cast a vote for an office or public question appearing on the ballot; and (v) permit the voter, in a private and independent manner, to verify the votes selected by the voter, to change the ballot or to correct any error on the ballot before the ballot is completely cast and counted. A means shall be provided to indicate each selection after it has been made or canceled.

(f) System voting devices shall provide a means for the voter to signify that the selection of candidates and public questions has been completed. Upon activation, the system shall record an image of the completed ballot, increment the proper ballot position registers, and shall signify to the voter that the ballot has been cast. The system shall then prevent any further attempt to vote until it has been reset or re-enabled by a judge of election.

(g) Each system voting device shall be equipped with a public counter that can be set to zero prior to the opening of the polling place, and that records the number of ballots cast at a particular election. The counter shall be incremented only by the casting of a ballot. The counter shall be designed to prevent disabling or resetting by other than authorized persons after the polls close. The counter shall be visible to all judges of election so long as the device is installed at the polling place.

(h) Each system voting device shall be equipped with a protective counter that records all of the testing and election ballots cast since the unit was built. This counter shall be designed so that its reading cannot be changed by any cause other than the casting of a ballot. The protective counter shall be incapable of ever being reset and it shall be visible at all times when the device is configured for testing, maintenance, or election use.

(i) All system devices shall provide a means of preventing further voting once the polling place has closed and after all eligible voters have voted. Such means of control shall incorporate a visible indication of system status. Each device shall prevent any unauthorized use, prevent tampering with ballot labels and preclude its re-opening once the poll closing has been completed for that election.

(j) The system shall produce a printed summary report of the votes cast upon each voting device. Until the proper sequence of events associated with closing the polling place has been completed, the system shall not allow the printing of a report or the extraction of data. The printed report shall also contain all system audit information to be required by the election authority. Data shall not be altered or otherwise destroyed by report generation and the system shall ensure the integrity and security of data for a period of at least 6 months after the polls close.

(k) If more than one voting device is used in a polling place, the system shall provide a means to manually or electronically consolidate the data from all such units into a single report even if different voting systems are used to record ballots. The system shall also be capable of merging the vote tabulation results produced by other vote tabulation systems, if necessary.

(l) System functions shall be implemented such that unauthorized access to them is prevented and the execution of authorized functions in an improper sequence is precluded. System functions shall be executable only in the intended manner and order, and only under the intended conditions. If the preconditions to a system function have not been met, the function shall be precluded from executing by the system's control logic.

(m) All system voting devices shall incorporate at least 3 memories in the machine itself and in its programmable memory devices.

(n) The system shall include capabilities of recording and reporting the date and time of normal and abnormal events and of maintaining a permanent record of audit information that cannot be turned off. Provisions shall be made to detect and record significant events (e.g., casting a ballot, error conditions that cannot be disposed of by the system itself, time-dependent or programmed events that occur without the intervention of the voter or a judge of election).

(o) The system and each system voting device must be capable of creating, printing and maintaining a permanent paper record and an electronic image of each ballot that is cast such that records of individual ballots are maintained by a subsystem independent and distinct from the main vote detection, interpretation, processing and reporting path. The electronic images of each ballot must protect the integrity of the data and the anonymity of each voter, for example, by means of storage location scrambling. The ballot image records may be either machine-readable or manually transcribed, or both, at the discretion of the election authority.

(p) The system shall include built-in test, measurement and diagnostic software and hardware for detecting and reporting the system's status and degree of operability.

(q) The system shall contain provisions for maintaining the integrity of memory voting and audit data during an election and for a period of at least 6 months thereafter and shall provide the means for creating an audit trail.

(r) The system shall be fully accessible so as to permit blind or visually impaired voters as well as voters with physical disabilities to exercise their right to vote in private and without assistance.

(s) The system shall provide alternative language accessibility if required pursuant to Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

(t) Each voting device shall enable a voter to vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot.

(u) The system shall record and count accurately each vote properly cast for or against any candidate and for or against any public question, including the names of all candidates whose names are written in by the voters.

(v) The system shall allow for accepting provisional ballots and for separating such provisional ballots from precinct totals until authorized by the election authority.

(w) The system shall provide an effective audit trail as defined in Section 24C-2 in this Code.

(x) The system shall be suitably designed for the purpose used, be durably constructed, and be designed for safety, accuracy and efficiency.

(y) The system shall comply with all provisions of federal, State and local election laws and regulations and any future modifications to those laws and regulations.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)