HB5887 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 42509 SPS 75741 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5887

Introduced 11/12/2024, by Rep. Tony M. McCombie, John M. Cabello, Patrick Windhorst, Dan Ugaste, Jackie Haas, et al.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/4-55 new
10 ILCS 5/5-55 new
10 ILCS 5/6-101 new

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the election authority shall reject any application for registration that is not accompanied by satisfactory evidence of United States citizenship. Specifies the documents that provide satisfactory evidence of citizenship. Provides that any person who is registered in the State on the effective date of the amendatory Act is deemed to have provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship and shall not be required to resubmit evidence of citizenship unless the person is changing voter registration from one county to another. Sets forth additional requirements.

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 4-55, 5-55, and 6-101 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/4-55 new)

Sec. 4-55. Verification of citizenship.

(a) The election authority shall reject any application for registration that is not accompanied by satisfactory evidence of United States citizenship. Satisfactory evidence of citizenship shall include any of the following:

(1) the number of the applicant's driver's license or State identification card issued by the Secretary of State or the equivalent governmental agency of another state within the United States if the agency indicates on the applicant's driver's license or State identification card that the person has provided satisfactory proof of United States citizenship;

(2) a legible photocopy of the applicant's birth certificate that verifies citizenship to the satisfaction of the county clerk;

(3) a legible photocopy of pertinent pages of the applicant's United States passport identifying the applicant and the applicant's passport number or presentation to the county clerk of the applicant's United States passport;

(4) a presentation to the election authority of the applicant's United States naturalization documents or the number of the certificate of naturalization. If only the number of the certificate of naturalization is provided, the applicant shall not be included in the registration rolls until the number of the certificate of naturalization is verified with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services by the county clerk;

(5) other documents or methods of proof that are established pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; or

(6) the applicant's Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), any person who is registered in this State on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly is deemed to have provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship and shall not be required to resubmit evidence of citizenship unless the person is changing voter registration from one county to another.

(c) For the purposes of this Section, proof of voter registration from another state or county is not satisfactory evidence of citizenship.

(d) A person who modifies voter registration records with a new residence shall not be required to submit evidence of citizenship. After citizenship has been demonstrated to the election authority, the person is not required to resubmit satisfactory evidence of citizenship in that county.

(e) After a person has submitted satisfactory evidence of citizenship, the election authority shall indicate this information in the person's voter registration file. The election authority may destroy all documents that were submitted as evidence of citizenship 2 years after receiving the documents.

(10 ILCS 5/5-55 new)

Sec. 5-55. Verification of citizenship.

(a) The election authority shall reject any application for registration that is not accompanied by satisfactory evidence of United States citizenship. Satisfactory evidence of citizenship shall include any of the following:

(1) the number of the applicant's driver's license or State identification card issued by the Secretary of State or the equivalent governmental agency of another state within the United States if the agency indicates on the applicant's driver's license or State identification card that the person has provided satisfactory proof of United States citizenship;

(2) a legible photocopy of the applicant's birth certificate that verifies citizenship to the satisfaction of the county clerk;

(3) a legible photocopy of pertinent pages of the applicant's United States passport identifying the applicant and the applicant's passport number or presentation to the county clerk of the applicant's United States passport;

(4) a presentation to the election authority of the applicant's United States naturalization documents or the number of the certificate of naturalization. If only the number of the certificate of naturalization is provided, the applicant shall not be included in the registration rolls until the number of the certificate of naturalization is verified with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services by the county clerk;

(5) other documents or methods of proof that are established pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; or

(6) the applicant's Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), any person who is registered in this State on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly is deemed to have provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship and shall not be required to resubmit evidence of citizenship unless the person is changing voter registration from one county to another.

(c) For the purposes of this Section, proof of voter registration from another state or county is not satisfactory evidence of citizenship.

(d) A person who modifies voter registration records with a new residence shall not be required to submit evidence of citizenship. After citizenship has been demonstrated to the election authority, the person is not required to resubmit satisfactory evidence of citizenship in that county.

(e) After a person has submitted satisfactory evidence of citizenship, the election authority shall indicate this information in the person's voter registration file. The election authority may destroy all documents that were submitted as evidence of citizenship 2 years after receiving the documents.

(10 ILCS 5/6-101 new)

Sec. 6-101. Verification of citizenship.

(a) The election authority shall reject any application for registration that is not accompanied by satisfactory evidence of United States citizenship. Satisfactory evidence of citizenship shall include any of the following:

(1) the number of the applicant's driver's license or State identification card issued by the Secretary of State or the equivalent governmental agency of another state within the United States if the agency indicates on the applicant's driver's license or State identification card that the person has provided satisfactory proof of United States citizenship;

(2) a legible photocopy of the applicant's birth certificate that verifies citizenship to the satisfaction of the board of election commissioners;

(3) a legible photocopy of pertinent pages of the applicant's United States passport identifying the applicant and the applicant's passport number or presentation to the board of election commissioners of the applicant's United States passport;

(4) a presentation to the election authority of the applicant's United States naturalization documents or the number of the certificate of naturalization. If only the number of the certificate of naturalization is provided, the applicant shall not be included in the registration rolls until the number of the certificate of naturalization is verified with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services by the board of election commissioners;

(5) other documents or methods of proof that are established pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; or

(6) the applicant's Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), any person who is registered in this State on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly is deemed to have provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship and shall not be required to resubmit evidence of citizenship unless the person is changing voter registration from one county to another.

(c) For the purposes of this Section, proof of voter registration from another state or county is not satisfactory evidence of citizenship.

(d) A person who modifies voter registration records with a new residence shall not be required to submit evidence of citizenship. After citizenship has been demonstrated to the election authority, the person is not required to resubmit satisfactory evidence of citizenship in that county.

(e) After a person has submitted satisfactory evidence of citizenship, the election authority shall indicate this information in the person's voter registration file. The election authority may destroy all documents that were submitted as evidence of citizenship 2 years after receiving the documents.