HB1832sam003 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Bill Cunningham

Filed: 5/30/2026

10400HB1832sam003 LRB104 06301 SPS 38609 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 1832

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 1832, AS AMENDED, by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Article 10.

Section 10-5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 23-7 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/23-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 23-7)

Sec. 23-7. Compensation and expenses.

No school board member shall receive any compensation for service rendered to any such association, whether as an officer or otherwise, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses actually incurred in the work of such association. Consistent with Section 10-15 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, a school board association may offer and provide scholarships or other reimbursements to school board members, and a school board member may receive scholarships or other reimbursements from an association for reasonable travel and lodging expenses to attend meetings or other events hosted by the association which are reasonably related to the school board member's duties and will contribute to the professional development of the school board member.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

Article 15.

Section 15-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 19A-15 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/19A-15)

Sec. 19A-15. Period for early voting; hours.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the period for early voting by personal appearance begins the 40th day preceding a general primary, consolidated primary, consolidated, or general election and extends through the end of the day before election day.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this Section, a permanent polling place for early voting must remain open beginning the 15th day before an election through the end of the day before election day during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on weekdays, except that beginning 8 days before election day, a permanent polling place for early voting must remain open during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays, and 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays; except that, in addition to the hours required by this subsection, a permanent polling place designated by an election authority under subsections (c), (d), and (e) of Section 19A-10 must remain open for a total of at least 8 hours on any holiday during the early voting period and a total of at least 14 hours on the final weekend during the early voting period.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), an election authority may close an early voting polling place if the building in which the polling place is located has been closed by the State or unit of local government in response to a severe weather emergency or other force majeure. The election authority shall notify the State Board of Elections of any closure and shall make reasonable efforts to provide notice to the public of an alternative location for early voting.

(d) (Blank).

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, an election authority shall allow any voter who is in line to vote at the time an early voting polling place closes to cast a ballot.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

Article 20.

Section 20-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 7-19 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/7-19) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-19)

Sec. 7-19. The primary ballot of each political party for each precinct shall be arranged and printed substantially in the manner following:

1. Designating words. At the top of the ballot shall be printed in large capital letters, words designating the ballot, if a Republican ballot, the designating words shall be: "REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BALLOT"; if a Democratic ballot the designating words shall be: "DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BALLOT"; and in like manner for each political party.

2. Order of Names, Directions to Voters, etc. Beginning not less than one inch below designating words, the name of each office to be filled shall be printed in capital letters. Such names may be printed on the ballot either in a single column or in 2 or more columns and in the following order, to-wit:

President of the United States, State offices, congressional offices, delegates and alternate delegates to be elected from the State at large to National nominating conventions, delegates and alternate delegates to be elected from congressional districts to National nominating conventions, member or members of the State central committee, trustees of sanitary districts, county offices, judicial officers, city, village and incorporated town offices, town offices, or of such of the said offices as candidates are to be nominated for at such primary, and precinct, township or ward committeepersons. If two or more columns are used, the foregoing offices to and including member of the State central committee shall be listed in the left-hand column and Senatorial offices, as defined in Section 8-3, shall be the first offices listed in the second column.

Below the name of each office shall be printed in small letters the directions to voters: "Vote for one"; "Vote for not more than two"; "Vote for not more than three". If no candidate or candidates file for an office and if no person or persons file a declaration as a write-in candidate for that office, then below the title of that office the election authority instead shall print "No Candidate".

Next to the name of each candidate for delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention shall appear either (a) the name of the candidate's preference for President of the United States or the word "uncommitted" or (b) no official designation, depending upon the action taken by the State central committee pursuant to Section 7-10.3 of this Act.

Below the name of each office shall be printed in capital letters the names of all candidates, arranged in the order in which their petitions for nominations were filed, except as otherwise provided in Sections 7-14 and 7-17 of this Article. The lettering of candidate names on a ballot shall be in both capital and lowercase letters in conformance with standard English language guidelines, unless compliance is not feasible due to the election system utilized by the election authority. Opposite and in front of the name of each candidate shall be printed a square and all squares upon the primary ballot shall be of uniform size. The names of each team of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, however, shall be printed within a bracket, and a single square shall be printed in front of the bracket. Spaces between the names of candidates under each office shall be uniform and sufficient spaces shall separate the names of candidates for one office from the names of candidates for another office, to avoid confusion and to permit the writing in of the names of other candidates.

Where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the provisions of this Section may be modified as required or authorized by Article 24 or Article 24A, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

Article 30.

Section 30-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 10-8 and by adding Section 10-8.5 as follows:

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

Sec. 10-8. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, certificates of nomination and nomination papers, and petitions to submit public questions to a referendum, being filed as required by this Code, and being in apparent conformity with the provisions of this Code Act, shall be deemed to be valid unless objection thereto is duly made in writing within 5 business days after the last day for filing the certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petition for a public question, with the following exceptions:

A. In the case of petitions to amend Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, there shall be a period of 35 business days after the last day for the filing of such petitions in which objections can be filed.

B. In the case of petitions for advisory questions of public policy to be submitted to the voters of the entire State, there shall be a period of 35 business days after the last day for the filing of such petitions in which objections can be filed.

Any legal voter of the political subdivision or district in which the candidate or public question is to be voted on, or any legal voter in the State in the case of a proposed amendment to Article IV of the Constitution or an advisory public question to be submitted to the voters of the entire State, having objections to any certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petitions filed, shall file an objector's petition together with 2 copies thereof in the principal office or the permanent branch office of the State Board of Elections, or in the office of the election authority or local election official with whom the certificate of nomination, nomination papers or petitions are on file. Objection petitions that do not include 2 copies thereof, shall not be accepted. In the case of nomination papers or certificates of nomination, the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official shall note the day and hour upon which such objector's petition is filed, and shall, not later than 12:00 p.m. noon on the second business day after receipt of the petition, transmit by registered mail or receipted personal delivery, or by electronic delivery under Section 10-8.5, the certificate of nomination or nomination papers and the original objector's petition to the chair of the proper electoral board designated in Section 10-9 of this Code hereof, or his authorized agent, and shall transmit a copy by registered mail or receipted personal delivery, or by electronic delivery under Section 10-8.5, of the objector's petition, to the candidate whose certificate of nomination or nomination papers are objected to, addressed to the place of residence designated in said certificate of nomination or nomination papers. In the case of objections to a petition for a proposed amendment to Article IV of the Constitution or for an advisory public question to be submitted to the voters of the entire State, the State Board of Elections shall note the day and hour upon which such objector's petition is filed and shall transmit a copy of the objector's petition by registered mail or receipted personal delivery, or by electronic delivery under Section 10-8.5, to the person designated on a certificate attached to the petition as the principal proponent of such proposed amendment or public question, or as the proponents' attorney, for the purpose of receiving notice of objections. In the case of objections to a petition for a public question, to be submitted to the voters of a political subdivision, or district thereof, the election authority or local election official with whom such petition is filed shall note the day and hour upon which such objector's petition was filed, and shall, not later than 12:00 p.m. noon on the second business day after receipt of the petition, transmit by registered mail or receipted personal delivery, or by electronic delivery under Section 10-8.5, the petition for the public question and the original objector's petition to the chair of the proper electoral board designated in Section 10-9 of this Code hereof, or his authorized agent, and shall transmit a copy by registered mail or receipted personal delivery, or by electronic delivery under Section 10-8.5, of the objector's petition to the person designated on a certificate attached to the petition as the principal proponent of the public question, or as the proponent's attorney, for the purposes of receiving notice of objections.

The objector's petition shall give the objector's name and residence address, and shall state fully the nature of the objections to the certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petitions in question, and shall state the interest of the objector and shall state what relief is requested of the electoral board.

The provisions of this Section and of Sections 10-9, 10-10, and 10-10.1 shall also apply to and govern objections to petitions for nomination filed under Article 7 or Article 8, except as otherwise provided in Section 7-13 for cases to which it is applicable, and also apply to and govern petitions for the submission of public questions under Article 28.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; revised 6-24-25.)

(10 ILCS 5/10-8.5 new)

Sec. 10-8.5. Electronic service of objections. The State Board of Elections and election authorities may authorize service of objections to candidate nominations through electronic mail in lieu of personal service or registered mail if the State Board of Elections or election authority responsible for convening the electoral board: (1) provides candidates the opportunity to provide an electronic mail address where notices of objections and electoral board proceedings may be sent electronically in lieu of personal service or registered mail; (2) provides objectors with the opportunity to provide an electronic mail address where notices and electoral board proceedings may be sent electronically in lieu of personal service or registered mail; and (3) publishes notice of its decision to provide service under this Section on its website no later than 5 business days before the first day for petition filing for the election.

Article 35.

Section 35-5. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by changing Section 7.5 as follows:

(5 ILCS 140/7.5)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-441 and 104-457)

Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be exempt from inspection and copying:

(a) All information determined to be confidential under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and Development Act.

(b) Library circulation and order records identifying library users with specific materials under the Library Records Confidentiality Act.

(c) Applications, related documents, and medical records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Board and any and all documents or other records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it has received.

(d) Information and records held by the Department of Public Health and its authorized representatives relating to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted infection or any information the disclosure of which is restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Act.

(e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

(f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act.

(g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act.

(h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and records of any lawfully created State or local inspector general's office that would be exempt if created or obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under that Act.

(i) Information contained in a local emergency energy plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(j) Information and data concerning the distribution of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers under the Emergency Telephone System Act.

(k) Law enforcement officer identification information or driver identification information compiled by a law enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(l) Records and information provided to a residential health care facility resident sexual assault and death review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act.

(m) Information provided to the predatory lending database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent authorized under that Article.

(n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of compensation and expenses for court appointed trial counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the Capital Crimes Litigation Act (repealed). This subsection (n) shall apply until the conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior to trial or sentencing.

(o) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and Hazardous Substances Registry Act.

(p) Security portions of system safety program plans, investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Regional Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the Regional Transportation Authority Act, or the St. Clair County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety Act (repealed).

(q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the Personnel Record Review Act.

(r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the Illinois School Student Records Act.

(s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.

(t) (Blank).

(u) Records and information provided to an independent team of experts under the Developmental Disability and Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).

(v) Names and information of people who have applied for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

(v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.

(w) Personally identifiable information which is exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.

(x) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(y) Confidential information under the Adult Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including information about the identity and administrative finding against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.

(z) Records and information provided to a fatality review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services Act.

(aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.

(bb) Information which is or was prohibited from disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

(cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent authorized under that Act.

(dd) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.

(ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.

(ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.

(gg) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.

(ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(jj) Information and reports that are required to be submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act.

(kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.

(ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.

(nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

(oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports arising out of a peer support counseling session prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act.

(pp) Names and all identifying information relating to an employee of an emergency services provider or law enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act.

(qq) Information and records held by the Department of Public Health and its authorized representatives collected under the Reproductive Health Act.

(rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

(ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

(tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that Act.

(uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.

(vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act.

(xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or information that shall not be made public under the Illinois Insurance Code.

(yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.

(zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

(aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State Police Act.

(ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act.

(eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act.

(fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera Act and all automated license plate reader (ALPR) information used and collected by the Illinois State Police. "ALPR information" means information gathered by an ALPR or created from the analysis of data generated by an ALPR. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after July 1, 2028.

(ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse Agency Licensing Act.

(hhh) Information submitted to the Illinois State Police in an affidavit or application for an assault weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement, .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.

(iii) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of the School Safety Drill Act.

(jjj) Information exempt from disclosure under Section 30 of the Insurance Data Security Law.

(kkk) Confidential business information prohibited from disclosure under Section 45 of the Paint Stewardship Act.

(lll) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 2-3.196 of the School Code.

(mmm) Information prohibited from being disclosed under subsection (e) of Section 1-129 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.

(nnn) Materials received by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that are confidential under the Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act.

(ooo) Data or information provided pursuant to Section 20 of the Statewide Recycling Needs and Assessment Act.

(ppp) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 28-11 of the Lawful Health Care Activity Act.

(qqq) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 7-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

(rrr) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 4-2 of the Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act.

(sss) Information exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act.

(ttt) Audio recordings made under Section 30 of the Illinois State Police Act, except to the extent authorized under that Section.

(uuu) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 30-5 of the Digital Assets Regulation Act.

(www) Nomination petitions exempt from disclosure under subsection (13) of Section 7-12 of the Election Code.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; 103-142, eff. 1-1-24; 103-372, eff. 1-1-24; 103-472, eff. 8-1-24; 103-508, eff. 8-4-23; 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; 103-592, eff. 6-7-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-636, eff. 7-1-24; 103-724, eff. 1-1-25; 103-786, eff. 8-7-24; 103-859, eff. 8-9-24; 103-991, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1081, eff. 3-21-25; 104-10, eff. 6-16-25; 104-18, eff. 6-30-25; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-428, eff. 8-18-25; revised 9-10-25.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-457 but before 104-441)

Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be exempt from inspection and copying:

(a) All information determined to be confidential under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and Development Act.

(b) Library circulation and order records identifying library users with specific materials under the Library Records Confidentiality Act.

(c) Applications, related documents, and medical records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Board and any and all documents or other records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it has received.

(d) Information and records held by the Department of Public Health and its authorized representatives relating to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted infection or any information the disclosure of which is restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Act.

(e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

(f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act.

(g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act.

(h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and records of any lawfully created State or local inspector general's office that would be exempt if created or obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under that Act.

(i) Information contained in a local emergency energy plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(j) Information and data concerning the distribution of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers under the Emergency Telephone System Act.

(k) Law enforcement officer identification information or driver identification information compiled by a law enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(l) Records and information provided to a residential health care facility resident sexual assault and death review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act.

(m) Information provided to the predatory lending database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent authorized under that Article.

(n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of compensation and expenses for court appointed trial counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the Capital Crimes Litigation Act (repealed). This subsection (n) shall apply until the conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior to trial or sentencing.

(o) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and Hazardous Substances Registry Act.

(p) Security portions of system safety program plans, investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority under Section 2.11 of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, or the St. Clair County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety Act (repealed).

(q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the Personnel Record Review Act.

(r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the Illinois School Student Records Act.

(s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.

(t) (Blank).

(u) Records and information provided to an independent team of experts under the Developmental Disability and Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).

(v) Names and information of people who have applied for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

(v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.

(w) Personally identifiable information which is exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.

(x) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(y) Confidential information under the Adult Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including information about the identity and administrative finding against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.

(z) Records and information provided to a fatality review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services Act.

(aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.

(bb) Information which is or was prohibited from disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

(cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent authorized under that Act.

(dd) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.

(ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.

(ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.

(gg) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.

(ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(jj) Information and reports that are required to be submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act.

(kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.

(ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.

(nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

(oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports arising out of a peer support counseling session prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act.

(pp) Names and all identifying information relating to an employee of an emergency services provider or law enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act.

(qq) Information and records held by the Department of Public Health and its authorized representatives collected under the Reproductive Health Act.

(rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

(ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

(tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that Act.

(uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.

(vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act.

(xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or information that shall not be made public under the Illinois Insurance Code.

(yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.

(zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

(aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State Police Act.

(ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act.

(eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act.

(fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera Act and all automated license plate reader (ALPR) information used and collected by the Illinois State Police. "ALPR information" means information gathered by an ALPR or created from the analysis of data generated by an ALPR. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after July 1, 2028.

(ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse Agency Licensing Act.

(hhh) Information submitted to the Illinois State Police in an affidavit or application for an assault weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement, .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.

(iii) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of the School Safety Drill Act.

(jjj) Information exempt from disclosure under Section 30 of the Insurance Data Security Law.

(kkk) Confidential business information prohibited from disclosure under Section 45 of the Paint Stewardship Act.

(lll) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 2-3.196 of the School Code.

(mmm) Information prohibited from being disclosed under subsection (e) of Section 1-129 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.

(nnn) Materials received by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that are confidential under the Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act.

(ooo) Data or information provided pursuant to Section 20 of the Statewide Recycling Needs and Assessment Act.

(ppp) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 28-11 of the Lawful Health Care Activity Act.

(qqq) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 7-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

(rrr) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 4-2 of the Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act.

(sss) Information exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act.

(ttt) Audio recordings made under Section 30 of the Illinois State Police Act, except to the extent authorized under that Section.

(uuu) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 30-5 of the Digital Assets Regulation Act.

(www) Nomination petitions exempt from disclosure under subsection (13) of Section 7-12 of the Election Code.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; 103-142, eff. 1-1-24; 103-372, eff. 1-1-24; 103-472, eff. 8-1-24; 103-508, eff. 8-4-23; 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; 103-592, eff. 6-7-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-636, eff. 7-1-24; 103-724, eff. 1-1-25; 103-786, eff. 8-7-24; 103-859, eff. 8-9-24; 103-991, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1081, eff. 3-21-25; 104-10, eff. 6-16-25; 104-18, eff. 6-30-25; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-428, eff. 8-18-25; 104-457, eff. 6-1-26; revised 1-7-26.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-441)

Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be exempt from inspection and copying:

(a) All information determined to be confidential under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and Development Act.

(b) Library circulation and order records identifying library users with specific materials under the Library Records Confidentiality Act.

(c) Applications, related documents, and medical records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Board and any and all documents or other records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it has received.

(d) Information and records held by the Department of Public Health and its authorized representatives relating to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted infection or any information the disclosure of which is restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Act.

(e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

(f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act.

(g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act.

(h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and records of any lawfully created State or local inspector general's office that would be exempt if created or obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under that Act.

(i) Information contained in a local emergency energy plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(j) Information and data concerning the distribution of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers under the Emergency Telephone System Act.

(k) Law enforcement officer identification information or driver identification information compiled by a law enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(l) Records and information provided to a residential health care facility resident sexual assault and death review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act.

(m) Information provided to the predatory lending database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent authorized under that Article.

(n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of compensation and expenses for court appointed trial counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the Capital Crimes Litigation Act (repealed). This subsection (n) shall apply until the conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior to trial or sentencing.

(o) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and Hazardous Substances Registry Act.

(p) Security portions of system safety program plans, investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority under Section 2.11 of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, or the St. Clair County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety Act (repealed).

(q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the Personnel Record Review Act.

(r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the Illinois School Student Records Act.

(s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.

(t) (Blank).

(u) Records and information provided to an independent team of experts under the Developmental Disability and Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).

(v) Names and information of people who have applied for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

(v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.

(w) Personally identifiable information which is exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.

(x) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(y) Confidential information under the Adult Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including information about the identity and administrative finding against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.

(z) Records and information provided to a fatality review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services Act.

(aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.

(bb) Information which is or was prohibited from disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

(cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent authorized under that Act.

(dd) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.

(ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.

(ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.

(gg) Information that is prohibited from being disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.

(ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(jj) Information and reports that are required to be submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act.

(kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.

(ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.

(nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

(oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports arising out of a peer support counseling session prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act.

(pp) Names and all identifying information relating to an employee of an emergency services provider or law enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act.

(qq) Information and records held by the Department of Public Health and its authorized representatives collected under the Reproductive Health Act.

(rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

(ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

(tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that Act.

(uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.

(vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act.

(xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or information that shall not be made public under the Illinois Insurance Code.

(yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.

(zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

(aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State Police Act.

(ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act.

(eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act.

(fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera Act and all automated license plate reader (ALPR) information used and collected by the Illinois State Police. "ALPR information" means information gathered by an ALPR or created from the analysis of data generated by an ALPR. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after July 1, 2028.

(ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse Agency Licensing Act.

(hhh) Information submitted to the Illinois State Police in an affidavit or application for an assault weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement, .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.

(iii) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of the School Safety Drill Act.

(jjj) Information exempt from disclosure under Section 30 of the Insurance Data Security Law.

(kkk) Confidential business information prohibited from disclosure under Section 45 of the Paint Stewardship Act.

(lll) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 2-3.196 of the School Code.

(mmm) Information prohibited from being disclosed under subsection (e) of Section 1-129 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.

(nnn) Materials received by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that are confidential under the Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act.

(ooo) Data or information provided pursuant to Section 20 of the Statewide Recycling Needs and Assessment Act.

(ppp) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 28-11 of the Lawful Health Care Activity Act.

(qqq) Information that is exempt from disclosure under Section 7-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

(rrr) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 4-2 of the Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act.

(sss) Information exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act.

(ttt) Audio recordings made under Section 30 of the Illinois State Police Act, except to the extent authorized under that Section.

(uuu) Information prohibited from being disclosed under Section 30-5 of the Digital Assets Regulation Act.

(vvv) (uuu) Information exempt from disclosure under Section 70 of the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act.

(www) Nomination petitions exempt from disclosure under subsection (13) of Section 7-12 of the Election Code.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; 103-142, eff. 1-1-24; 103-372, eff. 1-1-24; 103-472, eff. 8-1-24; 103-508, eff. 8-4-23; 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; 103-592, eff. 6-7-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-636, eff. 7-1-24; 103-724, eff. 1-1-25; 103-786, eff. 8-7-24; 103-859, eff. 8-9-24; 103-991, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1081, eff. 3-21-25; 104-10, eff. 6-16-25; 104-18, eff. 6-30-25; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-428, eff. 8-18-25; 104-441, eff. 9-12-26; 104-457, eff. 6-1-26; revised 1-7-26.)

Section 35-15. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 1-9.1, 1-12, 1A-8, 7-12, 10-8, 10-10, 17-13.5, 19-3, 19-8, and 20-8 and by adding Sections 11-8.5 and 11-9 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1-9.1)

Sec. 1-9.1. Office and candidate information; ballot Ballot counting information dissemination.

(a) Each election authority shall maintain maintaining a website and shall must provide 24-hour notice on its website of the date, time, and location of the analysis, processing, and counting of all ballot forms. Each election authority shall must notify any political party or pollwatcher of the same information 24 hours before the count begins if such political party or pollwatcher has requested to be notified. Notification may be by electronic mail at the address provided by the requester.

(b) Each election authority shall post election results on its website, including district data for every electoral district under the election authority's jurisdiction, even if the election authority only has jurisdiction over part of the electoral district. Each election authority shall update the election results on its website each time a new batch of votes is tabulated or every 12 hours, whichever is less. Each election authority shall also update on its website, every 12 hours, the number of vote by mail ballots, by precinct, that have been: (i) requested but not received by the election authority; (ii) received but have not been tabulated by the election authority; and (iii) rejected by the election authority.

(c) The State Board of Elections, each election authority, and each local election official shall post the following information on its website, as applicable:

(1) no later than 30 days after the proclamation of the results of any canvas declaring persons elected, the name, political party, if any, and the office of each person elected at the general election or consolidated election;

(2) no later than 90 days before the first day that nominating petitions may be circulated, the offices that will appear on the ballot at the next regular election; and

(3) no later than 5 days after the close of a petition filing period, the name, campaign-affiliated email address, campaign-affiliated phone number, political party affiliation, if any, and office sought by each person who has filed petitions for nomination to appear on the ballot at the next regular election.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/1-12)

Sec. 1-12. Public university voting.

(a) Each appropriate election authority shall, in addition to the early voting conducted at locations otherwise required by law, conduct early voting, grace period registration, and grace period voting, and election day voting at the student union on the campus of a public university within the election authority's jurisdiction. The voting required by this subsection (a) to be conducted on campus must be conducted from the 6th day before a general primary or general election through until and including the 4th day before a general primary or general election. For early voting and grace period voting, the location shall be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 5 p.m. and standard hours on a general primary or general election day and as otherwise required by Article 19A of this Code, except that the voting required by this subsection (a) need not be conducted during a consolidated primary or consolidated election. The If an election authority has voting equipment that can accommodate a ballot in every form required in the election authority's jurisdiction, then the election authority shall extend early voting and grace period registration and voting under this Section to any registered voter in the election authority's jurisdiction. However, if the election authority does not have voting equipment that can accommodate a ballot in every form required in the election authority's jurisdiction, then the election authority may limit early voting and grace period registration and voting under this Section to voters in precincts where the public university is located and precincts bordering the university. Each public university shall make the space available at the student union for, and cooperate and coordinate with the appropriate election authority in, the implementation of this subsection (a).

(b) (Blank).

(c) For the purposes of this Section, "public university" means the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Chicago State University, Governors State University, Southern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, and Northeastern Illinois University.

(d) For the purposes of this Section, "student union" means the Student Center at 750 S. Halsted on the University of Illinois-Chicago campus; the Public Affairs Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield or a new building completed after the effective date of this Act housing student government at the University of Illinois at Springfield; the Illini Union at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; the SIUC Student Center at the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale campus; the Morris University Center at the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville campus; the University Union at the Western Illinois University at the Macomb campus; the Holmes Student Center at the Northern Illinois University campus; the University Union at the Eastern Illinois University campus; NEIU Student Union at the Northeastern Illinois University campus; the Bone Student Center at the Illinois State University campus; the Cordell Reed Student Union at the Chicago State University campus; and the Hall of Governors in Building D at the Governors State University campus.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

(10 ILCS 5/1A-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 1A-8)

Sec. 1A-8. The State Board of Elections shall exercise the following powers and perform the following duties in addition to any powers or duties otherwise provided for by law:

(1) Assume all duties and responsibilities of the State Electoral Board and the Secretary of State as heretofore provided in this Code;

(2) Disseminate information to and consult with election authorities concerning the conduct of elections and registration in accordance with the laws of this State and the laws of the United States;

(3) Furnish to each election authority prior to each primary and general election and any other election it deems necessary, a manual of uniform instructions consistent with the provisions of this Code which shall be used by election authorities in the preparation of the official manual of instruction to be used by the judges of election in any such election. In preparing such manual, the State Board shall consult with representatives of the election authorities throughout the State. The State Board may provide separate portions of the uniform instructions applicable to different election jurisdictions which administer elections under different options provided by law. The State Board may by regulation require particular portions of the uniform instructions to be included in any official manual of instructions published by election authorities. Any manual of instructions published by any election authority shall be identical with the manual of uniform instructions issued by the Board, but may be adapted by the election authority to accommodate special or unusual local election problems, provided that all manuals published by election authorities must be consistent with the provisions of this Code in all respects and must receive the approval of the State Board of Elections prior to publication; provided further that if the State Board does not approve or disapprove of a proposed manual within 60 days of its submission, the manual shall be deemed approved;

(4) Prescribe and require the use of such uniform forms, notices, and other supplies not inconsistent with the provisions of this Code as it shall deem advisable which shall be used by election authorities in the conduct of elections and registrations;

(5) Prepare and certify the form of ballot for any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Illinois, or any referendum to be submitted to the electors throughout the State or, when required to do so by law, to the voters of any area or unit of local government of the State;

(6) Require such statistical reports regarding the conduct of elections and registration from election authorities as may be deemed necessary;

(7) Review and inspect procedures and records relating to conduct of elections and registration as may be deemed necessary, and to report violations of election laws to the appropriate State's Attorney or the Attorney General;

(8) Recommend to the General Assembly legislation to improve the administration of elections and registration;

(9) Adopt, amend or rescind rules and regulations in the performance of its duties provided that all such rules and regulations must be consistent with the provisions of this Article 1A or issued pursuant to authority otherwise provided by law;

(10) Determine the validity and sufficiency of petitions filed under Article XIV, Section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970;

(11) Maintain in its principal office a research library that includes, but is not limited to, abstracts of votes by precinct for general primary elections and general elections, current precinct maps, and current precinct poll lists from all election jurisdictions within the State. The research library shall be open to the public during regular business hours. Such abstracts, maps, and lists shall be preserved as permanent records and shall be available for examination and copying at a reasonable cost;

(12) Supervise the administration of the registration and election laws throughout the State;

(13) Obtain from the Department of Central Management Services, under Section 405-250 of the Department of Central Management Services Law, such use of electronic data processing equipment as may be required to perform the duties of the State Board of Elections and to provide election-related information to candidates, public and party officials, interested civic organizations, and the general public in a timely and efficient manner;

(14) To take such action as may be necessary or required to give effect to directions of the national committee or State central committee of an established political party under Sections 7-8, 7-11, and 7-14.1 or such other provisions as may be applicable pertaining to the selection of delegates and alternate delegates to an established political party's national nominating conventions or, notwithstanding any candidate certification schedule contained within this Code, the certification of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate selected by the established political party's national nominating convention;

(15) To post all early voting sites separated by election authority and hours of operation on its website at least 5 business days before the period for early voting begins;

(16) To post on its website the statewide totals, and totals separated by each election authority, for each of the counts received pursuant to Section 1-9.2; and

(17) To post on its website, in a downloadable format, the information received from each election authority under Section 1-17; and .

(18) To revoke or suspend raffle licenses for political committees that violate Section 8.1 of the Raffles and Poker Runs Act.

The Board may by regulation delegate any of its duties or functions under this Article, except that final determinations and orders under this Article shall be issued only by the Board.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(10 ILCS 5/7-12) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-12)

Sec. 7-12. All petitions for nomination shall be filed by mail or in person as follows:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, where the nomination is to be made for a State, congressional, or judicial office, or for any office a nomination for which is made for a territorial division or district which comprises more than one county or is partly in one county and partly in another county or counties (including the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District), then, except as otherwise provided in this Section, such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 141 and not less than 134 days prior to the date of the primary, but, in the case of petitions for nomination to fill a vacancy by special election in the office of representative in Congress from this State, such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 85 days and not less than 82 days prior to the date of the primary.

Where a vacancy occurs in the office of Supreme, Appellate or Circuit Court Judge within the 3-week period preceding the 134th day before a general primary election, petitions for nomination for the office in which the vacancy has occurred shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 120 nor less than 113 days prior to the date of the general primary election.

Where the nomination is to be made for delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating convention, then such petition for nomination shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 141 and not less than 134 days prior to the date of the primary; provided, however, that if the rules or policies of a national political party conflict with such requirements for filing petitions for nomination for delegates or alternate delegates to a national nominating convention, the chair of the State central committee of such national political party shall notify the Board in writing, citing by reference the rules or policies of the national political party in conflict, and in such case the Board shall direct such petitions to be filed in accordance with the delegate selection plan adopted by the state central committee of such national political party.

(2) Where the nomination is to be made for a county office or trustee of a sanitary district then such petition shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more than 141 nor less than 134 days prior to the date of the primary.

(3) Where the nomination is to be made for a municipal or township office, such petitions for nomination shall be filed in the office of the local election official, not more than 127 nor less than 120 days prior to the date of the primary; provided, where a municipality's or township's boundaries are coextensive with or are entirely within the jurisdiction of a municipal board of election commissioners, the petitions shall be filed in the office of such board; and provided, that petitions for the office of multi-township assessor shall be filed with the election authority.

(4) The petitions of candidates for State central committeeperson shall be filed in the principal office of the State Board of Elections not more than 141 nor less than 134 days prior to the date of the primary.

(5) Petitions of candidates for precinct, township or ward committeepersons shall be filed in the office of the county clerk not more than 141 nor less than 134 days prior to the date of the primary.

(6) The State Board of Elections and the various election authorities and local election officials with whom such petitions for nominations are filed shall specify the place where filings shall be made and upon receipt shall endorse thereon the day and hour on which each petition was filed. All petitions filed by persons waiting in line as of 8:00 a.m. on the first day for filing, or as of the normal opening hour of the office involved on such day, shall be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. or the normal opening hour, as the case may be. Petitions filed by mail and received after midnight of the first day for filing and in the first mail delivery or pickup of that day shall be deemed as filed as of 8:00 a.m. of that day or as of the normal opening hour of such day, as the case may be. All petitions received thereafter shall be deemed as filed in the order of actual receipt. However, 2 or more petitions filed within the last hour of the filing deadline shall be deemed filed simultaneously. Where 2 or more petitions are received simultaneously, the State Board of Elections or the various election authorities or local election officials with whom such petitions are filed shall break ties and determine the order of filing, by means of a lottery or other fair and impartial method of random selection approved by the State Board of Elections. Such lottery shall be conducted within 9 days following the last day for petition filing and shall be open to the public. Seven days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given by the State Board of Elections to the chair of the State central committee of each established political party, and by each election authority or local election official, to the County Chair of each established political party, and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under this Article, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. The State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of the office, notice of the time and place of such lottery. The State Board of Elections shall adopt rules and regulations governing the procedures for the conduct of such lottery. All candidates shall be certified in the order in which their petitions have been filed. Where candidates have filed simultaneously, they shall be certified in the order determined by lot and prior to candidates who filed for the same office at a later time.

(7) The State Board of Elections or the appropriate election authority or local election official with whom such a petition for nomination is filed shall notify the person for whom a petition for nomination has been filed of the obligation to file statements of organization, reports of campaign contributions, and quarterly reports of campaign contributions and expenditures under Article 9 of this Code. Such notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by paragraph (7) of Section 9-16 of this Code.

(8) Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid if the candidate named therein fails to file a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act in relation to his candidacy with the appropriate officer by the end of the period for the filing of nomination papers unless he has filed a statement of economic interests in relation to the same governmental unit with that officer within a year preceding the date on which such nomination papers were filed. If the nomination papers of any candidate and the statement of economic interests of that candidate are not required to be filed with the same officer, the candidate must file with the officer with whom the nomination papers are filed a receipt from the officer with whom the statement of economic interests is filed showing the date on which such statement was filed. Such receipt shall be so filed not later than the last day on which nomination papers may be filed.

(9) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any person for whom a petition for nomination, or for committeeperson or for delegate or alternate delegate to a national nominating convention has been filed may cause his name to be withdrawn by request in writing, signed by him and duly acknowledged before an officer qualified to take acknowledgments of deeds, and filed in the principal or permanent branch office of the State Board of Elections or with the appropriate election authority or local election official, not later than the date of certification of candidates for the consolidated primary or general primary ballot. No names so withdrawn shall be certified or printed on the primary ballot. If petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person with respect to more than one political party, his name shall not be certified nor printed on the primary ballot of any party. If petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or more offices which are incompatible so that the same person could not serve in more than one of such offices if elected, that person must withdraw as a candidate for all but one of such offices within the 5 business days following the last day for petition filing. A candidate in a judicial election may file petitions for nomination for only one vacancy in a subcircuit and only one vacancy in a circuit in any one filing period, and if petitions for nomination have been filed for the same person for 2 or more vacancies in the same circuit or subcircuit in the same filing period, his or her name shall be certified only for the first vacancy for which the petitions for nomination were filed. If he fails to withdraw as a candidate for all but one of such offices within such time his name shall not be certified, nor printed on the primary ballot, for any office. For the purpose of the foregoing provisions, an office in a political party is not incompatible with any other office.

(10)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no primary shall be held for an established political party in any township, municipality, or ward thereof, where the nomination of such party for every office to be voted upon by the electors of such township, municipality, or ward thereof, is uncontested. Whenever a political party's nomination of candidates is uncontested as to one or more, but not all, of the offices to be voted upon by the electors of a township, municipality, or ward thereof, then a primary shall be held for that party in such township, municipality, or ward thereof; provided that the primary ballot shall not include those offices within such township, municipality, or ward thereof, for which the nomination is uncontested. For purposes of this Article, the nomination of an established political party of a candidate for election to an office shall be deemed to be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the nomination of such party for election to such office.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute, no primary election shall be held for an established political party for any special primary election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress where the nomination of such political party for said office is uncontested. For the purposes of this Article, the nomination of an established political party of a candidate for election to said office shall be deemed to be uncontested where not more than the number of persons to be nominated have timely filed valid nomination papers seeking the nomination of such established party for election to said office. This subsection (b) shall not apply if such primary election is conducted on a regularly scheduled election day.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraph (a) and (b) of this paragraph (10), whenever a person who has not timely filed valid nomination papers and who intends to become a write-in candidate for a political party's nomination for any office for which the nomination is uncontested files a written statement or notice of that intent with the local election official where the candidate is seeking to appear on the ballot, a primary ballot shall be prepared and a primary shall be held for that office. Such statement or notice shall be filed on or before the date established in this Article for certifying candidates for the primary ballot. Such statement or notice shall contain (i) the name and address of the person intending to become a write-in candidate, (ii) a statement that the person is a qualified primary elector of the political party from whom the nomination is sought, (iii) a statement that the person intends to become a write-in candidate for the party's nomination, and (iv) the office the person is seeking as a write-in candidate. An election authority shall have no duty to conduct a primary and prepare a primary ballot for any office for which the nomination is uncontested unless a statement or notice meeting the requirements of this Section is filed in a timely manner.

(11) If multiple sets of nomination papers are filed for a candidate to the same office, the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official where the petitions are filed shall within 2 business days notify the candidate of his or her multiple petition filings and that the candidate has 3 business days after receipt of the notice to notify the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official that he or she may cancel prior sets of petitions. If the candidate notifies the State Board of Elections, appropriate election authority or local election official, the last set of petitions filed shall be the only petitions to be considered valid by the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official. If the candidate fails to notify the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official then only the first set of petitions filed shall be valid and all subsequent petitions shall be void.

(12) All nominating petitions shall be available for public inspection and shall be preserved for a period of not less than 6 months. Nominating petitions shall not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

(13) Upon request, the State Board of Elections or an election authority, as appropriate, shall promptly provide a requester with any requesting nominating petition filed with the appropriate election authority within the preceding 6 months.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-687, eff. 12-17-21; 103-586, eff. 5-3-24; 103-600, eff. 7-1-24.)

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

Sec. 10-8. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, certificates of nomination and nomination papers, declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate, and petitions to submit public questions to a referendum, being filed as required by this Code, and being in apparent conformity with the provisions of this Code Act, shall be deemed to be valid unless objection thereto is duly made in writing within 5 business days after the last day for filing the certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petition for a public question, with the following exceptions:

A. In the case of petitions to amend Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, there shall be a period of 35 business days after the last day for the filing of such petitions in which objections can be filed.

B. In the case of petitions for advisory questions of public policy to be submitted to the voters of the entire State, there shall be a period of 35 business days after the last day for the filing of such petitions in which objections can be filed.

Any legal voter of the political subdivision or district in which the candidate or public question is to be voted on, or any legal voter in the State in the case of a proposed amendment to Article IV of the Constitution or an advisory public question to be submitted to the voters of the entire State, having objections to any certificate of nomination or nomination papers, or petitions, or declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate filed, shall file an objector's petition together with 2 copies thereof in the principal office or the permanent branch office of the State Board of Elections, or in the office of the election authority or local election official with whom the certificate of nomination, nomination papers, or petitions, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate are on file. Objection petitions that do not include 2 copies thereof, shall not be accepted. In the case of nomination papers, or certificates of nomination, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, the State Board of Elections, election authority or local election official shall note the day and hour upon which such objector's petition is filed, and shall, not later than 12:00 p.m. noon on the second business day after receipt of the petition, transmit by registered mail or receipted personal delivery the certificate of nomination or nomination papers and the original objector's petition to the chair of the proper electoral board designated in Section 10-9 of this Code hereof, or his authorized agent, and shall transmit a copy by registered mail or receipted personal delivery of the objector's petition, to the candidate whose certificate of nomination or nomination papers are objected to, addressed to the place of residence designated in said certificate of nomination or nomination papers. In the case of objections to a petition for a proposed amendment to Article IV of the Constitution or for an advisory public question to be submitted to the voters of the entire State, the State Board of Elections shall note the day and hour upon which such objector's petition is filed and shall transmit a copy of the objector's petition by registered mail or receipted personal delivery to the person designated on a certificate attached to the petition as the principal proponent of such proposed amendment or public question, or as the proponents' attorney, for the purpose of receiving notice of objections. In the case of objections to a petition for a public question, to be submitted to the voters of a political subdivision, or district thereof, the election authority or local election official with whom such petition is filed shall note the day and hour upon which such objector's petition was filed, and shall, not later than 12:00 p.m. noon on the second business day after receipt of the petition, transmit by registered mail or receipted personal delivery the petition for the public question and the original objector's petition to the chair of the proper electoral board designated in Section 10-9 of this Code hereof, or his authorized agent, and shall transmit a copy by registered mail or receipted personal delivery, of the objector's petition to the person designated on a certificate attached to the petition as the principal proponent of the public question, or as the proponent's attorney, for the purposes of receiving notice of objections.

The objector's petition shall give the objector's name and residence address, and shall state fully the nature of the objections to the certificate of nomination, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or nomination papers or petitions in question, and shall state the interest of the objector and shall state what relief is requested of the electoral board.

The provisions of this Section and of Sections 10-9, 10-10, and 10-10.1 shall also apply to and govern objections to petitions for nomination filed under Article 7 or Article 8, except as otherwise provided in Section 7-13 for cases to which it is applicable, and also apply to and govern petitions for the submission of public questions under Article 28. For purposes of this Section and Section 10-10, objections to declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate shall be filed in the same manner and subject to the same jurisdiction as objections to nomination papers for the same office.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; revised 6-24-25.)

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

Sec. 10-10. Within 24 hours after the receipt of the certificate of nomination or nomination papers, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or proposed question of public policy, as the case may be, and the objector's petition, the chair of the electoral board other than the State Board of Elections shall send a call by registered or certified mail: to each of the members of the electoral board; to the objector who filed the objector's petition; either to the candidate whose certificate of nomination, or nomination papers, or declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate are objected to or to the principal proponent or attorney for proponents of a question of public policy, as the case may be, whose petitions are objected to; to the election authority to whom the ballot is certified; and to the appropriate county clerk. The chair of the electoral board other than the State Board of Elections shall also cause the sheriff of the county or counties in which such officers and persons reside to serve a copy of such call upon each of such officers and persons, which call shall set out the fact that the electoral board is required to meet to hear and pass upon the objections to nominations made for the office, designating it, and shall state the day, hour and place at which the electoral board shall meet for the purpose, which place shall be in the county court house in the county in the case of the County Officers Electoral Board, the Municipal Officers Electoral Board, the Township Officers Electoral Board or the Education Officers Electoral Board, except that the Municipal Officers Electoral Board, the Township Officers Electoral Board, and the Education Officers Electoral Board may meet at the location where the governing body of the municipality, township, or community college district, respectively, holds its regularly scheduled meetings, if that location is available; provided that voter records may be removed from the offices of an election authority only at the discretion and under the supervision of the election authority. In those cases where the State Board of Elections is the electoral board designated under Section 10-9, the chair of the State Board of Elections shall, within 24 hours after the receipt of the certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petitions for a proposed amendment to Article IV of the Constitution or proposed statewide question of public policy, send a call by registered or certified mail to the objector who files the objector's petition, and either to the candidate whose certificate of nomination or nomination papers are objected to or to the principal proponent or attorney for proponents of the proposed Constitutional amendment or statewide question of public policy and shall state the day, hour, and place at which the electoral board shall meet for the purpose, which place may be in the Capitol Building or in the principal or permanent branch office of the State Board. The day of the meeting shall not be less than 3 nor more than 5 days after the receipt of the certificate of nomination or nomination papers and the objector's petition by the chair of the electoral board.

The electoral board shall have the power to administer oaths and to subpoena and examine witnesses and, at the request of either party and only upon a vote by a majority of its members, may authorize the chair to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum requiring the production of such books, papers, records and documents as may be evidence of any matter under inquiry before the electoral board, in the same manner as witnesses are subpoenaed in the Circuit Court.

Service of such subpoenas shall be made by any sheriff or other person in the same manner as in cases in such court and the fees of such sheriff shall be the same as is provided by law, and shall be paid by the objector or candidate who causes the issuance of the subpoena. In case any person so served shall knowingly neglect or refuse to obey any such subpoena, or to testify, the electoral board shall at once file a petition in the circuit court of the county in which such hearing is to be heard, or has been attempted to be heard, setting forth the facts, of such knowing refusal or neglect, and accompanying the petition with a copy of the citation and the answer, if one has been filed, together with a copy of the subpoena and the return of service thereon, and shall apply for an order of court requiring such person to attend and testify, and forthwith produce books and papers, before the electoral board. Any circuit court of the state, excluding the judge who is sitting on the electoral board, upon such showing shall order such person to appear and testify, and to forthwith produce such books and papers, before the electoral board at a place to be fixed by the court. If such person shall knowingly fail or refuse to obey such order of the court without lawful excuse, the court shall punish him or her by fine and imprisonment, as the nature of the case may require and may be lawful in cases of contempt of court.

The electoral board on the first day of its meeting shall adopt rules of procedure for the introduction of evidence and the presentation of arguments and may, in its discretion, provide for the filing of briefs by the parties to the objection or by other interested persons.

In the event of a State Electoral Board hearing on objections to a petition for an amendment to Article IV of the Constitution pursuant to Section 3 of Article XIV of the Constitution, or to a petition for a question of public policy to be submitted to the voters of the entire State, the certificates of the county clerks and boards of election commissioners showing the results of the random sample of signatures on the petition shall be prima facie valid and accurate, and shall be presumed to establish the number of valid and invalid signatures on the petition sheets reviewed in the random sample, as prescribed in Section 28-11 and 28-12 of this Code. Either party, however, may introduce evidence at such hearing to dispute the findings as to particular signatures. In addition to the foregoing, in the absence of competent evidence presented at such hearing by a party substantially challenging the results of a random sample, or showing a different result obtained by an additional sample, this certificate of a county clerk or board of election commissioners shall be presumed to establish the ratio of valid to invalid signatures within the particular election jurisdiction.

The electoral board shall take up the question as to whether or not the certificate of nomination , or nomination papers, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, or petitions are in proper form, and whether or not they were filed within the time and under the conditions required by law, and whether or not they are the genuine certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petitions which they purport to be, and whether or not in the case of the certificate of nomination in question it represents accurately the decision of the caucus or convention issuing it, and in general shall decide whether or not the certificate of nomination, declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate or nominating papers or petitions on file are valid or whether the objections thereto should be sustained and the decision of a majority of the electoral board shall be final subject to judicial review as provided in Section 10-10.1. The electoral board must state its findings in writing and must state in writing which objections, if any, it has sustained. A copy of the decision shall be served upon the parties to the proceedings in open proceedings before the electoral board. If a party does not appear for receipt of the decision, the decision shall be deemed to have been served on the absent party on the date when a copy of the decision is personally delivered or on the date when a copy of the decision is deposited in the United States mail, in a sealed envelope or package, with postage prepaid, addressed to each party affected by the decision or to such party's attorney of record, if any, at the address on record for such person in the files of the electoral board.

Upon the expiration of the period within which a proceeding for judicial review must be commenced under Section 10-10.1, the electoral board shall, unless a proceeding for judicial review has been commenced within such period, transmit, by registered or certified mail, a certified copy of its ruling, together with the original certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petitions and the original objector's petition, to the officer or board with whom the certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petitions, as objected to, were on file and to the election authority to whom the ballot is certified and the appropriate county clerk, and such officer or board shall abide by and comply with the ruling so made to all intents and purposes.

(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/11-8.5 new)

Sec. 11-8.5. Universal vote centers pilot program.

(a) In addition to the vote centers required in subsection (a) of Section 11-8, a county election authority may establish vote centers for the period of early voting and on election day where all voters in its jurisdiction are allowed to vote, regardless of the precinct in which they are registered, and that location shall provide curbside voting. An election authority establishing vote centers under this Section shall certify to the State Board of Elections no later than December 15, 2026, and shall make the locations public no later than the 60th day preceding an election.

(b) For the elections held between January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2029, a county election authority may establish additional vote centers as described under subsection (a). In establishing these vote centers, the election authority shall do so in accordance with the following:

(1) For each general primary election and general election, an election authority shall designate a minimum number of vote centers, as follows:

(A) For counties with at least 50,000 registered voters on the day of election, at least one vote center for each 12,500 registered voters.

(B) For counties with fewer than 50,000 registered voters, at least one vote center for each 10,000 registered voters.

For the purposes of this paragraph, the number of registered voters in a county is the number of voters registered in the county on the date of the preceding presidential election or on the date of the preceding general election, whichever is greater.

(2) A county election authority may designate a greater number of vote centers than the minimum required by this subsection.

(3) In selecting the location for vote centers required under paragraph (1), each county election authority shall consider:

(A) proximity to the population centers of the county, including the population centers within the largest municipality or municipalities in a county;

(B) proximity to public transportation lines and availability of parking;

(C) equitable distribution across the county so as to afford maximally convenient options for voters;

(D) geographic features that affect access and convenience;

(E) access for persons with disabilities;

(F) use of existing voting locations that typically serve a significant number of voters;

(G) proximity to historically under-represented communities; and

(H) the need to locate vote centers in population centers that had lower voter turnout in previous elections.

(4) A county election authority must establish these vote centers no later than June 1, 2027.

(c) If a county election authority certifies voter centers will be available as provided in this Section, a county election authority may increase the maximum number of registered voters per precinct to 1,600 registered voters, effective after January 1, 2027. The county shall divide its election precincts in accordance with Section 11-2 after January 1, 2027 and no later than June 1, 2027, and must maintain the election precincts until December 30, 2030 or later.

(d) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2030.

(10 ILCS 5/11-9 new)

Sec. 11-9. Name and data standardization.

(a) The State Board of Elections shall develop and implement standard terminology for the naming of election districts, precincts, and polling places to streamline the reporting of election results and voter file data for the 2027 Consolidated Primary Election and the 2027 Consolidated Election. As part of implementing the use of standard terminology and to ensure the prompt availability of voter file data, no less than 100 days before the 2027 Consolidated Primary Election, the State Board of Elections shall adopt guidelines, via an order of the Board, for election authorities to follow when naming election districts, precincts, and polling places so that relevant election data points have standard identification with a human-readable name. The guidelines shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) standardization conventions for data fields related to election districts, precincts, polling places, and other election data; and (2) any other requirement that, in the discretion of the State Board of Elections, facilitates efficient interfacing with the statewide voter registration list maintained under Section 1A-25 or the reporting and dissemination of election data as required by law. The State Board of Elections shall publish a first draft of the guidelines at least 10 days before adopting the guidelines through an order of the Board.

(b) Every election authority shall use the guidelines adopted under subsection (a) to name election districts, precincts, and polling places. Every election authority shall submit the names to the State Board of Elections no less than 70 days before the 2027 Consolidated Primary Election.

(c) The State Board of Elections shall amend the names of any election district, precinct, or polling place that does not conform to the guidelines adopted under subsection (a). The State Board of Elections shall send those amended names to the election authority as soon as practicable.

(d) No less than 50 days before the 2027 Consolidated Primary Election, all election districts, election precincts, and polling places shall be named in accordance with the guidelines adopted under subsection (a). Every election authority shall use the guidelines adopted under subsection (a) for the 2027 Consolidated Primary Election and the 2027 Consolidated Election.

(e) No later than July 1, 2027, the State Board of Elections shall adopt administrative rules for name and data standardization for all elections subsequent to the 2027 Consolidated Primary Election. By October 1, 2027 and by October 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter, the staff of the State Board of Elections shall complete an audit of the names and data subject to the administrative rules adopted under this subsection and shall verify that the data submissions conform to the standardization requirements. The staff of the State Board of Elections, as part of the audit conducted under this subsection, shall advise the election authority of any needed corrections to the naming, content, formatting, or mode of submission of the data as soon as practicable.

(f) Beginning with the 2028 General Primary Election, no less than 75 days before each election, every election authority shall ensure that the naming and data reported by the election authority that is related to election districts, election precincts, and polling places and is otherwise identified under subsection (a) conforms to the administrative rules adopted under subsection (e).

(g) If the name and data standardization requirements of this Section regulating the formatting of data related to election districts, precincts, and polling places conflict with any specific provision of this Code, the requirements of this Section prevail.

(10 ILCS 5/17-13.5)

Sec. 17-13.5. Curbside voting.

(a) Election authorities may establish curbside voting for individuals to cast a ballot during early voting or on election day. An election authority's curbside voting program shall designate at least 2 election judges from opposite parties per vehicle, and the individual shall have the opportunity to mark the ballot without interference from the election judges.

(b) Election authorities shall establish curbside voting for individuals with disabilities to cast a ballot during early voting and on election day at no less than one voting location within the election authority's jurisdiction. An election authority's curbside voting program shall designate at least 2 election judges from opposite parties per vehicle, and the individual shall have the opportunity to mark the ballot without interference from the election judges. No later than the 10th day preceding the start of early voting or election day voting, an election authority shall post on their publicly accessible website the voting location or locations where curbside voting is available and the method by which an individual with a disability may contact a poll worker in order to vote at the curbside voting location, including, but not limited to, a posted phone number, a doorbell device, or the stationing of a poll worker at the curbside voting location.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

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

Sec. 19-3. Application for a vote by mail ballot.

(a) The application for a vote by mail ballot for a single election 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.

I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of .... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to vote at the .... election to be held on ....; and that I wish to vote by mail.

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: ...............

(a-5) The application for a single vote by mail ballot transmitted electronically pursuant to Section 19-2.6 shall be substantively similar to the application for a vote by mail ballot for a single election and shall include:

I swear or affirm that I am a voter with a print disability, and, as a result of this disability, I am making a request to receive a vote by mail ballot electronically so that I may privately and independently mark, verify, and print my vote by mail ballot.

(b) The application for permanent vote by mail status shall be substantially in the following form:

APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT VOTE BY MAIL STATUS

I am currently a registered voter and wish to apply for permanent vote by mail status.

I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of .... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to vote at the .... election to be held on ....; and that I wish to vote by mail in:

..... all subsequent elections that do not require a party designation.

..... all subsequent elections, and I wish to receive a ................... Party vote by mail ballot in elections that require a party designation.

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.

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

....

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

(b-5) The application for permanent vote by mail ballots transmitted electronically pursuant to Section 19-2.6 shall be substantively similar to the application for permanent vote by mail status and shall include:

I swear or affirm that I am a voter with a non-temporary print disability, and as a result of this disability, I am making a request to receive vote by mail ballots electronically so that I may privately and independently mark, verify, and print my vote by mail ballots.

(c) 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. The election authority shall allow any voter on permanent vote by mail status to change his or her party affiliation for a primary election ballot by a method and deadline published and selected by the election authority.

(d) 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 the application under subsection (a) or (b) are true and correct, and a signature is not required.

(e) Any person may produce, reproduce, distribute, or return to an election authority an application under this Section. If applications are sent to a post office box controlled by any individual or organization that is not an election authority, those applications shall (i) include a valid and current phone number for the individual or organization controlling the post office box and (ii) be turned over to the appropriate election authority within 7 days of receipt or, if received within 2 weeks of the election in which an applicant intends to vote, within 2 days of receipt. Failure to turn over the applications in compliance with this paragraph shall constitute a violation of this Code and shall be punishable as a petty offense with a fine of $100 per application. 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 under this Section submitted in a form substantially similar to that required by this Section, including any substantially similar production or reproduction generated by the applicant.

(f) An election authority shall may combine the applications in subsections (a) and (b) onto one form, but the distinction between the applications must be clear and the form must provide check boxes for an applicant to indicate whether he or she is applying for a single election vote by mail ballot or for permanent vote by mail status.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-819, eff. 5-13-22; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-8)

Sec. 19-8. Time and place of counting ballots.

(a) (Blank). (Blank.)

(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by that election authority before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and may be processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is received by the election authority in the central ballot counting location of the election authority, but the results of the processing may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).

(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots.

Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and, if the certification date is election day or earlier and the ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the ballot shall not be counted.

If an election authority is using an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed no later than election day.

(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by the election authority at any time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots that are mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that are received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same periods provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots received by the election authority after the closing of the polls on an election day shall be endorsed by the election authority receiving them with the day and hour of receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.

(f) Counting required under this Section to begin on election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been counted.

(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition, within 2 days after a vote by mail ballot is received, but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of that vote by mail ballot with the voter's signature on the application verified in accordance with Section 19-4 or the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the vote by mail voter is otherwise qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or official determines that the signatures do not match, or that the vote by mail voter is not qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot, then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a vote by mail ballot may be rejected by the election judge or official:

(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed;

(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace period ballot;

(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or

(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.

If the election judge or official determines that any of these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

(g-5) If a vote by mail ballot is rejected by the election judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the vote by mail voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may submit to appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot should be counted. Evidence may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically by email. If a ballot is rejected based on the voter's signatures not matching, an affidavit or statement affirming the voter signed the certification envelope shall be sufficient evidence, and the election authority shall not require the affidavit or statement to be notarized. The election authority shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of the contested vote by mail ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.

A vote by mail ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots.

If a vote by mail ballot is rejected for any reason, the election authority shall, within one day after the rejection, transmit to the State Board of Elections by electronic means the voter's name, street address, email address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be. If a rejected vote by mail ballot is determined to be valid, the election authority shall, within one day after the determination, remove the name of the voter from the list transmitted to the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall maintain the names and information in an electronic format on its website accessible to State and local political committees.

Upon request by the State or local political committee, each election authority shall, within one day after the request, provide the following information about all rejected vote by mail ballots: voter's name, street address, email address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be.

(g-10) All vote by mail ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.

(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned.

(Source: P.A. 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23; revised 6-24-25.)

(10 ILCS 5/20-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-8)

Sec. 20-8. Time and place of counting ballots.

(a) (Blank.)

(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by that election authority may be processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is received by the election authority in the central ballot counting location of the election authority, but the results of the processing may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).

(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots.

Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and, if the certification date is election day or earlier and the ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the ballot shall not be counted.

If an election authority is using an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed no later than election day.

(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by the election authority at any time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballot that are mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that are received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same periods provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots received by the election authority after the closing of the polls on the day of election shall be endorsed by the person receiving the ballots with the day and hour of receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.

(f) Counting required under this Section to begin on election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been counted.

(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition, within 2 days after a ballot subject to this Article is received, but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of that ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a ballot under this Article, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or official determines that the signatures do not match, or that the voter is not qualified to cast a ballot under this Article, then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a ballot subject to this Article may be rejected by the election judge or official:

(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed;

(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace period ballot;

(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or

(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.

If the election judge or official determines that any of these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

(g-5) If a ballot subject to this Article is rejected by the election judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may submit to appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot should be counted. Evidence may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically by email. If a ballot is rejected based on the voter's signatures not matching, an affidavit or statement affirming the voter signed the certification envelope shall be sufficient evidence, and the election authority shall not require the affidavit or statement to be notarized. The election authority shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of the contested ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.

A ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots.

(g-10) All ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.

(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned.

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

Article 40.

Section 40-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 1A-16.1, 1A-16.2, 1A-16.7, and 1A-16.8 and by adding Section 1A-16.3 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.1)

Sec. 1A-16.1. Automatic voter registration; Secretary of State.

(a) The Office of the Secretary of State and the State Board of Elections, pursuant to an interagency contract and jointly adopted rules, shall establish an automatic voter registration program that satisfies the requirements of this Section and other applicable law.

(b) If, as part of an application, an application for renewal, or a change of address form, or a recertification form for a driver's license or a State identification card issued by the Office of the Secretary of State, an applicant presents documentation that establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen, as described in subsection (g), and is of age to register to vote or if the information provided to the Office of the Secretary of State under subsection (c) indicates that the applicant is currently registered to vote in Illinois and, upon reviewing the documents and information submitted by the applicant, the Office of the Secretary of State determines that the name or residence address documentation submitted by the applicant differs from the information regarding the applicant provided under subsection (c) meets the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, then that application, unless the applicant declines in accordance with subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.7 shall serve as a dual-purpose application. The dual-purpose application shall:

(1) also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois;

(2) allow an applicant to change the applicant's his or her registered residence address or name as it appears on the voter registration rolls;

(3) in a single affirmation, including the affirmation required for a driver's license or State identification card, allow the applicant to affirm, under penalty of perjury, to the truth and correctness of the information submitted in the dual-purpose application that is necessary to assess the applicant's eligibility to register to vote or to change the applicant's registered residence address or name as it appears on the voter registration rolls provide the applicant with an opportunity to affirmatively decline to register to vote or to change his or her registered residence address or name by providing a check box on the application form without requiring the applicant to state the reason; and

(4) allow the applicant to notify the Office of the Secretary of State of the applicant's preferred language unless the applicant declines to register to vote or change his or her registered residence address or name, require the applicant to attest, by signature under penalty of perjury as described in subsection (e) of this Section, to meeting the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at his or her residence address as indicated on his or her driver's license or identification card dual-purpose application.

The Office of the Secretary of State shall record the type of documents presented by the applicant that establishes the applicant is a United States citizen as described in subsection (g) and shall enter United States citizenship in a designated field. Based on the entry of United States citizenship in the designated field, the Office of the Secretary of State shall initiate a dual-purpose application through an automated process that is not subject to the discretion of individual employees of the Office of the Secretary of State.

(b-5) If, as part of an application, an application for renewal, or a change of address form, or a recertification form for a driver's license or a State identification card issued by the Office of the Secretary of State, other than an application or form that pertains to a standard driver's license or identification card for an applicant who does not have and is not eligible for and does not list a social security number, an applicant presents documentation that neither establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen nor establishes that the applicant is not a United States citizen and the information provided to the Office of the Secretary of State under subsection (c) does not indicate that the applicant is currently registered to vote in Illinois for the applicant, does not meet the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, then that application shall serve as a dual-purpose application that, . The dual-purpose application shall: (1) also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois; (2) allow an applicant to change his or her registered residence address or name as it appears on the voter registration rolls; and (3) if the applicant chooses to register to vote, shall also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois. If the applicant chooses to register to vote, the applicant shall be required or to change his or her registered residence address or name, then require the applicant to attest, by a separate signature under penalty of perjury, to meeting the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at the applicant's his or her residence address as indicated on the his or her dual-purpose application.

The dual-purpose application shall allow the applicant to notify the Office of the Secretary of State of the applicant's preferred language.

(b-8) If an applicant presents to the Secretary of State documentation that establishes the applicant is not a United States citizen, no application submitted by that applicant shall serve as a dual-purpose application under this Section.

(b-10) Before asking any applicant described in subsection (b) to provide the written affirmation described in that subsection, the The Office of the Secretary of State shall clearly and conspicuously inform each applicant in writing: (i) of the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois; , (ii) of the penalties provided by law for submission of a false voter registration application, including the immigration-related consequences of incorrectly claiming United States citizenship and of the applicant's opportunity not to proceed in order to avoid the penalties; and , (iii) that the , unless the applicant declines to register to vote or update his or her voter registration, his or her dual-purpose application shall also serve as both an application to register to vote and his or her attestation that he or she meets the eligibility requirements for voter registration, and that the his or her application to register to vote or update voter his or her registration will be transmitted to the State Board of Elections for the purpose of registering the person to vote at the residence address to be indicated on the applicant's his or her driver's license or identification card, and (iv) that declining to register to vote is confidential and will not affect any services the person may be seeking from the Office of the Secretary of State. The Office of the Secretary of State may provide additional instructions specific to applicants under subsection (b).

(b-15) Before asking any applicant described in subsection (b-5) to provide the attestation described in that subsection, the Office of the Secretary of State shall clearly and conspicuously inform each applicant in writing: (i) of the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois; (ii) of the penalties provided by law for submission of a false voter registration application, including the immigration-related consequences of incorrectly claiming United States citizenship and of the applicant's opportunity to withdraw an application to avoid the penalties; (iii) that the application shall also serve as an application to register to vote and that the application to register to vote or update voter registration will be transmitted to the State Board of Elections for the purpose of registering the person to vote at the residence address to be indicated on the applicant's driver's license or identification card, unless the applicant withdraws the application or declines to register to vote or update the applicant's voter registration; and (iv) that declining to register to vote or withdrawing a voter application is confidential and will not affect any services the person may be seeking from the Office of the Secretary of State. The Office of the Secretary of State may provide additional instructions specific to applicants under subsection (b-5).

(c) The Office of the Secretary of State shall review information provided to the Office of the Secretary of State by the State Board of Elections to determine whether each inform each applicant for a driver's license or permit or a State identification card issued by the Office of the Secretary of State, other than an application or form that pertains to a standard driver's license or identification card and does not list a social security number for the applicant, whether the applicant under subsections (b) and (b-5) is currently registered to vote in Illinois and, if registered, at what address, and shall inform each applicant described in subsection (b-5) for a driver's license or permit or State identification card issued by the Office of the Secretary of State whether the applicant is currently registered and, if registered, at what address.

(d) The Office of the Secretary of State shall not require an applicant for a driver's license or State identification card to provide duplicate identification or information in order to complete an application to register to vote or change his or her registered residence address or name. Before transmitting any personal information about an applicant to the State Board of Elections, the Office of the Secretary of State shall review its records of the identification documents the applicant provided in order to complete the application for a driver's license or State identification card to confirm that nothing in those documents indicates that the applicant does not satisfy the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at his or her residence address. If the applicant provides the Office of the Secretary of State with an address designated by the Attorney General as a substitute mailing address under Section 15 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act or is a judicial officer of peace officer who provides the Office of the Secretary of State with a work address instead of a residence address, as authorized by subsection (a) of Section 6-106 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the applicant shall not be offered voter registration by the Office of the Secretary of State.

(e) A completed, signed application for (i) a driver's license or permit or a State identification card issued by the Office of the Secretary of State that includes the presentation of documentation that establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen and is of age to register to vote or for which the information provided to the Office of the Secretary of State under subsection (c) indicates that the applicant is currently registered to vote in Illinois , that meets the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005; or (ii) a completed application under subsection (b-5) of this Section with a separate signature attesting the applicant meets the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at his or her residence address as indicated on his or her application shall constitute a signed application to register to vote in Illinois at the residence address indicated in the application unless the person affirmatively declined in the application to register to vote or to change his or her registered residence address or name. If the identification documents provided to complete the dual-purpose application indicate that the applicant he or she does not satisfy the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at the specified his or her residence address, the application shall be marked as incomplete.

(f) For each completed and signed application that constitutes an application to register to vote in Illinois or provides for a change in the applicant's registered residence address or name, the Office of the Secretary of State shall electronically transmit to the State Board of Elections personal information needed to complete the person's registration to vote in Illinois at the specified his or her residence address, including the applicant's choice language preference as indicated by the applicant or as otherwise collected by the Office of the Secretary of State during the permitting, licensing, or identification card transaction. The application to register to vote shall be processed in accordance with Section 1A-16.7.

(g) Documentation that establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen shall include:

(1) a valid, unexpired United States passport or passport card or a United States passport or passport card that has been expired for no more than 2 years;

(2) a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the Division of Vital Records or an equivalent agency in the individual's state of birth;

(3) a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the United States Department of State, Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545; and

(4) a Certificate of Citizenship issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Form N-560 or form N-561. If the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 is repealed, abrogated, superseded, or otherwise no longer in effect, then the State Board of Elections shall establish criteria for determining reliable personal information indicating citizenship status and shall adopt rules as necessary for the Secretary of State to continue processing dual-purpose applications under this Section.

(h) As used in this Section, "dual-purpose application" means an application, an application for renewal or , a change of address form, or a recertification form for driver's license or permit or a State identification card offered by the Secretary of State, other than an application or form that pertains to a standard driver's license or identification card for an applicant who does not have and is not eligible for, a social security number and does not list a social security number for the applicant, that also serves as an application to register to vote in Illinois. "Dual-purpose application" does not mean an application under subsection (c) of Section 6-109 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(i) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly shall be implemented no later than January 1, 2028.

(Source: P.A. 103-210, eff. 7-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.2)

Sec. 1A-16.2. Automatic voter registration; designated automatic voter registration agencies.

(a) Each designated automatic voter registration agency shall, pursuant to an interagency contract and jointly adopted jointly-adopted rules with the State Board of Elections, agree to participate in an automatic voter registration program established by the State Board of Elections that satisfies the requirements of this Section and other applicable law. If the designated automatic voter registration agency provides applications, applications for renewal, change of address forms, filing, or recertification forms to individuals for services offered by another agency, then the State Board of Elections and the designated automatic voter agency shall consult with the other agency. The State Board of Elections shall consider the current technological capabilities of the designated voter registration agency when drafting interagency contracts and jointly adopted jointly-adopted rules. The State Board of Elections and the designated automatic voter registration agency shall amend these contracts and rules as the technological capabilities of the designated voter registration agencies improve.

(b) As provided in subsection (a) of this Section, when each designated automatic voter registration agency provides that collects or cross-references reliable personal information indicating citizenship status may provide that an application or form for a license, permit, program, or service described in subsection (a) that, as part of the application or form, the applicant presents documentation that establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen as described in subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.1, the application or form shall serve as a dual-purpose application, unless the applicant declines in accordance with subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.7. The dual-purpose application shall:

(1) also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois;

(2) allow an applicant to change the applicant's his or her registered residence address or name as it appears on the voter registration rolls;

(3) in a single affirmation including the affirmation required for the designated automatic voter registration agency's application, allow the applicant to affirm, under penalty of perjury, to the truth and correctness of information submitted in the dual-purpose application that is necessary to assess the applicant's eligibility to register to vote or to change the applicant's registered residence address or name as it appears on the voter registration rolls provide the applicant with an opportunity to affirmatively decline to register to vote or change his or her registered residence address or name by providing a check box on the application form without requiring the applicant to state the reason; and

(4) allow the applicant to notify the agency of the applicant's preferred language unless the applicant declines to register to vote or to change his or her registered residence address or name, require the applicant to attest, by signature under penalty of perjury, to meeting the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at his or her residence address as indicated on his or her dual-purpose application.

The agency shall record the type of document presented by the applicant that establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen as described in subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.1.

(c) As provided in subsection (a) of this Section, when each designated automatic voter registration agency provides that does not collect or cross-reference records containing reliable personal information indicating citizenship status may provide that an application or , an application for renewal, a change of address form, or a recertification form for a license, permit, program, or service described in subsection (a) that, as part of the application or form, the applicant presents documentation that neither establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen nor establishes that the applicant is not a United States citizen, the application or form shall serve as a dual-purpose application if the applicant chooses to register to vote. The dual-purpose application shall:

(1) also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois;

(2) allow an applicant to change his or her registered residence address or name as it appears on the voter registration rolls; and

(3) if the applicant chooses to register to vote or to change the applicant's his or her registered residence address or name, then require the applicant to attest, by a separate signature under penalty of perjury, to meeting the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at his or her residence address as indicated on his or her dual-purpose application; and .

(4) allow the applicant to notify the agency of the applicant's preferred language.

(c-1) If an applicant presents documentation to the designated automatic voter registration agency that establishes that the applicant is not a United States citizen or the applicant attests that the applicant is not a United States citizen, no application submitted by that applicant shall serve as a dual-purpose application under this Section.

(c-5) Before asking any applicant described in subsection (b) of this Section to provide the affirmation described in that subsection, the The designated automatic voter registration agency shall clearly and conspicuously inform each applicant in writing: (i) of the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois; , (ii) of the penalties provided by law for submission of a false voter registration application, including the immigration-related consequences of incorrectly claiming United States citizenship and of the applicant's opportunity not to proceed in order to avoid the penalties; (iii) that the application shall serve as an application to register to vote or change the applicant's voter registration, and that the application , unless the applicant declines to register to vote or update his or her voter registration, his or her application shall also serve as both an application to register to vote and his or her attestation that he or she meets the eligibility requirements for voter registration, and that his or her application to register to vote or update his or her registration will be transmitted to the State Board of Elections for the purpose of registering the person to vote at the residence address to be indicated on the dual-purpose application; , (iv) that information identifying the agency at which he or she applied to register to vote is confidential; , (v) that declining to register to vote is confidential and will not affect any services the person may be seeking from the agency, and (v) (vi) any additional information needed in order to comply with Section 7 of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The designated automatic voter registration agency may provide additional instructions specific to applicants under subsection (b).

(c-10) Before asking any applicant described in subsection (c) to provide the attestation described in that subsection, the designated automatic voter registration agency shall clearly and conspicuously inform each applicant in writing: (i) of the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois; (ii) of the penalties provided by law for submission of a false voter registration application, including the immigration-related consequences of incorrectly claiming United States citizenship, and of the applicant's opportunity to withdraw an application to avoid the penalties; (iii) that the application shall also serve as an application to register to vote or update the applicant's voter registration and that the application to register to vote or update voter registration will be transmitted to the State Board of Elections for the purpose of registering the person to vote at the residence address to be indicated on the dual-purpose application, unless the applicant withdraws the application or declines to register to vote or update the applicant's voter registration; (iv) that information identifying the agency at which the applicant applied to register to vote is confidential; (v) that withdrawing a voter registration application or otherwise declining to register to vote is confidential and will not affect any services the person may be seeking from the agency; and (vi) any additional information needed in order to comply with Section 7 of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The designated automatic voter registration agency may provide additional instructions specific to applicants under subsection (c).

(d) The designated automatic voter registration agency shall review information provided to the agency by the State Board of Elections to inform each applicant covered by subsection (c) whether the applicant is currently registered to vote in Illinois and, if registered, at what address.

(e) The designated automatic voter registration agency shall not require an applicant for a dual-purpose application to provide duplicate identification or information in order to complete an application to register to vote or change the applicant's his or her registered residence address or name. Before transmitting any personal information about an applicant to the State Board of Elections, the agency shall review its records of the identification documents the applicant provided or that the agency cross-references in order to complete the dual-purpose application, to confirm that nothing in those documents indicates that the applicant does not satisfy the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at the applicant's his or her residence address. A completed and signed dual-purpose application, including a completed application under subsection (c) of this Section with a separate signature attesting that the applicant meets the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at the his or her residence address as indicated on the his or her application, shall constitute an application to register to vote in Illinois at the residence address indicated in the application unless the person affirmatively declined in the application to register to vote or to change his or her registered residence address or name. If the identification documents provided to complete the dual-purpose application, or that the agency cross-references, indicate that the applicant he or she does not satisfy the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois at his or her residence address, the application shall be marked as incomplete. If the applicant provides the designated automatic voter registration agency with an address designated by the Attorney General as a substitute mailing address under Section 15 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act, or is a judicial officer or peace officer who provides the designated automatic voter registration agency with a work address instead of a residence address, the applicant shall not be offered voter registration by the designated automatic voter registration agency.

(f) For each completed and signed dual-purpose application that constitutes an application to register to vote in Illinois or provides for a change in the applicant's registered residence address or name, the designated automatic voter registration agency shall electronically transmit to the State Board of Elections personal information needed to complete the person's registration to vote in Illinois at his or her residence address, including the applicant's language preference as indicated by the applicant or as otherwise collected by the designated automatic voter registration agency in the course of receiving applications and other forms regarding licenses, permits, programs, and services offered by the designated automatic voter registration agency. The application to register to vote shall be processed in accordance with Section 1A-16.7.

(g) As used in this Section:

"Designated automatic voter registration agency" or "agency" means the divisions of Family and Community Services and Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Human Services, the Department of Employment Security, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Department of Natural Resources, or an agency of the local, tribal, State, or federal government that has been determined by the State Board of Elections to have access to reliable personal information and has entered into an interagency contract with the State Board of Elections to participate in the automatic voter registration program under this Section.

"Dual-purpose application" means an application, an application for renewal, a change of address form, or a recertification form for a license, permit, program, or service offered by a designated automatic voter registration agency that also serves as an application to register to vote in Illinois.

"Reliable personal information" means information about individuals obtained from government sources that may be used to verify whether an individual is eligible to register to vote.

(h) (Blank). This Section shall be implemented no later than July 1, 2019.

(i) If an agency under this Section receives documentation that an applicant is a United States citizen, as described in subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.1 for more than one person listed on an application for a license, permit, program, or service, each person for whom the agency receives the documentation may be considered an applicant under this Section and the application may serve as a dual-purpose application for each person.

(j) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly shall be implemented no later than January 1, 2028.

(Source: P.A. 100-464, eff. 8-28-17.)

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.3 new)

Sec. 1A-16.3. Language assistance.

(a) Every facility operated by the Driver Services Department of the Office of the Secretary of State and all facilities of a designated voter registration agency located in a political subdivision covered by Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act shall display and make plainly visible signage informing applicants about the type of language assistance available. The signage shall be in the covered languages applicable for the political subdivision.

(b) Every facility operated by the Driver Services Department of the Office of the Secretary of State and all facilities of a designated voter registration agency located in a political subdivision covered by Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act shall make available, in the covered languages, all written materials and verbal communication regarding voter registration for the purpose of processing the applicant's dual-purpose application described in Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.2. Every facility operated by the Driver Services Department of the Office of the Secretary of State and all facilities of a designated voter registration agency shall make available, in the 5 most common non-English languages in this State, all written materials and verbal communications regarding voter registration for the purpose of processing an applicant's dual-purpose application described in Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.2. These materials shall include the notices described in subsection (b-10) of Section 1A-16.1 and subsection (e) of Section 2-105 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the affirmations described in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.1 and paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.2, and the attestations described in subsection (b-5) of Section 1A-16.1 and paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of Section 1A-16.2.

(c) In addition to the requirements under subsections (a) and (b), the Driver Services Department of the Office of the Secretary of State, as part of every transaction described in subsections (b) and (b-5) of Section 1A-16.1 completed through its website, and each designated automatic voter registration agency, as defined in subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.2, as part of every transaction described in subsections (b) and (c) of Section 1A-16.2 completed through its website, shall make available, in the covered languages required in any jurisdiction in this State by Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act and in the 5 most common non-English languages in this State, all information and questions provided to an applicant regarding voter registration for the purpose of processing the applicant's dual-purpose application as described in Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.2. These materials shall include, but not be limited to, the notices described in subsection (b-10) of Section 1A-16.1 and subsection (e) of Section 2-105 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the affirmations described in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.1 and paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.2, and the attestations described in subsection (b-5) of Section 1A-16.1 and paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of Section 1A-16.2. The Office of the Secretary of State shall determine the 5 most common non-English languages in this State by referring to the best available data from the United States Census Bureau or other sources that the Office of the Secretary of State considers relevant and reliable.

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.7)

Sec. 1A-16.7. Automatic voter registration.

(a) The State Board of Elections shall establish and maintain a portal for automatic government agency voter registration that permits an eligible person to electronically apply to register to vote or to update his or her existing voter registration as provided in Section 1A-16.1 or Section 1A-16.2. The portal shall interface with the online voter registration system established in Section 1A-16.5 of this Code and shall be capable of receiving and processing voter registration application information, including electronic signatures, from the Office of the Secretary of State and each designated automatic voter registration agency, as defined in Section 1A-16.2. The State Board of Elections may cross-reference voter registration information from any designated automatic voter registration agency, as defined under Section 1A-16.2 of this Code, with information contained in the database of the Secretary of State as provided under subsection (c) of Section 1A-16.5 of this Code. The State Board of Elections shall modify the online voter registration system as necessary to implement this Section.

(b) Voter registration data received from the Office of the Secretary of State or a designated automatic voter registration agency through the online registration application system shall be processed as provided in Section 1A-16.5 of this Code.

(c) The State Board of Elections shall establish technical specifications applicable to each automatic government registration program, including data format and transmission specifications. The Office of the Secretary of State and each designated automatic voter registration agency shall maintain a data transfer mechanism capable of transmitting voter registration application information, including electronic signatures where available, to the online voter registration system established in Section 1A-16.5 of this Code.

(d) The State Board of Elections shall, by rule, establish criteria and procedures for determining whether an agency of the State or federal government seeking to become a designated automatic voter registration agency in the course of receiving applications and other forms regarding licenses, permits, programs, and services offered by the agency, receives documentation that an applicant is a United States citizen, as described in subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.1 has access to reliable personal information, as defined under this subsection (d) and subsection (f) of Section 1A-16.2 of this Code, and otherwise meets the requirements to enter into an interagency contract and to operate as a designated automatic voter registration agency. The State Board of Elections shall approve each interagency contract upon affirmative vote of a majority of its members.

As used in this subsection (d), "reliable personal information" means information about individuals obtained from government sources that may be used to verify whether an individual is eligible to register to vote.

(e) Whenever an applicant's data is transferred from the Office of the Secretary of State or a designated automatic voter registration agency, the agency must transmit a signature image if available. If no signature image was provided by the agency and , or if no signature image is available in the Office of the Secretary of State's database or the statewide voter registration database, or other database available to the State Board of Elections, the applicant must be notified that voter his or her registration will remain in a pending status until the applicant: , and the applicant will be required to

(1) provides provide identification that complies with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and a signature to the election authority on election day in the polling place or during early voting; .

(2) provides identification that complies with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and a signature with a mail ballot, or provides a signature in accordance with the procedures described in subsection (g-5) of Section 19-8; or

(3) provides a signature in response to the notice described in subsection (g) or by other paper or electronic means determined by the State Board of Elections.

(f) Upon receipt of personal information collected and transferred by the Office of the Secretary of State or a designated automatic voter registration agency, the State Board of Elections shall check the information against the statewide voter registration database. The State Board of Elections shall create and electronically transmit to the appropriate election authority a voter registration application for any individual who is not registered to vote in Illinois and is not disqualified as provided in this Section or whose information reliably indicates a more recent update to the name or address of a person already included in the statewide voter database. The election authority shall process the application accordingly. If the individual provides the Office of the Secretary of State or a designated automatic voter registration agency with an address designated by the Attorney General as a substitute mailing address under Section 15 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act or if the State Board of Elections otherwise determines that the individual is a program participant under Section 10 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act, the State Board of Elections shall not create or electronically transmit to an election authority a voter registration the application for the individual. The State Board of Elections may provide alternative voter registration procedures for the individuals described in this subsection.

(g) The appropriate election authority shall ensure that any applicant about whom it receives information from the State Board of Elections under subsection (f) who is registered to vote or whose existing voter registration is updated under this Section is promptly sent written notice of the change. The notice required by this subsection (g) may be sent or combined with other notices required or permitted by law, including, but not limited to, any notices sent pursuant to Section 1A-16.5 of this Code. Any notice required by this subsection (g) shall contain, at a minimum: (i) the applicant's name and residential address as reflected on the voter registration list; (ii) a statement notifying the applicant to contact the appropriate election authority if his or her voter registration has been updated in error; (iii) the qualifications to register to vote in Illinois; (iv) a statement notifying the applicant that he or she may opt out of voter registration or request a change to his or her registration information at any time by contacting an election official; and (iii) (v) contact information for the appropriate election authority, including a phone number, address, electronic mail address, and website address.

For an applicant under subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.1 or subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.2 who is not currently registered to vote in Illinois, the notice shall be sent within 5 business days after the transmission of the voter registration application to the election authority and shall contain:

(1) the following statement: "After your recent visit to [an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Facility, or designated automatic voter registration agency] we started an automatic voter registration process for you. You will be registered to vote unless you complete, sign, and return this card by [deadline date].";

(2) the notices required by Section 5(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; and

(3) an opportunity to provide a signature as described in subsection (e) and to select a language for election materials if applicable to the jurisdiction, by prepaid postage.

For an applicant under subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.1 or subsections (b) of Section 1A-16.2 who is currently registered to vote in Illinois and whose application contains a change in the applicant's registered residence address or name, the notice shall be sent within 5 business days after the transmission of the voter registration application to the election authority and shall contain:

(1) the following statement: "After your recent visit to [an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Facility or designated automatic voter registration agency], we started an update to your voter registration. Your voter registration will be updated unless you complete, sign and return this card by [deadline date].";

(2) the notices required by Section 5(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; and

(3) an opportunity to provide a signature as described in subsection (e), and to select a language for election materials if applicable to the jurisdiction, by prepaid postage.

Any notice required by this subsection shall, at a minimum, be provided in languages for which there is coverage for the jurisdiction of the election authority under Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act, as identified by the United States Census Bureau in the Federal Register. Any notice required by this subsection must also comply with all applicable, federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances that relate to providing language access to individuals with limited English proficiency. If the State Board of Elections has received language preference information regarding the applicant and has transmitted that information to the appropriate election authority, the appropriate election authority shall take all practicable measures to send the notice to the applicant in the applicant's preferred language.

(g-5) If an applicant under subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.1 or subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.2 returns the notice described in subsection (g) declining to be registered within 23 days after the mailing of the notice, the applicant shall not be registered to vote and the applicant shall be deemed not to have attempted to register to vote. If an applicant under subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.1 or subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.2 returns the notice described in subsection (g) declining or correcting the update within 23 days after the mailing of the notice, the applicant's update shall be declined or corrected in the statewide voter registration database. If an applicant returns the notice described in subsection (g) but does not do so within 23 days after the mailing of the notice, then the applicant shall be registered to vote under the name and address contained in the dual-purpose application. If an applicant returns the notice described in subsection (g) declining to be registered or declining or correcting the update more than 23 days after the mailing of the notice, then the notice shall be processed as a request to cancel or update the applicant's registration. During the 23-day period specified in this subsection, an applicant's voter registration or updated voter registration shall be in a pending status.

(g-6) If an applicant under subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.1 or subsection (b) of Section 1A-16.2 returns the notice indicating a language preference, the language preference shall be retained as part of the person's registration information.

(h) The appropriate election authority shall ensure that any applicant whose voter registration application is not accepted or deemed incomplete is promptly sent written notice of the application's status. The notice required by this subsection may be sent or combined with other notices required or permitted by law, including, but not limited to, any notices sent pursuant to Section 1A-16.5 of this Code. Any notice required by this subsection (h) shall contain, at a minimum, the reason the application was not accepted or deemed incomplete and contact information for the appropriate election authority, including a phone number, address, electronic mail address, and website address.

(i) If the Office of the Secretary of State or a designated automatic voter registration agency transfers information, or if the State Board of Elections creates and transmits a voter registration application, for a person who does not qualify as an eligible voter, then it shall not constitute a completed voter registration form, and the person shall not be considered to have registered to vote.

(j) If the registration is processed by any election authority, then it shall be presumed to have been effected and officially authorized by the State, and that person shall not be found on that basis to have made a false claim to citizenship or to have committed an act of moral turpitude, nor shall that person be subject to penalty under any relevant laws, including, but not limited to, Sections 29-10 and 29-19 of this Code. This subsection (j) does not apply to a person who knows that he or she is not entitled to register to vote and who willfully votes, registers to vote, or attests under penalty of perjury that he or she is eligible to register to vote or willfully attempts to vote or to register to vote.

(k) The State Board of Elections, the Office of the Secretary of State, and each designated automatic voter registration agency shall implement policies and procedures to protect the privacy and security of voter information as it is acquired, stored, and transmitted among agencies, including policies for the retention and preservation of voter information. Information designated as confidential under this Section may be recorded and shared among the State Board of Elections, election authorities, the Office of the Secretary of State, and designated automatic voter registration agencies, but shall be used only for voter registration purposes, shall not be disclosed to the public except in the aggregate as required by subsection (m) of this Section, and shall not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The following information shall be designated as confidential:

(1) any portion of an applicant's Social Security number;

(2) any portion of an applicant's driver's license number or State identification number;

(3) an applicant's decision to decline voter registration;

(4) the identity of the person providing information relating to a specific applicant; and

(5) the personal residence and contact information of any applicant for whom notice has been given by an appropriate legal authority; and .

(6) the personal residence and contact information relating to an applicant who returns a notice described subsection (g) declining to register to vote that was received by the election authority within 23 days after mailing the notice or for whom the 23-day period has not passed.

This subsection (k) shall not apply to information the State Board of Elections is required to share with the Electronic Registration Information Center.

(l) The voter registration procedures implemented under this Section shall comport with the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993, as amended, and shall specifically require that the State Board of Elections track registration data received through the online registration system that originated from a designated automatic voter registration agency for the purposes of maintaining statistics.

Nothing in this Code shall require designated voter registration agencies to transmit information that is confidential client information under State or federal law without the consent of the applicant.

(m) The State Board of Elections, each election authority that maintains a website, the Office of the Secretary of State, and each designated automatic voter registration agency that maintains a website shall provide information on their websites informing the public about the new registration procedures described in this Section. The Office of the Secretary of State and each designated automatic voter registration agency shall display signage or provide literature for the public containing information about the new registration procedures described in this Section.

(n) No later than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the State Board of Elections shall hold at least one public hearing on implementing this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly at which the public may provide input.

(o) The State Board of Elections shall submit an annual public report to the General Assembly and the Governor detailing the progress made to implement this Section. The report shall include all of the following: the number of records transferred under this Section by agency, the number of voters newly added to the statewide voter registration list because of records transferred under this Section by agency, the number of updated registrations under this Section by agency, the number of persons who opted out of voter registration, and the number of voters who submitted voter registration forms using the online procedure described in Section 1A-16.5 of this Code. The 2018 and 2019 annual reports may include less detail if election authorities are not equipped to provide complete information to the State Board of Elections. Any report produced under this subsection (o) shall exclude any information that identifies any individual personally.

(p) The State Board of Elections, in consultation with election authorities, the Office of the Secretary of State, designated automatic voter registration agencies, and community organizations, shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

(q) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly shall be implemented no later than January 1, 2028.

(Source: P.A. 100-464, eff. 8-28-17.)

(10 ILCS 5/1A-16.8)

Sec. 1A-16.8. Automatic transfer of registration based upon information from the National Change of Address database and designated automatic voter registration agencies.

(a) 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 or with the same frequency as in subsection (b) of this Section, and shall share the findings with the election authorities.

(b) 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 automatic voter registration 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.

This subsection (b) shall no longer apply once Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.2 of this Code are fully implemented as determined by the State Board of Elections. Upon a determination by the State Board of Elections of full implementation of Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.2 of this Code, the State Board of Elections shall file notice of full implementation and the inapplicability of this subsection (b) with the Index Department of the Office of the Secretary of State, the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau.

(b-5) The State Board of Elections shall not be required to share any data on any voter attained using the National Change of Address database under subsection (a) of this Section if that voter has a more recent government transaction indicated using the cross-reference under subsection (b) of this Section. If there is contradictory or unclear data between data obtained under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, then data obtained under subsection (b) of this Section shall take priority.

(c) 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.

(c-5) An agency that does not receive documentation that an applicant is a United States citizen, as described in subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.1, may enter into an agreement with the State Board of Elections to transmit information that shall serve only to update an applicant's existing voter registration record. Under the agreement, the agency shall transmit information on all clients who may be registered to vote with a clear indication that the information shall be used only for updates. The State Board of Elections shall determine which applicants are already registered to vote and, for any voter whose information provided to the agency differs from that on the voter registration record, provide that information to the voter's local election authority who shall update a registered voter's records in accordance with the procedures described in Section 1A-16.7. The State Board of Election and local election authority shall take no action under this subsection for any applicant not already registered to vote.

This subsection shall be implemented no later than January 1, 2028.

(d) No voter shall be disqualified from voting due to an error relating to an update of registration under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-522, eff. 6-30-16; 100-464, eff. 8-28-17.)

Section 40-10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 2-105 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/2-105) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 2-105)

Sec. 2-105. Offices of Secretary of State.

(a) The Secretary of State shall maintain offices in the State capital and in such other places in the State as he may deem necessary to properly carry out the powers and duties vested in him.

(b) The Secretary of State may construct and equip one or more buildings in the State of Illinois outside of the County of Sangamon as he deems necessary to properly carry out the powers and duties vested in him. The Secretary of State may, on behalf of the State of Illinois, acquire public or private property needed therefor by lease, purchase or eminent domain. The care, custody and control of such sites and buildings constructed thereon shall be vested in the Secretary of State. Expenditures for the construction and equipping of any of such buildings upon premises owned by another public entity shall not be subject to the provisions of any State law requiring that the State be vested with absolute fee title to the premises. The exercise of the authority vested in the Secretary of State by this Section is subject to the appropriation of the necessary funds.

(c) Pursuant to Sections 1A-16.1, 1A-16.7, and 1A-25 of the Election Code, the Secretary of State shall make driver services facilities available for use as places of accepting applications for voter registration.

(d) (Blank).

(e) Each applicant person applying at a driver services facility for a driver's license or permit, a corrected driver's license or permit, an Illinois Identification Card identification card or a corrected Illinois Identification Card who has presented documentation establishing United States citizenship as set forth in subsection (g) of Section 1A-16.1 of the Election Code identification card shall be notified, under the procedures set forth in Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.7 of the Election Code, that the applicant's unless he or she affirmatively declines, his or her personal information shall be transferred to the State Board of Elections for the purpose of creating an electronic voter registration application. Each applicant applying at a driver services facility for a driver's license or permit, a corrected driver's license or permit or a State identification card or a corrected Illinois Identification Card who presented documentation that neither establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen nor establishes that the applicant is not a United States citizen, but who affirmatively indicated they wished to apply to register to vote and attested, in writing, to United States citizenship, shall be notified, under the procedures set forth in Sections 1A-16.1 and 1A-16.7 of the Election Code that the applicant's personal information will be transmitted to the State Board of Elections for the purpose of creating an electronic voter registration application. Such notification may be made in writing or verbally issued by an employee or the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the efficient execution of his duties and the duties of his employees under this Section.

(f) Any person applying at a driver services facility for issuance or renewal of a driver's license or Illinois Identification Card shall be provided, without charge, with a brochure warning the person of the dangers of financial identity theft. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall prepare these brochures and provide them to the Secretary of State for distribution. The brochures shall (i) identify signs warning the reader that he or she might be an intended victim of the crime of financial identity theft, (ii) instruct the reader in how to proceed if the reader believes that he or she is the victim of the crime of identity theft, and (iii) provide the reader with names and telephone numbers of law enforcement and other governmental agencies that provide assistance to victims of financial identity theft.

(g) (Blank). The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly shall be implemented no later than July 1, 2018.

(h) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly shall be implemented no later than January 1, 2028.

(Source: P.A. 100-464, eff. 8-28-17.)

Article 50.

Section 50-5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is amended by changing Sections 5-5 and 70-5 as follows:

(5 ILCS 430/5-5)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-435)

Sec. 5-5. Personnel policies.

(a) Each of the following shall adopt and implement personnel policies for all State employees under his, her, or its jurisdiction and control: (i) each executive branch constitutional officer, (ii) each legislative leader, (iii) the Senate Operations Commission, with respect to legislative employees under Section 4 of the General Assembly Operations Act, (iv) the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with respect to legislative employees under Section 5 of the General Assembly Operations Act, (v) the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services, with respect to State employees of the legislative support services agencies, (vi) members of the General Assembly, with respect to legislative assistants, as provided in Section 4 of the General Assembly Compensation Act, (vii) the Auditor General, (viii) the Board of Higher Education, with respect to State employees of public institutions of higher learning except community colleges, and (ix) the Illinois Community College Board, with respect to State employees of community colleges. The Governor shall adopt and implement those policies for all State employees of the executive branch not under the jurisdiction and control of any other executive branch constitutional officer.

(b) The policies required under subsection (a) shall be filed with the appropriate ethics commission established under this Act or, for the Auditor General, with the Office of the Auditor General.

(c) The policies required under subsection (a) shall include policies relating to work time requirements, documentation of time worked, documentation for reimbursement for travel on official State business, compensation, and the earning or accrual of State benefits for all State employees who may be eligible to receive those benefits. No later than 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the policies shall include, at a minimum: (i) a prohibition on sexual harassment; (ii) details on how an individual can report an allegation of sexual harassment, including options for making a confidential report to a supervisor, ethics officer, Inspector General, or the Department of Human Rights; (iii) a prohibition on retaliation for reporting sexual harassment allegations, including availability of whistleblower protections under this Act, the Whistleblower Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act; and (iv) the consequences of a violation of the prohibition on sexual harassment and the consequences for knowingly making a false report. The policies shall comply with and be consistent with all other applicable laws. The policies shall require State employees to periodically submit time sheets documenting the time spent each day on official State business to the nearest quarter hour; contractual State employees may satisfy the time sheets requirement by complying with the terms of their contract, which shall provide for a means of compliance with this requirement. In addition, State employees of public institutions of higher education classified as faculty (including tenure system and nontenure system), and those not eligible for overtime pay as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act, may satisfy the time sheets requirement by complying with the terms of their contract or employment agreement with the public institution of higher education, which shall provide for a means of compliance with this requirement. The policies for State employees shall require those time sheets to be submitted on paper, electronically, or both and to be maintained in either paper or electronic format by the applicable fiscal office for a period of at least 2 years.

(d) The policies required under subsection (a) shall be adopted by the applicable entity before February 1, 2004 and shall apply to State employees beginning 30 days after adoption.

(Source: P.A. 100-554, eff. 11-16-17.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-435)

Sec. 5-5. Personnel policies.

(a) Each of the following shall adopt and implement personnel policies for all State employees under his, her, or its jurisdiction and control: (i) each executive branch constitutional officer, (ii) each legislative leader, (iii) the President of the Senate, with respect to legislative employees under Section 4 of the General Assembly Operations Act, (iv) the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with respect to legislative employees under Section 5 of the General Assembly Operations Act, (v) the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services, with respect to State employees of the legislative support services agencies, (vi) members of the General Assembly, with respect to legislative assistants, as provided in Section 4 of the General Assembly Compensation Act, (vii) the Auditor General, (viii) the Board of Higher Education, with respect to State employees of public institutions of higher learning except community colleges, and (ix) the Illinois Community College Board, with respect to State employees of community colleges. The Governor shall adopt and implement those policies for all State employees of the executive branch not under the jurisdiction and control of any other executive branch constitutional officer.

(b) The policies required under subsection (a) shall be filed with the appropriate ethics commission established under this Act or, for the Auditor General, with the Office of the Auditor General.

(c) The policies required under subsection (a) shall include policies relating to work time requirements, documentation of time worked, documentation for reimbursement for travel on official State business, compensation, and the earning or accrual of State benefits for all State employees who may be eligible to receive those benefits. No later than 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the policies shall include, at a minimum: (i) a prohibition on sexual harassment; (ii) details on how an individual can report an allegation of sexual harassment, including options for making a confidential report to a supervisor, ethics officer, Inspector General, or the Department of Human Rights; (iii) a prohibition on retaliation for reporting sexual harassment allegations, including availability of whistleblower protections under this Act, the Whistleblower Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act; and (iv) the consequences of a violation of the prohibition on sexual harassment and the consequences for knowingly making a false report. The policies shall comply with and be consistent with all other applicable laws. The policies shall require State employees to periodically submit time sheets documenting the time spent each day on official State business to the nearest quarter hour; contractual State employees may satisfy the time sheets requirement by complying with the terms of their contract, which shall provide for a means of compliance with this requirement. In addition, State employees of public institutions of higher education classified as faculty (including tenure system and nontenure system), and those not eligible for overtime pay as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act, may satisfy the time sheets requirement by complying with the terms of their contract or employment agreement with the public institution of higher education, which shall provide for a means of compliance with this requirement. The policies for State employees shall require those time sheets to be submitted on paper, electronically, or both and to be maintained in either paper or electronic format by the applicable fiscal office for a period of at least 2 years.

(d) The policies required under subsection (a) shall be adopted by the applicable entity before February 1, 2004 and shall apply to State employees beginning 30 days after adoption.

(Source: P.A. 104-435, eff. 7-1-26.)

(5 ILCS 430/70-5)

Sec. 70-5. Adoption by governmental entities.

(a) Within 6 months after the effective date of this Act, each governmental entity other than a community college district, and each community college district within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, shall adopt an ordinance or resolution that regulates, in a manner no less restrictive than Section 5-15 and Article 10 of this Act, (i) the political activities of officers and employees of the governmental entity and (ii) the soliciting and accepting of gifts by and the offering and making of gifts to officers and employees of the governmental entity. No later than 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, each governmental unit shall adopt an ordinance or resolution establishing a policy to prohibit sexual harassment. The policy shall include, at a minimum: (i) a prohibition on sexual harassment; (ii) details on how an individual can report an allegation of sexual harassment, including options for making a confidential report to a supervisor, ethics officer, Inspector General, or the Department of Human Rights; (iii) a prohibition on retaliation for reporting sexual harassment allegations, including availability of whistleblower protections under this Act, the Whistleblower Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act; and (iv) the consequences of a violation of the prohibition on sexual harassment and the consequences for knowingly making a false report. Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, each governmental unit that is not subject to the jurisdiction of a State or local Inspector General shall adopt an ordinance or resolution amending its sexual harassment policy to provide for a mechanism for reporting and independent review of allegations of sexual harassment made against an elected official of the governmental unit by another elected official of a governmental unit.

(b) Within 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the Attorney General shall develop model ordinances and resolutions for the purpose of this Article. The Attorney General shall advise governmental entities on their contents and adoption.

(c) As used in this Article, (i) an "officer" means an elected or appointed official; regardless of whether the official is compensated, and (ii) an "employee" means a full-time, part-time, or contractual employee.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, a governmental entity may create an ethics commission to satisfy the requirements of subsection (a).

(Source: P.A. 100-554, eff. 11-16-17; 101-221, eff. 8-9-19.)

Section 50-10. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 13-1, 13-2, and 19-2 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/13-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-1)

Sec. 13-1. In counties not under township organization, the county board of commissioners shall at its meeting in July in each even-numbered year appoint in each election precinct 5 capable and discreet persons meeting the qualifications of Section 13-4 to be judges of election. Where neither voting machines nor electronic, mechanical or electric voting systems are used, the county board may, for any precinct with respect to which the board considers such action necessary or desirable in view of the number of voters, and shall for general elections for any precinct containing more than 600 registered voters, appoint in addition to the 5 judges of election a team of 5 tally judges. In such precincts the judges of election shall preside over the election during the hours the polls are open, and the tally judges, with the assistance of the holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 13-6.2, shall count the vote after the closing of the polls. However, the County Board of Commissioners may appoint 3 judges of election to serve in lieu of the 5 judges of election otherwise required by this Section (1) to serve in any emergency referendum, or in any odd-year regular election or in any special primary or special election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress or to nominate candidates for such purpose or (2) if the county board passes an ordinance to reduce the number of judges of election to 3 for primary elections. In a county with a population of less than 100,000 persons as of the last federal decennial census, an election authority may also reduce the number of judges of election in each precinct to 3 judges of election in lieu of the 5 judges of election otherwise required by this Section. The tally judges shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for judges of election.

In addition to such precinct judges, the county board of commissioners shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each, who shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for other judges of election. The number of such panels of judges required shall be determined by regulations of the State Board of Elections which shall base the required numbers of special panels on the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction or the number of vote by mail ballots voted at recent elections, or any combination of such factors.

Such appointment shall be confirmed by the court as provided in Section 13-3 of this Article. No more than 3 persons of the same political party shall be appointed judges of the same election precinct or election judge panel. The appointment shall be made in the following manner: The county board of commissioners shall select and approve 3 persons as judges of election in each election precinct from a certified list, furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the first leading political party in such precinct; and the county board of commissioners shall also select and approve 2 persons as judges of election in each election precinct from a certified list, furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the second leading political party. However, if only 3 judges of election serve in each election precinct, no more than 2 persons of the same political party shall be judges of election in the same election precinct; and which political party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political party is entitled to one judge of election shall be determined in the same manner as set forth in the next two preceding sentences with regard to 5 election judges in each precinct. Such certified list shall be filed with the county clerk not less than 10 days before the annual meeting of the county board of commissioners. Such list shall be arranged according to precincts. The chair of each county central committee shall, insofar as possible, list persons who reside within the precinct in which they are to serve as judges. However, he may, in his sole discretion, submit the names of persons who reside outside the precinct but within the county embracing the precinct in which they are to serve. He must, however, submit the names of at least 2 residents of the precinct for each precinct in which his party is to have 3 judges and must submit the name of at least one resident of the precinct for each precinct in which his party is to have 2 judges. The county board of commissioners shall acknowledge in writing to each county chair the names of all persons submitted on such certified list and the total number of persons listed thereon. If no such list is filed or such list is incomplete (that is, no names or an insufficient number of names are furnished for certain election precincts), the county board of commissioners shall make or complete such list from the names contained in the supplemental list provided for in Section 13-1.1. The election judges shall hold their office for 2 years from their appointment, and until their successors are duly appointed in the manner provided in this Act. The county board of commissioners shall fill all vacancies in the office of judge of election at any time in the manner provided in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-337, eff. 8-25-17; 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/13-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 13-2)

Sec. 13-2. In counties under the township organization the county board shall at its meeting in July in each even-numbered year except in counties containing a population of 3,000,000 inhabitants or over and except when such judges are appointed by election commissioners, select in each election precinct in the county, 5 capable and discreet persons to be judges of election who shall possess the qualifications required by this Act for such judges. Where neither voting machines nor electronic, mechanical or electric voting systems are used, the county board may, for any precinct with respect to which the board considers such action necessary or desirable in view of the number of voters, and shall for general elections for any precinct containing more than 600 registered voters, appoint in addition to the 5 judges of election a team of 5 tally judges. In such precincts the judges of election shall preside over the election during the hours the polls are open, and the tally judges, with the assistance of the holdover judges designated pursuant to Section 13-6.2, shall count the vote after the closing of the polls. The tally judges shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for judges of election.

However, the county board may appoint 3 judges of election to serve in lieu of the 5 judges of election otherwise required by this Section (1) to serve in any emergency referendum, or in any odd-year regular election or in any special primary or special election called for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress or to nominate candidates for such purpose or (2) if the county board passes an ordinance to reduce the number of judges of election to 3 for primary elections. In a county with a population of less than 100,000 persons as of the last federal decennial census, an election authority may also reduce the number of judges of election in each precinct to 3 judges of election in lieu of the 5 judges of election otherwise required by this Section.

In addition to such precinct judges, the county board shall appoint special panels of 3 judges each, who shall possess the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same division between political parties as is provided for other judges of election. The number of such panels of judges required shall be determined by regulations of the State Board of Elections, which shall base the required number of special panels on the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction or the number of absentee ballots voted at recent elections or any combination of such factors.

No more than 3 persons of the same political party shall be appointed judges in the same election district or undivided precinct. The election of the judges of election in the various election precincts shall be made in the following manner: The county board shall select and approve 3 of the election judges in each precinct from a certified list furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the first leading political party in such election precinct and shall also select and approve 2 judges of election in each election precinct from a certified list furnished by the chair of the County Central Committee of the second leading political party in such election precinct. However, if only 3 judges of election serve in each election precinct, no more than 2 persons of the same political party shall be judges of election in the same election precinct; and which political party is entitled to 2 judges of election and which political party is entitled to one judge of election shall be determined in the same manner as set forth in the next two preceding sentences with regard to 5 election judges in each precinct. The respective County Central Committee chair shall notify the county board by June 1 of each odd-numbered year immediately preceding the annual meeting of the county board whether or not such certified list will be filed by such chair. Such list shall be arranged according to precincts. The chair of each county central committee shall, insofar as possible, list persons who reside within the precinct in which they are to serve as judges. However, he may, in his sole discretion, submit the names of persons who reside outside the precinct but within the county embracing the precinct in which they are to serve. He must, however, submit the names of at least 2 residents of the precinct for each precinct in which his party is to have 3 judges and must submit the name of at least one resident of the precinct for each precinct in which his party is to have 2 judges. Such certified list, if filed, shall be filed with the county clerk not less than 20 days before the annual meeting of the county board. The county board shall acknowledge in writing to each county chair the names of all persons submitted on such certified list and the total number of persons listed thereon. If no such list is filed or the list is incomplete (that is, no names or an insufficient number of names are furnished for certain election precincts), the county board shall make or complete such list from the names contained in the supplemental list provided for in Section 13-1.1. Provided, further, that in any case where a township has been or shall be redistricted, in whole or in part, subsequent to one general election for Governor, and prior to the next, the judges of election to be selected for all new or altered precincts shall be selected in that one of the methods above detailed, which shall be applicable according to the facts and circumstances of the particular case, but the majority of such judges for each such precinct shall be selected from the first leading political party, and the minority judges from the second leading political party. Provided, further, that in counties having a population of 3,000,000 inhabitants or over the selection of judges of election shall be made in the same manner in all respects as in other counties, except that the provisions relating to tally judges are inapplicable to such counties and except that the county board shall meet during the month of January for the purpose of making such selection, each township committeeperson shall assume the responsibilities given to the chair of the county central committee in this Section for the precincts within his or her township, and the township committeeperson shall notify the county board by the preceding October 1 whether or not the certified list will be filed. Such judges of election shall hold their office for 2 years from their appointment and until their successors are duly appointed in the manner provided in this Act. The county board shall fill all vacancies in the office of judges of elections at any time in the manner herein provided.

Such selections under this Section shall be confirmed by the circuit court as provided in Section 13-3 of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 100-337, eff. 8-25-17; 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-2)

Sec. 19-2. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any elector as defined in Section 19-1 may by mail or electronically on the website of the appropriate election authority, not more than 90 nor less than 5 days prior to the date of such election, or by personal delivery not more than 90 nor less than one day prior to the date of such election, make application to the county clerk or to the Board of Election Commissioners for an official ballot for the voter's precinct to be voted at such election. Such a ballot shall be delivered to the elector only upon separate application by the elector for each election. Voters who make an application for permanent vote by mail ballot status shall follow the procedures specified in Section 19-3 and may apply year round. A voter Voters whose application for permanent vote by mail status is accepted by the election authority shall remain on the permanent vote by mail list until the voter requests to be removed from permanent vote by mail status, the voter provides notice to the election authority of a change in registration that affects the voter's their registration status, or the election authority receives confirmation that the voter has subsequently registered to vote in another election authority jurisdiction. Each election authority shall establish a website for eligible voters to request a vote by mail ballot by electronic form and the The URL address at which voters may electronically request a vote by mail ballot shall be fixed no later than 90 calendar days before an election and shall not be changed until after the election.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-668, eff. 11-15-21; 102-687, eff. 12-17-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; revised 6-24-25.)

Article 60.

Section 60-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 24B-15 and 24C-15 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/24B-15)

Sec. 24B-15. Official return of precinct; check of totals; retabulation. The precinct return printed by the automatic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology tabulating equipment shall include the number of ballots cast and votes cast for each candidate and proposition and shall constitute the official return of each precinct. In addition to the precinct return, the election authority shall provide the number of applications for ballots in each precinct, the write-in votes, the total number of ballots counted in each precinct for each political subdivision and district and the number of registered voters in each precinct. However, the election authority shall check the totals shown by the precinct return and, if there is an obvious discrepancy regarding the total number of votes cast in any precinct, shall have the ballots for that precinct retabulated to correct the return. The procedures for retabulation shall apply prior to and after the proclamation is completed; however, after the proclamation of results, the election authority must obtain a court order to unseal voted ballots except for election contests and discovery recounts. In those election jurisdictions that use in-precinct counting equipment, the certificate of results, which has been prepared by the judges of election after the ballots have been tabulated, shall be the document used for the canvass of votes for such precinct. Whenever a discrepancy exists during the canvass of votes between the unofficial results and the certificate of results, or whenever a discrepancy exists during the canvass of votes between the certificate of results and the set of totals which has been affixed to the certificate of results, the ballots for that precinct shall be retabulated to correct the return. As an additional part of this check prior to the proclamation, in those jurisdictions where in-precinct counting equipment is used, the election authority shall retabulate the total number of votes cast in 5% of the precincts within the election jurisdiction, as well as 5% of the voting devices used in early voting and at vote centers. The precincts and the voting devices to be retabulated shall be selected after election day on a random basis by the State Board of Elections, so that every precinct in the election jurisdiction and every voting device used in early voting or at a vote center has an equal mathematical chance of being selected. The State Board of Elections shall design a standard and scientific random method of selecting the precincts and voting devices which are to be retabulated. The State central committee chair of each established political party shall be given prior written notice of the time and place of the random selection procedure and may be represented at the procedure. The retabulation shall consist of counting the ballots which were originally counted and shall not involve any determination of which ballots were, in fact, properly counted. The ballots from the precincts selected for the retabulation shall remain at all times under the custody and control of the election authority and shall be transported and retabulated by the designated staff of the election authority.

As part of the retabulation, the election authority shall test the computer program in the selected precincts and on the selected early voting devices. The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots marked to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each public question, and shall include for each office one or more ballots which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law to test the ability of the equipment and the marking device to reject such votes. If any error is detected, the cause shall be determined and corrected, and an errorless count shall be made prior to the official canvass and proclamation of election results.

The State Board of Elections, the State's Attorney and other appropriate law enforcement agencies, the county chair of each established political party and qualified civic organizations shall be given prior written notice of the time and place of the retabulation and may be represented at the retabulation.

The results of this retabulation shall be treated in the same manner and have the same effect as the results of the discovery procedures set forth in Section 22-9.1 of this Code. Upon completion of the retabulation, the election authority shall print a comparison of the results of the retabulation with the original precinct return printed by the automatic tabulating equipment. The comparison shall be done for each precinct and for each early voting device selected for testing and for each office voted upon within that precinct or on that voting device, and the comparisons shall be open to the public. Upon completion of the retabulation, the returns shall be open to the public.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/24C-15)

Sec. 24C-15. Official return of precinct; check of totals; audit. The precinct return printed by the Direct Recording Electronic Voting System tabulating equipment shall include the number of ballots cast and votes cast for each candidate and public question and shall constitute the official return of each precinct. In addition to the precinct return, the election authority shall provide the number of applications for ballots in each precinct, the total number of ballots and vote by mail ballots counted in each precinct for each political subdivision and district and the number of registered voters in each precinct. However, the election authority shall check the totals shown by the precinct return and, if there is an obvious discrepancy regarding the total number of votes cast in any precinct, shall have the ballots for that precinct audited to correct the return. The procedures for this audit shall apply prior to and after the proclamation is completed; however, after the proclamation of results, the election authority must obtain a court order to unseal voted ballots or voting devices except for election contests and discovery recounts. The certificate of results, which has been prepared and signed by the judges of election after the ballots have been tabulated, shall be the document used for the canvass of votes for such precinct. Whenever a discrepancy exists during the canvass of votes between the unofficial results and the certificate of results, or whenever a discrepancy exists during the canvass of votes between the certificate of results and the set of totals reflected on the certificate of results, the ballots for that precinct shall be audited to correct the return.

Prior to the proclamation, the election authority shall test the voting devices and equipment in 5% of the precincts within the election jurisdiction, as well as 5% of the voting devices used in early voting and at vote centers. The precincts and the voting devices to be tested shall be selected after election day on a random basis by the State Board of Elections, so that every precinct and every device used in early voting or at a vote center in the election jurisdiction has an equal mathematical chance of being selected. The State Board of Elections shall design a standard and scientific random method of selecting the precincts and voting devices that are to be tested. The State central committee chair of each established political party shall be given prior written notice of the time and place of the random selection procedure and may be represented at the procedure.

The test shall be conducted by counting the votes marked on the permanent paper record of each ballot cast in the tested precinct printed by the voting system at the time that each ballot was cast and comparing the results of this count with the results shown by the certificate of results prepared by the Direct Recording Electronic Voting System in the test precinct. The election authority shall test count these votes either by hand or by using an automatic tabulating device other than a Direct Recording Electronic voting device that has been approved by the State Board of Elections for that purpose and tested before use to ensure accuracy. The election authority shall print the results of each test count. If any error is detected, the cause shall be determined and corrected, and an errorless count shall be made prior to the official canvass and proclamation of election results. If an errorless count cannot be conducted and there continues to be difference in vote results between the certificate of results produced by the Direct Recording Electronic Voting System and the count of the permanent paper records or if an error was detected and corrected, the election authority shall immediately prepare and forward to the appropriate canvassing board a written report explaining the results of the test and any errors encountered and the report shall be made available for public inspection.

The State Board of Elections, the State's Attorney and other appropriate law enforcement agencies, the county chair of each established political party and qualified civic organizations shall be given prior written notice of the time and place of the test and may be represented at the test.

The results of this post-election test shall be treated in the same manner and have the same effect as the results of the discovery procedures set forth in Section 22-9.1 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

Article 65.

Section 65-5. The Open Meetings Act is amended by changing Section 2.07 as follows:

(5 ILCS 120/2.07)

Sec. 2.07. Meetings on election days; prohibited.

(a) A public body, other than a board of election commissioners established under Article 6 or 6A of the Election Code, may not hold or schedule a regular or special meeting on the day of a general primary election, a general election, a consolidated primary election, or a consolidated election, as defined in the Election Code.

(b) A home rule unit may not hold or schedule meetings in a manner inconsistent with this Act. This Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions in accordance with subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(Source: P.A. 104-438, eff. 1-1-26.)

Article 70.

Section 70-5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section 29-25 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/29-25 new)

Sec. 29-25. Prohibit firearms in polling places. Any person who carries or possesses a firearm while present in a polling place, except a peace officer in the performance of his or her official duties, shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

Article 75.

Section 75-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 9-8.10 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/9-8.10)

Sec. 9-8.10. Use of political committee and other reporting organization funds.

(a) A political committee shall not make expenditures:

(1) In violation of any law of the United States or of this State.

(2) Clearly in excess of the fair market value of the services, materials, facilities, or other things of value received in exchange.

(3) For satisfaction or repayment of any debts other than loans made to the committee or to the public official or candidate on behalf of the committee or repayment of goods and services purchased by the committee under a credit agreement. Nothing in this Section authorizes the use of campaign funds to repay personal loans. The repayments shall be made by check written to the person who made the loan or credit agreement. The terms and conditions of any loan or credit agreement to a committee shall be set forth in a written agreement, including but not limited to the method and amount of repayment, that shall be executed by the chair or treasurer of the committee at the time of the loan or credit agreement. The loan or agreement shall also set forth the rate of interest for the loan, if any, which may not substantially exceed the prevailing market interest rate at the time the agreement is executed.

(4) For the satisfaction or repayment of any debts or for the payment of any expenses relating to a personal residence. Campaign funds may not be used as collateral for home mortgages. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to expenditures by a political committee for expenses related to: (i) a public official's or candidate's personal security services provided by a private security contractor agency licensed under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 or security enhancements to a public official's or candidate's primary residence, including, but not limited to, security systems, cameras, walls, fences, or other physical structures, if the security services or security enhancements are reasonably necessary due to risks arising from the public official's or candidate's political or governmental duties; or (ii) cybersecurity measures or tools used to protect and secure a public official's or candidate's personal, political, and government devices, Internet networks, or other technology, if the cybersecurity measures or tools are reasonably necessary due to risks arising from the public official's or candidate's political or governmental duties.

(5) For clothing or personal laundry expenses, except clothing items rented by the public official or candidate for his or her own use exclusively for a specific campaign-related event, provided that committees may purchase costumes, novelty items, or other accessories worn primarily to advertise the candidacy.

(6) For the travel expenses of any person unless the travel is necessary for fulfillment of political, governmental, or public policy duties, activities, or purposes.

(7) For membership or club dues charged by organizations, clubs, or facilities that are primarily engaged in providing health, exercise, or recreational services; provided, however, that funds received under this Article may be used to rent the clubs or facilities for a specific campaign-related event.

(8) In payment for anything of value or for reimbursement of any expenditure for which any person has been reimbursed by the State or any person. For purposes of this item (8), a per diem allowance is not a reimbursement.

(9) For the lease or purchase of or installment payment for a motor vehicle unless the political committee can demonstrate the vehicle will be used primarily for campaign purposes or for the performance of governmental duties. Nothing in this paragraph prohibits a political committee from using political funds to make expenditures related to vehicles not purchased or leased by a political committee, provided the expenditure relates to the use of the vehicle for primarily campaign purposes or the performance of governmental duties. Persons using vehicles not purchased or leased by a political committee may be reimbursed for actual mileage for the use of the vehicle for campaign purposes or for the performance of governmental duties. The mileage reimbursements shall be made at a rate not to exceed the standard mileage rate method for computation of business expenses under the Internal Revenue Code.

(10) Directly for an individual's tuition or other educational expenses, except for governmental or political purposes directly related to a candidate's or public official's duties and responsibilities.

(11) For payments to a public official or candidate or his or her family member unless for compensation for services actually rendered by that person. The provisions of this item (11) do not apply to expenditures by a political committee for expenses related to providing childcare for a minor child or care for a dependent family member if the care is reasonably necessary for the public official or candidate to fulfill political or governmental duties. The provisions of this item (11) do not apply to expenditures by a political committee in an aggregate amount not exceeding the amount of funds reported to and certified by the State Board or county clerk as available as of June 30, 1998, in the semi-annual report of contributions and expenditures filed by the political committee for the period concluding June 30, 1998.

(b) The Board shall have the authority to investigate, upon receipt of a verified complaint, violations of the provisions of this Section. The Board may levy a fine on any person who knowingly makes expenditures in violation of this Section and on any person who knowingly makes a malicious and false accusation of a violation of this Section. The Board may act under this subsection only upon the affirmative vote of at least 5 of its members. The fine shall not exceed $500 for each expenditure of $500 or less and shall not exceed the amount of the expenditure plus $500 for each expenditure greater than $500. The Board shall also have the authority to render rulings and issue opinions relating to compliance with this Section.

(c) Nothing in this Section prohibits the expenditure of funds of a political committee controlled by an officeholder or by a candidate to defray the customary and reasonable expenses of an officeholder in connection with the performance of governmental and public service functions.

(d) Nothing in this Section prohibits the funds of a political committee which is controlled by a person convicted of a violation of any of the offenses listed in subsection (a) of Section 10 of the Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act from being forfeited to the State under Section 15 of the Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act.

(Source: P.A. 104-443, eff. 1-1-26.)

Article 80.

Section 80-5. The Lobbyist Registration Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(25 ILCS 170/5)

Sec. 5. Lobbyist registration and disclosure. Every natural person and every entity required to register under this Act shall before any service is performed which requires the natural person or entity to register, but in any event not later than 2 business days after being employed or retained, file in the Office of the Secretary of State a statement in a format prescribed by the Secretary of State containing the following information with respect to each person or entity employing, retaining, or benefitting from the services of the natural person or entity required to register:

(a) The registrant's name, permanent address, e-mail address, if any, fax number, if any, business telephone number, and temporary address, if the registrant has a temporary address while lobbying.

(a-5) If the registrant is an entity, the information required under subsection (a) for each natural person associated with the registrant who will be lobbying, regardless of whether lobbying is a significant part of his or her duties.

(b) The name and address of the client or clients employing or retaining the registrant to perform such services or on whose behalf the registrant appears. If the client employing or retaining the registrant is a client registrant, the statement shall also include the name and address of the client or clients of the client registrant on whose behalf the registrant will be or anticipates performing services.

(b-5) If the registrant employs or retains a sub-registrant, the statement shall include the name and address of the sub-registrant and identify the client or clients of the registrant on whose behalf the sub-registrant will be or is anticipated to be performing services.

(b-7) If the registrant retains a consultant, the statement shall include the name and address of the consultant and identify the client or clients and each executive and legislative branch agency for which the consultant is to provide advisory services.

(c) For those identified under subsections (b), (b-5), and (b-7), a brief description of the executive, legislative, or administrative action in reference to which such service is to be rendered.

(c-5) Each executive and legislative branch agency of the State and each unit of local government the registrant expects to lobby during the registration period.

(c-6) The nature of the client's business, by indicating all of the following categories that apply: (1) banking and financial services, (2) manufacturing, (3) education, (4) environment, (5) healthcare, (6) insurance, (7) community interests, (8) labor, (9) public relations or advertising, (10) marketing or sales, (11) hospitality, (12) engineering, (13) information or technology products or services, (14) social services, (15) public utilities, (16) racing or wagering, (17) real estate or construction, (18) telecommunications, (19) trade or professional association, (20) travel or tourism, (21) transportation, (22) agriculture, and (23) other (setting forth the nature of that other business).

(d) A confirmation that the registrant has a sexual harassment policy as required by Section 4.7, that such policy shall be made available to any individual within 2 business days upon written request (including electronic requests), that any person may contact the authorized agent of the registrant to report allegations of sexual harassment, and that the registrant recognizes the Inspector General has jurisdiction to review any allegations of sexual harassment alleged against the registrant or lobbyists hired by the registrant.

(e) (Blank).

(f) Each elected or appointed public office in this State to be held by the registrant at any time during the registration period.

Every natural person and every entity required to register under this Act shall annually submit the registration required by this Section on or before each January 31. The registrant has a continuing duty to report any substantial change or addition to the information contained in the registration. A registrant who retains a consultant shall file an amended registration before any consulting services are performed, but in any event not later than 2 business days after the consultant is retained, setting forth the information required in subsections (b-7) and (c) of this Section.

The Secretary of State shall make all filed statements and amendments to statements publicly available by means of a searchable database that is accessible through the World Wide Web. The Secretary of State shall provide all software necessary to comply with this provision to all natural persons and entities required to file. The Secretary of State shall implement a plan to provide computer access and assistance to natural persons and entities required to file electronically.

All natural persons and entities required to register under this Act shall remit a single, annual, and nonrefundable $300 registration fee. The Secretary of State shall grant a waiver of this registration fee to any not-for-profit entity with an annual budget of less than $1,000,000 that is classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a waiver of that fee for any lobbyist that exclusively lobbies on behalf of that entity.

Each natural person required to register under this Act shall submit, on an annual basis, a picture of the registrant. A registrant may, in lieu of submitting a picture on an annual basis, authorize the Secretary of State to use any photo identification available in any database maintained by the Secretary of State for other purposes. Each registration fee collected for registrations shall be deposited into the Lobbyist Registration Administration Fund for administration and enforcement of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-595, eff. 12-5-19; 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

Article 85.

Section 85-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 9-15 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/9-15) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-15)

Sec. 9-15. It shall be the duty of the Board:

(1) to develop prescribed forms for filing statements of organization and required reports;

(1.5) to develop a standardized form for requesting the redaction of the home addresses of officers of political committees in accordance with paragraph (3.5);

(2) to prepare, publish, and furnish to the appropriate persons a manual of instructions setting forth recommended uniform methods of bookkeeping and reporting under this Article;

(3) to prescribe suitable rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Article. Such rules and regulations shall be published and made available to the public;

(3.5) to redact the home addresses of all current and past officers of political committees upon the written request of the supported candidate or the current chair of the political committee, using the standardized form developed for that purpose by the Board under paragraph (1.5);

(4) to send by first-class mail, after the general primary election in even numbered years, to the chair of each regularly constituted State central committee, county central committee and, in counties with a population of more than 3,000,000, to the committeepersons of each township and ward organization of each political party notice of their obligations under this Article, along with a form for filing the statement of organization;

(5) to promptly make all reports and statements filed under this Article available for public inspection and copying no later than 2 business days after their receipt and to permit copying of any such report or statement at the expense of the person requesting the copy, except that, if the redaction of home addresses of officers of a political committee has been requested in accordance with paragraph (3.5), then that information shall be redacted from a filed statement before that statement is provided for public inspection or copying;

(6) to develop a filing, coding, and cross-indexing system consistent with the purposes of this Article;

(7) to compile and maintain a list of all statements or parts of statements pertaining to each candidate;

(8) to prepare and publish such reports as the Board may deem appropriate;

(9) to annually notify each political committee that has filed a statement of organization with the Board of the filing dates for each quarterly report, provided that the such notification shall be made by first-class mail, unless the political committee opts to receive notification electronically by via email by indicating its preference to receive the notification electronically on its statement of organization or by filing a quarterly report of campaign contributions electronically; and

(10) to promptly send, by first-class mail directed only to the officers of a political committee, and by certified mail to the address of the political committee, written notice of any fine or penalty assessed or imposed against the political committee under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 104-443, eff. 1-1-26.)

Article 90.

Section 90-5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section 1A-70 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1A-70 new)

Sec. 1A-70. Secure Elections Infrastructure Fund. The Secure Elections Infrastructure Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Subject to appropriation, moneys in the Fund shall be distributed by the State Board of Elections as grants to election authorities for: voting machine replacement; electronic poll book upgrades; cybersecurity hardening, including the purchase of hardware and software and vendor vetting; voter accessibility upgrades; infrastructure for secure ballot transport and storage; and capital improvements to election authority facilities that are necessary to maintain safe, secure, and effective election administration, including life-safety, environmental, structural, or operational upgrades. The State Board of Elections shall distribute moneys in the Fund to election authorities using a formula determined by the State Board of Elections that accounts for: the number of registered voters located in each voting district; the number of voting districts under the jurisdiction of the election authority; the average age and condition of voting equipment operated by the election authority; appropriations received by the election authority in the previous 10 years; and demonstrated accessibility or cybersecurity needs.

Section 90-10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1038 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new)

Sec. 5.1038. The Secure Elections Infrastructure Fund.

Article 95.

Section 95-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 19-8 and 20-8 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/19-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-8)

Sec. 19-8. Time and place of counting ballots.

(a) (Blank). (Blank.)

(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by that election authority before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and may be processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is received by the election authority in the central ballot counting location of the election authority, but the results of the processing may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).

(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots.

Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and, if the certification date is election day or earlier and the ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the ballot shall not be counted.

If an election authority is using an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed no later than election day.

(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by the election authority at any time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots that are mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that are received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same periods provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots received by the election authority after the closing of the polls on an election day shall be endorsed by the election authority receiving them with the day and hour of receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.

(f) Counting required under this Section shall to begin 7 calendar days before on election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been counted. An election authority shall not release the results of any counting done under this subsection until after the closing of the polls on election day.

(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition, within 2 days after a vote by mail ballot is received, but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of that vote by mail ballot with the voter's signature on the application verified in accordance with Section 19-4 or the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the vote by mail voter is otherwise qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or official determines that the signatures do not match, or that the vote by mail voter is not qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot, then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a vote by mail ballot may be rejected by the election judge or official:

(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed;

(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace period ballot;

(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or

(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.

If the election judge or official determines that any of these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

(g-5) If a vote by mail ballot is rejected by the election judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the vote by mail voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of the contested vote by mail ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.

A vote by mail ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots.

If a vote by mail ballot is rejected for any reason, the election authority shall, within one day after the rejection, transmit to the State Board of Elections by electronic means the voter's name, street address, email address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be. If a rejected vote by mail ballot is determined to be valid, the election authority shall, within one day after the determination, remove the name of the voter from the list transmitted to the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall maintain the names and information in an electronic format on its website accessible to State and local political committees.

Upon request by the State or local political committee, each election authority shall, within one day after the request, provide the following information about all rejected vote by mail ballots: voter's name, street address, email address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be.

(g-10) All vote by mail ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.

(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned.

(Source: P.A. 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23; revised 6-24-25.)

(10 ILCS 5/20-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-8)

Sec. 20-8. Time and place of counting ballots.

(a) (Blank.)

(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by that election authority may be processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is received by the election authority in the central ballot counting location of the election authority, but the results of the processing may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).

(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots.

Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and, if the certification date is election day or earlier and the ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the ballot shall not be counted.

If an election authority is using an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed no later than election day.

(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by the election authority at any time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballot that are mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that are received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same periods provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots received by the election authority after the closing of the polls on the day of election shall be endorsed by the person receiving the ballots with the day and hour of receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.

(f) Counting required under this Section shall to begin 7 calendar days before on election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been counted. An election authority shall not release the results of any counting done under this subsection until after the closing of the polls on election day.

(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition, within 2 days after a ballot subject to this Article is received, but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of that ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a ballot under this Article, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or official determines that the signatures do not match, or that the voter is not qualified to cast a ballot under this Article, then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a ballot subject to this Article may be rejected by the election judge or official:

(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed;

(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace period ballot;

(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or

(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.

If the election judge or official determines that any of these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

(g-5) If a ballot subject to this Article is rejected by the election judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of the contested ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.

A ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots.

(g-10) All ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.

(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned.

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

Article 115.

Section 115-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 10-4 as follows:

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

Sec. 10-4. Form of petition for nomination. All petitions for nomination under this Article 10 for candidates for public office in this State, shall in addition to other requirements provided by law, be as follows: Such petitions shall consist of sheets of uniform size and each sheet shall contain, above the space for signature, an appropriate heading, giving the information as to name of candidate or candidates in whose behalf such petition is signed; the office; the party; place of residence; and such other information or wording as required to make same valid, and the heading of each sheet shall be the same. Such petition shall be signed by the qualified voters in their own proper persons only, and opposite the signature of each signer his residence address shall be written or printed. The residence address required to be written or printed opposite each qualified primary elector's name shall include the street address or rural route number of the signer, as the case may be, as well as the signer's county, and city, village or town, and state. However, the county or city, village or town, and state of residence of such electors may be printed on the petition forms where all of the electors signing the petition reside in the same county or city, village or town, and state. Standard abbreviations may be used in writing the residence address, including street number, if any. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no signature shall be valid or be counted in considering the validity or sufficiency of such petition unless the requirements of this Section are complied with. At the bottom of each sheet of such petition shall be added a circulator's statement, signed by a person 18 years of age or older who is a citizen of the United States; stating the street address or rural route number, as the case may be, as well as the county, city, village or town, and state; certifying that the signatures on that sheet of the petition were signed in his or her presence; certifying that the signatures are genuine; and either (1) indicating the dates on which that sheet was circulated, or (2) indicating the first and last dates on which the sheet was circulated, or (3) certifying that none of the signatures on the sheet were signed more than 90 days preceding the last day for the filing of the petition; and certifying that to the best of his knowledge and belief the persons so signing were at the time of signing the petition duly registered voters under Article 4, 5, or 6 of this Code of the political subdivision or district for which the candidate or candidates shall be nominated, and certifying that their respective residences are correctly stated therein. Such statement shall be sworn to before some officer authorized to administer oaths in this State. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no petition sheet shall be circulated more than 90 days preceding the last day provided in Section 10-6 for the filing of such petition. Such sheets, before being presented to the electoral board or filed with the proper officer of the electoral district or division of the state or municipality, as the case may be, shall be neatly fastened together in book form, by placing the sheets in a pile and fastening them together at one edge in a secure and suitable manner, and the sheets shall then be numbered consecutively. The sheets shall not be fastened by pasting them together end to end, so as to form a continuous strip or roll. All petition sheets which are filed with the proper local election officials, election authorities or the State Board of Elections shall be the original sheets which have been signed by the voters and by the circulator, and not photocopies or duplicates of such sheets. A petition, when presented or filed, shall not be withdrawn, altered, or added to, and no signature shall be revoked except by revocation in writing presented or filed with the officers or officer with whom the petition is required to be presented or filed, and before the presentment or filing of such petition. Whoever forges any name of a signer upon any petition shall be deemed guilty of a forgery, and on conviction thereof, shall be punished accordingly. The word "petition" or "petition for nomination", as used herein, shall mean what is sometimes known as nomination papers, in distinction to what is known as a certificate of nomination. The words "political division for which the candidate is nominated", or its equivalent, shall mean the largest political division in which all qualified voters may vote upon such candidate or candidates, as the state in the case of state officers; the township in the case of township officers et cetera. Except as provided for in Article 34 of the School Code, Provided, further, that no person shall circulate or certify petitions for candidates of more than one political party, or for an independent candidate or candidates in addition to one political party, to be voted upon at the next primary or general election, or for such candidates and parties with respect to the same political subdivision at the next consolidated election.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-687, eff. 12-17-21.)

Section 115-10. The School Code is amended by changing Section 34-4.1 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/34-4.1)

Sec. 34-4.1. Nomination petitions. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, the form of petitions under Section 34-4 of this Code shall be substantially as follows:

NOMINATING PETITIONS

(LEAVE OUT THE INAPPLICABLE PART.)

To the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago:

We the undersigned, being (.... or more) of the voters residing within said district, hereby petition that .... who resides at .... in the City of Chicago shall be a candidate for the office of .... of the Chicago Board of Education (full term) (vacancy) to be voted for at the election to be held on (insert date).

Name: .................. Address: ...................

In the designation of the name of a candidate on a petition for nomination, the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof may be used in addition to the candidate's surname. If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition, then (i) the candidate's name on the petition must be followed by "formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)" and (ii) the petition must be accompanied by the candidate's affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the period specified in clause (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate's name for the ballot, but these requirements do not apply to name changes to conform a candidate's name to the candidate's identity or name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's or parents' surname, marriage or civil union to assume a spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or civil union or declaration of invalidity of marriage to assume a former surname. No other designation, such as a political slogan, as defined by Section 7-17 of the Election Code, title or degree, or nickname suggesting or implying possession of a title, degree or professional status, or similar information may be used in connection with the candidate's surname.

All petitions for the nomination of members of the Chicago Board of Education shall be filed with the board of election commissioners of the jurisdiction in which the principal office of the school district is located and shall be prepared, filed, and certified as outlined in Article 10 of the Election Code. The board of election commissioners shall receive and file only those petitions that include a statement of candidacy, the required number of voter signatures, the notarized signature of the petition circulator, and a receipt from the county clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic interests on or before the last day to file as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. A person may circulate or certify petitions for candidates for the offices under this Article even if that person has circulated or certified petitions for a candidate of a political party or an independent candidate during the same election cycle. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly shall apply to all petitions circulated or filed on and after January 1, 2025. The board of election commissioners may have petition forms available for issuance to potential candidates and may give notice of the petition filing period by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district not less than 10 days prior to the first day of filing. The board of election commissioners shall make certification to the proper election authorities in accordance with the general election law.

The board of election commissioners of the jurisdiction in which the principal office of the school district is located shall notify the candidates for whom a petition for nomination is filed or the appropriate committee of the obligations under the Campaign Financing Act as provided in the general election law. Such notice shall be given on a form prescribed by the State Board of Elections and in accordance with the requirements of the general election law. The board of election commissioners shall within 7 days of filing or on the last day for filing, whichever is earlier, acknowledge to the petitioner in writing the office's acceptance of the petition.

A candidate for membership on the Chicago Board of Education who has petitioned for nomination to fill a full term and to fill a vacant term to be voted upon at the same election must withdraw his or her petition for nomination from either the full term or the vacant term by written declaration.

Nomination petitions are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the board of election commissioners a receipt from the county clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his or her nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23; 103-584, eff. 3-18-24; 104-434, eff. 11-21-25.)

Article 120.

Section 120-5. The Lobbyist Registration Act is amended by changing Section 10 and by adding Section 4.8 as follows:

(25 ILCS 170/4.8 new)

Sec. 4.8. Use of elected titles. No person registered under this Act may use a current or former elected or appointed governmental title on any business card, letterhead, or email that is used to solicit business or lobby under this Act.

(25 ILCS 170/10) (from Ch. 63, par. 180)

Sec. 10. Penalties.

(a) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act, except for a violation of Section 4.7 or 4.8 or paragraph (d) of Section 5, shall be guilty of a business offense and shall be fined not more than $10,000 for each violation. Every day that a report or registration is late shall constitute a separate violation. In determining the appropriate fine for each violation, the trier of fact shall consider the scope of the entire lobbying project, the nature of activities conducted during the time the person was in violation of this Act, and whether or not the violation was intentional or unreasonable.

(a-5) A violation of Section 4.7 or paragraph (d) of Section 5 shall be considered a violation of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, subject to the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission and to all penalties under Section 50-5 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

(a-10) Any person who violates Section 4.8 shall be guilty of a business offense and shall be fined not more than $1,000 for each violation.

(b) In addition to the penalties provided for in subsections (a) and (a-5) of this Section, any person convicted of any violation of any provision of this Act is prohibited for a period of three years from the date of such conviction from lobbying.

(c) There is created in the State treasury a special fund to be known as the Lobbyist Registration Administration Fund. All fines collected in the enforcement of this Section shall be deposited into the Fund. These funds shall, subject to appropriation, be used by the Office of the Secretary of State for implementation and administration of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-554, eff. 11-16-17.)

Article 155.

Section 155-5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section 19-25 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/19-25 new)

Sec. 19-25. Vote by mail tracking. In conjunction with election authorities, the State Board of Elections shall implement, by January 1, 2027, a secure, free access system available to voters in each election authority that allows each vote by mail voter to:

(1) track the delivery and receipt of the voter's vote by mail ballot by the election authority; and

(2) learn if the voter's vote by mail ballot was accepted for counting and, if not, the reason why the ballot was rejected.

For each election, the election authority shall make the secure, free access system available to vote by mail voters from the first day that vote by mail ballots are accepted until 30 days after completion of the official canvass.

Article 165.

Section 165-5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 10-20.56 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.56)

Sec. 10-20.56. E-learning days.

(a) The State Board of Education shall establish and maintain, for implementation in school districts, a program for use of electronic-learning (e-learning) days, as described in this Section. School districts may utilize a program approved under this Section for use during remote learning days and blended remote learning days under Section 10-30 or 34-18.66.

(b) The school board of a school district may, by resolution, adopt a research-based program or research-based programs for e-learning days district-wide that shall permit student instruction to be received electronically while students are not physically present in lieu of the district's scheduled emergency days as required by Section 10-19 of this Code or because a school was selected to be a polling place under Section 11-4.1 of the Election Code. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), the The research-based program or programs may not exceed the minimum number of emergency days in the approved school calendar and must be verified annually by the regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district before the implementation of any e-learning days in that school year to ensure access for all students. An e-learning day used by a school district under this subsection (b) due to a school being selected as a polling place under Section 11-4.1 of the Election Code does not count toward the school district's minimum number of emergency days. The regional office of education or intermediate service center shall ensure that the specific needs of all students are met, including special education students and English learners, and that all mandates are still met using the proposed research-based program. The e-learning program may utilize the Internet, telephones, texts, chat rooms, or other similar means of electronic communication for instruction and interaction between teachers and students that meet the needs of all learners. The e-learning program shall address the school district's responsibility to ensure that all teachers and staff who may be involved in the provision of e-learning have access to any and all hardware and software that may be required for the program. If a proposed program does not address this responsibility, the school district must propose an alternate program.

(c) Before its adoption by a school board, the school board must hold a public hearing on a school district's initial proposal for an e-learning program or for renewal of such a program, at a regular or special meeting of the school board, in which the terms of the proposal must be substantially presented and an opportunity for allowing public comments must be provided. Notice of such public hearing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by:

(1) publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district;

(2) written or electronic notice designed to reach the parents or guardians of all students enrolled in the school district; and

(3) written or electronic notice designed to reach any exclusive collective bargaining representatives of school district employees and all those employees not in a collective bargaining unit.

(d) The regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district must timely verify that a proposal for an e-learning program has met the requirements specified in this Section and that the proposal contains provisions designed to reasonably and practicably accomplish the following:

(1) to ensure and verify at least 5 clock hours of instruction or school work, as required under Section 10-19.05, for each student participating in an e-learning day;

(2) to ensure access from home or other appropriate remote facility for all students participating, including computers, the Internet, and other forms of electronic communication that must be utilized in the proposed program;

(2.5) to ensure that non-electronic materials are made available to students participating in the program who do not have access to the required technology or to participating teachers or students who are prevented from accessing the required technology;

(3) to ensure appropriate learning opportunities for students with special needs;

(4) to monitor and verify each student's electronic participation;

(5) to address the extent to which student participation is within the student's control as to the time, pace, and means of learning;

(6) to provide effective notice to students and their parents or guardians of the use of particular days for e-learning;

(7) to provide staff and students with adequate training for e-learning days' participation;

(8) to ensure an opportunity for any collective bargaining negotiations with representatives of the school district's employees that would be legally required, including all classifications of school district employees who are represented by collective bargaining agreements and who would be affected in the event of an e-learning day;

(9) to review and revise the program as implemented to address difficulties confronted; and

(10) to ensure that the protocol regarding general expectations and responsibilities of the program is communicated to teachers, staff, and students at least 30 days prior to utilizing an e-learning day in a school year.

The school board's approval of a school district's initial e-learning program and renewal of the e-learning program shall be for a term of 3 school years, beginning with the first school year in which the program was approved and verified by the regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district.

(d-5) A school district shall pay to its contractors who provide educational support services to the district, including, but not limited to, custodial, transportation, or food service providers, their daily, regular rate of pay or billings rendered for any e-learning day that is used because a school was selected to be a polling place under Section 11-4.1 of the Election Code, except that this requirement does not apply to contractors who are paid under contracts that are entered into, amended, or renewed on or after March 15, 2022 or to contracts that otherwise address compensation for such e-learning days.

(d-10) A school district shall pay to its employees who provide educational support services to the district, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, building maintenance employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, or administrative staff, their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits rendered for any school closure or e-learning day if the closure precludes them from performing their regularly scheduled duties and the employee would have reported for work but for the closure, except this requirement does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee will be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.

(d-15) A school district shall make full payment that would have otherwise been paid to its contractors who provide educational support services to the district, including, but not limited to, custodial, building maintenance, transportation, food service providers, classroom assistants, or administrative staff, their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits rendered for any school closure or e-learning day if any closure precludes them from performing their regularly scheduled duties and employees would have reported for work but for the closure. The employees who provide the support services covered by such contracts shall be paid their daily bid package rates and benefits as defined by their local operating agreements or collective bargaining agreements, except this requirement does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee will be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.

(d-20) A school district shall make full payment or reimbursement to an employee or contractor as specified in subsection (d-10) or (d-15) of this Section for any school closure or e-learning day in the 2021-2022 school year that occurred prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly if the employee or contractor did not receive pay or was required to use earned paid time off, except this requirement does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee will be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.

(e) The State Board of Education may adopt rules consistent with the provision of this Section.

(f) For purposes of subsections (d-10), (d-15), and (d-20) of this Section:

"Employee" means anyone employed by a school district on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

"School district" includes charter schools established under Article 27A of this Code, but does not include the Department of Juvenile Justice School District.

(Source: P.A. 102-584, eff. 6-1-22; 102-697, eff. 4-5-22; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

Article 175.

Section 175-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 17-23, 17-29, 29-4, and 29-17 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/17-23) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-23)

Sec. 17-23. Pollwatchers in a general election shall be authorized in the following manner:

(1) Each established political party shall be entitled to appoint two pollwatchers per precinct. Such pollwatchers must be affiliated with the political party for which they are pollwatching. For all elections, the pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois.

(2) Each candidate shall be entitled to appoint two pollwatchers per precinct. For all elections, the pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois.

(3) Each organization of citizens within the county or political subdivision, which has among its purposes or interests the investigation or prosecution of election frauds, and which shall have registered its name and address and the name and addresses of its principal officers with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the election, shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct. For all elections, the pollwatcher must be registered to vote in Illinois.

(3.5) Each State nonpartisan civic organization within the county or political subdivision shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct, provided that no more than 2 pollwatchers appointed by State nonpartisan civic organizations shall be present in a precinct polling place at the same time. Each organization shall have registered the names and addresses of its principal officers with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the election. The pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois. For the purpose of this paragraph, a "State nonpartisan civic organization" means any corporation, unincorporated association, or organization that:

(i) as part of its written articles of incorporation, bylaws, or charter or by separate written declaration, has among its stated purposes the provision of voter information and education, the protection of individual voters' rights, and the promotion of free and equal elections;

(ii) is organized or primarily conducts its activities within the State of Illinois; and

(iii) continuously maintains an office or business location within the State of Illinois, together with a current listed telephone number (a post office box number without a current listed telephone number is not sufficient).

(4) In any general election held to elect candidates for the offices of a municipality of less than 3,000,000 population that is situated in 2 or more counties, a pollwatcher who is a resident of Illinois shall be eligible to serve as a pollwatcher in any poll located within such municipality, provided that such pollwatcher otherwise complies with the respective requirements of subsections (1) through (3) of this Section and is a registered voter in Illinois.

(5) Each organized group of proponents or opponents of a ballot proposition, which shall have registered the name and address of its organization or committee and the name and address of its chair with the proper election authority at least 40 days before the election, shall be entitled to appoint one pollwatcher per precinct. The pollwatcher must be registered to vote in Illinois.

All pollwatchers shall be required to have proper credentials. Such credentials shall be printed in sufficient quantities, shall be issued by and under the facsimile signature(s) of the election authority or the State Board of Elections and shall be available for distribution by the election authority and State Board of Elections at least 2 weeks prior to the election. Such credentials shall be authorized by the real or facsimile signature of the State or local party official or the candidate or the presiding officer of the civic organization or the chair of the proponent or opponent group, as the case may be. Neither the election authority nor the State Board of Elections may require any such party official or the candidate or the presiding officer of the civic organization or the chair of the proponent or opponent group to submit the names or other information concerning pollwatchers before making credentials available to such persons or organizations.

Pollwatcher credentials shall be in substantially the following form:

POLLWATCHER CREDENTIALS TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:

In accordance with the provisions of the Election Code, the undersigned hereby appoints .......... (name of pollwatcher) who resides at ........... (address) in the county of ..........., .......... (township or municipality) of ........... (name), State of Illinois and who is duly registered to vote from this address, to act as a pollwatcher in the ........... precinct of the ........... ward (if applicable) of the ........... (township or municipality) of ........... at the ........... election to be held on (insert date). ........................ (Signature of Appointing Authority) ......................... TITLE (party official, candidate, civic organization president, proponent or opponent group chair)

Under penalties provided by law pursuant to Section 29-10 of the Election Code, the undersigned pollwatcher certifies that he or she resides at ................ (address) in the county of ............, ......... (township or municipality) of ........... (name), State of Illinois, and is duly registered to vote in Illinois. .......................... ....................... (Precinct and/or Ward in (Signature of Pollwatcher) Which Pollwatcher Resides)

Pollwatchers must present their credentials to the Judges of Election upon entering the polling place. Pollwatcher credentials properly executed and signed shall be proof of the qualifications of the pollwatcher authorized thereby. Such credentials are retained by the Judges and returned to the Election Authority at the end of the day of election with the other election materials. Once a pollwatcher has surrendered a valid credential, he may leave and reenter the polling place provided that such continuing action does not disrupt the conduct of the election. Pollwatchers may be substituted during the course of the day, but established political parties, candidates and qualified civic organizations can have only as many pollwatchers at any given time as are authorized in this Article. A substitute must present his signed credential to the judges of election upon entering the polling place. Election authorities must provide a sufficient number of credentials to allow for substitution of pollwatchers. After the polls have closed pollwatchers shall be allowed to remain until the canvass of votes is completed; but may leave and reenter only in cases of necessity, provided that such action is not so continuous as to disrupt the canvass of votes.

Candidates seeking office in a district or municipality encompassing 2 or more counties shall be admitted to any and all polling places throughout such district or municipality without regard to the counties in which such candidates are registered to vote. Actions of such candidates shall be governed in each polling place by the same privileges and limitations that apply to pollwatchers as provided in this Section. Any such candidate who engages in an activity in a polling place which could reasonably be construed by a majority of the judges of election as campaign activity shall be removed forthwith from such polling place.

Candidates seeking office in a district or municipality encompassing 2 or more counties who desire to be admitted to polling places on election day in such district or municipality shall be required to have proper credentials. Such credentials shall be printed in sufficient quantities, shall be issued by and under the facsimile signature of the State Board of Elections or the election authority of the election jurisdiction where the polling place in which the candidate seeks admittance is located, and shall be available for distribution at least 2 weeks prior to the election. Such credentials shall be signed by the candidate.

Candidate credentials shall be in substantially the following form:

CANDIDATE CREDENTIALS

TO THE JUDGES OF ELECTION:

In accordance with the provisions of the Election Code, I ...... (name of candidate) hereby certify that I am a candidate for ....... (name of office) and seek admittance to ....... precinct of the ....... ward (if applicable) of the ....... (township or municipality) of ....... at the ....... election to be held on (insert date). ......................... ....................... (Signature of Candidate) OFFICE FOR WHICH CANDIDATE SEEKS NOMINATION OR ELECTION

Pollwatchers shall be permitted to observe all proceedings and view all reasonably requested records relating to the conduct of the election, provided the secrecy of the ballot is not impinged, and to station themselves in a position in the voting room as will enable them to observe the judges making the signature comparison between the voter application and the voter registration record card; provided, however, that such pollwatchers shall not be permitted to station themselves in such close proximity to the judges of election so as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election and shall not, in any event, be permitted to handle election materials. Pollwatchers may challenge for cause the voting qualifications of a person offering to vote and may call to the attention of the judges of election any incorrect procedure or apparent violations of this Code.

If a majority of the judges of election determine that the polling place has become too overcrowded with pollwatchers so as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election, the judges shall, by lot, limit such pollwatchers to a reasonable number, except that each established or new political party shall be permitted to have at least one pollwatcher present.

Representatives of an election authority, with regard to an election under its jurisdiction, the State Board of Elections, and law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to a United States Attorney, a State's Attorney attorney, the Attorney General, and a State, county, or local police department, in the performance of their official election duties, shall be permitted at all times to enter and remain in the polling place. Upon entering the polling place, such representatives shall display their official credentials or other identification to the judges of election.

Uniformed State and local police officers assigned to polling place duty shall follow all lawful instructions of the judges of election and have valid pollwatcher credentials. An election authority shall not permit a law enforcement agent to enter and remain in the polling place, unless the law enforcement agent is voting, is a candidate with valid pollwatcher credentials and is not performing law enforcement duties, is serving as a pollwatcher with valid pollwatcher credentials, is repelling armed enemies of the United States, is called upon by the election authority or judges of election, or is required by court order. If a public school building is used as a polling place, students or staff are present in the building, and a public school official has a reasonable belief that there is an imminent threat to the safety of students or staff in the building, then the responding law enforcement agent may enter the polling place to perform law enforcement duties. If a church or place of worship is used as a polling place and an official of the church or place of worship has a reasonable belief that there is an imminent threat to the safety of individuals in the church or place of worship, then the responding law enforcement agent may enter the polling place to perform law enforcement duties. An election authority shall ensure that any law enforcement agent who is permitted to enter and remain in the polling place has provided the election authority with a valid pollwatcher credential. As used in this Section, "law enforcement agent" means an agent, subcontractor, or designee of federal, State, or local law enforcement authorized with the power to arrest or detain individuals, or manage the custody of detained individuals, for civil immigration enforcement. "Law enforcement agent" does not include an on-duty school resource officer, as defined in Section 10-20.68 of the School Code, assigned to the school being used as a polling place when students or staff are in the school building, representatives of State's Attorneys assigned to election duties, or representatives of the Attorney General's Office assigned to election duties.

The provisions of this Section shall also apply to supervised casting of vote by mail ballots as provided in Section 19-12.2 of this Act.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit a law enforcement agent or school resource officer from serving as a pollwatcher when the law enforcement agent is not performing law enforcement duties.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit a law enforcement agent from voting.

Nothing in this Section applies to other spaces within a municipal building, public school building, or church or place of worship that are not being used as polls.

The terms used in this Section shall be construed consistently with 18 U.S.C. 592.

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/17-29) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-29)

Sec. 17-29. (a) No judge of election, pollwatcher, or other person shall, at any primary or election, do any electioneering or soliciting of votes or engage in any political discussion or engage in any practice that is intended to intimidate a voter within any polling place, within 100 feet of any polling place, or, at the option of a church or private school, on any of the property of that church or private school that is a polling place; no person shall interrupt, hinder or oppose any voter while approaching within those areas for the purpose of voting. Judges of election shall enforce the provisions of this Section.

(b) Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small United States national flags, or some other marker a distance of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting, which shall be known as the polling room. If the polling room is located within a building that is a private business, a public or private school, or a church or other organization founded for the purpose of religious worship and the distance of 100 horizontal feet ends within the interior of the building, then the markers shall be placed outside of the building at each entrance used by voters to enter that building on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfare or walkway. If the polling room is located within a public or private building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the polling room used by voters to engage in voting. If the polling room is located in a public or private building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on a floor above or below the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed a distance of 100 feet from the nearest elevator or staircase used by voters on the ground floor to access the floor where the polling room is located. The area within where the markers are placed shall be known as a campaign free zone, and electioneering is prohibited pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a church or private school may choose to apply the campaign free zone to its entire property, and, if so, the markers shall be placed near the boundaries on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfares or walkways leading to the entrances used by the voters. If an election authority maintains a website, no later than 5 days before election day, each election authority shall post on its website the name and address of every polling place designated as a campaign free zone. This information shall be immediately provided to any person upon request, and a requester shall not be required to submit a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

The area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone, whether publicly or privately owned, is a public forum for the time that the polls are open on an election day. At the request of election officers any publicly owned building must be made available for use as a polling place. A person shall have the right to congregate and engage in electioneering on any polling place property while the polls are open beyond the campaign free zone, including but not limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection shall be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in electioneering on all polling place property beyond the campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an election day. At or near the door of each polling place, the election judges shall place signage indicating the proper entrance to the polling place. In addition, the election judges shall ensure that a sign identifying the location of the polling place is placed on a nearby public roadway. The State Board of Elections shall establish guidelines for the placement of polling place signage.

(c) The regulation of electioneering on polling place property on an election day, including but not limited to the placement of temporary signs, is an exclusive power and function of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate electioneering and any ordinance or local law contrary to subsection (c) is declared void. This is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/29-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 29-4)

Sec. 29-4. Prevention of voting, or candidate support, or performing official election duties.

(a) Any person who, by force, intimidation, threat, deception or forgery, knowingly prevents any other person from or knowingly causes another person to be prevented from (i) (a) registering to vote, (ii) or (b) lawfully voting, (iii) supporting or opposing the nomination or election of any person for public office or any public question voted upon at any election, or (iv) discharging official election duties, shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Attorney General shall have concurrent jurisdiction with any State's Attorney in the prosecution of any offenses under this Section.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe a person has engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates subsection (a) or that a violation of subsection (a) raises an issue of general public importance, the Attorney General may commence a civil action in the name of the People of this State to obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief, including any permanent or preliminary injunction, temporary restraining order, or other order, such as an order enjoining the defendant from engaging in the pattern or practice or ordering any action as may be appropriate.

(c) The Attorney General may issue subpoenas in order to accomplish the objectives and to carry out the duties prescribed by this Section. Service by the Attorney General of any subpoena upon any person shall be made:

(1) personally by delivery of a duly executed copy of the subpoena to the person to be served or, in the case of a public body, in the manner provided in Section 2-211 of the Code of Civil Procedure; or

(2) by mailing by certified mail a duly executed copy of the subpoena to the person to be served at the person's last known abode or, in the case of a public body, to its principal place of business.

(d) If any person or public body fails or refuses to obey any subpoena issued under this Section, the Attorney General may file a complaint in the circuit court to obtain:

(1) compliance with the subpoena;

(2) injunctive relief to prevent a violation of this Section.

(e) The Attorney General's determination that reasonable cause exists to believe that a violation of subsection (a) raises an issue of general public importance shall not be reviewable in any court.

(f) The terms used in this Section shall be construed consistently with 18 U.S.C. 593 and 18 U.S.C. 595.

(Source: P.A. 78-887.)

(10 ILCS 5/29-17) (from Ch. 46, par. 29-17)

Sec. 29-17. Deprivation of Constitutional Rights - Liability).

(a) Any person who subjects, or causes to be subjected, a citizen of the State of Illinois or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States or of the State of Illinois, relating to registration to vote, the conduct of elections, voting, or the nomination or election of candidates for public or political party office, shall be liable to the party injured or any person affected, in any action or proceeding for redress.

(b) All monetary, injunctive, and declaratory relief available at common law is available under this Section for a violation of this Section without regard to whether a plaintiff may have a claim under any other statute or common law cause of action.

(c) Upon motion, a court shall award reasonable attorney's fees and costs, including expert witness fees and other litigation expenses, to a plaintiff who is a prevailing party in any action brought under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 79-1363.)

Article 180.

Section 180-5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section 24-20.5 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/24-20.5 new)

Sec. 24-20.5. Compliance with Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0.

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, any election system or product certified by the Election Assistance Commission as compliant with the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 (VVSG 2.0) may be used within this State in lieu of certification by the State Board of Elections. An election authority may authorize, implement, use, or purchase or lease any voting product or system that has been certified by the United States Election Assistance Commission as compliant with VVSG 2.0.

(b) No later than 365 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the State Board of Elections shall adopt rules pertaining to the certification of election equipment and systems that shall, at a minimum, require vendors to submit federal testing documentation and proof of certification to VVSG 2.0 for any new systems. A submission of VVSG 2.0 compliance may be accepted in lieu of duplicating or replicating the testing required by this Code.

Article 190.

Section 190-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 19-2, 19-3, 19-4, 19-6, 19-8, 19-12.2, and 29-20 and by adding Sections 1-4.5 and 19-6.5 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1-4.5 new)

Sec. 1-4.5. Ballots received by election day. If and only if the United States Supreme Court finds in Watson v. Republican National Committee that federal election law preempts a state law that allows ballots that are cast by a federal election day to be counted by election officials after election day and if the court's opinion does not indicate when a ballot is considered received by election day, then for purposes of federal elections only, a ballot is considered received by election day or by the election authority on election day when the ballot is in the custody of the proper election authority by the close of polls on election day.

(10 ILCS 5/19-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-2)

Sec. 19-2. Making application for a vote by mail ballot. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any elector, as defined in Section 19-1, may by mail or electronically on the website of the appropriate election authority, not more than 90 nor less than 10 5 days prior to the date of such election, or by personal delivery not more than 90 nor less than 7 days one day prior to the date of such election, make application to the county clerk or to the Board of Election Commissioners for an official ballot for the voter's precinct to be voted at such election. Such a ballot shall be delivered to the elector only upon separate application by the elector for each election. Voters who make an application for permanent vote by mail ballot status shall follow the procedures specified in Section 19-3 and may apply year round. A voter Voters whose application for permanent vote by mail status is accepted by the election authority shall remain on the permanent vote by mail list until the voter requests to be removed from permanent vote by mail status, the voter provides notice to the election authority of a change in registration that affects the voter's their registration status, or the election authority receives confirmation that the voter has subsequently registered to vote in another election authority jurisdiction. The URL address at which voters may electronically request a vote by mail ballot shall be fixed no later than 90 calendar days before an election and shall not be changed until after the election.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-668, eff. 11-15-21; 102-687, eff. 12-17-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; revised 6-24-25.)

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

Sec. 19-3. Application for a vote by mail ballot.

(a) The application for a vote by mail ballot for a single election 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.

I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of .... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to vote at the .... election to be held on ....; and that I wish to vote by mail.

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 5 days prior to election day, for federal elections, and on election day, for non-federal elections, for counting no later than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day. In addition, I agree that I shall not recall or attempt to recall my ballot once placed into the custody of the United States Postal Service or a company that is licensed as a motor carrier of property by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law and is engaged in the business of making deliveries.

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: ...............

(a-5) The application for a single vote by mail ballot transmitted electronically pursuant to Section 19-2.6 shall be substantively similar to the application for a vote by mail ballot for a single election and shall include:

I swear or affirm that I am a voter with a print disability, and, as a result of this disability, I am making a request to receive a vote by mail ballot electronically so that I may privately and independently mark, verify, and print my vote by mail ballot.

(b) The application for permanent vote by mail status shall be substantially in the following form:

APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT VOTE BY MAIL STATUS

I am currently a registered voter and wish to apply for permanent vote by mail status.

I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of .... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to vote at the .... election to be held on ....; and that I wish to vote by mail in:

..... all subsequent elections that do not require a party designation.

..... all subsequent elections, and I wish to receive a ................... Party vote by mail ballot in elections that require a party designation.

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 5 days prior to election day, for federal elections, and on election day, for non-federal elections, for counting no later than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following election day.

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

....

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

(b-5) The application for permanent vote by mail ballots transmitted electronically pursuant to Section 19-2.6 shall be substantively similar to the application for permanent vote by mail status and shall include:

I swear or affirm that I am a voter with a non-temporary print disability, and as a result of this disability, I am making a request to receive vote by mail ballots electronically so that I may privately and independently mark, verify, and print my vote by mail ballots.

(c) 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. The election authority shall allow any voter on permanent vote by mail status to change his or her party affiliation for a primary election ballot by a method and deadline published and selected by the election authority.

(d) 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 the application under subsection (a) or (b) are true and correct, and a signature is not required.

(e) Any person may produce, reproduce, distribute, or return to an election authority an application under this Section. If applications are sent to a post office box controlled by any individual or organization that is not an election authority, those applications shall (i) include a valid and current phone number for the individual or organization controlling the post office box and (ii) be turned over to the appropriate election authority within 7 days of receipt; or, if received within 2 weeks of the election in which an applicant intends to vote, within 2 days of receipt; or, if received on election day in which an applicant intends to vote, before the polls close. Failure to turn over the applications in compliance with this paragraph shall constitute a violation of this Code and shall be punishable as a petty offense with a fine of $100 per application. 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 under this Section submitted in a form substantially similar to that required by this Section, including any substantially similar production or reproduction generated by the applicant.

(f) An election authority may combine the applications in subsections (a) and (b) onto one form, but the distinction between the applications must be clear and the form must provide check boxes for an applicant to indicate whether he or she is applying for a single election vote by mail ballot or for permanent vote by mail status.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-819, eff. 5-13-22; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-4)

Sec. 19-4. Mailing or delivery of ballots; time. Immediately upon the receipt of such application either by mail or electronic means, not more than 90 days nor less than 10 5 days prior to such election, or by personal delivery not more than 90 days nor less than 7 days one day prior to such election, at the office of such election authority, it shall be the duty of such election authority to examine the records to ascertain whether or not such applicant is lawfully entitled to vote as requested, including a verification of the applicant's signature on file with the office of the election authority, and if found so to be entitled to vote, to post within one business day thereafter the name, street address, ward and precinct number or township and district number, as the case may be, of such applicant given on a list, the pages of which are to be numbered consecutively to be kept by such election authority for such purpose in a conspicuous, open and public place accessible to the public at the entrance of the office of such election authority, and in such a manner that such list may be viewed without necessity of requesting permission therefor. Within one day after posting the name and other information of an applicant for a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall transmit by electronic means pursuant to a process established by the State Board of Elections that name and other posted information to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and other information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees. Within 2 business days after posting a name and other information on the list within its office, but no sooner than 40 days before an election, the election authority shall mail, postage prepaid, or deliver in person in such office, or deliver via electronic transmission pursuant to Section 19-2.6, an official ballot or ballots if more than one are to be voted at said election. Mail delivery of Temporarily Absent Student ballot applications pursuant to Section 19-12.3 shall be by nonforwardable mail. However, for the consolidated election, vote by mail ballots for certain precincts may be delivered to applicants not less than 25 days before the election if so much time is required to have prepared and printed the ballots containing the names of persons nominated for offices at the consolidated primary. The election authority shall enclose with each vote by mail ballot or application written instructions on how voting assistance shall be provided pursuant to Section 17-14 and a document, written and approved by the State Board of Elections, informing the vote by mail voter of the required postage for returning the application and ballot, and enumerating the circumstances under which a person is authorized to vote by vote by mail ballot pursuant to this Article; such document shall also include a statement informing the applicant that, if he or she falsifies or is solicited by another to falsify his or her eligibility to cast a vote by mail ballot or recalls or attempts to recall his or her ballot, such applicant or other is subject to penalties pursuant to Section 29-10 and Section 29-20 of the Election Code. Each election authority shall maintain a list of the name, street address, ward and precinct, or township and district number, as the case may be, of all applicants who have returned vote by mail ballots to such authority, and the name of such vote by mail voter shall be added to such list within one business day from receipt of such ballot. If the vote by mail ballot envelope indicates that the voter was assisted in casting the ballot, the name of the person so assisting shall be included on the list. The list, the pages of which are to be numbered consecutively, shall be kept by each election authority in a conspicuous, open, and public place accessible to the public at the entrance of the office of the election authority and in a manner that the list may be viewed without necessity of requesting permission for viewing.

Each election authority shall maintain a list for each election of the voters to whom it has issued vote by mail ballots. The list shall be maintained for each precinct within the jurisdiction of the election authority. Prior to the opening of the polls on election day, the election authority shall deliver to the judges of election in each precinct the list of registered voters in that precinct to whom vote by mail ballots have been issued by mail.

Each election authority shall maintain a list for each election of voters to whom it has issued temporarily absent student ballots. The list shall be maintained for each election jurisdiction within which such voters temporarily abide. Immediately after the close of the period during which application may be made by mail or electronic means for vote by mail ballots, each election authority shall mail to each other election authority within the State a certified list of all such voters temporarily abiding within the jurisdiction of the other election authority.

In the event that the return address of an application for ballot by a physically incapacitated elector is that of a facility licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, within the jurisdiction of the election authority, and the applicant is a registered voter in the precinct in which such facility is located, the ballots shall be prepared and transmitted to a responsible judge of election no later than 9 a.m. on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday immediately preceding the election as designated by the election authority under Section 19-12.2. Such judge shall deliver in person on the designated day the ballot to the applicant on the premises of the facility from which application was made. The election authority shall by mail notify the applicant in such facility that the ballot will be delivered by a judge of election on the designated day.

All applications for vote by mail ballots shall be available at the office of the election authority for public inspection upon request from the time of receipt thereof by the election authority until 30 days after the election, except during the time such applications are kept in the office of the election authority pursuant to Section 19-7, and except during the time such applications are in the possession of the judges of election.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 30 of the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act, neither the name nor the address of a program participant under that Act shall be included in any list of registered voters available to the public, including the lists referenced in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-292, eff. 1-1-22; 102-819, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-6)

Sec. 19-6. Such vote by mail voter shall make and subscribe to the certifications provided for in the application and on the return envelope for the ballot, and such ballot or ballots shall be folded by such voter in the manner required to be folded before depositing the same in the ballot box, and be deposited in such envelope and the envelope securely sealed. The voter shall then endorse his certificate upon the back of the envelope and the envelope shall be mailed in person by such voter, postage prepaid, to the election authority issuing the ballot or, if more convenient, it may be delivered in person, by either the voter or by any person authorized by the voter, or by a company licensed as a motor carrier of property by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law, which is engaged in the business of making deliveries.

Election authorities shall accept any vote by mail ballot returned, including ballots returned with insufficient or no postage. Election authorities shall may maintain one or more secure vote by mail collection drop box and may maintain additional secure collection sites for the postage-free return of vote by mail ballots. Any election authority with collection sites shall collect all ballots returned each day and process them as required by this Code, including noting the day on which the ballot was collected. Ballots returned to such collection sites after close of business shall be dated as delivered the next day, with the exception of ballots delivered on election day, which shall be dated as received on election day with the hour of receipt noted. Election authorities shall permit electors to return vote by mail ballots at any collection site it has established through the close of polls on election day, including all polling locations during early voting or on election day. Vote by mail ballots returned to an early voting or election day polling place shall be delivered to the voter's designated election day polling location and to the election judges of that voter's assigned precinct. All collection sites shall be secured by locks that may be opened only by election authority personnel. The State Board of Elections shall establish additional guidelines for the security of collection sites and shall educate election authorities and voters on the application process for and the proper return of vote by mail ballots, including all applicable time constraints.

It shall be unlawful for any person not the voter or a person authorized by the voter to take the ballot and ballot envelope of a voter for deposit into the mail unless the ballot has been issued pursuant to application by a physically incapacitated elector under Section 3-3 or a hospitalized voter under Section 19-13, in which case any employee or person under the direction of the facility in which the elector or voter is located may deposit the ballot and ballot envelope into the mail. If the voter authorized a person to deliver the ballot to the election authority, the voter and the person authorized to deliver the ballot shall complete the authorization printed on the exterior envelope supplied by an election authority for the return of the vote by mail ballot. The exterior of the envelope supplied by an election authority for the return of the vote by mail ballot shall include an authorization in substantially the following form:

I ............ (voter) authorize ............... to take the necessary steps to have this ballot delivered promptly to the office of the election authority.

....................... ........................ Date Signature of voter

............................................... Printed Name of Authorized Delivery Agent

............................................... Signature of Authorized Delivery Agency

............................................... Date Delivered to the Election Authority

(Source: P.A. 102-1, eff. 4-2-21; 102-668, eff. 11-15-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-6.5 new)

Sec. 19-6.5. Vote by mail collection drop boxes. Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Elections shall administer a program to ensure that every election authority maintains at least one secure vote by mail collection drop box within its jurisdiction. Starting on July 1, 2026, the State Board of Elections shall coordinate with each local election authority the acquisition and installation of one secure vote by mail collection drop box. Installation of the new vote by mail collection drop box shall occur no later than 15 days before November 3, 2026. Procurement of the secure vote by mail collection drop box shall be undertaken by the election authorities in accordance with applicable procurement laws and ordinances. The State Board of Elections shall distribute up to $25,000 in funds to each election authority or election authority's vendor for the actual costs to acquire one secure vote by mail collection drop box upon receipt of a proper bill or invoice from the election authority.

(10 ILCS 5/19-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-8)

Sec. 19-8. Time and place of counting ballots.

(a) (Blank.)

(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by that election authority before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and may be processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is received by the election authority in the central ballot counting location of the election authority, but the results of the processing may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).

(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than 5 days prior to election day, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted for all non-federal elections at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots.

Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and, if the certification date is 5 days prior to election day or earlier and the ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of this Section, counted for all non-federal elections at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the period for counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the ballot shall not be counted.

If an election authority is using an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election authority absent a postmark may be counted for a non-federal election if the intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed no later than 5 days prior to election day.

(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and received by the election authority at any time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots that are mailed to an election authority and postmarked no later than 5 days prior to election day, but that are received by the election authority after the polls close on election day and before the closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted for non-federal elections at the central ballot counting location of the election authority during the same periods provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots received by the election authority after the closing of the polls on an election day shall be endorsed by the election authority receiving them with the day and hour of receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.

(f) Counting required under this Section to begin on election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been counted.

(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition, within 2 days after a vote by mail ballot is received, and for non-federal elections but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of that vote by mail ballot with the voter's signature on the application verified in accordance with Section 19-4 or the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the vote by mail voter is otherwise qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or official determines that the signatures do not match, or that the vote by mail voter is not qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot, then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a vote by mail ballot may be rejected by the election judge or official:

(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened and resealed;

(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace period ballot;

(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or

(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.

If the election judge or official determines that any of these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.

(g-5) If a vote by mail ballot is rejected by the election judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection for federal elections and, for non-federal elections, but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the vote by mail voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority, on or before the fourth day after the election for federal elections and on or before the 14th day after the election for non-federal elections, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of the contested vote by mail ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.

A vote by mail ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots.

If a vote by mail ballot is rejected for any reason, the election authority shall, within one day after the rejection, transmit to the State Board of Elections by electronic means the voter's name, street address, email address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be. If a rejected vote by mail ballot is determined to be valid, the election authority shall, within one day after the determination, remove the name of the voter from the list transmitted to the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall maintain the names and information in an electronic format on its website accessible to State and local political committees.

Upon request by the State or local political committee, each election authority shall, within one day after the request, provide the following information about all rejected vote by mail ballots: voter's name, street address, email address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be.

(g-10) All vote by mail ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.

(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher for each panel of election judges therein assigned.

(Source: P.A. 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23; revised 6-24-25.)

(10 ILCS 5/19-12.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-12.2)

Sec. 19-12.2. Voting by physically incapacitated electors who have made proper application to the election authority not later than 10 5 days before the regular primary and general election of 1980 and before each election thereafter shall be conducted either through the vote by mail procedures as detailed in this Article or on the premises of (i) federally operated veterans' homes, hospitals, and facilities located in Illinois or (ii) facilities licensed or certified pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act for the sole benefit of residents of such homes, hospitals, and facilities. For the purposes of this Section, "federally operated veterans' home, hospital, or facility" means the long-term care facilities at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Illiana Health Care System, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Marion VA Medical Center, and Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center. Such voting shall be conducted during any continuous period sufficient to allow all applicants to cast their ballots between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. either on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday immediately preceding the regular election. This vote by mail voting on one of said days designated by the election authority shall be supervised by two election judges who must be selected by the election authority in the following order of priority: (1) from the panel of judges appointed for the precinct in which such home, hospital, or facility is located, or from a panel of judges appointed for any other precinct within the jurisdiction of the election authority in the same ward or township, as the case may be, in which the home, hospital, or facility is located or, only in the case where a judge or judges from the precinct, township or ward are unavailable to serve, (3) from a panel of judges appointed for any other precinct within the jurisdiction of the election authority. The two judges shall be from different political parties. Not less than 30 days before each regular election, the election authority shall have arranged with the chief administrative officer of each home, hospital, or facility in his or its election jurisdiction a mutually convenient time period on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday immediately preceding the election for such voting on the premises of the home, hospital, or facility and shall post in a prominent place in his or its office a notice of the agreed day and time period for conducting such voting at each home, hospital, or facility; provided that the election authority shall not later than noon on the Thursday before the election also post the names and addresses of those homes, hospitals, and facilities from which no applications were received and in which no supervised vote by mail voting will be conducted. All provisions of this Code applicable to pollwatchers shall be applicable herein. To the maximum extent feasible, voting booths or screens shall be provided to insure the privacy of the voter. Voting procedures shall be as described in Article 17 of this Code, except that ballots shall be treated as vote by mail ballots and shall not be counted until the close of the polls on the following day. After the last voter has concluded voting, the judges shall seal the ballots in an envelope and affix their signatures across the flap of the envelope. Immediately thereafter, the judges shall bring the sealed envelope to the office of the election authority who shall deliver such ballots to the election authority's central ballot counting location prior to the closing of the polls on the day of election. The judges of election shall also report to the election authority the name of any applicant in the home, hospital, or facility who, due to unforeseen circumstance or condition or because of a religious holiday, was unable to vote. In this event, the election authority may appoint a qualified person from his or its staff to deliver the ballot to such applicant on the day of election. This staff person shall follow the same procedures prescribed for judges conducting vote by mail voting in such homes, hospitals, or facilities and shall return the ballot to the central ballot counting location before the polls close. However, if the home, hospital, or facility from which the application was made is also used as a regular precinct polling place for that voter, voting procedures heretofore prescribed may be implemented by 2 of the election judges of opposite party affiliation assigned to that polling place during the hours of voting on the day of the election. Judges of election shall be compensated not less than $25.00 for conducting vote by mail voting in such homes, hospitals, or facilities.

Not less than 120 days before each regular election, the Department of Public Health shall certify to the State Board of Elections a list of the facilities licensed or certified pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act. The lists shall indicate the approved bed capacity and the name of the chief administrative officer of each such home, hospital, or facility, and the State Board of Elections shall certify the same to the appropriate election authority within 20 days thereafter.

(Source: P.A. 103-600, eff. 7-1-24.)

(10 ILCS 5/29-20) (from Ch. 46, par. 29-20)

Sec. 29-20. Vote by Mail ballots - violations. A person is guilty of a Class 3 felony who knowingly:

(1) Solicits another person, knowing that the person is not legally qualified to vote as a vote by mail voter, to apply for a vote by mail ballot;

(2) Solicits another person, knowing that the person is not legally qualified to vote as a vote by mail voter, to cast a ballot as a vote by mail voter;

(3) Intimidates or unduly influences another person to cast a vote by mail ballot in a manner inconsistent with the voter's intent; or

(4) Marks or tampers with a vote by mail ballot of another person or takes a vote by mail ballot of another person in violation of Section 19-6 so that an opportunity for fraudulent marking or tampering is created; or .

(5) Recalls a vote by mail ballot or attempts to recall a vote by mail ballot after the ballot has been placed into the custody of the United States Postal Service or a company that is licensed as a motor carrier of property by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law and is engaged in the business of making deliveries.

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

Article 195.

Section 195-5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 7-41 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/7-41) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-41)

Sec. 7-41. (a) All officers upon whom is imposed by law the duty of designating and providing polling places for general elections, shall provide in each such polling place so designated and provided, a sufficient number of booths for such primary election, which booths shall be provided with shelves, such supplies and pencils as will enable the voter to prepare his ballot for voting and in which voters may prepare their ballots screened from all observation as to the manner in which they do so. Such booths shall be within plain view of the election officers and both they and the ballot boxes shall be within plain view of those within the proximity of the voting booths. No person other than election officers and the challengers allowed by law and those admitted for the purpose of voting, as hereinafter provided, shall be permitted within the proximity of the voting booths, except by authority of the primary officers to keep order and enforce the law.

(b) The number of such voting booths shall not be less than one to every seventy-five voters or fraction thereof, who voted at the last preceding election in the precinct or election district.

(c) No person shall do any electioneering or soliciting of votes on primary day within any polling place or within one hundred feet of any polling place, or, at the option of a church or private school, on any of the property of that church or private school that is a polling place. Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small United States national flags, or some other marker a distance of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting, which shall be known as the polling room. If the polling room is located within a building that is a private business, a public or private school, or a church or other organization founded for the purpose of religious worship and the distance of 100 horizontal feet ends within the interior of the building, then the markers shall be placed outside of the building at each entrance used by voters to enter that building on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfare or walkway. If the polling room is located within a public or private building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the polling room used by voters to engage in voting. If the polling room is located in a public or private building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on a floor above or below the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed a distance of 100 feet from the nearest elevator or staircase used by voters on the ground floor to access the floor where the polling room is located. The area within where the markers are placed shall be known as a campaign free zone, and electioneering is prohibited pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a church or private school may choose to apply the campaign free zone to its entire property, and, if so, the markers shall be placed near the boundaries on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfares or walkways leading to the entrances used by the voters. At or near the door of each polling place, the election judges shall place signage indicating the proper entrance to the polling place. In addition, the election judges shall ensure that a sign identifying the location of the polling place is placed on a nearby public roadway. Within a forest preserve district or conservation district, the polling place property ends 500 horizontal feet from each entrance of the polling room, allowing electioneering between 100 and 500 feet from the entrance of the polling room, except that the campaign free zone shall not include any private property located within the boundaries of the forest preserve district or conservation district. The State Board of Elections shall establish guidelines for the placement of polling place signage.

The area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone, whether publicly or privately owned, is a public forum for the time that the polls are open on an election day. At the request of election officers any publicly owned building must be made available for use as a polling place. A person shall have the right to congregate and engage in electioneering on any polling place property while the polls are open beyond the campaign free zone, including but not limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection shall be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in electioneering on all polling place property beyond the campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an election day.

(d) The regulation of electioneering on polling place property on an election day, including but not limited to the placement of temporary signs, is an exclusive power and function of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate electioneering and any ordinance or local law contrary to subsection (c) is declared void. This is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(Source: P.A. 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)

Article 200.

Section 200-5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section 9-9.6 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/9-9.6 new)

Sec. 9-9.6. Disclosure of political communications generated by artificial intelligence.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Artificial intelligence" has the meaning set forth in Section 2-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

"Distribution platform" includes, but is not limited to, a website or a regularly published newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation, including an Internet publication or electronic publication, that routinely carries news and commentary of general interest.

"Qualified political advertisement" means any paid advertisement, including, but not limited to, search engine marketing, display advertisements, video advertisements, native advertisements, issue advertisements, messaging service advertisements, mobile application advertisements, and sponsorships, relating to a candidate for federal, State, or local office in this State, any election to federal, State, or local office in this State, or a ballot question, that contains any image, audio, or video that (i) is generated in whole or substantially with the use of artificial intelligence and (ii) may reasonably lead to voter interference, coercion, or intimidation if the use of artificial intelligence is not disclosed to voters.

(b) If a person, committee, or other entity creates, originally publishes, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement within 120 days before an election or up to 60 days after an election, the qualified political advertisement shall include, in a clear and conspicuous manner, a statement that the qualified political advertisement was generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence as follows:

(1) if the qualified political advertisement is a graphic communication, the statement shall appear in letters at least as large as the majority of the text in the graphic communication and be in the same language as the language used in the graphic communication;

(2) if the qualified political advertisement is an audio communication, the statement shall be spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning or end of the communication, shall last at least 3 seconds, and shall be in the same language as the language used in the audio communication; and

(3) if the qualified political advertisement is a video communication that also includes audio, the statement shall:

(A) appear for at least 4 seconds in letters at least as large as the majority of any text communication or, if there is no other text communication, in a size that is easily readable by the average viewer;

(B) be spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning or end of the communication and last at least 3 seconds; and

(C) be in the same language as the language used in the video communication.

(c) Every entity regulated by the Board shall file notice to the Board within 24 hours of the qualified political advertisement that contains the disclosure required under subsection (b) airing on a public medium. The Board shall outline the format for providing the required notice on its website no later than 140 days before the first election after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. The Board shall provide a list of qualified political advertisements that contain the disclosure required under subsection (b) and the entity's name on its website. The list shall be updated weekly 120 days before an election through 60 days after an election.

(d) A person who violates subsection (b) is subject to the following:

(1) for a first violation, the Board may impose on the person a civil penalty of not more than $250; and

(2) for a second or subsequent violation, the Board may impose on the person a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation.

Each qualified political advertisement that is distributed or aired to the public that violates this Section is a separate violation.

(e) This Section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) a radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, streaming service, or mobile application of one of the entities described in this paragraph that broadcasts a qualified political advertisement or a communication generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence as part of a bona fide newscast, news interview, news documentary, or on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events, if the broadcast clearly acknowledges through content or a disclosure, in a manner that can be easily heard or read by the average listener or viewer, that there are questions about the authenticity of the communication;

(2) a radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, streaming service, or mobile application of one of the entities described in this paragraph when the entity is paid to broadcast qualified political advertisements if the entity does not intentionally remove or modify any disclaimer provided by the creator or sponsor of the election communication;

(3) a distribution platform that publishes qualified political advertisements prohibited under this Section, if the distribution platform has a clearly stated written policy, provided to any person, committee, or other entity that creates, seeks to publish, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement, that the qualified political advertisement shall include a statement consistent with subsection (b);

(4) a qualified political advertisement that constitutes satire or parody; and

(5) a business or its affiliate if the business or its affiliate is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission.

(f) A distribution platform is not liable under this Section if the distribution platform can show that it provided notice to the distributor of a qualified political advertisement of the distribution platform's prohibitions concerning the failure to disclose content created in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence in a qualified political advertisement or prerecorded telephone message.

(g) If a person, committee, or other entity violates subsection (b) by creating, publishing, or disclosing a qualified political advertisement that features another candidate and that does not satisfy the requirements of this Section, then the featured candidate may petition the circuit court for injunctive relief to prohibit publication or disclosure of the qualified political advertisement. A featured candidate that prevails in circuit court under this subsection may recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

Article 999.

Section 999-95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.

Section 999-97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 999-99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".