99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB0194

 

Introduced , by Rep. Scott Drury

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/7-43  from Ch. 46, par. 7-43
10 ILCS 5/7-44  from Ch. 46, par. 7-44
10 ILCS 5/19-2.1  from Ch. 46, par. 19-2.1
10 ILCS 5/19-3  from Ch. 46, par. 19-3
10 ILCS 5/19-4  from Ch. 46, par. 19-4
10 ILCS 5/19-4.5 new
10 ILCS 5/19-5  from Ch. 46, par. 19-5
10 ILCS 5/19-8  from Ch. 46, par. 19-8
10 ILCS 5/19-12.1  from Ch. 46, par. 19-12.1
10 ILCS 5/20-3  from Ch. 46, par. 20-3
10 ILCS 5/20-4.5 new
10 ILCS 5/20-5  from Ch. 46, par. 20-5
10 ILCS 5/20-8  from Ch. 46, par. 20-8

    Amends the Election Code. Eliminates the requirement that a voter declare party affiliation when voting at a primary election. Provides that the voter shall receive the primary ballot of each of the established political parties nominating candidates for office at the primary election but may cast a ballot of only one political party, except in certain cases involving statewide political parties and political parties established only within a political subdivision. Effective immediately.


LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0194LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
5Sections 7-43, 7-44, 19-2.1, 19-3, 19-4, 19-5, 19-8, 19-12.1,
620-3, 20-5, and 20-8 and by adding Sections 19-4.5 and 20-4.5
7as follows:
 
8    (10 ILCS 5/7-43)  (from Ch. 46, par. 7-43)
9    Sec. 7-43. Every person having resided in this State 6
10months and in the precinct 30 days next preceding any primary
11therein who shall be a citizen of the United States of the age
12of 18 or more years shall be entitled to vote at such primary.
13    The following regulations shall be applicable to
14primaries:
15        No person shall be entitled to vote at a primary:
16            (a) Unless he declares his party affiliations as
17        required by this Article.
18            (b) (Blank).
19            (c) (Blank).
20            (c.5) If that person has participated in the town
21        political party caucus, under Section 45-50 of the
22        Township Code, of another political party by signing an
23        affidavit of voters attending the caucus within 45 days

 

 

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1        before the first day of the calendar month in which the
2        primary is held.
3            (d) (Blank).
4        In cities, villages and incorporated towns having a
5    board of election commissioners only voters registered as
6    provided by Article 6 of this Act shall be entitled to vote
7    at such primary.
8        No person shall be entitled to vote at a primary unless
9    he is registered under the provisions of Articles 4, 5 or 6
10    of this Act, when his registration is required by any of
11    said Articles to entitle him to vote at the election with
12    reference to which the primary is held.
13    A person (i) who filed a statement of candidacy for a
14partisan office as a qualified primary voter of an established
15political party or (ii) who voted the ballot of an established
16political party at a general primary election may not file a
17statement of candidacy as a candidate of a different
18established political party or as an independent candidate for
19a partisan office to be filled at the general election
20immediately following the general primary for which the person
21filed the statement or voted the ballot. A person may file a
22statement of candidacy for a partisan office as a qualified
23primary voter of an established political party regardless of
24any prior filing of candidacy for a partisan office or voting
25the ballot of an established political party at any prior
26election.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 97-681, eff. 3-30-12; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)
 
2    (10 ILCS 5/7-44)  (from Ch. 46, par. 7-44)
3    Sec. 7-44. Voter choice of primary ballot.
4    (a) Any person desiring to vote at a primary shall state
5his or her name and , residence and party affiliation to the
6primary judges, one of whom shall thereupon announce the same
7in a distinct tone of voice, sufficiently loud to be heard by
8all persons in the polling place. When article 4, 5 or 6 is
9applicable the Certificate of Registered Voter therein
10prescribed shall be made and signed and the official poll
11record shall be made. If the person desiring to vote is not
12challenged, one of the primary judges shall give to him or her
13one, and only one, primary ballot of each of the established
14political parties nominating candidates for office at the
15primary election, but the voter may cast a ballot of only one
16political party, except as otherwise provided in subsection (b)
17party with which he declares himself affiliated, on the back of
18which the such primary judge shall endorse his or her initials
19in such manner that they may be seen when the primary ballot is
20properly folded. If the person desiring to vote is challenged
21he or she shall not receive a primary ballot from the primary
22judges until he or she shall have established his or her right
23to vote as hereinafter provided in this Article. No person who
24refuses to state his party affiliation shall be allowed to vote
25at a primary.

 

 

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1    (b) A person who casts a ballot of declares his party
2affiliation with a statewide established political party and
3requests a primary ballot of such party may nonetheless also
4declare his affiliation with a political party established only
5within a political subdivision, and may also vote in the
6primary of a such local political party established only within
7a political subdivision on the same election day, provided that
8the such voter may not vote in both such party primaries with
9respect to offices of the same political subdivision. However,
10no person casting a ballot of declaring his affiliation with a
11statewide established political party may vote in the primary
12of any other statewide political party on the same election
13day. Each party's primary ballot shall include a space for the
14voter to mark, indicating that political party as the party for
15which the voter cast his or her votes. The voter may mark the
16space on the ballot of only one political party indicating that
17party, except as otherwise provided in this Section. If the
18voter desires to cast his or her ballot of a statewide
19political party and a political party established only within a
20political subdivision, the voter may indicate that choice by
21marking the space provided on the ballot of the statewide
22political party and by also marking the space provided on the
23ballot of the political party established only within a
24political subdivision. If the voter does not mark the space on
25the primary ballot indicating the political party in which the
26voter cast his or her ballot, or marks more than one such

 

 

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1space, the judges of election shall count only the votes of the
2political party in which the voter cast a vote for the office
3nearest the top of the ballot.
4(Source: P.A. 81-1535.)
 
5    (10 ILCS 5/19-2.1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 19-2.1)
6    Sec. 19-2.1. In-person absentee voting in the office of the
7municipal, township, or road district clerks. At the
8consolidated primary, general primary, consolidated, and
9general elections, electors entitled to vote by absentee ballot
10under the provisions of Section 19-1 may vote in person at the
11office of the municipal clerk, if the elector is a resident of
12a municipality not having a board of election commissioners, or
13at the office of the township clerk or, in counties not under
14township organization, at the office of the road district clerk
15if the elector is not a resident of a municipality; provided,
16in each case that the municipal, township or road district
17clerk, as the case may be, is authorized to conduct in-person
18absentee voting pursuant to this Section. Absentee voting in
19such municipal and township clerk's offices under this Section
20shall be conducted from the 22nd day through the day before the
21election.
22    Municipal and township clerks (or road district clerks) who
23have regularly scheduled working hours at regularly designated
24offices other than a place of residence and whose offices are
25open for business during the same hours as the office of the

 

 

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1election authority shall conduct in-person absentee voting for
2said elections. Municipal and township clerks (or road district
3clerks) who have no regularly scheduled working hours but who
4have regularly designated offices other than a place of
5residence shall conduct in-person absentee voting for said
6elections during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 9:00
7a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on
8Saturdays, but not during such hours as the office of the
9election authority is closed, unless the clerk files a written
10waiver with the election authority not later than July 1 of
11each year stating that he or she is unable to conduct such
12voting and the reasons therefor. Such clerks who conduct
13in-person absentee voting may extend their hours for that
14purpose to include any hours in which the election authority's
15office is open. Municipal and township clerks (or road district
16clerks) who have no regularly scheduled office hours and no
17regularly designated offices other than a place of residence
18may not conduct in-person absentee voting for said elections.
19The election authority may devise alternative methods for
20in-person absentee voting before said elections for those
21precincts located within the territorial area of a municipality
22or township (or road district) wherein the clerk of such
23municipality or township (or road district) has waived or is
24not entitled to conduct such voting. In addition, electors may
25vote by absentee ballot under the provisions of Section 19-1 at
26the office of the election authority having jurisdiction over

 

 

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1their residence. Unless specifically authorized by the
2election authority, municipal, township, and road district
3clerks shall not conduct in-person absentee voting. No less
4than 45 days before the date of an election, the election
5authority shall notify the municipal, township, and road
6district clerks within its jurisdiction if they are to conduct
7in-person absentee voting. Election authorities, however, may
8conduct in-person absentee voting in one or more designated
9appropriate public buildings from the fourth day before the
10election through the day before the election.
11    In conducting in-person absentee voting under this
12Section, the respective clerks shall be required to verify the
13signature of the absentee voter by comparison with the
14signature on the official registration record card. The clerk
15also shall reasonably ascertain the identity of such applicant,
16shall verify that each such applicant is a registered voter,
17and shall verify the precinct in which he or she is registered
18and the proper ballots of the political subdivisions in which
19the applicant resides and is entitled to vote, prior to
20providing any absentee ballot to such applicant. The clerk
21shall verify the applicant's registration and from the most
22recent poll list provided by the county clerk, and if the
23applicant is not listed on that poll list then by telephoning
24the office of the county clerk.
25    Within one day after a voter casts an in-person absentee
26ballot, the appropriate election authority shall transmit by

 

 

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1electronic means pursuant to a process established by the State
2Board of Elections the voter's name, street address, e-mail
3address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as
4the case may be, to the State Board of Elections, which shall
5maintain those names and that information in an electronic
6format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to
7State and local political committees.
8    Absentee voting procedures in the office of the municipal,
9township and road district clerks shall be subject to all of
10the applicable provisions of this Article 19, including,
11without limitation, those procedures relating to primary
12ballots. Pollwatchers may be appointed to observe in-person
13absentee voting procedures and view all reasonably requested
14records relating to the conduct of the election, provided the
15secrecy of the ballot is not impinged, at the office of the
16municipal, township or road district clerks' offices where such
17absentee voting is conducted. Such pollwatchers shall qualify
18and be appointed in the same manner as provided in Sections
197-34 and 17-23, except each candidate, political party or
20organization of citizens may appoint only one pollwatcher for
21each location where in-person absentee voting is conducted.
22Pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois and possess
23valid pollwatcher credentials. All requirements in this
24Article applicable to election authorities shall apply to the
25respective local clerks, except where inconsistent with this
26Section.

 

 

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1    The sealed absentee ballots in their carrier envelope shall
2be delivered by the respective clerks, or by the election
3authority on behalf of a clerk if the clerk and the election
4authority agree, to the election authority's central ballot
5counting location before the close of the polls on the day of
6the general primary, consolidated primary, consolidated, or
7general election.
8    Not more than 23 days before the general and consolidated
9elections, the county clerk shall make available to those
10municipal, township and road district clerks conducting
11in-person absentee voting within such county, a sufficient
12number of applications, absentee ballots, envelopes, and
13printed voting instruction slips for use by absentee voters in
14the offices of such clerks. The respective clerks shall receipt
15for all ballots received, shall return all unused or spoiled
16ballots to the county clerk on the day of the election and
17shall strictly account for all ballots received.
18    The ballots delivered to the respective clerks shall
19include absentee ballots for each precinct in the municipality,
20township or road district, or shall include such separate
21ballots for each political subdivision conducting an election
22of officers or a referendum on that election day as will permit
23any resident of the municipality, township or road district to
24vote absentee in the office of the proper clerk.
25    The clerks of all municipalities, townships and road
26districts may distribute applications for absentee ballot for

 

 

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1the use of voters who wish to mail such applications to the
2appropriate election authority. Any person may produce,
3reproduce, distribute, or return to an election authority the
4application for absentee ballot. Upon receipt, the appropriate
5election authority shall accept and promptly process any
6application for absentee ballot.
7(Source: P.A. 97-766, eff. 7-6-12; 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)
 
8    (10 ILCS 5/19-3)  (from Ch. 46, par. 19-3)
9    Sec. 19-3. The application for absentee ballot shall be
10substantially in the following form:
11
APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT
12    To be voted at the .... election in the County of .... and
13State of Illinois, in the .... precinct of the (1) *township of
14.... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in the City of ....
15    I state that I am a resident of the .... precinct of the
16(1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in
17the city of .... residing at .... in such city or town in the
18county of .... and State of Illinois; that I have lived at such
19address for .... month(s) last past; that I am lawfully
20entitled to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be
21held therein on ....; and that I wish to vote by absentee
22ballot.
23    I hereby make application for an official ballot or ballots
24to be voted by me at such election, and I agree that I shall
25return such ballot or ballots to the official issuing the same

 

 

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1prior to the closing of the polls on the date of the election
2or, if returned by mail, postmarked no later than midnight
3preceding election day, for counting no later than during the
4period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which
5is the 14th day following election day.
6    I understand that this application is made for an official
7absentee ballot or ballots to be voted by me at the election
8specified in this application and that I must submit a separate
9application for an official absentee ballot or ballots to be
10voted by me at any subsequent election.
11    Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Section
1229-10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
13statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
14
....
15
*fill in either (1), (2) or (3).
16
Post office address to which ballot is mailed:
17...............
18    However, if application is made for a primary election
19ballot, such application shall require the applicant to
20designate the name of the political party with which the
21applicant is affiliated.
22    If application is made electronically, the applicant shall
23mark the box associated with the above described statement
24included as part of the online application certifying that the
25statements set forth in this application are true and correct,
26and a signature is not required.

 

 

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1    Any person may produce, reproduce, distribute, or return to
2an election authority the application for absentee ballot. Upon
3receipt, the appropriate election authority shall accept and
4promptly process any application for absentee ballot submitted
5in a form substantially similar to that required by this
6Section, including any substantially similar production or
7reproduction generated by the applicant.
8(Source: P.A. 97-766, eff. 7-6-12; 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)
 
9    (10 ILCS 5/19-4)   (from Ch. 46, par. 19-4)
10    Sec. 19-4. Mailing or delivery of ballots; time.
11Immediately upon the receipt of such application either by mail
12or electronic means, not more than 40 days nor less than 5 days
13prior to such election, or by personal delivery not more than
1440 days nor less than one day prior to such election, at the
15office of such election authority, it shall be the duty of such
16election authority to examine the records to ascertain whether
17or not such applicant is lawfully entitled to vote as
18requested, including a verification of the applicant's
19signature by comparison with the signature on the official
20registration record card, and if found so to be entitled to
21vote, to post within one business day thereafter the name,
22street address, ward and precinct number or township and
23district number, as the case may be, of such applicant given on
24a list, the pages of which are to be numbered consecutively to
25be kept by such election authority for such purpose in a

 

 

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1conspicuous, open and public place accessible to the public at
2the entrance of the office of such election authority, and in
3such a manner that such list may be viewed without necessity of
4requesting permission therefor. Within one day after posting
5the name and other information of an applicant for an absentee
6ballot, the election authority shall transmit by electronic
7means pursuant to a process established by the State Board of
8Elections that name and other posted information to the State
9Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and other
10information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by
11county and accessible to State and local political committees.
12Within 2 business days after posting a name and other
13information on the list within its office, the election
14authority shall mail, postage prepaid, or deliver in person in
15such office an official ballot or ballots if more than one are
16to be voted at said election or if Section 19-4.5 applies. Mail
17delivery of Temporarily Absent Student ballot applications
18pursuant to Section 19-12.3 shall be by nonforwardable mail.
19However, for the consolidated election, absentee ballots for
20certain precincts may be delivered to applicants not less than
2125 days before the election if so much time is required to have
22prepared and printed the ballots containing the names of
23persons nominated for offices at the consolidated primary. The
24election authority shall enclose with each absentee ballot or
25application written instructions on how voting assistance
26shall be provided pursuant to Section 17-14 and a document,

 

 

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1written and approved by the State Board of Elections,
2enumerating the circumstances under which a person is
3authorized to vote by absentee ballot pursuant to this Article;
4such document shall also include a statement informing the
5applicant that if he or she falsifies or is solicited by
6another to falsify his or her eligibility to cast an absentee
7ballot, such applicant or other is subject to penalties
8pursuant to Section 29-10 and Section 29-20 of the Election
9Code. Each election authority shall maintain a list of the
10name, street address, ward and precinct, or township and
11district number, as the case may be, of all applicants who have
12returned absentee ballots to such authority, and the name of
13such absent voter shall be added to such list within one
14business day from receipt of such ballot. If the absentee
15ballot envelope indicates that the voter was assisted in
16casting the ballot, the name of the person so assisting shall
17be included on the list. The list, the pages of which are to be
18numbered consecutively, shall be kept by each election
19authority in a conspicuous, open, and public place accessible
20to the public at the entrance of the office of the election
21authority and in a manner that the list may be viewed without
22necessity of requesting permission for viewing.
23    Each election authority shall maintain a list for each
24election of the voters to whom it has issued absentee ballots.
25The list shall be maintained for each precinct within the
26jurisdiction of the election authority. Prior to the opening of

 

 

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1the polls on election day, the election authority shall deliver
2to the judges of election in each precinct the list of
3registered voters in that precinct to whom absentee ballots
4have been issued by mail.
5    Each election authority shall maintain a list for each
6election of voters to whom it has issued temporarily absent
7student ballots. The list shall be maintained for each election
8jurisdiction within which such voters temporarily abide.
9Immediately after the close of the period during which
10application may be made by mail or electronic means for
11absentee ballots, each election authority shall mail to each
12other election authority within the State a certified list of
13all such voters temporarily abiding within the jurisdiction of
14the other election authority.
15    In the event that the return address of an application for
16ballot by a physically incapacitated elector is that of a
17facility licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care Act,
18the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, or
19the ID/DD Community Care Act, within the jurisdiction of the
20election authority, and the applicant is a registered voter in
21the precinct in which such facility is located, the ballots
22shall be prepared and transmitted to a responsible judge of
23election no later than 9 a.m. on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday
24immediately preceding the election as designated by the
25election authority under Section 19-12.2. Such judge shall
26deliver in person on the designated day the ballot to the

 

 

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1applicant on the premises of the facility from which
2application was made. The election authority shall by mail
3notify the applicant in such facility that the ballot will be
4delivered by a judge of election on the designated day.
5    All applications for absentee ballots shall be available at
6the office of the election authority for public inspection upon
7request from the time of receipt thereof by the election
8authority until 30 days after the election, except during the
9time such applications are kept in the office of the election
10authority pursuant to Section 19-7, and except during the time
11such applications are in the possession of the judges of
12election.
13(Source: P.A. 97-38, eff. 6-28-11; 97-227, eff. 1-1-12; 97-813,
14eff. 7-13-12; 98-104, eff. 7-22-13; 98-115, eff. 7-29-13;
1598-756, eff. 7-16-14.)
 
16    (10 ILCS 5/19-4.5 new)
17    Sec. 19-4.5. Primary ballots.
18    (a) A person entitled to vote by absentee ballot at a
19primary shall not be required to declare his or her political
20party affiliation and shall be provided with the ballots of all
21established political parties nominating candidates for
22offices for which the absentee voter is entitled to vote at
23that primary. That absentee voter may mark, cast, and have
24counted the primary ballot of only one established political
25party, except that he or she may mark, cost, and have counted

 

 

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1the primary ballots of a statewide established political party
2and a local political party established only within a political
3subdivision as provided in subsection (b) of Section 7-44.
4    (b) With respect to the marking, casting, and counting of
5primary ballots, absentee voting shall be conducted in
6accordance with Sections 7-43 and 7-44 of this Code as well as
7the provisions of this Article.
8    (c) When voting absentee at a primary by means other than
9in-person absentee voting, the voter shall be instructed to
10discard or otherwise destroy any ballots of political parties
11that the voter does not intend to cast. Such a discarded or
12destroyed ballot or ballots is not the ballot or ballots the
13voter agreed in the absentee ballot application to return to
14the election authority.
15    If a voter subject to this subsection (c) returns to the
16election authority the ballot of more than one established
17political party, the judges of election shall determine which
18votes to count as provided in subsection (b) of Section 7-44.
 
19    (10 ILCS 5/19-5)  (from Ch. 46, par. 19-5)
20    Sec. 19-5. It shall be the duty of the election authority
21to fold the ballot or ballots in the manner specified by the
22statute for folding ballots prior to their deposit in the
23ballot box, and to enclose such ballot or ballots in an
24envelope unsealed to be furnished by him, which envelope shall
25bear upon the face thereof the name, official title and post

 

 

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1office address of the election authority, and upon the other
2side a printed certification in substantially the following
3form:
4    I state that I am a resident of the .... precinct of the
5(1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in
6the city of .... residing at .... in such city or town in the
7county of .... and State of Illinois, that I have lived at such
8address for .... months last past; and that I am lawfully
9entitled to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be
10held on .....
11*fill in either (1), (2) or (3).
12    I further state that I personally marked the enclosed
13ballot in secret.
14    Under penalties of perjury as provided by law pursuant to
15Section 29-10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies
16that the statements set forth in this certification are true
17and correct.
18
.......................
19    If the ballot is to go to an elector who is physically
20incapacitated and needs assistance marking the ballot, the
21envelope shall bear upon the back thereof a certification in
22substantially the following form:
23    I state that I am a resident of the .... precinct of the
24(1) *township of .... (2) *City of .... or (3) *.... ward in
25the city of .... residing at .... in such city or town in the
26county of .... and State of Illinois, that I have lived at such

 

 

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1address for .... months last past; that I am lawfully entitled
2to vote in such precinct at the .... election to be held on
3....; that I am physically incapable of personally marking the
4ballot for such election.
5*fill in either (1), (2) or (3).
6    I further state that I marked the enclosed ballot in secret
7with the assistance of
8
.................................
9
(Individual rendering assistance)
10
.................................
11
(Residence Address)
12    Under penalties of perjury as provided by law pursuant to
13Section 29-10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies
14that the statements set forth in this certification are true
15and correct.
16
.......................
17    In the case of a voter with a physical incapacity, marking
18a ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the
19assistance of another individual, other than a candidate whose
20name appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a
21parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the
22voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or
23agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical
24incapacity necessitates such assistance.
25    In the case of a physically incapacitated voter, marking a
26ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the assistance

 

 

HB0194- 20 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1of another individual, other than a candidate whose name
2appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a
3parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the
4voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or
5agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical
6incapacity necessitates such assistance.
7    Provided, that if the ballot enclosed is to be voted at a
8primary election, the certification shall designate the name of
9the political party with which the voter is affiliated.
10    In addition to the above, the election authority shall
11provide printed slips giving full instructions regarding the
12manner of marking and returning the ballot in order that the
13same may be counted, and shall furnish one of such printed
14slips to each of such applicants at the same time the ballot is
15delivered to him. Such instructions shall include the following
16statement: "In signing the certification on the absentee ballot
17envelope, you are attesting that you personally marked this
18absentee ballot in secret. If you are physically unable to mark
19the ballot, a friend or relative may assist you after
20completing the enclosed affidavit. Federal and State laws
21prohibit a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless
22you are the spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of
23the candidate), your employer, your employer's agent or an
24officer or agent of your union from assisting physically
25disabled voters."
26    In addition to the above, if a ballot to be provided to an

 

 

HB0194- 21 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1elector pursuant to this Section contains a public question
2described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6 and the territory
3concerning which the question is to be submitted is not
4described on the ballot due to the space limitations of such
5ballot, the election authority shall provide a printed copy of
6a notice of the public question, which shall include a
7description of the territory in the manner required by Section
816-7. The notice shall be furnished to the elector at the same
9time the ballot is delivered to the elector.
10(Source: P.A. 95-440, eff. 8-27-07; 96-553, eff. 8-17-09.)
 
11    (10 ILCS 5/19-8)  (from Ch. 46, par. 19-8)
12    Sec. 19-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
13    (a) (Blank.)
14    (b) Each absent voter's ballot returned to an election
15authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and
16received by that election authority before the closing of the
17polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving
18election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall
19be counted in the central ballot counting location of the
20election authority on the day of the election after 7:00 p.m.,
21except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).
22    (c) Each absent voter's ballot that is mailed to an
23election authority and postmarked by the midnight preceding the
24opening of the polls on election day, but that is received by
25the election authority after the polls close on election day

 

 

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1and before the close of the period for counting provisional
2ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the
3receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall
4be counted at the central ballot counting location of the
5election authority during the period for counting provisional
6ballots.
7    Each absent voter's ballot that is mailed to an election
8authority absent a postmark, but that is received by the
9election authority after the polls close on election day and
10before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots
11cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving
12authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect
13the date inserted on the certification, and, if the
14certification date is a date preceding the election day and the
15ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of
16this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location
17of the election authority during the period for counting
18provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the
19ballot shall not be counted.
20    (d) Special write-in absentee voter's blank ballots
21returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by
22this Article, and received by the election authority at any
23time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be
24endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and
25hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot
26counting location of the election authority during the same

 

 

HB0194- 23 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1period provided for counting absent voters' ballots under
2subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in absentee
3voter's blank ballots that are mailed to an election authority
4and postmarked by the midnight preceding the opening of the
5polls on election day, but that are received by the election
6authority after the polls close on election day and before the
7closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at
8that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority
9with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the
10central ballot counting location of the election authority
11during the same periods provided for counting absent voters'
12ballots under subsection (c).
13    (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, absent
14voters' ballots and special write-in absentee voter's blank
15ballots received by the election authority after the closing of
16the polls on an election day shall be endorsed by the election
17authority receiving them with the day and hour of receipt and
18shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for the
19period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at
20the election, and shall then, without being opened, be
21destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.
22    (f) Counting required under this Section to begin on
23election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no
24later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or
25panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by
26law. The counting shall continue until all absent voters'

 

 

HB0194- 24 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1ballots and special write-in absentee voter's blank ballots
2required to be counted on election day have been counted.
3    (g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 and,
4with respect to primaries, in Section 19-4.5 of this Code shall
5apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition,
6within 2 days after an absentee ballot, other than an in-person
7absentee ballot, is received, but in all cases before the close
8of the period for counting provisional ballots, the election
9judge or official shall compare the voter's signature on the
10certification envelope of that absentee ballot with the
11signature of the voter on file in the office of the election
12authority. If the election judge or official determines that
13the 2 signatures match, and that the absentee voter is
14otherwise qualified to cast an absentee ballot, the election
15authority shall cast and count the ballot on election day or
16the day the ballot is determined to be valid, whichever is
17later, adding the results to the precinct in which the voter is
18registered. If the election judge or official determines that
19the signatures do not match, or that the absentee voter is not
20qualified to cast an absentee ballot, then without opening the
21certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across
22the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
23shall not cast or count the ballot.
24    In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, an
25absentee ballot may be rejected by the election judge or
26official:

 

 

HB0194- 25 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1        (1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
2    and resealed;
3        (2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace
4    period ballot;
5        (3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the
6    voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
7        (4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
8    If the election judge or official determines that any of
9these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across
10the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
11shall not cast or count the ballot.
12    (g-5) If an absentee ballot, other than an in-person
13absentee ballot, is rejected by the election judge or official
14for any reason, the election authority shall, within 2 days
15after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the
16period for counting provisional ballots, notify the absentee
17voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The notice shall
18inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was
19rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the
20election authority, on or before the 14th day after the
21election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be
22rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election
23authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot
24should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel
25of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot,
26application, and certification envelope, as well as any

 

 

HB0194- 26 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1evidence submitted by the absentee voter. No more than 2
2election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same
3political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall
4make a final determination as to the validity of the contested
5absentee ballot. The judges' determination shall not be
6reviewable either administratively or judicially.
7    An absentee ballot subject to this subsection that is
8determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the
9period for counting provisional ballots.
10    (g-10) All absentee ballots determined to be valid shall be
11added to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were
12cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.
13    (h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic
14organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher
15for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
16(Source: P.A. 94-557, eff. 8-12-05; 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06;
1795-699, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
18    (10 ILCS 5/19-12.1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 19-12.1)
19    Sec. 19-12.1. Any qualified elector who has secured an
20Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card in
21accordance with the Illinois Identification Card Act,
22indicating that the person named thereon has a Class 1A or
23Class 2 disability or any qualified voter who has a permanent
24physical incapacity of such a nature as to make it improbable
25that he will be able to be present at the polls at any future

 

 

HB0194- 27 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1election, or any voter who is a resident of (i) a federally
2operated veterans' home, hospital, or facility located in
3Illinois or (ii) a facility licensed or certified pursuant to
4the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health
5Rehabilitation Act of 2013, or the ID/DD Community Care Act and
6has a condition or disability of such a nature as to make it
7improbable that he will be able to be present at the polls at
8any future election, may secure a disabled voter's or nursing
9home resident's identification card, which will enable him to
10vote under this Article as a physically incapacitated or
11nursing home voter. For the purposes of this Section,
12"federally operated veterans' home, hospital, or facility"
13means the long-term care facilities at the Jesse Brown VA
14Medical Center, Illiana Health Care System, Edward Hines, Jr.
15VA Hospital, Marion VA Medical Center, and Captain James A.
16Lovell Federal Health Care Center.
17    Application for a disabled voter's or nursing home
18resident's identification card shall be made either: (a) in
19writing, with voter's sworn affidavit, to the county clerk or
20board of election commissioners, as the case may be, and shall
21be accompanied by the affidavit of the attending physician
22specifically describing the nature of the physical incapacity
23or the fact that the voter is a nursing home resident and is
24physically unable to be present at the polls on election days;
25or (b) by presenting, in writing or otherwise, to the county
26clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be,

 

 

HB0194- 28 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1proof that the applicant has secured an Illinois Person with a
2Disability Identification Card indicating that the person
3named thereon has a Class 1A or Class 2 disability. Upon the
4receipt of either the sworn-to application and the physician's
5affidavit or proof that the applicant has secured an Illinois
6Person with a Disability Identification Card indicating that
7the person named thereon has a Class 1A or Class 2 disability,
8the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall issue
9a disabled voter's or nursing home resident's identification
10card. Such identification cards shall be issued for a period of
115 years, upon the expiration of which time the voter may secure
12a new card by making application in the same manner as is
13prescribed for the issuance of an original card, accompanied by
14a new affidavit of the attending physician. The date of
15expiration of such five-year period shall be made known to any
16interested person by the election authority upon the request of
17such person. Applications for the renewal of the identification
18cards shall be mailed to the voters holding such cards not less
19than 3 months prior to the date of expiration of the cards.
20    Each disabled voter's or nursing home resident's
21identification card shall bear an identification number, which
22shall be clearly noted on the voter's original and duplicate
23registration record cards. In the event the holder becomes
24physically capable of resuming normal voting, he must surrender
25his disabled voter's or nursing home resident's identification
26card to the county clerk or board of election commissioners

 

 

HB0194- 29 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1before the next election.
2    The holder of a disabled voter's or nursing home resident's
3identification card may make application by mail for an
4official ballot within the time prescribed by Section 19-2.
5Such application shall contain the same information as is
6included in the form of application for ballot by a physically
7incapacitated elector prescribed in Section 19-3 except that it
8shall also include the applicant's disabled voter's
9identification card number and except that it need not be sworn
10to. If an examination of the records discloses that the
11applicant is lawfully entitled to vote, he shall be mailed a
12ballot or ballots as provided in Section 19-4 and, if
13applicable, in Section 19-4.5. The ballot envelope shall be the
14same as that prescribed in Section 19-5 for physically disabled
15voters, and the manner of voting and returning the ballot shall
16be the same as that provided in this Article for other absentee
17ballots, except that a statement to be subscribed to by the
18voter but which need not be sworn to shall be placed on the
19ballot envelope in lieu of the affidavit prescribed by Section
2019-5.
21    Any person who knowingly subscribes to a false statement in
22connection with voting under this Section shall be guilty of a
23Class A misdemeanor.
24    For the purposes of this Section, "nursing home resident"
25includes a resident of (i) a federally operated veterans' home,
26hospital, or facility located in Illinois or (ii) a facility

 

 

HB0194- 30 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act or the Specialized
2Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. For the purposes of
3this Section, "federally operated veterans' home, hospital, or
4facility" means the long-term care facilities at the Jesse
5Brown VA Medical Center, Illiana Health Care System, Edward
6Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Marion VA Medical Center, and Captain
7James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.
8(Source: P.A. 97-38, eff. 6-28-11; 97-227, eff. 1-1-12; 97-275,
9eff. 1-1-12; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 97-1064, eff. 1-1-13;
1098-104, eff. 7-22-13.)
 
11    (10 ILCS 5/20-3)  (from Ch. 46, par. 20-3)
12    Sec. 20-3. The election authority shall furnish the
13following applications for absentee registration or absentee
14ballot which shall be considered a method of application in
15lieu of the official postcard.
16    1. Members of the United States Service, citizens of the
17United States temporarily residing outside the territorial
18limits of the United States, and certified program participants
19under the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic
20Violence Act may make application within the periods prescribed
21in Sections 20-2 or 20-2.1, as the case may be. Such
22application shall be substantially in the following form:
23
"APPLICATION FOR BALLOT
24    To be voted at the............ election in the precinct in
25which is located my residence at..............., in the

 

 

HB0194- 31 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1city/village/township of ............(insert home address)
2County of........... and State of Illinois.
3    I state that I am a citizen of the United States; that on
4(insert date of election) I shall have resided in the State of
5Illinois and in the election precinct for 30 days; that on the
6above date I shall be the age of 18 years or above; that I am
7lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at that election;
8that I am (check category 1, 2, or 3 below):
9    1.  ( ) a member of the United States Service,
10    2.  ( ) a citizen of the United States temporarily residing
11outside the territorial limits of the United States and that I
12expect to be absent from the said county of my residence on the
13date of holding such election, and that I will have no
14opportunity to vote in person on that day.
15    3.  ( ) a certified program participant under the Address
16Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence Act.
17    I hereby make application for an official ballot or ballots
18to be voted by me at such election if I am absent from the said
19county of my residence, and I agree that I shall return said
20ballot or ballots to the election authority postmarked no later
21than midnight preceding election day, for counting no later
22than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the
23last day of which is the 14th day following election day or
24shall destroy said ballot or ballots.
25    (Check below only if category 2 or 3 and not previously
26registered)

 

 

HB0194- 32 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1    (  ) I hereby make application to become registered as a
2voter and agree to return the forms and affidavits for
3registration to the election authority not later than 30 days
4before the election.
5    Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29
6of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
7statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
8
.........................
9    Post office address or service address to which
10registration materials or ballot should be mailed
11
.........................
12
.........................
13
.........................
14
........................"
15    If application is made for a primary election ballot, such
16application shall designate the name of the political party
17with which the applicant is affiliated.
18    Such applications may be obtained from the election
19authority having jurisdiction over the person's precinct of
20residence.
21    2. A spouse or dependent of a member of the United States
22Service, said spouse or dependent being a registered voter in
23the county, may make application on behalf of said person in
24the office of the election authority within the periods
25prescribed in Section 20-2 which shall be substantially in the
26following form:

 

 

HB0194- 33 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1"APPLICATION FOR BALLOT to be voted at the........... election
2in the precinct in which is located the residence of the person
3for whom this application is made at.............(insert
4residence address) in the city/village/township of.........
5County of.......... and State of Illinois.
6    I certify that the following named person................
7(insert name of person) is a member of the United States
8Service.
9    I state that said person is a citizen of the United States;
10that on (insert date of election) said person shall have
11resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct
12for which this application is made for 30 days; that on the
13above date said person shall be the age of 18 years or above;
14that said person is lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct
15at that election; that said person is a member of the United
16States Service, and that in the course of his duties said
17person expects to be absent from his county of residence on the
18date of holding such election, and that said person will have
19no opportunity to vote in person on that day.
20    I hereby make application for an official ballot or ballots
21to be voted by said person at such election and said person
22agrees that he shall return said ballot or ballots to the
23election authority postmarked no later than midnight preceding
24election day, for counting no later than during the period for
25counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th
26day following election day, or shall destroy said ballot or

 

 

HB0194- 34 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1ballots.
2    I hereby certify that I am the (mother, father, sister,
3brother, husband or wife) of the said elector, and that I am a
4registered voter in the election precinct for which this
5application is made. (Strike all but one that is applicable.)
6    Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29
7of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
8statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
9
Name of applicant ......................
10
Residence address ........................
11
City/village/township........................
12    Service address to which ballot should be mailed:
13
.........................
14
.........................
15
.........................
16
........................"
17    If application is made for a primary election ballot, such
18application shall designate the name of the political party
19with which the person for whom application is made is
20affiliated.
21    Such applications may be obtained from the election
22authority having jurisdiction over the voting precinct in which
23the person for whom application is made is entitled to vote.
24(Source: P.A. 96-312, eff. 1-1-10.)
 
25    (10 ILCS 5/20-4.5 new)

 

 

HB0194- 35 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1    Sec. 20-4.5. Primary ballots.
2    (a) A person entitled to vote by absentee ballot at a
3primary shall not be required to declare his or her political
4party affiliation and shall be provided with the ballots of all
5established political parties nominating candidates for
6offices for which the absentee voter is entitled to vote at
7that primary. That absentee voter may mark, cast, and have
8counted the primary ballot of only one established political
9party, except that he or she may mark, cost, and have counted
10the primary ballots of a statewide established political party
11and a local political party established only within a political
12subdivision as provided in subsection (b) of Section 7-44.
13    (b) With respect to the marking, casting, and counting of
14primary ballots, absentee voting shall be conducted in
15accordance with Sections 7-43 and 7-44 of this Code as well as
16the provisions of this Article.
17    (c) When voting absentee at a primary, the voter shall be
18instructed to discard or otherwise destroy any ballots of
19political parties that the voter does not intend to cast. Such
20a discarded or destroyed ballot or ballots is not the ballot or
21ballots the voter agreed in the absentee ballot application to
22return to the election authority.
23    If a voter subject to this subsection returns to the
24election authority the ballot of more than one established
25political party, the judges of election shall determine which
26votes to count as provided in subsection (b) of Section 7-44.
 

 

 

HB0194- 36 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1    (10 ILCS 5/20-5)  (from Ch. 46, par. 20-5)
2    Sec. 20-5. The election authority shall fold the ballot or
3ballots in the manner specified by the statute for folding
4ballots prior to their deposit in the ballot box and shall
5enclose such ballot in an envelope unsealed to be furnished by
6it, which envelope shall bear upon the face thereof the name,
7official title and post office address of the election
8authority, and upon the other side of such envelope there shall
9be printed a certification in substantially the following form:
10
"CERTIFICATION
11    I state that I am a resident/former resident of the .......
12precinct of the city/village/township of ............,
13(Designation to be made by Election Authority) or of the ....
14ward in the city of ........... (Designation to be made by
15Election Authority) residing at ................ in said
16city/village/township in the county of ........... and State of
17Illinois; that I am a
18    1.  (  ) member of the United States Service
19    2.  (  ) citizen of the United States temporarily residing
20outside the territorial limits of the United States
21    3. ( ) nonresident civilian citizen
22and desire to cast the enclosed ballot pursuant to Article 20
23of The Election Code; that I am lawfully entitled to vote in
24such precinct at the ........... election to be held on
25............

 

 

HB0194- 37 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1    I further state that I marked the enclosed ballot in
2secret.
3    Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29
4of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
5statements set forth in this certification are true and
6correct.
7
...............(Name)
8
.....................
9
(Service Address)"
10
.....................
11
.....................
12
.....................
13    If the ballot enclosed is to be voted at a primary
14election, the certification shall designate the name of the
15political party with which the voter is affiliated.
16    In addition to the above, the election authority shall
17provide printed slips giving full instructions regarding the
18manner of completing the forms and affidavits for absentee
19registration or the manner of marking and returning the ballot
20in order that the same may be counted, and shall furnish one of
21the printed slips to each of the applicants at the same time
22the registration materials or ballot is delivered to him.
23    In addition to the above, if a ballot to be provided to an
24elector pursuant to this Section contains a public question
25described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6 and the territory
26concerning which the question is to be submitted is not

 

 

HB0194- 38 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1described on the ballot due to the space limitations of such
2ballot, the election authority shall provide a printed copy of
3a notice of the public question, which shall include a
4description of the territory in the manner required by Section
516-7. The notice shall be furnished to the elector at the same
6time the ballot is delivered to the elector.
7    The envelope in which such registration or such ballot is
8mailed to the voter as well as the envelope in which the
9registration materials or the ballot is returned by the voter
10shall have printed across the face thereof two parallel
11horizontal red bars, each one-quarter inch wide, extending from
12one side of the envelope to the other side, with an intervening
13space of one-quarter inch, the top bar to be one and
14one-quarter inches from the top of the envelope, and with the
15words "Official Election Balloting Material-VIA AIR MAIL"
16between the bars. In the upper right corner of such envelope in
17a box, there shall be printed the words: "U.S. Postage Paid 42
18USC 1973". All printing on the face of such envelopes shall be
19in red, including an appropriate inscription or blank in the
20upper left corner of return address of sender.
21    The envelope in which the ballot is returned to the
22election authority may be delivered (i) by mail, postage paid,
23(ii) in person, by the spouse, parent, child, brother, or
24sister of the voter, or (iii) by a company engaged in the
25business of making deliveries of property and licensed as a
26motor carrier of property by the Illinois Commerce Commission

 

 

HB0194- 39 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1under the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law.
2    Election authorities transmitting ballots by facsimile or
3electronic transmission shall, to the extent possible, provide
4those applicants with the same instructions, certification,
5and other materials required when sending by mail.
6(Source: P.A. 96-512, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1004, eff. 1-1-11.)
 
7    (10 ILCS 5/20-8)  (from Ch. 46, par. 20-8)
8    Sec. 20-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
9    (a) (Blank.)
10    (b) Each absent voter's ballot returned to an election
11authority, by any means authorized by this Article, and
12received by that election authority before the closing of the
13polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving
14election authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall
15be counted in the central ballot counting location of the
16election authority on the day of the election after 7:00 p.m.,
17except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).
18    (c) Each absent voter's ballot that is mailed to an
19election authority and postmarked by the midnight preceding the
20opening of the polls on election day, but that is received by
21the election authority after the polls close on election day
22and before the close of the period for counting provisional
23ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the
24receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and shall
25be counted at the central ballot counting location of the

 

 

HB0194- 40 -LRB099 02694 MGM 22701 b

1election authority during the period for counting provisional
2ballots.
3    Each absent voter's ballot that is mailed to an election
4authority absent a postmark, but that is received by the
5election authority after the polls close on election day and
6before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots
7cast at that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving
8authority with the day and hour of receipt, opened to inspect
9the date inserted on the certification, and, if the
10certification date is a date preceding the election day and the
11ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of
12this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location
13of the election authority during the period for counting
14provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the
15ballot shall not be counted.
16    (d) Special write-in absentee voter's blank ballots
17returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by
18this Article, and received by the election authority at any
19time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be
20endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and
21hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot
22counting location of the election authority during the same
23period provided for counting absent voters' ballots under
24subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in absentee
25voter's blank ballot that are mailed to an election authority
26and postmarked by midnight preceding the opening of the polls

 

 

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1on election day, but that are received by the election
2authority after the polls close on election day and before the
3closing of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at
4that election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority
5with the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the
6central ballot counting location of the election authority
7during the same periods provided for counting absent voters'
8ballots under subsection (c).
9    (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, absent
10voters' ballots and special write-in absentee voter's blank
11ballots received by the election authority after the closing of
12the polls on the day of election shall be endorsed by the
13person receiving the ballots with the day and hour of receipt
14and shall be safely kept unopened by the election authority for
15the period of time required for the preservation of ballots
16used at the election, and shall then, without being opened, be
17destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that election.
18    (f) Counting required under this Section to begin on
19election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no
20later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or
21panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by
22law. The counting shall continue until all absent voters'
23ballots and special write-in absentee voter's blank ballots
24required to be counted on election day have been counted.
25    (g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 and,
26with respect to primaries, in Section 20-4.5 of this Code shall

 

 

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1apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In addition,
2within 2 days after a ballot subject to this Article is
3received, but in all cases before the close of the period for
4counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official
5shall compare the voter's signature on the certification
6envelope of that ballot with the signature of the voter on file
7in the office of the election authority. If the election judge
8or official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that
9the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a ballot under this
10Article, the election authority shall cast and count the ballot
11on election day or the day the ballot is determined to be
12valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the precinct
13in which the voter is registered. If the election judge or
14official determines that the signatures do not match, or that
15the voter is not qualified to cast a ballot under this Article,
16then without opening the certification envelope, the judge or
17official shall mark across the face of the certification
18envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the
19ballot.
20    In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a
21ballot subject to this Article may be rejected by the election
22judge or official:
23        (1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
24    and resealed;
25        (2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace
26    period ballot;

 

 

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1        (3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the
2    voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
3        (4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
4    If the election judge or official determines that any of
5these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across
6the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
7shall not cast or count the ballot.
8    (g-5) If a ballot subject to this Article is rejected by
9the election judge or official for any reason, the election
10authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all
11cases before the close of the period for counting provisional
12ballots, notify the voter that his or her ballot was rejected.
13The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the
14ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear
15before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after
16the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be
17rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election
18authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot
19should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel
20of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot,
21application, and certification envelope, as well as any
22evidence submitted by the absentee voter. No more than 2
23election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same
24political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall
25make a final determination as to the validity of the contested
26ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable

 

 

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1either administratively or judicially.
2    A ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to
3be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for
4counting provisional ballots.
5    (g-10) All ballots determined to be valid shall be added to
6the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in
7the order in which the ballots were opened.
8    (h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic
9organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher
10for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
11(Source: P.A. 94-557, eff. 8-12-05; 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06;
1295-699, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
13    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14becoming law.