HB2928 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 27837 BMS 54215 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2928

Introduced 2/16/2023, by Rep. Dennis Tipsword, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/1-14 new
10 ILCS 5/3-8 new
10 ILCS 5/17-9	from Ch. 46, par. 17-9
10 ILCS 5/18-5	from Ch. 46, par. 18-5
10 ILCS 5/18A-5
10 ILCS 5/18A-15
10 ILCS 5/19-7	from Ch. 46, par. 19-7
10 ILCS 5/19A-35

Amends the Election Code. Requires Voters Identification Cards for those who do not have an acceptable photo ID. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card. In provisions concerning the receipt of vote by mail ballots, provides that an election authority shall appoint panels as needed of 3 election judges from the list of election judges submitted by the county parties to compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of the vote by mail ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. Provides the procedure for verifying or rejecting the signature. Provides that if a vote by mail ballot is rejected, the election authority shall notify the voter within 2 days after the rejection or within one day if the rejection occurs after election day and in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots. Allows a voter to submit a statement confirming the vote if the signature was rejected. Allows a voter to cast a new ballot if the vote by mail ballot was rejected because the envelope was delivered opened.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 17-9, 18-5, 18A-5, 18A-15, 19-7, and 19A-35 and by adding Sections 1-14 and 3-8 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1-14 new)

Sec. 1-14. Voter Identification Card.

(a) Issuance. The Secretary of State shall issue a Voter Identification Card to each registered voter who does not have an acceptable form of photo identification card as defined in Section 3-8. The Voter Identification Card shall include at least: (i) the voter's name, signature, and photograph; (ii) the State seal; and (iii) the voter's current residence address. A Voter Identification Card is valid for as long as the registered voter maintains the name and residence on the Card. A Voter Identification Card may not be used for any purpose other than to vote in Illinois.

(b) Intent and purpose. It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide the Secretary of State with guidance on how to issue the Voter Identification Card to those individuals who do not have an acceptable form of photo identification as defined in Section 3-8.

(c) Application for the Voter Identification Card. Within a reasonable time after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Secretary of State shall provide application forms for the Voter Identification Card. Any registered voter who meets the criteria set forth in this Section and who provides the proper documentation required under subsection (d) shall receive a Voter Identification Card.

(d) Documentation required. The Secretary of State shall require the presentation and verification of the following information for issuance of a Voter Registration Card:

(1) A photo identity document, except that a non-photo identity document, as defined in subsection (e), is acceptable if it includes both the applicant's name and date of birth.

(2) Documentation showing the applicant's date of birth.

(3) Evidence of voter registration.

(4) Documentation, as defined in subsection (f), showing the applicant's name and principal residence address.

(e) Non-photo identity document. A non-photo identity document must include the applicant's name and date of birth. Any of the following shall constitute a non-photo identity document in lieu of a photo identity document:

(1) An original birth certificate or certified copy of a birth certificate.

(2) A voter registration card.

(3) A copy of records filed in court by the applicant or on behalf of the applicant by the applicant's counsel.

(4) A naturalization document.

(5) A copy of the applicant's marriage license.

(6) A copy of the State or federal tax return filed by the applicant for the previous calendar year.

(7) An original of the annual Social Security statement received by the applicant for the current or preceding calendar year.

(8) An original of a Medicare or Medicaid statement received by the applicant.

(9) A certified school record or transcript for the current or preceding calendar year.

(f) Documentation of name and address. Any of the following documents shall be acceptable as documentation of the applicant's name and current address:

(1) A voter registration card.

(2) A utility bill or cable bill.

(3) A bank statement issued within the last 60 days.

(4) A valid and current rental agreement.

(5) A copy of the State or federal tax return filed by the applicant for the previous calendar year.

(6) A homeowner's insurance policy or bill for the current or preceding year.

(7) A mortgage, deed, or property tax bill for the current or preceding year.

(8) A W-2 for the preceding calendar year.

(g) Exemptions. Voters who are indigent and unable to obtain a Voter Identification Card without a fee and voters who have a religious objection to being photographed may vote a provisional ballot and sign an affidavit that indicates one of the exemptions stated in this subsection. An indigent person is defined as an individual whose income is 125% or less of current federal poverty income guidelines.

(10 ILCS 5/3-8 new)

Sec. 3-8. Acceptable forms of photo identification for voting purposes. As used in this Code, acceptable forms of photo identification for voting purposes include:

(1) An Illinois Driver's License.

(2) A State Identification Card.

(3) An Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card.

(4) A Senior Citizen Identification Card.

(5) A FOID Card.

(6) A U.S. Passport with the voter's current address.

(7) Any other government-issued identification card that includes the voter's name, current photograph, and current address.

All photo identification cards must be valid and current.

(10 ILCS 5/17-9) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-9)

Sec. 17-9. Any person desiring to vote shall (i) present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card, as defined in Section 3-8, or his or her Voter Identification Card and (ii) give his name and, if required to do so, his residence to the judges of election, one of whom shall thereupon announce the same in a loud and distinct tone of voice, clear, and audible; the judges of elections shall check each application for ballot against the list of voters registered in that precinct to whom grace period, vote by mail, or early ballots have been issued for that election, which shall be provided by the election authority and which list shall be available for inspection by pollwatchers. A voter applying to vote in the precinct on election day whose name appears on the list as having been issued a grace period, vote by mail, or early ballot shall not be permitted to vote in the precinct, except that a voter to whom a vote by mail ballot was issued may vote in the precinct if the voter submits to the election judges that vote by mail ballot for cancellation. If the voter is unable to submit the vote by mail ballot, it shall be sufficient for the voter to submit to the election judges (i) a portion of the vote by mail ballot if the vote by mail ballot was torn or mutilated or (ii) an affidavit executed before the election judges specifying that (A) the voter never received a vote by mail ballot or (B) the voter completed and returned a vote by mail ballot and was informed that the election authority did not receive that vote by mail ballot. All applicable provisions of Articles 4, 5 or 6 shall be complied with and if such name is found on the register of voters by the officer having charge thereof, he shall likewise repeat said name, and the voter shall be allowed to enter within the proximity of the voting booths, as above provided. One of the judges shall give the voter one, and only one of each ballot to be voted at the election, on the back of which ballots such judge shall indorse his initials in such manner that they may be seen when each such ballot is properly folded, and the voter's name shall be immediately checked on the register list. In those election jurisdictions where perforated ballot cards are utilized of the type on which write-in votes can be cast above the perforation, the election authority shall provide a space both above and below the perforation for the judge's initials, and the judge shall endorse his or her initials in both spaces. Whenever a proposal for a constitutional amendment or for the calling of a constitutional convention is to be voted upon at the election, the separate blue ballot or ballots pertaining thereto shall, when being handed to the voter, be placed on top of the other ballots to be voted at the election in such manner that the legend appearing on the back thereof, as prescribed in Section 16-6 of this Act, shall be plainly visible to the voter. At all elections, when a registry may be required, if the name of any person so desiring to vote at such election is not found on the register of voters, he or she shall not receive a ballot until he or she shall have complied with the law prescribing the manner and conditions of voting by unregistered voters. If any person desiring to vote at any election shall be challenged, he or she shall not receive a ballot until he or she shall have established his right to vote in the manner provided hereinafter; and if he or she shall be challenged after he has received his ballot, he shall not be permitted to vote until he or she has fully complied with such requirements of the law upon being challenged. Besides the election officer, not more than 2 voters in excess of the whole number of voting booths provided shall be allowed within the proximity of the voting booths at one time. The provisions of this Act, so far as they require the registration of voters as a condition to their being allowed to vote shall not apply to persons otherwise entitled to vote, who are, at the time of the election, or at any time within 60 days prior to such election have been engaged in the military or naval service of the United States, and who appear personally at the polling place on election day and produce to the judges of election satisfactory evidence thereof, but such persons, if otherwise qualified to vote, shall be permitted to vote at such election without previous registration.

All such persons shall also make an affidavit which shall be in substantially the following form:

State of Illinois,) ) ss. County of ........) ............... Precinct .......... Ward

I, ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States, of the age of 18 years or over, and that within the past 60 days prior to the date of this election at which I am applying to vote, I have been engaged in the .... (military or naval) service of the United States; and I am qualified to vote under and by virtue of the Constitution and laws of the State of Illinois, and that I am a legally qualified voter of this precinct and ward except that I have, because of such service, been unable to register as a voter; that I now reside at .... (insert street and number, if any) in this precinct and ward; that I have maintained a legal residence in this precinct and ward for 30 days and in this State 30 days next preceding this election.

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

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

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

Judge of Election.

The affidavit of any such person shall be supported by the affidavit of a resident and qualified voter of any such precinct and ward, which affidavit shall be in substantially the following form:

State of Illinois,) ) ss. County of ........) ........... Precinct ........... Ward

I, ...., do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I am a resident of this precinct and ward and entitled to vote at this election; that I am acquainted with .... (name of the applicant); that I verily believe him to be an actual bona fide resident of this precinct and ward and that I verily believe that he or she has maintained a legal residence therein 30 days and in this State 30 days next preceding this election.

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

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

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

Judge of Election.

All affidavits made under the provisions of this Section shall be enclosed in a separate envelope securely sealed, and shall be transmitted with the returns of the elections to the county clerk or to the board of election commissioners, who shall preserve the said affidavits for the period of 6 months, during which period such affidavits shall be deemed public records and shall be freely open to examination as such.

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

(10 ILCS 5/18-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 18-5)

Sec. 18-5. Any person desiring to vote and whose name is found upon the register of voters by the person having charge thereof, shall (i) present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card, as defined in Section 3-8, or his or her Voter Identification Card, (ii) shall then be questioned by one of the judges as to his nativity, his term of residence at present address, precinct, State and United States, his age, whether naturalized and if so the date of naturalization papers and court from which secured, and (iii) he shall be asked to state his residence when last previously registered and the date of the election for which he then registered. The judges of elections shall check each application for ballot against the list of voters registered in that precinct to whom grace period, vote by mail, and early ballots have been issued for that election, which shall be provided by the election authority and which list shall be available for inspection by pollwatchers. A voter applying to vote in the precinct on election day whose name appears on the list as having been issued a grace period, vote by mail, or early ballot shall not be permitted to vote in the precinct, except that a voter to whom a vote by mail ballot was issued may vote in the precinct if the voter submits to the election judges that vote by mail ballot for cancellation. If the voter is unable to submit the vote by mail ballot, it shall be sufficient for the voter to submit to the election judges (i) a portion of the vote by mail ballot if the vote by mail ballot was torn or mutilated or (ii) an affidavit executed before the election judges specifying that (A) the voter never received a vote by mail ballot or (B) the voter completed and returned a vote by mail ballot and was informed that the election authority did not receive that vote by mail ballot. If such person so registered shall be challenged as disqualified, the party challenging shall assign his reasons therefor, and thereupon one of the judges shall administer to him an oath to answer questions, and if he shall take the oath he shall then be questioned by the judge or judges touching such cause of challenge, and touching any other cause of disqualification. And he may also be questioned by the person challenging him in regard to his qualifications and identity. But if a majority of the judges are of the opinion that he is the person so registered and a qualified voter, his vote shall then be received accordingly. But if his vote be rejected by such judges, such person may afterward produce and deliver an affidavit to such judges, subscribed and sworn to by him before one of the judges, in which it shall be stated how long he has resided in such precinct, and state; that he is a citizen of the United States, and is a duly qualified voter in such precinct, and that he is the identical person so registered. In addition to such an affidavit, the person so challenged shall provide to the judges of election proof of residence by producing 2 forms of identification showing the person's current residence address, provided that such identification may include a lease or contract for a residence and not more than one piece of mail addressed to the person at his current residence address and postmarked not earlier than 30 days prior to the date of the election, or the person shall procure a witness personally known to the judges of election, and resident in the precinct (or district), or who shall be proved by some legal voter of such precinct or district, known to the judges to be such, who shall take the oath following, viz:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a resident of this election precinct (or district), and entitled to vote at this election, and that I have been a resident of this State for 30 days last past, and am well acquainted with the person whose vote is now offered; that he is an actual and bona fide resident of this election precinct (or district), and has resided herein 30 days, and as I verily believe, in this State, 30 days next preceding this election.

The oath in each case may be administered by one of the judges of election, or by any officer, resident in the precinct or district, authorized by law to administer oaths. Also supported by an affidavit by a registered voter residing in such precinct, stating his own residence, and that he knows such person; and that he does reside at the place mentioned and has resided in such precinct and state for the length of time as stated by such person, which shall be subscribed and sworn to in the same way. For purposes of this Section, the submission of a photo identification issued by a college or university, accompanied by either (i) a copy of the applicant's contract or lease for a residence or (ii) one piece of mail addressed to the person at his or her current residence address and postmarked not earlier than 30 days prior to the date of the election, shall be sufficient to establish proof of residence. Whereupon the vote of such person shall be received, and entered as other votes. But such judges, having charge of such registers, shall state in their respective books the facts in such case, and the affidavits, so delivered to the judges, shall be preserved and returned to the office of the commissioners of election. Blank affidavits of the character aforesaid shall be sent out to the judges of all the precincts, and the judges of election shall furnish the same on demand and administer the oaths without criticism. Such oaths, if administered by any other officer than such judge of election, shall not be received. Whenever a proposal for a constitutional amendment or for the calling of a constitutional convention is to be voted upon at the election, the separate blue ballot or ballots pertaining thereto shall be placed on top of the other ballots to be voted at the election in such manner that the legend appearing on the back thereof, as prescribed in Section 16-6 of this Act, shall be plainly visible to the voter, and in this fashion the ballots shall be handed to the voter by the judge.

Immediately after voting, the voter shall be instructed whether the voting equipment, if used, accepted or rejected the ballot or identified the ballot as under-voted. A voter whose ballot is identified as under-voted for a statewide constitutional office may return to the voting booth and complete the voting of that ballot. A voter whose ballot is not accepted by the voting equipment may, upon surrendering the ballot, request and vote another ballot. The voter's surrendered ballot shall be initialed by the election judge and handled as provided in the appropriate Article governing that voting equipment.

The voter shall, upon quitting the voting booth, deliver to one of the judges of election all of the ballots, properly folded, which he received. The judge of election to whom the voter delivers his ballots shall not accept the same unless all of the ballots given to the voter are returned by him. If a voter delivers less than all of the ballots given to him, the judge to whom the same are offered shall advise him in a voice clearly audible to the other judges of election that the voter must return the remainder of the ballots. The statement of the judge to the voter shall clearly express the fact that the voter is not required to vote such remaining ballots but that whether or not he votes them he must fold and deliver them to the judge. In making such statement the judge of election shall not indicate by word, gesture or intonation of voice that the unreturned ballots shall be voted in any particular manner. No new voter shall be permitted to enter the voting booth of a voter who has failed to deliver the total number of ballots received by him until such voter has returned to the voting booth pursuant to the judge's request and again quit the booth with all of the ballots required to be returned by him. Upon receipt of all such ballots the judges of election shall enter the name of the voter, and his number, as above provided in this Section, and the judge to whom the ballots are delivered shall immediately put the ballots into the ballot box. If any voter who has failed to deliver all the ballots received by him refuses to return to the voting booth after being advised by the judge of election as herein provided, the judge shall inform the other judges of such refusal, and thereupon the ballot or ballots returned to the judge shall be deposited in the ballot box, the voter shall be permitted to depart from the polling place, and a new voter shall be permitted to enter the voting booth.

The judge of election who receives the ballot or ballots from the voter shall announce the residence and name of such voter in a loud voice. The judge shall put the ballot or ballots received from the voter into the ballot box in the presence of the voter and the judges of election, and in plain view of the public. The judges having charge of such registers shall then, in a column prepared thereon, in the same line of, the name of the voter, mark "Voted" or the letter "V".

No judge of election shall accept from any voter less than the full number of ballots received by such voter without first advising the voter in the manner above provided of the necessity of returning all of the ballots, nor shall any such judge advise such voter in a manner contrary to that which is herein permitted, or in any other manner violate the provisions of this Section; provided, that the acceptance by a judge of election of less than the full number of ballots delivered to a voter who refuses to return to the voting booth after being properly advised by such judge shall not be a violation of this Section.

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

(10 ILCS 5/18A-5)

Sec. 18A-5. Provisional voting; general provisions.

(a) A person who claims to be a registered voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot under the following circumstances:

(1) The person's name does not appear on the official list of eligible voters for the precinct in which the person seeks to vote and the person has refused an opportunity to register at the polling location or another grace period registration site. The official list is the centralized statewide voter registration list established and maintained in accordance with Section 1A-25;

(2) The person's voting status has been challenged by an election judge, a pollwatcher, or any legal voter and that challenge has been sustained by a majority of the election judges;

(3) A federal or State court order extends the time for closing the polls beyond the time period established by State law and the person votes during the extended time period;

(4) The voter registered to vote by mail and is required by law to present identification when voting either in person, in the case of a voter who registered by mail, when voting or by early voting ballot, but fails to provide an acceptable form of photo identification as described in Section 3-8, or a Voter Identification Card issued under Section 1-14 do so;

(5) The voter's name appears on the list of voters who voted during the early voting period, but the voter claims not to have voted during the early voting period;

(6) The voter received a vote by mail ballot but did not return the vote by mail ballot to the election authority; or

(7) The voter attempted to register to vote on election day, but failed to provide the necessary documentation.

(b) The procedure for obtaining and casting a provisional ballot at the polling place shall be as follows:

(1) After first verifying through an examination of the precinct register that the person's address is within the precinct boundaries, an election judge at the polling place shall notify a person who is entitled to cast a provisional ballot pursuant to subsection (a) that he or she may cast a provisional ballot in that election. An election judge must accept any information provided by a person who casts a provisional ballot that the person believes supports his or her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter and qualified to vote in the election. However, if the person's residence address is outside the precinct boundaries, the election judge shall inform the person of that fact, give the person the appropriate telephone number of the election authority in order to locate the polling place assigned to serve that address, and instruct the person to go to the proper polling place to vote.

(2) The person shall execute a written form provided by the election judge that shall state or contain all of the following that is available:

(i) an affidavit stating the following:

State of Illinois, County of ................, Township ............., Precinct ........, Ward ........, I, ......................., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that: I am a citizen of the United States; I am 18 years of age or older; I have resided in this State and in this precinct for 30 days preceding this election; I have not voted in this election; I am a duly registered voter in every respect; and I am eligible to vote in this election. Signature ...... Printed Name of Voter ....... Printed Residence Address of Voter ...... City ...... State .... Zip Code ..... Telephone Number ...... Date of Birth ....... and Illinois Driver's License Number ....... or Last 4 digits of Social Security Number ...... or State Identification Card Number issued to you by the Illinois Secretary of State ........

(ii) A box for the election judge to check one of the reasons why the person was given a provisional ballot under subsection (a) of this Section.

(iii) An area for the election judge to affix his or her signature and to set forth any facts that support or oppose the allegation that the person is not qualified to vote in the precinct in which the person is seeking to vote.

The written affidavit form described in this subsection (b)(2) must be printed on a multi-part form prescribed by the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be.

(3) After the person executes the portion of the written affidavit described in subsection (b)(2)(i) of this Section, the election judge shall complete the portion of the written affidavit described in subsection (b)(2)(iii) and (b)(2)(iv).

(4) The election judge shall give a copy of the completed written affidavit to the person. The election judge shall place the original written affidavit in a self-adhesive clear plastic packing list envelope that must be attached to a separate envelope marked as a "provisional ballot envelope". The election judge shall also place any information provided by the person who casts a provisional ballot in the clear plastic packing list envelope. Each county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, must design, obtain or procure self-adhesive clear plastic packing list envelopes and provisional ballot envelopes that are suitable for implementing this subsection (b)(4) of this Section.

(5) The election judge shall provide the person with a provisional ballot, written instructions for casting a provisional ballot, and the provisional ballot envelope with the clear plastic packing list envelope affixed to it, which contains the person's original written affidavit and, if any, information provided by the provisional voter to support his or her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter. An election judge must also give the person written information that states that any person who casts a provisional ballot shall be able to ascertain, pursuant to guidelines established by the State Board of Elections, whether the provisional vote was counted in the official canvass of votes for that election and, if the provisional vote was not counted, the reason that the vote was not counted.

(6) After the person has completed marking his or her provisional ballot, he or she shall place the marked ballot inside of the provisional ballot envelope, close and seal the envelope, and return the envelope to an election judge, who shall then deposit the sealed provisional ballot envelope into a securable container separately identified and utilized for containing sealed provisional ballot envelopes. Ballots that are provisional because they are cast after 7:00 p.m. by court order shall be kept separate from other provisional ballots. Upon the closing of the polls, the securable container shall be sealed with filament tape provided for that purpose, which shall be wrapped around the box lengthwise and crosswise, at least twice each way, and each of the election judges shall sign the seal.

(c) Instead of the affidavit form described in subsection (b), the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, may design and use a multi-part affidavit form that is imprinted upon or attached to the provisional ballot envelope described in subsection (b). If a county clerk or board of election commissioners elects to design and use its own multi-part affidavit form, then the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall establish a mechanism for accepting any information the provisional voter has supplied to the election judge to support his or her claim that he or she is a duly registered voter. In all other respects, a county clerk or board of election commissioners shall establish procedures consistent with subsection (b).

(d) The county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, shall use the completed affidavit form described in subsection (b) to update the person's voter registration information in the State voter registration database and voter registration database of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be. If a person is later determined not to be a registered voter based on Section 18A-15 of this Code, then the affidavit shall be processed by the county clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, as a voter registration application.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(10 ILCS 5/18A-15)

Sec. 18A-15. Validating and counting provisional ballots.

(a) The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall complete the validation and counting of provisional ballots within 14 calendar days of the day of the election. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall have 7 calendar days from the completion of the validation and counting of provisional ballots to conduct its final canvass. The State Board of Elections shall complete within 31 calendar days of the election or sooner if all the returns are received, its final canvass of the vote for all public offices.

(b) If a county clerk or board of election commissioners determines that all of the following apply, then a provisional ballot is valid and shall be counted as a vote:

(1) the provisional voter cast the provisional ballot in the correct precinct based on the address provided by the provisional voter. The provisional voter's affidavit shall serve as a change of address request by that voter for registration purposes for the next ensuing election if it bears an address different from that in the records of the election authority. Votes for federal and statewide offices on a provisional ballot cast in the incorrect precinct that meet the other requirements of this subsection shall be valid and counted in accordance with this Article. As used in this item, "federal office" is defined as provided in Section 20-1 and "statewide office" means the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. Votes for General Assembly, countywide, citywide, or township office on a provisional ballot cast in the incorrect precinct but in the correct legislative district, representative district, county, municipality, or township, as the case may be, shall be valid and counted in accordance with this Article. As used in this item, "citywide office" means an office elected by the electors of an entire municipality. As used in this item, "township office" means an office elected by the electors of an entire township;

(2) the affidavit executed by the provisional voter pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of Section 18A-5 contains, at a minimum, the provisional voter's first and last name, house number and street name, and signature or mark;

(3) except as permitted by item (5) of subsection (b) of this Section, the provisional voter is a registered voter based on information available to the county clerk or board of election commissioners provided by or obtained from any of the following:

i. the provisional voter;

ii. an election judge;

iii. the statewide voter registration database maintained by the State Board of Elections;

iv. the records of the county clerk or board of election commissioners' database; or

v. the records of the Secretary of State; and

(4) for a provisional ballot cast under item (6) of subsection (a) of Section 18A-5, the voter did not vote by mail ballot in the election at which the provisional ballot was cast; or

(5) for a provisional ballot cast under item (7) of subsection (a) of Section 18A-5, the voter provides the election authority with the necessary documentation within 7 days of election day.

(c) With respect to subsection (b)(3) of this Section, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall investigate and record whether or not the specified information is available from each of the 5 identified sources. If the information is available from one or more of the identified sources, then the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall seek to obtain the information from each of those sources until satisfied, with information from at least one of those sources, that the provisional voter is registered and entitled to vote. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall use any information it obtains as the basis for determining the voter registration status of the provisional voter. If a conflict exists among the information available to the county clerk or board of election commissioners as to the registration status of the provisional voter, then the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall make a determination based on the totality of the circumstances. In a case where the above information equally supports or opposes the registration status of the voter, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall decide in favor of the provisional voter as being duly registered to vote. If the statewide voter registration database maintained by the State Board of Elections indicates that the provisional voter is registered to vote, but the county clerk's or board of election commissioners' voter registration database indicates that the provisional voter is not registered to vote, then the information found in the statewide voter registration database shall control the matter and the provisional voter shall be deemed to be registered to vote. If the records of the county clerk or board of election commissioners indicates that the provisional voter is registered to vote, but the statewide voter registration database maintained by the State Board of Elections indicates that the provisional voter is not registered to vote, then the information found in the records of the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall control the matter and the provisional voter shall be deemed to be registered to vote. If the provisional voter's signature on his or her provisional ballot request varies from the signature on an otherwise valid registration application solely because of the substitution of initials for the first or middle name, the election authority may not reject the provisional ballot.

(d) In validating the registration status of a person casting a provisional ballot, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall not require a provisional voter to complete any form other than the affidavit executed by the provisional voter under subsection (b)(2) of Section 18A-5. In addition, the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall not require all provisional voters or any particular class or group of provisional voters to appear personally before the county clerk or board of election commissioners or as a matter of policy require provisional voters to submit additional information to verify or otherwise support the information already submitted by the provisional voter. Within 2 calendar days after the election, the election authority shall transmit by electronic means pursuant to a process established by the State Board of Elections the name, street address, e-mail address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be, of each person casting a provisional ballot to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and that information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees. The provisional voter may, within 7 calendar days after the election, submit additional information to the county clerk or board of election commissioners, except that in the case of provisional voting under paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Section 18A-5, the provisional voter has 10 days to provide the county clerk or board of election commissioners with the required photo identification card. This information must be received by the county clerk or board of election commissioners within the applicable 7-calendar-day or 10-calendar-day period.

(e) If the county clerk or board of election commissioners determines that subsection (b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(3) does not apply, then the provisional ballot is not valid and may not be counted. The provisional ballot envelope containing the ballot cast by the provisional voter may not be opened. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall write on the provisional ballot envelope the following: "Provisional ballot determined invalid.".

(f) If the county clerk or board of election commissioners determines that a provisional ballot is valid under this Section, then the provisional ballot envelope shall be opened. The outside of each provisional ballot envelope shall also be marked to identify the precinct and the date of the election.

(g) Provisional ballots determined to be valid shall be counted at the election authority's central ballot counting location and shall not be counted in precincts. The provisional ballots determined to be valid shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts from which they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened. The validation and counting of provisional ballots shall be subject to the provisions of this Code that apply to pollwatchers. If the provisional ballots are a ballot of a punch card voting system, then the provisional ballot shall be counted in a manner consistent with Article 24A. If the provisional ballots are a ballot of optical scan or other type of approved electronic voting system, then the provisional ballots shall be counted in a manner consistent with Article 24B.

(h) As soon as the ballots have been counted, the election judges or election officials shall, in the presence of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, place each of the following items in a separate envelope or bag: (1) all provisional ballots, voted or spoiled; (2) all provisional ballot envelopes of provisional ballots voted or spoiled; and (3) all executed affidavits of the provisional ballots voted or spoiled. All provisional ballot envelopes for provisional voters who have been determined not to be registered to vote shall remain sealed. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall treat the provisional ballot envelope containing the written affidavit as a voter registration application for that person for the next election and process that application. The election judges or election officials shall then securely seal each envelope or bag, initial the envelope or bag, and plainly mark on the outside of the envelope or bag in ink the precinct in which the provisional ballots were cast. The election judges or election officials shall then place each sealed envelope or bag into a box, secure and seal it in the same manner as described in item (6) of subsection (b) of Section 18A-5. Each election judge or election official shall take and subscribe an oath before the county clerk or board of election commissioners that the election judge or election official securely kept the ballots and papers in the box, did not permit any person to open the box or otherwise touch or tamper with the ballots and papers in the box, and has no knowledge of any other person opening the box. For purposes of this Section, the term "election official" means the county clerk, a member of the board of election commissioners, as the case may be, and their respective employees.

(Source: P.A. 97-766, eff. 7-6-12; 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

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

Sec. 19-7. (a) Upon receipt of such vote by mail voter's ballot, the election authority shall forthwith enclose the same unopened, together with the application made by said vote by mail voter in a large or carrier envelope which shall be securely sealed and endorsed with the name and official title of such officer and the words, "This envelope contains a vote by mail ballot and must be opened on election day," together with the number and description of the precinct in which said ballot is to be voted, and such officer shall thereafter safely keep the same in his office until counted by him as provided in the next section.

(b) Within one day after receipt of such vote by mail voter's ballot, the election authority shall transmit, by electronic means pursuant to a process established by the State Board of Elections, the voter's name, street address, e-mail address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be, to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and that information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, 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 authority shall appoint panels as needed of 3 election judges, of which no more than 2 shall be from the same political party, from the list of election judges submitted by the county parties for this specific purpose to compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of the vote by mail ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. The signature shall be presumed to match unless 3 out of 3 election judges determine that the 2 signatures do not match. A vote by mail ballot may only be rejected by a vote of 3 of 3 election judges and only for the following reasons: (1) the signature on the certification envelope and the signature used by the election authority for verification purposes do not match or the certification envelope contains no signature; (2) the ballot envelope was delivered opened; (3) the voter has already cast a ballot; (4) if the voter voted in person on election day; or (5) the voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct. If 3 of 3 election judges determine the ballot should be rejected for any reasons stated in this subsection (c), the judges shall mark across the face of the certification envelope the word "rejected" and the date and names of the judges voting to reject the ballot.

(d) If a vote by mail ballot is rejected, the election authority shall notify the voter within 2 days after the rejection or within one day if the rejection occurs after election day and in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots. The voter shall be notified through mail or email, or both, and the notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected. If the ballot was rejected based on the signature or lack of a signature, the voter shall be permitted to submit a statement the voter cast the ballot, and upon receipt the ballot shall be determined valid and counted before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots. If the ballot was rejected because the envelope was delivered opened, the voter shall be permitted to vote in person or request to receive another vote by mail ballot, provided the voter submits an application and casts a new ballot prior to the close of polls on election day.

(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)

(10 ILCS 5/19A-35)

Sec. 19A-35. Procedure for voting.

(a) Not more than 23 days before the start of the election, the county clerk shall make available to the election official conducting early voting by personal appearance a sufficient number of early ballots, envelopes, and printed voting instruction slips for the use of early voters. The election official shall receipt for all ballots received and shall return unused or spoiled ballots at the close of the early voting period to the county clerk and must strictly account for all ballots received. The ballots delivered to the election official must include early ballots for each precinct in the election authority's jurisdiction and must include separate ballots for each political subdivision conducting an election of officers or a referendum at that election.

(b) In conducting early voting under this Article, the election judge or official is required to verify the signature of the early voter by comparison with the signature on the official registration card, and the judge or official must verify (i) that the applicant is a registered voter, (ii) the precinct in which the applicant is registered, and (iii) the proper ballots of the political subdivision in which the applicant resides and is entitled to vote, and (iv) the applicant's identity, which must be verified by the applicant's presentation of a government-issued photo identification card, as defined in Section 3-8, or his or her Voter Identification Card, before providing an early ballot to the applicant. The election judge or official must verify the applicant's registration from the most recent poll list provided by the election authority, and if the applicant is not listed on that poll list, by telephoning the office of the election authority.

(b-5) A person requesting an early voting ballot to whom a vote by mail ballot was issued may vote early if the person submits that vote by mail ballot to the judges of election or official conducting early voting for cancellation. If the voter is unable to submit the vote by mail ballot, it shall be sufficient for the voter to submit to the judges or official (i) a portion of the vote by mail ballot if the vote by mail ballot was torn or mutilated or (ii) an affidavit executed before the judges or official specifying that (A) the voter never received a vote by mail ballot or (B) the voter completed and returned a vote by mail ballot and was informed that the election authority did not receive that vote by mail ballot.

(b-10) Within one day after a voter casts an early voting ballot, the election authority shall transmit the voter's name, street address, and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be, to the State Board of Elections, which shall maintain those names and that information in an electronic format on its website, arranged by county and accessible to State and local political committees.

(b-15) Immediately after voting an early ballot, the voter shall be instructed whether the voting equipment accepted or rejected the ballot or identified that ballot as under-voted for a statewide constitutional office. A voter whose ballot is identified as under-voted may return to the voting booth and complete the voting of that ballot. A voter whose early voting ballot is not accepted by the voting equipment may, upon surrendering the ballot, request and vote another early voting ballot. The voter's surrendered ballot shall be initialed by the election judge or official conducting the early voting and handled as provided in the appropriate Article governing the voting equipment used.

(c) The sealed early ballots in their carrier envelope shall be delivered by the election authority to the central ballot counting location before the close of the polls on the day of the election.

(Source: P.A. 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)