97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB0027

 

Introduced 1/12/2011, by Rep. Lou Lang

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/4-6  from Ch. 46, par. 4-6
10 ILCS 5/4-6.1  from Ch. 46, par. 4-6.1
10 ILCS 5/5-5  from Ch. 46, par. 5-5
10 ILCS 5/5-16.1  from Ch. 46, par. 5-16.1
10 ILCS 5/6-29  from Ch. 46, par. 6-29
10 ILCS 5/6-50  from Ch. 46, par. 6-50
10 ILCS 5/6-50.1  from Ch. 46, par. 6-50.1

    Amends the Election Code. Requires election authorities to provide voter registration in precincts on election day. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB0027LRB097 03073 HLH 43106 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 4-6, 4-6.1, 5-5, 5-16.1, 6-29, 6-50, and 6-50.1 as
6follows:
 
7    (10 ILCS 5/4-6)  (from Ch. 46, par. 4-6)
8    Sec. 4-6. For the purpose of registering voters under this
9Article in addition to the method provided for precinct
10registration under Section 4-7, the office of the county clerk
11shall be open every day, except Saturday, Sunday, and legal
12holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Saturdays the hours of
13registration shall be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and such
14additional hours as the county clerk may designate. If,
15however, the county board otherwise duly regulates and fixes
16the hours of opening and closing of all county offices at the
17county seat of any county, such regulation shall control and
18supersede the hours herein specified. There shall be no
19registration at the office of the county clerk or at the office
20of municipal and township or road district clerks serving as
21deputy registrars during the 27 days preceding any regular or
22special election at which the cards provided in this Article
23are used, or until the 2nd day following such regular or

 

 

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1special election; provided, that if by reason of the proximity
2of any such elections to one another the effect of this
3provision would be to close registrations for all or any part
4of the 10 days immediately prior to such 27 day period, the
5county clerk shall accept, solely for use in the subsequent and
6not in any intervening election, registrations and transfers of
7registration within the period from the 27th to the 38th days,
8both inclusive, prior to such subsequent election. In any
9election called for the submission of the revision or
10alteration of, or the amendments to the Constitution, submitted
11by a Constitutional Convention, the final day for registration
12at the office of the election authority charged with the
13printing of the ballot of this election shall be the 15th day
14prior to the date of election.
15    Any qualified person residing within the county or any
16portion thereof subject to this Article may register or
17re-register with the county clerk. The county clerk shall
18provide for precinct registration on election day. A person
19registering on election day must be a resident of the precinct
20in which he or she registers.
21    Each county clerk shall appoint one or more registration or
22re-registration teams for the purpose of accepting the
23registration or re-registration of any voter who files an
24affidavit that he is physically unable to appear at any
25appointed place of registration or re-registration. Each team
26shall consist of one member of each political party having the

 

 

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1highest and second highest number of registered voters in the
2county. The county clerk shall designate a team to visit each
3disabled person and shall accept the registration or
4re-registration of each such person as if he had applied for
5registration or re-registration at the office of the county
6clerk.
7    As used in this Article, "deputy registrars" and
8"registration officers" mean any person authorized to accept
9registrations of electors under this Article.
10(Source: P.A. 92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
11    (10 ILCS 5/4-6.1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 4-6.1)
12    Sec. 4-6.1. In addition to registration at the office of
13the county clerk, and at the offices of municipal and township
14or road district clerks, each county clerk shall provide for
15the following additional methods of registration:
16        (1) the appointment of deputy registrars as provided in
17    Section 4-6.2; and
18        (2) the establishment of temporary places of
19    registration, as provided in Section 4-6.3.
20    Each county clerk may provide for precinct registration
21pursuant to Section 4-7 in addition to precinct registration on
22election day as provided in Section 4-6.
23(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
 
24    (10 ILCS 5/5-5)  (from Ch. 46, par. 5-5)

 

 

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1    Sec. 5-5. For the purpose of registering voters under this
2Article 5, in addition to the method provided for precinct
3registration under Sections 5-6 and 5-17 of this Article 5, the
4office of the county clerk shall be open between 9:00 a. m. and
55:00 p. m. on all days except Saturday, Sunday and holidays,
6but there shall be no registration at such office during the 35
7days immediately preceding any election required to be held
8under the law but if no precinct registration is being
9conducted prior to any election then registration may be taken
10in the office of the county clerk up to and including the 28th
11day prior to an election. On Saturdays, the hours of
12registration shall be from 9:00 a. m. to 12:00 p. m. noon.
13During such 35 or 27 day period, registration of electors of
14political subdivisions wherein a regular, or special election
15is required to be held shall cease and shall not be resumed for
16the registration of electors of such political subdivisions
17until the second day following the day of such election. In any
18election called for the submission of the revision or
19alteration of, or the amendments to the Constitution, submitted
20by a Constitutional Convention, the final day for registration
21at the office of the election authority charged with the
22printing of the ballot of this election shall be the 15th day
23prior to the date of the election. The county clerk shall
24provide for precinct registration on election day. A person
25registering on election day must be a resident of the precinct
26in which he or she registers.

 

 

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1    Each county clerk shall appoint one deputy for the purpose
2of accepting the registration of any voter who files an
3affidavit that he is physically unable to appear at any
4appointed place of registration. The county clerk shall
5designate a deputy to visit each disabled person and shall
6accept the registration of each such person as if he had
7applied for registration at the office of the county clerk.
8    The offices of city, village, incorporated town and town
9clerks shall also be open for the purpose of registering voters
10residing in the territory in which this Article is in effect,
11and also, in the case of city, village and incorporated town
12clerks, for the purpose of registering voters residing in a
13portion of the city, village or incorporated town not located
14within the county, on all days on which the office of the
15county clerk is open for the registration of voters of such
16cities, villages, incorporated towns and townships.
17(Source: P.A. 92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
18    (10 ILCS 5/5-16.1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 5-16.1)
19    Sec. 5-16.1. In addition to registration at the office of
20the county clerk and at the offices of municipal and township
21clerks, each county subject to this Article shall provide for
22the following methods of registration:
23    (1) The appointment of deputy registrars as provided in
24Section 5-16.2;
25    (2) The establishment of temporary places of registration

 

 

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1as provided in Section 5-16.3.
2    Each county subject to this Article may provide for
3precinct registration pursuant to Section 5-17 in addition to
4precinct registration on election day as provided in Section
55-5.
6(Source: P.A. 83-1059.)
 
7    (10 ILCS 5/6-29)  (from Ch. 46, par. 6-29)
8    Sec. 6-29. For the purpose of registering voters under this
9Article, the office of the Board of Election Commissioners
10shall be open during ordinary business hours of each week day,
11from 9 a.m. to 12 o'clock noon on the last four Saturdays
12immediately preceding the end of the period of registration
13preceding each election, and such other days and such other
14times as the board may direct. During the 27 days immediately
15preceding any election there shall be no registration of voters
16at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners in cities,
17villages and incorporated towns of fewer than 200,000
18inhabitants. In cities, villages and incorporated towns of
19200,000 or more inhabitants, there shall be no registration of
20voters at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners
21during the 35 days immediately preceding any election;
22provided, however, where no precinct registration is being
23conducted prior to any election then registration may be taken
24in the office of the Board up to and including the 28th day
25prior to such election. The Board of Election Commissioners may

 

 

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1set up and establish as many branch offices for the purpose of
2taking registrations as it may deem necessary, and the branch
3offices may be open on any or all dates and hours during which
4registrations may be taken in the main office. All officers and
5employees of the Board of Election Commissioners who are
6authorized by such board to take registrations under this
7Article shall be considered officers of the circuit court, and
8shall be subject to the same control as is provided by Section
914-5 of this Act with respect to judges of election.
10    In any election called for the submission of the revision
11or alteration of, or the amendments to the Constitution,
12submitted by a Constitutional Convention, the final day for
13registration at the office of the election authority charged
14with the printing of the ballot of this election shall be the
1515th day prior to the date of election.
16    The board shall provide for precinct registration on
17election day. A person registering on election day must be a
18resident of the precinct in which he or she registers.
19    The board of Election Commissioners shall appoint one or
20more registration teams, consisting of 2 of its employees for
21each team, for the purpose of accepting the registration of any
22voter who files an affidavit, within the period for taking
23registrations provided for in this article, that he is
24physically unable to appear at the office of the Board or at
25any appointed place of registration. On the day or days when a
26precinct registration is being conducted such teams shall

 

 

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1consist of one member from each of the 2 leading political
2parties who are serving on the Precinct Registration Board.
3Each team so designated shall visit each disabled person and
4shall accept the registration of such person the same as if he
5had applied for registration in person.
6    Any otherwise qualified person who is absent from his
7county of residence due to business of the United States, or
8who is temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of
9the United States, may make application to become registered by
10mail to the Board of Election Commissioners within the periods
11for registration provided for in this Article or by
12simultaneous application for absentee registration and
13absentee ballot as provided in Article 20 of this Code.
14    Upon receipt of such application the Board of Election
15Commissioners shall immediately mail an affidavit of
16registration in duplicate, which affidavit shall contain the
17following and such other information as the State Board of
18Elections may think it proper to require for the identification
19of the applicant:
20    Name. The name of the applicant, giving surname and first
21or Christian name in full, and the middle name or the initial
22for such middle name, if any.
23    Sex.
24    Residence. The name and number of the street, avenue or
25other location of the dwelling, and such additional clear and
26definite description as may be necessary to determine the exact

 

 

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1location of the dwelling of the applicant. Where the location
2cannot be determined by street and number, then the section,
3congressional township and range number may be used, or such
4other information as may be necessary, including post office
5mailing address.
6    Term of residence in the State of Illinois and the
7precinct.
8    Nativity. The state or country in which the applicant was
9born.
10    Citizenship. Whether the applicant is native born or
11naturalized. If naturalized, the court, place and date of
12naturalization.
13    Age. Date of birth, by month, day and year.
14    Out of State address of ..................
15    
AFFIDAVIT OF REGISTRATION
16State of .........)
17                  ) ss.
18County of ........)
19    I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the
20United States; that on the day of the next election I shall
21have resided in the State of Illinois and in the election
22precinct 30 days; that I am fully qualified to vote, that I am
23not registered to vote anywhere else in the United States, that
24I intend to remain a resident of the State of Illinois, and of
25the election precinct, that I intend to return to the State of
26Illinois, and that the above statements are true.

 

 

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1
..............................
2
(His or her signature or mark)
3    Subscribed and sworn to before me, an officer qualified to
4administer oaths, on (insert date).
5
........................................
6
Signature of officer administering oath.
7    Upon receipt of the executed duplicate affidavit of
8Registration, the Board of Election Commissioners shall
9transfer the information contained thereon to duplicate
10Registration Cards provided for in Section 6-35 of this Article
11and shall attach thereto a copy of each of the duplicate
12affidavit of registration and thereafter such registration
13card and affidavit shall constitute the registration of such
14person the same as if he had applied for registration in
15person.
16(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99; 92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
17    (10 ILCS 5/6-50)  (from Ch. 46, par. 6-50)
18    Sec. 6-50. The office of the board of election
19commissioners shall be open during ordinary business hours of
20each week day, from 9 a.m. to 12 o'clock noon on the last four
21Saturdays immediately preceding the end of the period of
22registration preceding each election, and such other days and
23such other times as the board may direct. There shall be no
24registration at the office of the board of election
25commissioners in cities, villages and incorporated towns of

 

 

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1fewer than 200,000 inhabitants during the 27 days preceding any
2primary, regular or special election at which the cards
3provided for in this article are used, or until the second day
4following such primary, regular or special election. In cities,
5villages and incorporated towns of 200,000 or more inhabitants,
6there shall be no registration of voters at the office of the
7board of election commissioners during the 35 days immediately
8preceding any election; provided, however, where no precinct
9registration is being conducted prior to any election then
10registration may be taken in the office of the board up to and
11including the 28th day prior to such election. In any election
12called for the submission of the revision or alteration of, or
13the amendments to the Constitution, submitted by a
14Constitutional Convention, the final day for registration at
15the office of the election authority charged with the printing
16of the ballot of this election shall be the 15th day prior to
17the date of election.
18    The board shall provide for precinct registration on
19election day. A person registering on election day must be a
20resident of the precinct in which he or she registers.
21    The Board of Election Commissioners shall appoint one or
22more registration teams, each consisting of one member from
23each of the 2 leading political parties, for the purpose of
24accepting the registration of any voter who files an affidavit,
25within the period for taking registrations provided for in this
26Article, that he is physically unable to appear at the office

 

 

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1of the Board or at any appointed place of registration. On the
2day or days when a precinct registration is being conducted
3such teams shall consist of one member from each of the 2
4leading political parties who are serving on the precinct
5registration board. Each team so designated shall visit each
6disabled person and shall accept the registration of such
7person the same as if he had applied for registration in
8person.
9    The office of the board of election commissioners may be
10designated as a place of registration under Section 6-51 of
11this Article and, if so designated, may also be open for
12purposes of registration on such day or days as may be
13specified by the board of election commissioners under the
14provisions of that Section.
15(Source: P.A. 92-816, eff. 8-21-02.)
 
16    (10 ILCS 5/6-50.1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 6-50.1)
17    Sec. 6-50.1. In addition to registration at the office of
18the board of election commissioners, the board of election
19commissioners shall provide the following methods of
20registration:
21    (1) The appointment of deputy registrars as provided in
22Section 6-50.2;
23    (2) The establishment of temporary places of registration
24as provided in Section 6-50.3.
25    The board of election commissioners may provide for

 

 

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1registration pursuant to Section 6-51 in addition to precinct
2registration on election day as provided in Section 6-50.
3(Source: P.A. 83-1059.)
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
5becoming law.