Bill Text: IL HB3969 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Conduct of Elections and Making Returns Article of the Election Code. Provides that in the case of an emergency or if the State Board of Elections determines that all potential polling places have been surveyed by the election authority and that no accessible polling place is available within a precinct nor is the election authority able to make a polling place within the precinct temporarily accessible, the Board is authorized to grant an exemption from the voting accessibility requirements under specified federal law. Provides that any voter with a temporary or permanent disability who is unable to access or enter the polling place may request that 2 judges of election of opposite party affiliation deliver a ballot to him or her at the point where he or she is unable to continue forward motion toward the polling place. Provides that a ballot shall not be delivered to the voter beyond 50 feet of the entrance to the building in which the polling place is located. Makes other changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-02-17 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB3969 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB3969-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3969 Introduced , by Rep. Nabeela Syed SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/17-13.5
Amends the Conduct of Elections and Making Returns Article of the Election Code. Provides that in the case of an emergency or if the State Board of Elections determines that all potential polling places have been surveyed by the election authority and that no accessible polling place is available within a precinct nor is the election authority able to make a polling place within the precinct temporarily accessible, the Board is authorized to grant an exemption from the voting accessibility requirements under specified federal law. Provides that any voter with a temporary or permanent disability who is unable to access or enter the polling place may request that 2 judges of election of opposite party affiliation deliver a ballot to him or her at the point where he or she is unable to continue forward motion toward the polling place. Provides that a ballot shall not be delivered to the voter beyond 50 feet of the entrance to the building in which the polling place is located. Makes other changes.
LRB103 30117 BMS 56541 b
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning regulation.
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
Section 17-13.5 as follows:
(10 ILCS 5/17-13.5)
Sec. 17-13.5. Curbside voting.
(a) Election authorities may establish curbside voting for
individuals to cast a ballot during early voting or on
election day. An election authority's curbside voting program
shall designate at least 2 election judges from opposite
parties per vehicle, and the individual shall have the
opportunity to mark the ballot without interference from the
election judges.
After the voter has marked his or her ballot and placed it
in the ballot envelope (or folded it in the manner prescribed
for paper ballots), the 2 judges of election shall return the
ballot to the polling place and give it to the judge in charge
of the ballot box who shall deposit it therein.
Pollwatchers as provided in Sections 7-34 and 17-23 shall
be permitted to accompany the judges and observe the above
procedure.
No assistance may be given to such voter in marking his or

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her ballot, unless the voter requests assistance and completes
the affidavit required by Section 17-14.
(b) In the case of an emergency, as determined by the State
Board of Elections, or if the Board determines that all
potential polling places have been surveyed by the election
authority and that no accessible polling place, as defined by
rule of the State Board of Elections, is available within a
precinct nor is the election authority able to make a polling
place within the precinct temporarily accessible, the Board,
upon written application by the election authority, is
authorized to grant an exemption from the accessibility
requirements of the federal Voting Accessibility for the
Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-435). Such
exemption shall be valid for a period of 2 years.
(c) Any voter with a temporary or permanent disability
who, because of structural features of the building in which
the polling place is located, is unable to access or enter the
polling place may request that 2 judges of election of
opposite party affiliation deliver a ballot to him or her at
the point where he or she is unable to continue forward motion
toward the polling place; but in no case shall a ballot be
delivered to the voter beyond 50 feet of the entrance to the
building in which the polling place is located. Such request
shall be made to the election authority not later than the
close of business at the election authority's office on the
day before the election and on a form prescribed by the State

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Board of Elections. The election authority shall notify the
judges of election for the appropriate precinct polling places
of such requests.
Weather permitting, 2 judges of election shall deliver to
the voter with a disability the ballot with which the voter
with a disability is entitled to vote, a portable voting booth
or other enclosure that will allow such voter to mark the
ballot in secrecy, and a marking device.
(d) The voter must complete the entire voting process,
including the application for ballot from which the judges of
election shall compare the voter's signature with the
signature on the voter's registration record card in the
precinct binder.
(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)