Bill Text: IL HB4837 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Creates a pilot program for DuPage County that allows the election authority to obtain driver's license pictures to help verify a voter's identity. Removes provisions that an unregistered qualified elector may register to vote or a registered voter may submit a change of address form at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to the election, and provides that registration or changes to address may be submitted at a permanent polling place (rather than a polling place). Provides that certain election authorities may opt out of registration in the polling place if, among other requirements, the election authority establishes grace period registration and voting in a polling place in each municipality where 20% or more of the county's registered voters (rather than residents) reside. Requires any individual challenging the validity of petitions to notify the applicable election authority when a challenge is filed in court contesting the decision of the election authority. Provides that votes by mail may be processed as they arrive in the mail, and that election authorities shall have more than 15 days to process votes by mail. Removes provision that any person entitled to vote early by personal appearance may do so at any polling place established for early voting. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB4837 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HB4837-Introduced.html

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100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2017 and 2018 HB4837 Introduced , by Rep. Jeanne M Ives SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/4-16 from Ch. 46, par. 4-16
10 ILCS 5/4-50
10 ILCS 5/5-23 from Ch. 46, par. 5-23
10 ILCS 5/5-50
10 ILCS 5/6-53 from Ch. 46, par. 6-53
10 ILCS 5/6-100
10 ILCS 5/10-8 from Ch. 46, par. 10-8
10 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-8
10 ILCS 5/19A-10
10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8
Amends the Election Code. Creates a pilot program for DuPage County that allows the election authority to obtain driver's license pictures to help verify a voter's identity. Removes provisions that an unregistered qualified elector may register to vote or a registered voter may submit a change of address form at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to the election, and provides that registration or changes to address may be submitted at a permanent polling place (rather than a polling place). Provides that certain election authorities may opt out of registration in the polling place if, among other requirements, the election authority establishes grace period registration and voting in a polling place in each municipality where 20% or more of the county's registered voters (rather than residents) reside. Requires any individual challenging the validity of petitions to notify the applicable election authority when a challenge is filed in court contesting the decision of the election authority. Provides that votes by mail may be processed as they arrive in the mail, and that election authorities shall have more than 15 days to process votes by mail. Removes provision that any person entitled to vote early by personal appearance may do so at any polling place established for early voting. Effective immediately.
LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
A BILL FOR
HB4837 LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
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 4-16, 4-50, 5-23, 5-50, 6-53, 6-100, 10-8, 19-8,
19A-10, and 20-8 as follows:
(10 ILCS 5/4-16) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-16)
Sec. 4-16. Any registered voter who changes his residence
from one address to another within the same county wherein this
Article is in effect, may have his registration transferred to
his new address by making and signing an application for change
of residence address upon a form to be provided by the county
clerk. Such application must be made to the office of the
county clerk and may be made either in person or by mail. In
case the person is unable to sign his name, the county clerk
shall require him to execute the application in the presence of
the county clerk or of his properly authorized representative,
by his mark, and if satisfied of the identity of the person,
the county clerk shall make the transfer.
Upon receipt of the application, the county clerk, or one
of his employees deputized to take registrations shall cause
the signature of the voter and the data appearing upon the
application to be compared with the signature and data on the

HB4837 - 2 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
registration record card, and if it appears that the applicant
is the same person as the person previously registered under
that name the transfer shall be made. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law to the contrary, the Board of Elections shall,
by rule, create a pilot program for DuPage County that allows
election authorities to obtain the photograph and signature
from a voter's driver's license on file with the Secretary of
State to compare with the voter's signature and to confirm that
the person presenting themselves as the registered voter is the
same person pictured on such license. The pictures obtained
from the Secretary of State shall be affixed to the voter's
poll book to aide in the visual identification of the voter.
Registered voters shall, by rule, be allowed the option to
opt-in to having their picture checked to ensure greater voter
confidence and guarantee that no voter's vote is stolen.
No transfers of registration under the provisions of this
Section shall be made during the 27 days preceding any election
at which such voter would be entitled to vote. When a removal
of a registered voter takes place from one address to another
within the same precinct within a period during which a
transfer of registration cannot be made before any election or
primary, he shall be entitled to vote upon presenting the
judges of election his affidavit substantially in the form
prescribed in Section 17-10 of this Act of a change of
residence address within the precinct on a date therein
specified.

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The county clerk may obtain information from utility
companies, city, village, incorporated town and township
records, the post office, or from other sources, regarding the
removal of registered voters, and may treat such information,
and information procured from his death and marriage records on
file in his office, as an application to erase from the
register any name concerning which he may so have information
that the voter is no longer qualified to vote under the name,
or from the address from which registered, and give notice
thereof in the manner provided by Section 4-12 of this Article,
and notify voters who have changed their address that a
transfer of registration may be made in the manner provided in
this Section enclosing a form therefor.
If any person be registered by error in a precinct other
than that in which he resides, the county clerk may transfer
his registration to the proper precinct, and if the error is or
may be on the part of the registration officials, and is
disclosed too late before an election or primary to mail the
certificate required by Section 4-15, such certificate may be
personally delivered to the voter and he may vote thereon as
therein provided, but such certificates so issued shall be
specially listed with the reason for the issuance thereof.
Where a revision or rearrangement of precincts is made by
the county board, the county clerk shall immediately transfer
to the proper precinct the registration of any voter affected
by such revision or rearrangement of the precinct; make the

HB4837 - 4 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
proper notations on the registration cards of a voter affected
by the revision or rearrangement and shall issue revised
certificates to each registrant of such change.
Any registered voter who changes his or her name by
marriage or otherwise shall be required to register anew and
authorize the cancellation of the previous registration; but if
the voter still resides in the same precinct the elector may,
if otherwise qualified, vote upon making an affidavit at the
polling place attesting that the voter is the same person who
is registered to vote under his or her former name. The
affidavit shall be treated by the election authority as
authorization to cancel the registration under the former name,
and the election authority shall register the person under his
or her current name.
The precinct election officials shall report to the county
clerk the names and addresses of all persons who have changed
their addresses and voted, which shall be treated as an
application to change address accordingly, and the names and
addresses of all persons otherwise voting by affidavit as in
this Section provided, which shall be treated as an application
to erase under Section 4-12 hereof.
(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)
(10 ILCS 5/4-50)
Sec. 4-50. Grace period. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Code to the contrary, each election authority

HB4837 - 5 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
shall establish procedures for the registration of voters and
for change of address during the period from the close of
registration for an election until and including the day of the
election. During this grace period, an unregistered qualified
elector may register to vote, and a registered voter may submit
a change of address form, in person in the office of the
election authority, at a permanent polling place established
under Section 19A-10, at any other early voting site beginning
15 days prior to the election, at a polling place on election
day, or at a voter registration location specifically
designated for this purpose by the election authority. Grace
period registration and changes of address shall also be
conducted for eligible residents in connection with voting at
facilities under Section 19-12.2 of this Code. The election
authority shall register that individual, or change a
registered voter's address, in the same manner as otherwise
provided by this Article for registration and change of
address.
If a voter who registers or changes address during this
grace period wishes to vote at the election or primary
occurring during the grace period, he or she must do so by
grace period voting. The election authority shall offer
in-person grace period voting at the authority's office, any
permanent polling place established under Section 19A-10, and
at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to the
election, at a polling place on election day, where grace

HB4837 - 6 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
period registration is required by this Section; and may offer
in-person grace period voting at additional hours and locations
specifically designated for the purpose of grace period voting
by the election authority. The election authority may allow
grace period voting by mail only if the election authority has
no ballots prepared at the authority's office. Grace period
voting shall be in a manner substantially similar to voting
under Article 19A.
Within one day after a voter casts a grace period ballot,
or within one day after the ballot is received by the election
authority if the election authority allows grace period voting
by mail, 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. The name of each person issued a grace
period ballot shall also be placed on the appropriate precinct
list of persons to whom vote by mail and early ballots have
been issued, for use as provided in Sections 17-9 and 18-5.
A person who casts a grace period ballot shall not be
permitted to revoke that ballot and vote another ballot with
respect to that primary or election. Ballots cast by persons
who register or change address during the grace period at a

HB4837 - 7 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
location other than their designated polling place on election
day must be transmitted to and counted at the election
authority's central ballot counting location and shall not be
transmitted to and counted at precinct polling places. The
grace period ballots determined to be valid shall be added to
the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in
the order in which the ballots were opened.
In counties with a population of less than 100,000 that do
not have electronic poll books, the election authority may opt
out of registration in the polling place if the election
authority establishes grace period registration and voting at
other sites on election day at the following sites: (i) the
election authority's main office and (ii) a polling place in
each municipality where 20% or more of the county's registered
voters residents reside if the election authority's main office
is not located in that municipality. The election authority may
establish other grace period registration and voting sites on
election day provided that the election authority has met the
notice requirements of Section 19A-25 for permanent and
temporary early voting sites.
(Source: P.A. 100-442, eff. 8-25-17.)
(10 ILCS 5/5-23) (from Ch. 46, par. 5-23)
Sec. 5-23. Any registered voter who changes his residence
from one address, number or place to another within the same
county wherein this Article 5 is in effect, may have his

HB4837 - 8 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
registration transferred to his new address by making and
signing an application for such change of residence upon a form
to be provided by the county clerk. Such application must be
made to the office of the county clerk. In case the person is
unable to sign his name the county clerk shall require such
person to execute the request in the presence of the county
clerk or of his properly authorized representative, by his
mark, and if satisfied of the identity of the person, the
county clerk shall make the transfer.
Upon receipt of such application, the county clerk, or one
of his employees deputized to take registrations shall cause
the signature of the voter and the data appearing upon the
application to be compared with the signature and data on the
registration record, and if it appears that the applicant is
the same person as the party previously registered under that
name the transfer shall be made. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law to the contrary, the Board of Elections shall,
by rule, create a pilot program for DuPage County that allows
election authorities to obtain the photograph and signature
from a voter's driver's license on file with the Secretary of
State to compare with the voter's signature and to confirm that
the person presenting themselves as the registered voter is the
same person pictured on such license. The pictures obtained
from the Secretary of State shall be affixed to the voter's
poll book to aide in the visual identification of the voter.
Registered voters shall, by rule, be allowed the option to

HB4837 - 9 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
opt-in to having their picture checked to ensure greater voter
confidence and guarantee that no voter's vote is stolen.
Transfer of registration under the provisions of this
section may not be made within the period when the county
clerk's office is closed to registration prior to an election
at which such voter would be entitled to vote.
Any registered voter who changes his or her name by
marriage or otherwise, shall be required to register anew and
authorize the cancellation of the previous registration;
provided, however, that if the change of name takes place
within a period during which such new registration cannot be
made, next preceding any election or primary, the elector may,
if otherwise qualified, vote upon making the following
affidavit before the judges of election:
I do solemnly swear that I am the same person now
registered in the .... precinct of the .... ward of the city of
.... or .... District Town of .... under the name of .... and
that I still reside in said precinct or district.
(Signed) ....
If the voter whose name has changed still resides in the
same precinct, the voter may vote after making the affidavit at
the polling place regardless of when the change of name
occurred. In that event, the affidavit shall not state that the
voter is required to register; the affidavit shall be treated
by the election authority as authorization to cancel the
registration under the former name, and the election authority

HB4837 - 10 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
shall register the voter under his or her current name.
Suitable forms for this purpose shall be provided by the
county clerk. The form in all cases shall be similar to the
form furnished by the county clerk for county and state
elections.
The precinct election officials shall report to the county
clerk the names and addresses of all such persons who have
changed their addresses and voted. The city, village, town and
incorporated town clerks shall within five days after every
election report to the county clerk the names and addresses of
the persons reported to them as having voted by affidavit as in
this Section provided.
The county clerk may obtain information from utility
companies, city, village, town and incorporated town records,
the post office or from other sources regarding the removal of
registered voters and notify such voters that a transfer of
registration may be made in the manner provided by this
Section.
If any person be registered by error in a precinct other
than that in which he resides the county clerk shall be
empowered to transfer his registration to the proper precinct.
Where a revision or rearrangement of precincts is made by
the board of county commissioners, the county clerk shall
immediately transfer to the proper precinct the registration of
any voter affected by such revision or rearrangement of the
precincts; make the proper notations on the registration cards

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of a voter affected by the revision of registration and shall
notify the registrant of such change.
(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)
(10 ILCS 5/5-50)
Sec. 5-50. Grace period. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Code to the contrary, each election authority
shall establish procedures for the registration of voters and
for change of address during the period from the close of
registration for an election until and including the day of the
election. During this grace period, an unregistered qualified
elector may register to vote, and a registered voter may submit
a change of address form, in person in the office of the
election authority, at a permanent polling place established
under Section 19A-10, at any other early voting site beginning
15 days prior to the election, at a polling place on election
day, or at a voter registration location specifically
designated for this purpose by the election authority. Grace
period registration and changes of address shall also be
conducted for eligible residents in connection with voting at
facilities under Section 19-12.2 of this Code. The election
authority shall register that individual, or change a
registered voter's address, in the same manner as otherwise
provided by this Article for registration and change of
address.
If a voter who registers or changes address during this

HB4837 - 12 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
grace period wishes to vote at the election or primary
occurring during the grace period, he or she must do so by
grace period voting. The election authority shall offer
in-person grace period voting at his or her office, any
permanent polling place established under Section 19A-10, and
at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to the
election, at a polling place on election day, where grace
period registration is required by this Section; and may offer
in-person grace period voting at additional hours and locations
specifically designated for the purpose of grace period voting
by the election authority. The election authority may allow
grace period voting by mail only if the election authority has
no ballots prepared at the authority's office. Grace period
voting shall be in a manner substantially similar to voting
under Article 19A.
Within one day after a voter casts a grace period ballot,
or within one day after the ballot is received by the election
authority if the election authority allows grace period voting
by mail, 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. The name of each person issued a grace

HB4837 - 13 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
period ballot shall also be placed on the appropriate precinct
list of persons to whom vote by mail and early ballots have
been issued, for use as provided in Sections 17-9 and 18-5.
A person who casts a grace period ballot shall not be
permitted to revoke that ballot and vote another ballot with
respect to that primary or election. Ballots cast by persons
who register or change address during the grace period at a
location other than their designated polling place on election
day must be transmitted to and counted at the election
authority's central ballot counting location and shall not be
transmitted to and counted at precinct polling places. The
grace period ballots determined to be valid shall be added to
the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in
the order in which the ballots were opened.
In counties with a population of less than 100,000 that do
not have electronic poll books, the election authority may opt
out of registration in the polling place if the election
authority establishes grace period registration and voting at
other sites on election day at the following sites: (i) the
election authority's main office and (ii) a polling place in
each municipality where 20% or more of the county's registered
voters residents reside if the election authority's main office
is not located in that municipality. The election authority may
establish other grace period registration and voting sites on
election day provided that the election authority has met the
notice requirements of Section 19A-25 for permanent and

HB4837 - 14 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
temporary early voting sites.
(Source: P.A. 100-442, eff. 8-25-17.)
(10 ILCS 5/6-53) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-53)
Sec. 6-53. Any registered elector who changes his residence
from one address number or place to another within the same
precinct, city or village or incorporated town, may have his
registration transferred to his new address by making and
signing an application for such change of residence address
upon a form to be provided by such board of election
commissioners. Such application may be made to the office of
such board or at any place designated in accordance with
Section 6-51 of this Article.
Upon receipt of such application the board of election
commissioners or officer, employee or deputy registrar
designated by such board shall cause the signature of the voter
and the data appearing upon the application to be compared with
the signature and data on the registration record, and if it
appears that the applicant is the same person as the party
previously registered under that name, the transfer shall be
made. In case the person is unable to sign his name the board
of election commissioners shall require such person to execute
the request in the presence of the board or of its properly
authorized representative, by his mark, and if satisfied of the
identity of the person, the board of election commissioners
shall make the transfer. The person in charge of the

HB4837 - 15 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
registration shall draw a line through the last address, ward
and precinct number on the original and duplicate and write the
new address, ward and precinct number on the original and
duplicate registration records. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law to the contrary, the Board of Elections shall,
by rule, create a pilot program for DuPage County that allows
election authorities to obtain the photograph and signature
from a voter's driver's license on file with the Secretary of
State to compare with the voter's signature and to confirm that
the person presenting themselves as the registered voter is the
same person pictured on such license. The pictures obtained
from the Secretary of State shall be affixed to the voter's
poll book to aide in the visual identification of the voter.
Registered voters shall, by rule, be allowed the option to
opt-in to having their picture checked to ensure greater voter
confidence and guarantee that no voter's vote is stolen.
Any registered elector may transfer his registration only
at any such time as is provided by this Article for the
registration of voters at the office of the board. When a
removal of a registered voter takes place from one address to
another within the same precinct within a period during which
such transfer of registration cannot be made, before any
election or primary, he shall be entitled to vote upon
presenting to the judges of election an affidavit of a change
and having said affidavit supported by the affidavit of a
qualified voter who is a householder in the same precinct.

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Suitable forms for this purpose shall be provided by the board
of election commissioners whose duty it is to conduct the
election; and thereupon the precinct election officials shall
report to the board of election commissioners the names of all
such persons who have changed their address and voted.
The board of election commissioners may obtain information
from utility companies, city records, the post office or from
other sources regarding the removal of registered voters, and
notify such voters that a transfer of registration may be made
in the manner provided by this section.
If any person be registered by error in a precinct other
than that in which he resides, a transfer of registration to
the precinct in which he resides may be made in the manner
provided by this section.
Where a revision or rearrangement of precincts is made by
the board of election commissioners under the power conferred
by Section 11-3 of Article 11 of this Act, such board shall
immediately transfer to the proper precinct the registration of
any voter affected by such revision or rearrangement of
precincts; make the proper notations on the cards in the master
and precinct files; and shall notify the registrant of such
change.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3449.)
(10 ILCS 5/6-100)
Sec. 6-100. Grace period. Notwithstanding any other

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provision of this Code to the contrary, each election authority
shall establish procedures for the registration of voters and
for change of address during the period from the close of
registration for an election until and including the day of the
election. During this grace period, an unregistered qualified
elector may register to vote, and a registered voter may submit
a change of address form, in person in the office of the
election authority, at a permanent polling place established
under Section 19A-10, at any other early voting site beginning
15 days prior to the election, at a permanent polling place on
election day, or at a voter registration location specifically
designated for this purpose by the election authority. Grace
period registration and changes of address shall also be
conducted for eligible residents in connection with voting at
facilities under Section 19-12.2 of this Code. The election
authority shall register that individual, or change a
registered voter's address, in the same manner as otherwise
provided by this Article for registration and change of
address.
If a voter who registers or changes address during this
grace period wishes to vote at the election or primary
occurring during the grace period. The election authority shall
offer in-person grace period voting at the authority's office,
any permanent polling place established under Section 19A-10,
and at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to
the election, at a polling place on election day, where grace

HB4837 - 18 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
period registration is required by this Section; and may offer
in-person grace period voting at additional hours and locations
specifically designated for the purpose of grace period voting
by the election authority. The election authority may allow
grace period voting by mail only if the election authority has
no ballots prepared at the authority's office. Grace period
voting shall be in a manner substantially similar to voting
under Article 19A.
Within one day after a voter casts a grace period ballot,
or within one day after the ballot is received by the election
authority if the election authority allows grace period voting
by mail, 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. The name of each person issued a grace
period ballot shall also be placed on the appropriate precinct
list of persons to whom vote by mail and early ballots have
been issued, for use as provided in Sections 17-9 and 18-5.
A person who casts a grace period ballot shall not be
permitted to revoke that ballot and vote another ballot with
respect to that primary or election. Ballots cast by persons
who register or change address during the grace period at a

HB4837 - 19 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
location other than their designated polling place on election
day must be transmitted to and counted at the election
authority's central ballot counting location and shall not be
transmitted to and counted at precinct polling places. The
grace period ballots determined to be valid shall be added to
the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in
the order in which the ballots were opened.
In counties with a population of less than 100,000 that do
not have electronic poll books, the election authority may opt
out of registration in the polling place if the election
authority establishes grace period registration and voting at
other sites on election day at the following sites: (i) the
election authority's main office and (ii) a polling place in
each municipality where 20% or more of the county's registered
voters residents reside if the election authority's main office
is not located in that municipality. The election authority may
establish other grace period registration and voting sites on
election day provided that the election authority has met the
notice requirements of Section 19A-25 for permanent and
temporary early voting sites.
(Source: P.A. 100-442, eff. 8-25-17.)
(10 ILCS 5/10-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 10-8)
Sec. 10-8. Certificates of nomination and nomination
papers, and petitions to submit public questions to a
referendum, being filed as required by this Code, and being in

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apparent conformity with the provisions of this Act, shall be
deemed to be valid unless objection thereto is duly made in
writing within 5 business days after the last day for filing
the certificate of nomination or nomination papers or petition
for a public question, with the following exceptions:
A. In the case of petitions to amend Article IV of the
Constitution of the State of Illinois, there shall be a
period of 35 business days after the last day for the
filing of such petitions in which objections can be filed.
B. In the case of petitions for advisory questions of
public policy to be submitted to the voters of the entire
State, there shall be a period of 35 business days after
the last day for the filing of such petitions in which
objections can be filed.
Any legal voter of the political subdivision or district in
which the candidate or public question is to be voted on, or
any legal voter in the State in the case of a proposed
amendment to Article IV of the Constitution or an advisory
public question to be submitted to the voters of the entire
State, having objections to any certificate of nomination or
nomination papers or petitions filed, shall file an objector's
petition together with 2 copies thereof in the principal office
or the permanent branch office of the State Board of Elections,
or in the office of the election authority or local election
official with whom the certificate of nomination, nomination
papers or petitions are on file. Objection petitions that do

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not include 2 copies thereof, shall not be accepted. In the
case of nomination papers or certificates of nomination, the
State Board of Elections, election authority or local election
official shall note the day and hour upon which such objector's
petition is filed, and shall, not later than 12:00 noon on the
second business day after receipt of the petition, transmit by
registered mail or receipted personal delivery the certificate
of nomination or nomination papers and the original objector's
petition to the chairman of the proper electoral board
designated in Section 10-9 hereof, or his authorized agent, and
shall transmit a copy by registered mail or receipted personal
delivery of the objector's petition, to the candidate whose
certificate of nomination or nomination papers are objected to,
addressed to the place of residence designated in said
certificate of nomination or nomination papers. In the case of
objections to a petition for a proposed amendment to Article IV
of the Constitution or for an advisory public question to be
submitted to the voters of the entire State, the State Board of
Elections shall note the day and hour upon which such
objector's petition is filed and shall transmit a copy of the
objector's petition by registered mail or receipted personal
delivery to the person designated on a certificate attached to
the petition as the principal proponent of such proposed
amendment or public question, or as the proponents' attorney,
for the purpose of receiving notice of objections. In the case
of objections to a petition for a public question, to be

HB4837 - 22 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
submitted to the voters of a political subdivision, or district
thereof, the election authority or local election official with
whom such petition is filed shall note the day and hour upon
which such objector's petition was filed, and shall, not later
than 12:00 noon on the second business day after receipt of the
petition, transmit by registered mail or receipted personal
delivery the petition for the public question and the original
objector's petition to the chairman of the proper electoral
board designated in Section 10-9 hereof, or his authorized
agent, and shall transmit a copy by registered mail or
receipted personal delivery, of the objector's petition to the
person designated on a certificate attached to the petition as
the principal proponent of the public question, or as the
proponent's attorney, for the purposes of receiving notice of
objections.
The objector's petition shall give the objector's name and
residence address, and shall state fully the nature of the
objections to the certificate of nomination or nomination
papers or petitions in question, and shall state the interest
of the objector and shall state what relief is requested of the
electoral board.
The provisions of this Section and of Sections 10-9, 10-10
and 10-10.1 shall also apply to and govern objections to
petitions for nomination filed under Article 7 or Article 8,
except as otherwise provided in Section 7-13 for cases to which
it is applicable, and also apply to and govern petitions for

HB4837 - 23 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
the submission of public questions under Article 28.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
any individual challenging the validity of petitions shall
notify the applicable election authority when that individual
files a challenge in court contesting the decision of that
election authority.
(Source: P.A. 98-691, eff. 7-1-14.)
(10 ILCS 5/19-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-8)
Sec. 19-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
(a) (Blank.)
(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an
election authority, by any means authorized by this Article,
and received by that election authority before the closing of
the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving
election authority with the day and hour of receipt and may be
processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is
received by the election authority in the central ballot
counting location of the election authority, but the results of
the processing may not be counted until the day of the election
after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and
(g-5).
(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an
election authority and postmarked no later than election day,
but that is received by the election authority after the polls
close on election day and before the close of the period for

HB4837 - 24 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be
endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of
receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting
location of the election authority during the period for
counting provisional ballots.
Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an
election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with
an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is
received by the election authority after the polls close on
election day and before the close of the period for counting
provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by
the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt,
opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and,
if the certification date is election day or earlier and the
ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of
this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location
of the election authority during the period for counting
provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the
ballot shall not be counted.
If an election authority is using an intelligent mail
barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election
authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent
mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed
no later than election day.
(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots
returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by

HB4837 - 25 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
this Article, and received by the election authority at any
time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be
endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and
hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot
counting location of the election authority during the same
period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under
subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail
voter's blank ballots that are mailed to an election authority
and postmarked no later than election day, but that are
received by the election authority after the polls close on
election day and before the closing of the period for counting
provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by
the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and
shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the
election authority during the same periods provided for
counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
votes by mail ballots may be processed as they arrive in the
mail. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, election authorities shall have more than 15 days to
process vote by mail ballots.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by
mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's
blank ballots received by the election authority after the
closing of the polls on an election day shall be endorsed by
the election authority receiving them with the day and hour of

HB4837 - 26 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election
authority for the period of time required for the preservation
of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being
opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that
election.
(f) Counting required under this Section to begin on
election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no
later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or
panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by
law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters'
ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots
required to be counted on election day have been counted.
(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this
Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In
addition, within 2 days after a vote by mail ballot is
received, but in all cases before the close of the period for
counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official
shall compare the voter's signature on the certification
envelope of that vote by mail ballot with the signature of the
voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the
election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures
match, and that the vote by mail voter is otherwise qualified
to cast a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall
cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot
is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the
results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If

HB4837 - 27 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
the election judge or official determines that the signatures
do not match, or that the vote by mail voter is not qualified
to cast a vote by mail ballot, then without opening the
certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark across
the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
shall not cast or count the ballot.
In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a vote
by mail ballot may be rejected by the election judge or
official:
(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
and resealed;
(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace
period ballot;
(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the
voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
If the election judge or official determines that any of
these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across
the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
shall not cast or count the ballot.
(g-5) If a vote by mail ballot is rejected by the election
judge or official for any reason, the election authority shall,
within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the
close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify
the vote by mail voter that his or her ballot was rejected. The
notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the

HB4837 - 28 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear
before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after
the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be
rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election
authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot
should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel
of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot,
application, and certification envelope, as well as any
evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2
election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same
political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall
make a final determination as to the validity of the contested
vote by mail ballot. The judges' determination shall not be
reviewable either administratively or judicially.
A vote by mail ballot subject to this subsection that is
determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the
period for counting provisional ballots.
(g-10) All vote by mail ballots determined to be valid
shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which
they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.
(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic
organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher
for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)
(10 ILCS 5/19A-10)

HB4837 - 29 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
Sec. 19A-10. Permanent polling places for early voting.
(a) An election authority may establish permanent polling
places for early voting by personal appearance at locations
throughout the election authority's jurisdiction, including
but not limited to a municipal clerk's office, a township
clerk's office, a road district clerk's office, or a county or
local public agency office. Any person entitled to vote early
by personal appearance may do so at any polling place
established for early voting.
(b) (Blank).
(c) During each general primary and general election, each
election authority in a county with a population over 250,000
shall establish at least one permanent polling place for early
voting by personal appearance at a location within each of the
3 largest municipalities within its jurisdiction. If any of the
3 largest municipalities is over 80,000, the election authority
shall establish at least 2 permanent polling places within the
municipality. All population figures shall be determined by the
federal census.
(d) During each general primary and general election, each
board of election commissioners established under Article 6 of
this Code in any city, village, or incorporated town with a
population over 100,000 shall establish at least 2 permanent
polling places for early voting by personal appearance. All
population figures shall be determined by the federal census.
(e) During each general primary and general election, each

HB4837 - 30 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
election authority in a county with a population of over
100,000 but under 250,000 persons shall establish at least one
permanent polling place for early voting by personal
appearance. The location for early voting may be the election
authority's main office or another location designated by the
election authority. The election authority may designate
additional sites for early voting by personal appearance. All
population figures shall be determined by the federal census.
(f) No permanent polling place required by this Section
shall be located within 1.5 miles from another permanent
polling place required by this Section, unless such permanent
polling place is within a municipality with a population of
500,000 or more.
(Source: P.A. 98-691, eff. 7-1-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)
(10 ILCS 5/20-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-8)
Sec. 20-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
(a) (Blank.)
(b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an
election authority, by any means authorized by this Article,
and received by that election authority may be processed by the
election authority beginning on the day it is received by the
election authority in the central ballot counting location of
the election authority, but the results of the processing may
not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00 p.m.,
except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).

HB4837 - 31 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
(c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an
election authority and postmarked no later than election day,
but that is received by the election authority after the polls
close on election day and before the close of the period for
counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be
endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of
receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting
location of the election authority during the period for
counting provisional ballots.
Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an
election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with
an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is
received by the election authority after the polls close on
election day and before the close of the period for counting
provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by
the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt,
opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and,
if the certification date is election day or earlier and the
ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements of
this Section, counted at the central ballot counting location
of the election authority during the period for counting
provisional ballots. Absent a date on the certification, the
ballot shall not be counted.
If an election authority is using an intelligent mail
barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an election
authority absent a postmark may be counted if the intelligent

HB4837 - 32 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope was mailed
no later than election day.
(d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots
returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by
this Article, and received by the election authority at any
time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be
endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and
hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot
counting location of the election authority during the same
period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under
subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote by mail
voter's blank ballot that are mailed to an election authority
and postmarked no later than election day, but that are
received by the election authority after the polls close on
election day and before the closing of the period for counting
provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed by
the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt and
shall be counted at the central ballot counting location of the
election authority during the same periods provided for
counting vote by mail voters' ballots under subsection (c).
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
votes by mail ballots may be processed as they arrive in the
mail. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, election authorities shall have more than 15 days to
process vote by mail ballots.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by

HB4837 - 33 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's
blank ballots received by the election authority after the
closing of the polls on the day of election shall be endorsed
by the person receiving the ballots with the day and hour of
receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election
authority for the period of time required for the preservation
of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being
opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that
election.
(f) Counting required under this Section to begin on
election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no
later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or
panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by
law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail voters'
ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots
required to be counted on election day have been counted.
(g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this
Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In
addition, within 2 days after a ballot subject to this Article
is received, but in all cases before the close of the period
for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or
official shall compare the voter's signature on the
certification envelope of that ballot with the signature of the
voter on file in the office of the election authority. If the
election judge or official determines that the 2 signatures
match, and that the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a

HB4837 - 34 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
ballot under this Article, the election authority shall cast
and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot is
determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the results
to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the
election judge or official determines that the signatures do
not match, or that the voter is not qualified to cast a ballot
under this Article, then without opening the certification
envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of
the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not
cast or count the ballot.
In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a
ballot subject to this Article may be rejected by the election
judge or official:
(1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
and resealed;
(2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace
period ballot;
(3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the
voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
(4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
If the election judge or official determines that any of
these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across
the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
shall not cast or count the ballot.
(g-5) If a ballot subject to this Article is rejected by
the election judge or official for any reason, the election

HB4837 - 35 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all
cases before the close of the period for counting provisional
ballots, notify the voter that his or her ballot was rejected.
The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the
ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear
before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after
the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be
rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election
authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot
should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a panel
of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot,
application, and certification envelope, as well as any
evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2
election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same
political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall
make a final determination as to the validity of the contested
ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable
either administratively or judicially.
A ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to
be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for
counting provisional ballots.
(g-10) All ballots determined to be valid shall be added to
the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast in
the order in which the ballots were opened.
(h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic
organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher

HB4837 - 36 - LRB100 17413 MJP 32580 b
for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.