Bill Text: IL SB1863 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Creates the Conduct of the 2020 General Election Article in the Code. For the 2020 general election, provides for changes to vote by mail, first time registrants and changes of address for registrants, the public dissemination of information for the 2020 general election, early voting and election day requirements, judges of election, electronic service of objections, additional duties of election authorities and the State Board of Elections, and 2020 county party conventions. Establishes November 3, 2020 as a State holiday to be known as 2020 General Election Day to be observed throughout the State. Provides that all government offices (with the exception of election authorities) shall be closed unless authorized to be used as a location for election day services or as a polling place. Provides the State Board of Elections with emergency rulemaking authority. Repeals the Article on January 1, 2021. Makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, and the State Universities Civil Service Act. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 29-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-06-16 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0642 [SB1863 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SB1863-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 101-0642
SB1863 Enrolled LRB101 10839 HEP 55974 b
AN ACT concerning government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is
amended by adding Section 5-45.1 as follows:
(5 ILCS 100/5-45.1 new)
Sec. 5-45.1. Emergency rulemaking; 2020 general election.
To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of
Article 2B of the Election Code, emergency rules implementing
Article 2B of the Election Code may be adopted in accordance
with Section 5-45 by the State Board of Elections. The adoption
of emergency rules authorized by Section 5-45 and this Section
is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and
welfare.
This Section is repealed on January 1, 2021.
Section 10. The Election Code is amended by adding Article
2B as follows:
(10 ILCS 5/Art. 2B heading new)
ARTICLE 2B. CONDUCT OF THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION
(10 ILCS 5/2B-1 new)

Sec. 2B-1. Purpose. Whereas protecting the health and
safety of Illinoisans is among the most important functions of
State government, and whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) has resulted in declarations that COVID-19 presents
a severe public health emergency by the World Health
Organization, the United States government, and the Governor of
Illinois, the General Assembly therefore declares it necessary
and appropriate to make certain modifications to the
administration and conduct of the elections for the November
2020 general election. The provisions of this Article are
deemed necessary to protect the safety, health, and rights of
the people of Illinois.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-5 new)
Sec. 2B-5. Application of Article.
(a) In addition to the provisions of this Code and
notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the provisions
in this Article shall govern the process and procedures for the
2020 general election. The provisions of this Code shall
control any aspect of the administration or conduct of the 2020
general election that is not provided for in this Article,
provided that in the event of conflict between this Article and
any other provision of this Code or any other law, the
provisions of this Article shall control.
(b) The provisions of this Article shall apply to all
election authorities, including, but not limited to, those

under the jurisdiction of a Board of Election Commissioners.
(c) The provisions of this Article shall apply for the
administration and conduct of the 2020 general election only
and the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 101st General
Assembly shall be in effect through January 1, 2021.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-10 new)
Sec. 2B-10. Election Day State holiday. Notwithstanding
any other provision of State law to the contrary, November 3,
2020 shall be a State holiday known as 2020 General Election
Day and shall be observed throughout the State. November 3,
2020 shall be deemed a legal school holiday for purposes of the
School Code, State Universities Civil Service Act, and any
other law designating a holiday. All government offices, with
the exception of election authorities, shall be closed unless
authorized to be used as a location for election day services
or as a polling place.
Any school closed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the
101st General Assembly and Section 24-2 of the School Code
shall be made available to an election authority as a polling
place for 2020 General Election Day. The election authority and
the school shall comply with all safety and health practices
established by the Illinois Department of Public Health
pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 2B-35. The election
authority shall be eligible for reimbursement of such
reasonable cleaning expenses incurred as a result of using a

school as a polling place for 2020 General Election Day,
subject to the receipt and availability of federal funds,
pursuant to Section 2B-60.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-15 new)
Sec. 2B-15. Changes to vote by mail application process for
the 2020 general election.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the
contrary, beginning on the effective date of this Amendatory
Act of the 101st General Assembly, any elector may by personal
delivery, mail, email, or electronically on the website of the
appropriate election authority make application for an
official ballot for the 2020 general election to be sent to the
elector through mail. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law to the contrary, the URL address at which an elector may
electronically request a vote by mail ballot shall be fixed by
each election authority no later than the effective date of
this Amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly. An election
authority shall accept any application submitted by an elector,
including, but not limited to, the application prepared by the
State Board of Elections, the election authority, or any other
application submitted in a form substantially similar to that
required by Section 19-3, including any substantially similar
production or reproduction generated by any source or the by
the applicant.
(b) No later than August 1, 2020, every election authority

shall mail or email an application for an official vote by mail
ballot for the 2020 general election to any elector who applied
to vote an official ballot, whether by mail or in person, for
any of the following elections: (1) 2018 general election; (2)
2019 consolidated election; or (3) the 2020 general primary
election. No later than August 1, 2020, every election
authority shall mail or email an application for an official
ballot for the 2020 general election to any elector who has
registered to vote or changed his or her registration address
after the 2020 general primary election through July 31, 2020.
(c) In addition to providing electors with the application,
the election authority shall provide any notices required by
law and the following: (1) notice the elector may complete the
application and return it through personal delivery, mail,
email, or visit the election authority's URL to request an
official ballot; (2) notice that upon completion of the
application, the elector will receive an official ballot no
more than 40 days and no less than 30 days before the election;
(3) an explanation that following submission of the application
the elector will receive a ballot at his or her registered
address or the mailing address requested by the elector, and
such ballot must be completed and returned no later than
election day; (4) a phone number or email address to contact
the election authority if the elector does not receive an
official ballot or if the elector has questions; and (5) a
website or phone number the elector can use to confirm receipt

of his or her official ballot. A copy of the application and
the notice shall be made available on the election authority's
website.
(d) The application and notice required by this Section
shall be mailed to the elector's registered address and any
other mailing address the election authority may have on file,
including a mailing address to which a prior vote by mail
ballot was mailed.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-20 new)
Sec. 2B-20. Changes for vote by mail official ballot
mailing and processing.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, an election authority shall mail official ballots to
any elector requesting an official ballot no earlier than
September 24, 2020. Except for electors applying under Article
20, any elector submitting an application for a vote by mail
ballot on or before October 1, 2020 shall receive a ballot no
later than October 6, 2020. An election authority shall mail
official ballots to any elector requesting an official ballot
after October 1, 2020 no later than 2 business days after
receipt of the application.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, any vote by mail ballot received by an election
authority shall be presumed to meet the requirements of
Articles 17, 18, and 19 and the voter shall be deemed otherwise

qualified to cast a vote by mail ballot unless deemed invalid
as provided in this Section.
(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.
(e) Election authorities shall accept any vote by mail
ballot returned, including ballots returned with insufficient
or no postage, and may establish secure collection sites for
the postage-free return of vote by mail ballots. Any election
authority establishing such a collection site pursuant to this
subsection (c) shall collect all ballots submitted each day at
close of business and process them as required by this Code,
including noting the day on which the ballot was submitted.
Ballots submitted to such collection sites after close of

business shall be dated as delivered the next day, with the
exception of ballots delivered on election day, which shall be
dated as received on election day. Election authorities shall
permit electors to return vote by mail ballots on election day
up until the close of the polls.
(f) In accordance with Section 19-7, within one day after
receipt of a vote by mail ballot, the election authority shall
transmit notification of receipt to the State Board of
Elections. If a vote by mail ballot is rejected, the election
authority must notify the State Board of Elections within one
day. Upon request by a state or local political committee,
within 2 days an election authority must electronically provide
the names and addresses of any vote by mail ballots received
and any vote by mail ballots marked rejected.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-25 new)
Sec. 2B-25. Changes for first time registrants or change of
address registrations.
(a) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 101st General Assembly, any person completing a voter
registration application or submitting a change of address
shall be notified of the option to receive a vote by mail
ballot. Upon request of the elector, the registration shall
serve as an application to receive an official vote by mail
ballot and the individual need not complete an application.
Upon processing the registration, the election authority shall

provide the individual with an official ballot.
(b) Upon request of the registrant, an election authority
shall accept a completed voter registration form as a valid
application and mail the elector an official ballot.
(c) Any person whose registration is incomplete or pending
may provide any required documentation online or in person to
the election authority prior to applying to vote in order to
complete his or her registration.
(d) This Section shall not apply to an application
processed pursuant to Section 1A-16.1 or an individual
registering to vote in person at an election authority or an
early voting site if the elector has the option and chooses to
exercise the option to vote in person at the time of
registration or in his or her precinct on election day.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-30 new)
Sec. 2B-30. Public dissemination of information prior to
the 2020 general election.
(a) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 101st General Assembly through October 30, 2020, all
election authorities shall include information about
registering to vote and encouraging electors to vote by mail or
during early voting with any pamphlet, brochure, flyer, or
newsletter related to the 2020 General Election. Any such
documents shall substantially include the following, "Due to
COVID-19, all 2020 General Election voters are encouraged to

cast a ballot prior to Election Day, either by mail or during
early voting. Voting by mail is an easy option for voters and
you can request a vote by mail ballot through email, mail, or
in person. An application is available from your local election
authority or at https :// elections.il.gov/
electionoperations/ VotingByMail.aspx. To register to vote or
check your registration status, visit https://
ova.elections.il.gov.".
(b) The Secretary of State shall include in any pamphlet or
materials produced in accordance with the Illinois
Constitutional Amendment Act the following language, "Due to
COVID-19, all 2020 General Election voters are encouraged to
cast a ballot prior to Election Day, either by mail or during
early voting. Voting by mail is an easy option for voters and
you can request a vote by mail ballot through email, mail, or
in person. An application is available from your local election
authority or at https://
elections.il.gov/electionoperations/VotingByMail.aspx. To
register to vote or check your registration status, visit
https:// ova.elections.il.gov.".
(c) No later than September 15, 2020, the Secretary of
State shall send a notice to any elector who received an
application but has not yet applied for a vote by mail ballot.
The list of electors to receive the notification shall be
provided by the State Board of Elections. The notice shall
include, at a minimum: (1) notice that the elector previously

received correspondence from the applicable election authority
with information on how to apply for a vote by mail ballot,
that the election authority has indicated the elector has not
yet applied for a ballot, and the elector still has time to
request a vote by mail ballot; and (2) a reference to a phone
number, email address, and website the elector can visit to
complete an application, return an application, or get
additional information about vote by mail.
(d) No later than October 15, 2020, the Secretary of State
shall send a notice to any elector who received the notice
required in subsection (c) but has not yet applied for a vote
by mail ballot. The notice shall include, at a minimum: (1) a
statement that the elector has time to request a vote by mail
ballot; and (2) a reference to a phone number, email address,
and website the elector can visit to complete an application,
return an application, or get additional information about vote
by mail.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-35 new)
Sec. 2B-35. Early voting and election day requirements.
(a) Election authorities shall comply with any early voting
and election day safety and health practices established in
written guidance provided to the election authorities by the
Illinois Department of Public Health.
(b) Election authorities may establish curb-side voting
for individuals to cast a ballot during early voting or on

election day. A curb-side voting program shall designate at
least 2 election judges from opposite parties per vehicle and
the individual must have the option to mark the ballot without
interference from the election judges.
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, election
authorities shall establish one location to be located at an
office of the election authority or in the largest municipality
within its jurisdiction where all voters in its jurisdiction
are allowed to vote on election day during polling place hours,
regardless of the precinct in which they are registered. An
election authority establishing such a location pursuant to
this subsection (c) shall identify the location, hours of
operation, and health and safety requirements by the 40th day
preceding 2020 General Election Day and certify such to the
State Board of Election.
(d) In addition to the requirements of Section 19A-15,
beginning the 15th day preceding 2020 General Election Day, all
permanent polling places for early voting shall remain open
during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Election
authorities may establish early voting hours in addition to
those required by this subsection (d) to accommodate voters to
whom COVID-19 presents increased health risks, including, but
not limited to, the administration of a curb-side voting
program established by the election authority pursuant to this
Section.

(e) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a provisional
ballot cast under item (7) of subsection (a) of Section 18A-5
shall be deemed valid and counted as a vote if the voter
provides the election authority with the necessary
documentation within 14 days of election day.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-40 new)
Sec. 2B-40. Judges of election.
(a) All laws and rules regarding the provisions of election
judges shall be in effect for the 2020 general election,
provided that notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any
individual may be appointed to serve as an election judge if,
as of the date of the election at which the person serves as
judge, he or she has attained the age of 16.
Prior to appointment, a judge qualifying under this
subsection (a) must certify in writing to the election
authority the political party the judge chooses to affiliate
with.
(b) All public and private secondary schools, community
colleges, and universities shall publish notification on their
publicly accessible websites and notify their students of the
opportunity to serve as an election judge for the 2020 general
election and the qualifications provided in subsection (a).
(c) The Department of Employment Security shall publish
notification on its publicly accessible website that anyone
receiving unemployment insurance may apply to serve as an

election judge for the 2020 general election and the
qualifications provided in subsection (a).
(d) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, counties
having a population of less than 250,000 pursuant to the 2010
U.S. Census, may appoint 3 judges of election to serve in lieu
of the 5 judges of election required by this Code for the 2020
general election, unless such judges of election are appointed
by election commissioners.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-45 new)
Sec. 2B-45. Electronic service of objections. Election
authorities may authorize service of objections to candidate
nominations through electronic mail in lieu of personal service
if the election authority responsible for convening the
electoral board:
(1) requires candidates to provide an electronic mail
address where notices of objections and electoral board
proceedings may be sent electronically in lieu of personal
service;
(2) requires objectors to provide an electronic mail
address where notices and electoral board proceedings may
be sent electronically in lieu of personal service; and
(3) publishes notice of its decision to utilize this
Section on its website within 5 business days of the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General
Assembly.

(10 ILCS 5/2B-50 new)
Sec. 2B-50. Additional duties of election authorities.
(a) Each election authority shall comply with the
requirements of Section 2B-15. Each election authority shall
provide the following to the State Board of Elections as it
relates to Section 2B-15: (1), no later than August 2, 2020,
each election authority shall provide to the State Board of
Elections written confirmation that the election authority
complied with subsections (b), (c), and (d) of Section 2B-15
and provide an electronic list of the names and addresses of
every elector sent the required application and notice; (2) no
later than September 2, 2020, each election authority shall
provide the State Board of Elections with an electronic list of
the names and addresses of every elector sent the required
application and notice who has submitted the application and
will receive an official ballot; and (3) no later than October
2, 2020, each election authority shall provide the State Board
of Elections with an updated list of the names and addresses of
every elector sent the required application and notice who has
submitted the application and will receive an official ballot.
Any list submitted to the State Board of Elections shall be
accessible to State and local political candidates and
committees.
(b) No later than 75 days prior to the 2020 general
election, each election authority shall provide public notice

of its services and equipment available to assist elderly
voters and voters with disabilities. The notice shall include,
but is not limited to, the availability of vote by mail ballots
in braille and large format, assistance in marking the ballot,
procedures for voting by vote by mail ballot, and procedures
for voting early by personal appearance.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-55 new)
Sec. 2B-55. Additional duties of the State Board of
Elections.
(a) No later than 2 business days after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the State
Board of Elections shall post on its official website an
application for an official vote by mail ballot for the 2020
general election. The application shall be available at
https:// elections.il.gov/
electionoperations/VotingByMail.aspx. Any applications
received by the State Board of Elections shall be transmitted
within 2 business days of receipt to the appropriate election
authority.
(b) Within 5 business days of the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the State Board
of Elections shall modify the online voter registration system
to allow any new registrant to apply for a vote by mail ballot
when completing online voter registration. Any new registrant
that requests a vote by mail ballot when registering shall be

eligible to request and receive a vote by mail ballot for the
2020 general election without submitting an additional
application.
(c) Within 10 business days of the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the State Board
of Elections shall provide notice to all election authorities
of the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 101st General
Assembly and the actions each election authority must take to
comply with this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.
A copy of this notice shall be made available on the State
Board of Election's official website.
(d) The State Board of Elections shall transmit to the
Secretary of State, in the format requested by the Secretary of
State, a complete list of the names and addresses submitted to
the State Board of Elections by the election authorities in
accordance with subsection (a) of Section 2B-50. The first
transmission shall be sent no later than September 5, 2020 and
the second transmission no later than October 5, 2020. Upon
request, the lists shall also be made available by the State
Board of Elections to State and local political committees and
candidates upon request.
(e) Except as provided in this Article, the State Board of
Elections does not need to adopt rules to administer or enforce
the duties and requirements set forth in this amendatory Act of
the 101st General Assembly but may adopt such emergency rules
if deemed necessary by the State Board of Elections. The

absence of rules or emergency rules does not eliminate or
reduce the rights, duties, or responsibilities set forth in
this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-60 new)
Sec. 2B-60. Reimbursement for 2020 general election
expenses.
(a) Each election authority shall comply with the
requirements of this amendatory Act of the 101st General
Assembly. The State Board of Elections may withhold any
reimbursements for election related costs if an election
authority is found to have failed to comply with the provisions
of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.
(b) Subject to receipt and availability of federal funds,
the State Board of Elections may adopt emergency rules subject
to the provisions of Section 5-45 of the Illinois
Administrative Procedure Act to establish a program to provide
reimbursement to election authorities for expenses related to
the 2020 general election incurred as a result of COVID-19 and
the requirements of this amendatory Act of the 101st General
Assembly that are deemed necessary for the safety of the public
and in response to COVID-19.
(10 ILCS 5/2B-90 new)
Sec. 2B-90. Repeal. This Article shall repeal on January 1,
2021.

Section 15. The Illinois Procurement Code is amended by
changing Section 15-45 as follows:
(30 ILCS 500/15-45)
Sec. 15-45. Computation of days. The time within which any
act provided in this Code is to be done shall be computed by
excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last
day is Saturday or Sunday or is a holiday, and then it shall
also be excluded. If the day succeeding a Saturday, Sunday, or
holiday is also a holiday, a Saturday, or a Sunday, then that
succeeding day shall also be excluded. For the purposes of this
Code, "holiday" means: New Year's Day; Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s Birthday; Lincoln's Birthday; President's Day; Memorial
Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans' Day;
Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day; and any other day from time to
time declared by the President of the United States or the
Governor of Illinois to be a day during which the agencies of
the State of Illinois that are ordinarily open to do business
with the public shall be closed for business.
Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the
contrary, November 3, 2020 shall be a State holiday known as
2020 General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the
State pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 101st General
Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 98-1076, eff. 1-1-15.)

Section 20. The School Code is amended by changing Section
24-2 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/24-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 24-2)
Sec. 24-2. Holidays.
(a) Teachers shall not be required to teach on Saturdays,
nor, except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section,
shall teachers or other school employees, other than
noncertificated school employees whose presence is necessary
because of an emergency or for the continued operation and
maintenance of school facilities or property, be required to
work on legal school holidays, which are January 1, New Year's
Day; the third Monday in January, the Birthday of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.; February 12, the Birthday of President
Abraham Lincoln; the first Monday in March (to be known as
Casimir Pulaski's birthday); Good Friday; the day designated as
Memorial Day by federal law; July 4, Independence Day; the
first Monday in September, Labor Day; the second Monday in
October, Columbus Day; November 11, Veterans' Day; the Thursday
in November commonly called Thanksgiving Day; and December 25,
Christmas Day. School boards may grant special holidays
whenever in their judgment such action is advisable. No
deduction shall be made from the time or compensation of a
school employee on account of any legal or special holiday.
(b) A school board or other entity eligible to apply for

waivers and modifications under Section 2-3.25g of this Code is
authorized to hold school or schedule teachers' institutes,
parent-teacher conferences, or staff development on the third
Monday in January (the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.); February 12 (the Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln);
the first Monday in March (known as Casimir Pulaski's
birthday); the second Monday in October (Columbus Day); and
November 11 (Veterans' Day), provided that:
(1) the person or persons honored by the holiday are
recognized through instructional activities conducted on
that day or, if the day is not used for student attendance,
on the first school day preceding or following that day;
and
(2) the entity that chooses to exercise this authority
first holds a public hearing about the proposal. The entity
shall provide notice preceding the public hearing to both
educators and parents. The notice shall set forth the time,
date, and place of the hearing, describe the proposal, and
indicate that the entity will take testimony from educators
and parents about the proposal.
(c) Commemorative holidays, which recognize specified
patriotic, civic, cultural or historical persons, activities,
or events, are regular school days. Commemorative holidays are:
January 28 (to be known as Christa McAuliffe Day and observed
as a commemoration of space exploration), February 15 (the
birthday of Susan B. Anthony), March 29 (Viet Nam War Veterans'

Day), September 11 (September 11th Day of Remembrance), the
school day immediately preceding Veterans' Day (Korean War
Veterans' Day), October 1 (Recycling Day), October 7 (Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans Remembrance Day), December 7 (Pearl
Harbor Veterans' Day), and any day so appointed by the
President or Governor. School boards may establish
commemorative holidays whenever in their judgment such action
is advisable. School boards shall include instruction relative
to commemorated persons, activities, or events on the
commemorative holiday or at any other time during the school
year and at any point in the curriculum when such instruction
may be deemed appropriate. The State Board of Education shall
prepare and make available to school boards instructional
materials relative to commemorated persons, activities, or
events which may be used by school boards in conjunction with
any instruction provided pursuant to this paragraph.
(d) City of Chicago School District 299 shall observe March
4 of each year as a commemorative holiday. This holiday shall
be known as Mayors' Day which shall be a day to commemorate and
be reminded of the past Chief Executive Officers of the City of
Chicago, and in particular the late Mayor Richard J. Daley and
the late Mayor Harold Washington. If March 4 falls on a
Saturday or Sunday, Mayors' Day shall be observed on the
following Monday.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the
contrary, November 3, 2020 shall be a State holiday known as

2020 General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the
State pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 101st General
Assembly. All government offices, with the exception of
election authorities, shall be closed unless authorized to be
used as a location for election day services or as a polling
place.
(Source: P.A. 98-156, eff. 8-2-13.)
Section 25. The State Universities Civil Service Act is
amended by changing Section 45a as follows:
(110 ILCS 70/45a) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38l.1)
Sec. 45a. Except as provided in the second sentence of this
Section, all officers and employees subject to this Act, shall
have the following days as holidays, for which they shall
receive their usual compensation: New Year's Day, January 1,
Memorial Day, as determined by the law of the State of
Illinois, Independence Day, July 4, Labor Day, the first Monday
in September, Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday of
November, Christmas Day, December 25, and five holidays to be
designated by each college, university, agency and community
college subject to this Act. Craft and trade employees subject
to this Act shall be paid for all paid holidays included in
their area agreement, and will be paid for all five holidays
designated by their employer pursuant to this section.
Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the

contrary, November 3, 2020 shall be a State holiday known as
2020 General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the
State pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 101st General
Assembly. All government offices, with the exception of
election authorities, shall be closed unless authorized to be
used as a location for election day services or as a polling
place.
(Source: P.A. 79-1186.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.