Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB2803 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2803 Introduced , by Rep. Tony M. McCombie SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-310 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-810 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-210 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.110 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.210 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.310 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3 10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8 Amends the Election Code. Provides that ballots must be received by the election authority before the closing of the polls on election day (rather than returned to the election authority postmarked no later than election day). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2803 Introduced , by Rep. Tony M. McCombie SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-310 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-810 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-210 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.110 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.210 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.310 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3 10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8 10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3 10 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-8 10 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2 10 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.1 10 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.2 10 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.3 10 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3 10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8 Amends the Election Code. Provides that ballots must be received by the election authority before the closing of the polls on election day (rather than returned to the election authority postmarked no later than election day). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b A BILL FOR
2	2	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2803 Introduced , by Rep. Tony M. McCombie SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-310 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-810 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-210 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.110 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.210 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.310 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3 10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8 10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3 10 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-8 10 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2 10 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.1 10 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.2 10 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.3 10 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3 10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8
4	4	10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3
5	5	10 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-8
6	6	10 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2
7	7	10 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.1
8	8	10 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.2
9	9	10 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.3
10	10	10 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3
11	11	10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8
12	12	Amends the Election Code. Provides that ballots must be received by the election authority before the closing of the polls on election day (rather than returned to the election authority postmarked no later than election day). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
13	13	LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
14	14	LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
15	15	A BILL FOR
16	16	HB2803LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
17	17	HB2803 LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
18	18	1 AN ACT concerning elections.
19	19	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
20	20	3 represented in the General Assembly:
21	21	4 Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
22	22	5 Section 19-3, 19-8, 20-2, 20-2.1, 20-2.2, 20-2.3, 20-3, and
23	23	6 20-8 as follows:
24	24	7 (10 ILCS 5/19-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-3)
25	25	8 Sec. 19-3. Application for a vote by mail ballot.
26	26	9 (a) The application for a vote by mail ballot for a single
27	27	10 election shall be substantially in the following form:
28	28	11 APPLICATION FOR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT
29	29	12 To be voted at the .... election in the County of .... and
30	30	13 State of Illinois.
31	31	14 I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of
32	32	15 .... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address
33	33	16 for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to vote at
34	34	17 the .... election to be held on ....; and that I wish to vote
35	35	18 by mail.
36	36	19 I hereby make application for an official ballot or
37	37	20 ballots to be voted by me at such election, and I agree that I
38	38	21 shall return such ballot or ballots to the official issuing
39	39	22 the same prior to the closing of the polls on the date of the
40	40	23 election or, if returned by mail, received by the election
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44	44	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2803 Introduced , by Rep. Tony M. McCombie SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
45	45	10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-310 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-810 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-210 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.110 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.210 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.310 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3 10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8 10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3 10 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-8 10 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2 10 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.1 10 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.2 10 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.3 10 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3 10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8
46	46	10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3
47	47	10 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-8
48	48	10 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2
49	49	10 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.1
50	50	10 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.2
51	51	10 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.3
52	52	10 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3
53	53	10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8
54	54	Amends the Election Code. Provides that ballots must be received by the election authority before the closing of the polls on election day (rather than returned to the election authority postmarked no later than election day). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
55	55	LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
56	56	LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
57	57	A BILL FOR
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63	63	10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3
64	64	10 ILCS 5/19-8 from Ch. 46, par. 19-8
65	65	10 ILCS 5/20-2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2
66	66	10 ILCS 5/20-2.1 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.1
67	67	10 ILCS 5/20-2.2 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.2
68	68	10 ILCS 5/20-2.3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.3
69	69	10 ILCS 5/20-3 from Ch. 46, par. 20-3
70	70	10 ILCS 5/20-8 from Ch. 46, par. 20-8
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89	89	1 authority before the closing of the polls on postmarked no
90	90	2 later than election day, for counting no later than during the
91	91	3 period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which
92	92	4 is the 14th day following election day.
93	93	5 I understand that this application is made for an official
94	94	6 vote by mail ballot or ballots to be voted by me at the
95	95	7 election specified in this application and that I must submit
96	96	8 a separate application for an official vote by mail ballot or
97	97	9 ballots to be voted by me at any subsequent election.
98	98	10 Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Section
99	99	11 29-10 of the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
100	100	12 statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
101	101	13 ....
102	102	14 *fill in either (1), (2) or (3).
103	103	15 Post office address to which ballot is mailed:
104	104	16 ...............
105	105	17 (a-5) The application for a single vote by mail ballot
106	106	18 transmitted electronically pursuant to Section 19-2.6 shall be
107	107	19 substantively similar to the application for a vote by mail
108	108	20 ballot for a single election and shall include:
109	109	21 I swear or affirm that I am a voter with a print
110	110	22 disability, and, as a result of this disability, I am
111	111	23 making a request to receive a vote by mail ballot
112	112	24 electronically so that I may privately and independently
113	113	25 mark, verify, and print my vote by mail ballot.
114	114	26 (b) The application for permanent vote by mail status
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125	125	1 shall be substantially in the following form:
126	126	2 APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT VOTE BY MAIL STATUS
127	127	3 I am currently a registered voter and wish to apply for
128	128	4 permanent vote by mail status.
129	129	5 I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of
130	130	6 .... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address
131	131	7 for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to vote at
132	132	8 the .... election to be held on ....; and that I wish to vote
133	133	9 by mail in:
134	134	10 ..... all subsequent elections that do not require a party
135	135	11 designation.
136	136	12 ..... all subsequent elections, and I wish to receive a
137	137	13 ................... Party vote by mail ballot in
138	138	14 elections that require a party designation.
139	139	15 I hereby make application for an official ballot or
140	140	16 ballots to be voted by me at such election, and I agree that I
141	141	17 shall return such ballot or ballots to the official issuing
142	142	18 the same prior to the closing of the polls on the date of the
143	143	19 election or, if returned by mail, received by the election
144	144	20 authority before the closing of the polls on postmarked no
145	145	21 later than election day, for counting no later than during the
146	146	22 period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which
147	147	23 is the 14th day following election day.
148	148	24 Under penalties as provided by law under Section 29-10 of
149	149	25 the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
150	150	26 statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
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161	161	1 ....
162	162	2 Post office address to which ballot is mailed:
163	163	3 ...............
164	164	4 (b-5) The application for permanent vote by mail ballots
165	165	5 transmitted electronically pursuant to Section 19-2.6 shall be
166	166	6 substantively similar to the application for permanent vote by
167	167	7 mail status and shall include:
168	168	8 I swear or affirm that I am a voter with a
169	169	9 non-temporary print disability, and as a result of this
170	170	10 disability, I am making a request to receive vote by mail
171	171	11 ballots electronically so that I may privately and
172	172	12 independently mark, verify, and print my vote by mail
173	173	13 ballots.
174	174	14 (c) However, if application is made for a primary election
175	175	15 ballot, such application shall require the applicant to
176	176	16 designate the name of the political party with which the
177	177	17 applicant is affiliated. The election authority shall allow
178	178	18 any voter on permanent vote by mail status to change his or her
179	179	19 party affiliation for a primary election ballot by a method
180	180	20 and deadline published and selected by the election authority.
181	181	21 (d) If application is made electronically, the applicant
182	182	22 shall mark the box associated with the above described
183	183	23 statement included as part of the online application
184	184	24 certifying that the statements set forth in the application
185	185	25 under subsection (a) or (b) are true and correct, and a
186	186	26 signature is not required.
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192	192	HB2803 - 4 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
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197	197	1 (e) Any person may produce, reproduce, distribute, or
198	198	2 return to an election authority an application under this
199	199	3 Section. If applications are sent to a post office box
200	200	4 controlled by any individual or organization that is not an
201	201	5 election authority, those applications shall (i) include a
202	202	6 valid and current phone number for the individual or
203	203	7 organization controlling the post office box and (ii) be
204	204	8 turned over to the appropriate election authority within 7
205	205	9 days of receipt or, if received within 2 weeks of the election
206	206	10 in which an applicant intends to vote, within 2 days of
207	207	11 receipt. Failure to turn over the applications in compliance
208	208	12 with this paragraph shall constitute a violation of this Code
209	209	13 and shall be punishable as a petty offense with a fine of $100
210	210	14 per application. Removing, tampering with, or otherwise
211	211	15 knowingly making the postmark on the application unreadable by
212	212	16 the election authority shall establish a rebuttable
213	213	17 presumption of a violation of this paragraph. Upon receipt,
214	214	18 the appropriate election authority shall accept and promptly
215	215	19 process any application under this Section submitted in a form
216	216	20 substantially similar to that required by this Section,
217	217	21 including any substantially similar production or reproduction
218	218	22 generated by the applicant.
219	219	23 (f) An election authority may combine the applications in
220	220	24 subsections (a) and (b) onto one form, but the distinction
221	221	25 between the applications must be clear and the form must
222	222	26 provide check boxes for an applicant to indicate whether he or
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233	233	1 she is applying for a single election vote by mail ballot or
234	234	2 for permanent vote by mail status.
235	235	3 (Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-819, eff. 5-13-22;
236	236	4 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)
237	237	5 (10 ILCS 5/19-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-8)
238	238	6 Sec. 19-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
239	239	7 (a) (Blank.)
240	240	8 (b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an
241	241	9 election authority, by any means authorized by this Article,
242	242	10 and received by that election authority before the closing of
243	243	11 the polls on election day shall be endorsed by the receiving
244	244	12 election authority with the day and hour of receipt and may be
245	245	13 processed by the election authority beginning on the day it is
246	246	14 received by the election authority in the central ballot
247	247	15 counting location of the election authority, but the results
248	248	16 of the processing may not be counted until the day of the
249	249	17 election after 7:00 p.m., except as provided in subsections
250	250	18 (g) and (g-5).
251	251	19 (c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an
252	252	20 election authority and postmarked no later than election day,
253	253	21 but that is received by the election authority after the polls
254	254	22 close on election day shall not be counted and before the close
255	255	23 of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that
256	256	24 election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with
257	257	25 the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central
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268	268	1 ballot counting location of the election authority during the
269	269	2 period for counting provisional ballots.
270	270	3 Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an
271	271	4 election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with
272	272	5 an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is
273	273	6 received by the election authority after the polls close on
274	274	7 election day and before the close of the period for counting
275	275	8 provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed
276	276	9 by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt,
277	277	10 opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and,
278	278	11 if the certification date is election day or earlier and the
279	279	12 ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements
280	280	13 of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting
281	281	14 location of the election authority during the period for
282	282	15 counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the
283	283	16 certification, the ballot shall not be counted.
284	284	17 If an election authority is using an intelligent mail
285	285	18 barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an
286	286	19 election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the
287	287	20 intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope
288	288	21 was received by the election authority before the closing of
289	289	22 the polls on mailed no later than election day.
290	290	23 (d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots
291	291	24 returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by
292	292	25 this Article, and received by the election authority at any
293	293	26 time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be
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304	304	1 endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and
305	305	2 hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot
306	306	3 counting location of the election authority during the same
307	307	4 period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots
308	308	5 under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote
309	309	6 by mail voter's blank ballots that are mailed to an election
310	310	7 authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that
311	311	8 are received by the election authority after the polls close
312	312	9 on election day and before the closing of the period for
313	313	10 counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be
314	314	11 endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of
315	315	12 receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting
316	316	13 location of the election authority during the same periods
317	317	14 provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under
318	318	15 subsection (c).
319	319	16 (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by
320	320	17 mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's
321	321	18 blank ballots received by the election authority after the
322	322	19 closing of the polls on an election day shall be endorsed by
323	323	20 the election authority receiving them with the day and hour of
324	324	21 receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election
325	325	22 authority for the period of time required for the preservation
326	326	23 of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being
327	327	24 opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that
328	328	25 election.
329	329	26 (f) Counting required under this Section to begin on
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340	340	1 election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no
341	341	2 later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or
342	342	3 panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by
343	343	4 law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail
344	344	5 voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's
345	345	6 blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been
346	346	7 counted.
347	347	8 (g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this
348	348	9 Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In
349	349	10 addition, within 2 days after a vote by mail ballot is
350	350	11 received, but in all cases before the close of the period for
351	351	12 counting provisional ballots, the election judge or official
352	352	13 shall compare the voter's signature on the certification
353	353	14 envelope of that vote by mail ballot with the voter's
354	354	15 signature on the application verified in accordance with
355	355	16 Section 19-4 or the signature of the voter on file in the
356	356	17 office of the election authority. If the election judge or
357	357	18 official determines that the 2 signatures match, and that the
358	358	19 vote by mail voter is otherwise qualified to cast a vote by
359	359	20 mail ballot, the election authority shall cast and count the
360	360	21 ballot on election day or the day the ballot is determined to
361	361	22 be valid, whichever is later, adding the results to the
362	362	23 precinct in which the voter is registered. If the election
363	363	24 judge or official determines that the signatures do not match,
364	364	25 or that the vote by mail voter is not qualified to cast a vote
365	365	26 by mail ballot, then without opening the certification
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376	376	1 envelope, the judge or official shall mark across the face of
377	377	2 the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and shall not
378	378	3 cast or count the ballot.
379	379	4 In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a vote
380	380	5 by mail ballot may be rejected by the election judge or
381	381	6 official:
382	382	7 (1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
383	383	8 and resealed;
384	384	9 (2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace
385	385	10 period ballot;
386	386	11 (3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the
387	387	12 voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
388	388	13 (4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
389	389	14 If the election judge or official determines that any of
390	390	15 these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across
391	391	16 the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
392	392	17 shall not cast or count the ballot.
393	393	18 (g-5) If a vote by mail ballot is rejected by the election
394	394	19 judge or official for any reason, the election authority
395	395	20 shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases
396	396	21 before the close of the period for counting provisional
397	397	22 ballots, notify the vote by mail voter that his or her ballot
398	398	23 was rejected. The notice shall inform the voter of the reason
399	399	24 or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the
400	400	25 voter may appear before the election authority, on or before
401	401	26 the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the
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411	411	HB2803 - 11 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
412	412	1 ballot should not be rejected. The voter may present evidence
413	413	2 to the election authority supporting his or her contention
414	414	3 that the ballot should be counted. The election authority
415	415	4 shall appoint a panel of 3 election judges to review the
416	416	5 contested ballot, application, and certification envelope, as
417	417	6 well as any evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No
418	418	7 more than 2 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of
419	419	8 the same political party. The reviewing panel of election
420	420	9 judges shall make a final determination as to the validity of
421	421	10 the contested vote by mail ballot. The judges' determination
422	422	11 shall not be reviewable either administratively or judicially.
423	423	12 A vote by mail ballot subject to this subsection that is
424	424	13 determined to be valid shall be counted before the close of the
425	425	14 period for counting provisional ballots.
426	426	15 If a vote by mail ballot is rejected for any reason, the
427	427	16 election authority shall, within one day after the rejection,
428	428	17 transmit to the State Board of Elections by electronic means
429	429	18 the voter's name, street address, email address and precinct,
430	430	19 ward, township, and district numbers, as the case may be. If a
431	431	20 rejected vote by mail ballot is determined to be valid, the
432	432	21 election authority shall, within one day after the
433	433	22 determination, remove the name of the voter from the list
434	434	23 transmitted to the State Board of Elections. The State Board
435	435	24 of Elections shall maintain the names and information in an
436	436	25 electronic format on its website accessible to State and local
437	437	26 political committees.
438	438
439	439
440	440
441	441
442	442
443	443	HB2803 - 11 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
444	444
445	445
446	446	HB2803- 12 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 12 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
447	447	HB2803 - 12 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
448	448	1 Upon request by the State or local political committee,
449	449	2 each election authority shall, within one day after the
450	450	3 request, provide the following information about all rejected
451	451	4 vote by mail ballots: voter's name, street address, email
452	452	5 address and precinct, ward, township, and district numbers, as
453	453	6 the case may be.
454	454	7 (g-10) All vote by mail ballots determined to be valid
455	455	8 shall be added to the vote totals for the precincts for which
456	456	9 they were cast in the order in which the ballots were opened.
457	457	10 (h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic
458	458	11 organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher
459	459	12 for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
460	460	13 (Source: P.A. 102-1126, eff. 2-10-23; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)
461	461	14 (10 ILCS 5/20-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-2)
462	462	15 Sec. 20-2. Any member of the United States Service,
463	463	16 otherwise qualified to vote, who expects in the course of his
464	464	17 duties to be absent from the county in which he resides on the
465	465	18 day of holding any election may make application for a vote by
466	466	19 mail ballot to the election authority having jurisdiction over
467	467	20 his precinct of residence on the official postcard or on a form
468	468	21 furnished by the election authority as prescribed by Section
469	469	22 20-3 of this Article not less than 10 days before the election.
470	470	23 A request pursuant to this Section shall entitle the applicant
471	471	24 to a vote by mail ballot for every election in one calendar
472	472	25 year. The original application for ballot shall be kept in the
473	473
474	474
475	475
476	476
477	477
478	478	HB2803 - 12 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
479	479
480	480
481	481	HB2803- 13 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 13 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
482	482	HB2803 - 13 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
483	483	1 office of the election authority for one year as authorization
484	484	2 to send a ballot to the voter for each election to be held
485	485	3 within that calendar year. A certified copy of such
486	486	4 application for ballot shall be sent each election with the
487	487	5 vote by mail ballot to the election authority's central ballot
488	488	6 counting location to be used in lieu of the original
489	489	7 application for ballot. No registration shall be required in
490	490	8 order to vote pursuant to this Section.
491	491	9 Ballots under this Section shall be mailed by the election
492	492	10 authority in the manner prescribed by Section 20-5 of this
493	493	11 Article and not otherwise. Ballots voted under this Section
494	494	12 must be received by the election authority before the closing
495	495	13 of the polls on returned postmarked no later than election day
496	496	14 and received for counting at the central ballot counting
497	497	15 location of the election authority during the period for
498	498	16 counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the
499	499	17 14th day following election day.
500	500	18 (Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)
501	501	19 (10 ILCS 5/20-2.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.1)
502	502	20 Sec. 20-2.1. Citizens of the United States temporarily
503	503	21 residing outside the territorial limits of the United States
504	504	22 who are not registered but otherwise qualified to vote and who
505	505	23 expect to be absent from their county of residence during the
506	506	24 periods of voter registration provided for in Articles 4, 5 or
507	507	25 6 of this Code and on the day of holding any election, may make
508	508
509	509
510	510
511	511
512	512
513	513	HB2803 - 13 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
514	514
515	515
516	516	HB2803- 14 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 14 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
517	517	HB2803 - 14 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
518	518	1 simultaneous application to the election authority having
519	519	2 jurisdiction over their precinct of residence for registration
520	520	3 by mail and vote by mail ballot not less than 30 days before
521	521	4 the election. Such application may be made on the official
522	522	5 postcard or on a form furnished by the election authority as
523	523	6 prescribed by Section 20-3 of this Article or by facsimile or
524	524	7 electronic transmission. A request pursuant to this Section
525	525	8 shall entitle the applicant to a vote by mail ballot for every
526	526	9 election in one calendar year. The original application for
527	527	10 ballot shall be kept in the office of the election authority
528	528	11 for one year as authorization to send a ballot to the voter for
529	529	12 each election to be held within that calendar year. A
530	530	13 certified copy of such application for ballot shall be sent
531	531	14 each election with the vote by mail ballot to the election
532	532	15 authority's central ballot counting location to be used in
533	533	16 lieu of the original application for ballot.
534	534	17 Registration shall be required in order to vote pursuant
535	535	18 to this Section. However, if the election authority receives
536	536	19 one of such applications after 30 days but not less than 10
537	537	20 days before a Federal election, said applicant shall be sent a
538	538	21 ballot containing the Federal offices only and registration
539	539	22 for that election shall be waived.
540	540	23 Ballots under this Section shall be delivered by the
541	541	24 election authority in the manner prescribed by Section 20-5 of
542	542	25 this Article in person, by mail, or, if requested by the
543	543	26 applicant and the election authority has the capability, by
544	544
545	545
546	546
547	547
548	548
549	549	HB2803 - 14 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
550	550
551	551
552	552	HB2803- 15 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 15 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
553	553	HB2803 - 15 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
554	554	1 facsimile transmission or by electronic transmission.
555	555	2 Ballots voted under this Section must be received by the
556	556	3 election authority before the closing of the polls on returned
557	557	4 postmarked no later than election day and received for
558	558	5 counting at the central ballot counting location of the
559	559	6 election authority during the period for counting provisional
560	560	7 ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following
561	561	8 election day.
562	562	9 (Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)
563	563	10 (10 ILCS 5/20-2.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.2)
564	564	11 Sec. 20-2.2. Any non-resident civilian citizen, otherwise
565	565	12 qualified to vote, may make application to the election
566	566	13 authority having jurisdiction over his precinct of former
567	567	14 residence for a vote by mail ballot containing the Federal
568	568	15 offices only not less than 10 days before a Federal election.
569	569	16 Such application may be made on the official postcard or by
570	570	17 facsimile or electronic transmission. A request pursuant to
571	571	18 this Section shall entitle the applicant to a vote by mail
572	572	19 ballot for every election in one calendar year at which
573	573	20 Federal offices are filled. The original application for
574	574	21 ballot shall be kept in the office of the election authority
575	575	22 for one year as authorization to send a ballot to the voter for
576	576	23 each election to be held within that calendar year at which
577	577	24 Federal offices are filled. A certified copy of such
578	578	25 application for ballot shall be sent each election with the
579	579
580	580
581	581
582	582
583	583
584	584	HB2803 - 15 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
585	585
586	586
587	587	HB2803- 16 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 16 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
588	588	HB2803 - 16 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
589	589	1 vote by mail ballot to the election authority's central ballot
590	590	2 counting location to be used in lieu of the original
591	591	3 application for ballot. No registration shall be required in
592	592	4 order to vote pursuant to this Section. Ballots under this
593	593	5 Section shall be delivered by the election authority in the
594	594	6 manner prescribed by Section 20-5 of this Article in person,
595	595	7 by mail, or, if requested by the applicant and the election
596	596	8 authority has the capability, by facsimile transmission or by
597	597	9 electronic transmission. Ballots voted under this Section must
598	598	10 be received by the election authority before the closing of
599	599	11 the polls on returned postmarked no later than election day
600	600	12 and received for counting at the central ballot counting
601	601	13 location of the election authority during the period for
602	602	14 counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the
603	603	15 14th day following election day.
604	604	16 (Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)
605	605	17 (10 ILCS 5/20-2.3) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-2.3)
606	606	18 Sec. 20-2.3. Members of the Armed Forces and their spouses
607	607	19 and dependents. Any member of the United States Armed Forces
608	608	20 while on active duty, and his or her spouse and dependents,
609	609	21 otherwise qualified to vote, who expects in the course of his
610	610	22 or her duties to be absent from the county in which he or she
611	611	23 resides on the day of holding any election, in addition to any
612	612	24 other method of making application for vote by mail ballot
613	613	25 under this Article, may make application for a vote by mail
614	614
615	615
616	616
617	617
618	618
619	619	HB2803 - 16 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
620	620
621	621
622	622	HB2803- 17 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 17 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
623	623	HB2803 - 17 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
624	624	1 ballot to the election authority having jurisdiction over his
625	625	2 or her precinct of residence by a facsimile machine or
626	626	3 electronic transmission not less than 10 days before the
627	627	4 election.
628	628	5 Ballots under this Section shall be delivered by the
629	629	6 election authority in the manner prescribed by Section 20-5 of
630	630	7 this Article in person, by mail, or, if requested by the
631	631	8 applicant and the election authority has the capability, by
632	632	9 facsimile transmission or by electronic transmission. Ballots
633	633	10 voted under this Section must be returned postmarked no later
634	634	11 than election day and received for counting at the central
635	635	12 ballot counting location of the election authority no later
636	636	13 than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the
637	637	14 last day of which is the 7th 14th day following election day.
638	638	15 (Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)
639	639	16 (10 ILCS 5/20-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-3)
640	640	17 Sec. 20-3. The election authority shall furnish the
641	641	18 following applications for registration by mail or vote by
642	642	19 mail ballot which shall be considered a method of application
643	643	20 in lieu of the official postcard.
644	644	21 1. Members of the United States Service and citizens of
645	645	22 the United States temporarily residing outside the territorial
646	646	23 limits of the United States may make application within the
647	647	24 periods prescribed in Sections 20-2 or 20-2.1, as the case may
648	648	25 be. Such application shall be substantially in the following
649	649
650	650
651	651
652	652
653	653
654	654	HB2803 - 17 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
655	655
656	656
657	657	HB2803- 18 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 18 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
658	658	HB2803 - 18 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
659	659	1 form:
660	660	2 "APPLICATION FOR BALLOT
661	661	3 To be voted at the ............ election in the precinct
662	662	4 in which is located my residence at ..............., in the
663	663	5 city/village/township of ............(insert home address)
664	664	6 County of ........... and State of Illinois.
665	665	7 I state that I am a citizen of the United States; that on
666	666	8 (insert date of election) I shall have resided in the State of
667	667	9 Illinois and in the election precinct for 30 days; that on the
668	668	10 above date I shall be the age of 18 years or above; that I am
669	669	11 lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at that election;
670	670	12 that I am (check category 1, 2, or 3 below):
671	671	13 1. ( ) a member of the United States Service,
672	672	14 2. ( ) a citizen of the United States temporarily
673	673	15 residing outside the territorial limits of the United States
674	674	16 and that I expect to be absent from the said county of my
675	675	17 residence on the date of holding such election, and that I will
676	676	18 have no opportunity to vote in person on that day.
677	677	19 I hereby make application for an official ballot or
678	678	20 ballots to be voted by me at such election if I am absent from
679	679	21 the said county of my residence, and I agree that I shall
680	680	22 return said ballot or ballots to the election authority
681	681	23 postmarked no later than the closing of the polls on election
682	682	24 day, for counting no later than during the period for counting
683	683	25 provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day
684	684	26 following election day or shall destroy said ballot or
685	685
686	686
687	687
688	688
689	689
690	690	HB2803 - 18 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
691	691
692	692
693	693	HB2803- 19 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 19 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
694	694	HB2803 - 19 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
695	695	1 ballots.
696	696	2 (Check below only if category 2 and not previously
697	697	3 registered)
698	698	4 ( ) I hereby make application to become registered as a
699	699	5 voter and agree to return the forms and affidavits for
700	700	6 registration to the election authority not later than 30 days
701	701	7 before the election.
702	702	8 Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29
703	703	9 of the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
704	704	10 statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
705	705	11 .........................
706	706	12 Post office address or service address to which
707	707	13 registration materials or ballot should be mailed
708	708	14 .........................
709	709	15 .........................
710	710	16 .........................
711	711	17 ........................"
712	712	18 If application is made for a primary election ballot, such
713	713	19 application shall designate the name of the political party
714	714	20 with which the applicant is affiliated.
715	715	21 Such applications may be obtained from the election
716	716	22 authority having jurisdiction over the person's precinct of
717	717	23 residence.
718	718	24 2. A spouse or dependent of a member of the United States
719	719	25 Service, said spouse or dependent being a registered voter in
720	720	26 the county, may make application on behalf of said person in
721	721
722	722
723	723
724	724
725	725
726	726	HB2803 - 19 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
727	727
728	728	.........................
729	729
730	730	.........................
731	731
732	732	.........................
733	733
734	734	.........................
735	735
736	736	........................"
737	737
738	738
739	739	HB2803- 20 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 20 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
740	740	HB2803 - 20 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
741	741	1 the office of the election authority within the periods
742	742	2 prescribed in Section 20-2 which shall be substantially in the
743	743	3 following form:
744	744	4 "APPLICATION FOR BALLOT to be voted at the........... election
745	745	5 in the precinct in which is located the residence of the person
746	746	6 for whom this application is made at.............(insert
747	747	7 residence address) in the city/village/township of.........
748	748	8 County of.......... and State of Illinois.
749	749	9 I certify that the following named person................
750	750	10 (insert name of person) is a member of the United States
751	751	11 Service.
752	752	12 I state that said person is a citizen of the United States;
753	753	13 that on (insert date of election) said person shall have
754	754	14 resided in the State of Illinois and in the election precinct
755	755	15 for which this application is made for 30 days; that on the
756	756	16 above date said person shall be the age of 18 years or above;
757	757	17 that said person is lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct
758	758	18 at that election; that said person is a member of the United
759	759	19 States Service, and that in the course of his duties said
760	760	20 person expects to be absent from his county of residence on the
761	761	21 date of holding such election, and that said person will have
762	762	22 no opportunity to vote in person on that day.
763	763	23 I hereby make application for an official ballot or
764	764	24 ballots to be voted by said person at such election and said
765	765	25 person agrees that he shall return said ballot or ballots to
766	766	26 the election authority postmarked no later than the closing of
767	767
768	768
769	769
770	770
771	771
772	772	HB2803 - 20 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
773	773
774	774
775	775	HB2803- 21 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 21 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
776	776	HB2803 - 21 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
777	777	1 the polls on election day, for counting no later than during
778	778	2 the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of
779	779	3 which is the 14th day following election day, or shall destroy
780	780	4 said ballot or ballots.
781	781	5 I hereby certify that I am the (mother, father, sister,
782	782	6 brother, husband or wife) of the said elector, and that I am a
783	783	7 registered voter in the election precinct for which this
784	784	8 application is made. (Strike all but one that is applicable.)
785	785	9 Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Article 29
786	786	10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
787	787	11 statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
788	788	12 Name of applicant ......................
789	789	13 Residence address ........................
790	790	14 City/village/township........................
791	791	15 Service address to which ballot should be mailed:
792	792	16 .........................
793	793	17 .........................
794	794	18 .........................
795	795	19 ........................"
796	796	20 If application is made for a primary election ballot, such
797	797	21 application shall designate the name of the political party
798	798	22 with which the person for whom application is made is
799	799	23 affiliated.
800	800	24 Such applications may be obtained from the election
801	801	25 authority having jurisdiction over the voting precinct in
802	802	26 which the person for whom application is made is entitled to
803	803
804	804
805	805
806	806
807	807
808	808	HB2803 - 21 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
809	809
810	810	Name of applicant ......................
811	811
812	812	Residence address ........................
813	813
814	814	City/village/township........................
815	815
816	816	.........................
817	817
818	818	.........................
819	819
820	820	.........................
821	821
822	822	........................"
823	823
824	824
825	825	HB2803- 22 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 22 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
826	826	HB2803 - 22 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
827	827	1 vote.
828	828	2 (Source: P.A. 101-270, eff. 1-1-21; 102-292, eff. 1-1-22.)
829	829	3 (10 ILCS 5/20-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 20-8)
830	830	4 Sec. 20-8. Time and place of counting ballots.
831	831	5 (a) (Blank.)
832	832	6 (b) Each vote by mail voter's ballot returned to an
833	833	7 election authority, by any means authorized by this Article,
834	834	8 and received by that election authority may be processed by
835	835	9 the election authority beginning on the day it is received by
836	836	10 the election authority in the central ballot counting location
837	837	11 of the election authority, but the results of the processing
838	838	12 may not be counted until the day of the election after 7:00
839	839	13 p.m., except as provided in subsections (g) and (g-5).
840	840	14 (c) Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an
841	841	15 election authority and postmarked no later than election day,
842	842	16 but that is received by the election authority after the polls
843	843	17 close on election day shall not be counted and before the close
844	844	18 of the period for counting provisional ballots cast at that
845	845	19 election, shall be endorsed by the receiving authority with
846	846	20 the day and hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central
847	847	21 ballot counting location of the election authority during the
848	848	22 period for counting provisional ballots.
849	849	23 Each vote by mail voter's ballot that is mailed to an
850	850	24 election authority absent a postmark or a barcode usable with
851	851	25 an intelligent mail barcode tracking system, but that is
852	852
853	853
854	854
855	855
856	856
857	857	HB2803 - 22 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
858	858
859	859
860	860	HB2803- 23 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 23 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
861	861	HB2803 - 23 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
862	862	1 received by the election authority after the polls close on
863	863	2 election day and before the close of the period for counting
864	864	3 provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be endorsed
865	865	4 by the receiving authority with the day and hour of receipt,
866	866	5 opened to inspect the date inserted on the certification, and,
867	867	6 if the certification date is election day or earlier and the
868	868	7 ballot is otherwise found to be valid under the requirements
869	869	8 of this Section, counted at the central ballot counting
870	870	9 location of the election authority during the period for
871	871	10 counting provisional ballots. Absent a date on the
872	872	11 certification, the ballot shall not be counted.
873	873	12 If an election authority is using an intelligent mail
874	874	13 barcode tracking system, a ballot that is mailed to an
875	875	14 election authority absent a postmark may be counted if the
876	876	15 intelligent mail barcode tracking system verifies the envelope
877	877	16 was received by the election authority before the closing of
878	878	17 the polls on mailed no later than election day.
879	879	18 (d) Special write-in vote by mail voter's blank ballots
880	880	19 returned to an election authority, by any means authorized by
881	881	20 this Article, and received by the election authority at any
882	882	21 time before the closing of the polls on election day shall be
883	883	22 endorsed by the receiving election authority with the day and
884	884	23 hour of receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot
885	885	24 counting location of the election authority during the same
886	886	25 period provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots
887	887	26 under subsections (b), (g), and (g-5). Special write-in vote
888	888
889	889
890	890
891	891
892	892
893	893	HB2803 - 23 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
894	894
895	895
896	896	HB2803- 24 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 24 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
897	897	HB2803 - 24 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
898	898	1 by mail voter's blank ballot that are mailed to an election
899	899	2 authority and postmarked no later than election day, but that
900	900	3 are received by the election authority after the polls close
901	901	4 on election day and before the closing of the period for
902	902	5 counting provisional ballots cast at that election, shall be
903	903	6 endorsed by the receiving authority with the day and hour of
904	904	7 receipt and shall be counted at the central ballot counting
905	905	8 location of the election authority during the same periods
906	906	9 provided for counting vote by mail voters' ballots under
907	907	10 subsection (c).
908	908	11 (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, vote by
909	909	12 mail voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's
910	910	13 blank ballots received by the election authority after the
911	911	14 closing of the polls on the day of election shall be endorsed
912	912	15 by the person receiving the ballots with the day and hour of
913	913	16 receipt and shall be safely kept unopened by the election
914	914	17 authority for the period of time required for the preservation
915	915	18 of ballots used at the election, and shall then, without being
916	916	19 opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of that
917	917	20 election.
918	918	21 (f) Counting required under this Section to begin on
919	919	22 election day after the closing of the polls shall commence no
920	920	23 later than 8:00 p.m. and shall be conducted by a panel or
921	921	24 panels of election judges appointed in the manner provided by
922	922	25 law. The counting shall continue until all vote by mail
923	923	26 voters' ballots and special write-in vote by mail voter's
924	924
925	925
926	926
927	927
928	928
929	929	HB2803 - 24 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
930	930
931	931
932	932	HB2803- 25 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 25 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
933	933	HB2803 - 25 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
934	934	1 blank ballots required to be counted on election day have been
935	935	2 counted.
936	936	3 (g) The procedures set forth in Articles 17 and 18 of this
937	937	4 Code shall apply to all ballots counted under this Section. In
938	938	5 addition, within 2 days after a ballot subject to this Article
939	939	6 is received, but in all cases before the close of the period
940	940	7 for counting provisional ballots, the election judge or
941	941	8 official shall compare the voter's signature on the
942	942	9 certification envelope of that ballot with the signature of
943	943	10 the voter on file in the office of the election authority. If
944	944	11 the election judge or official determines that the 2
945	945	12 signatures match, and that the voter is otherwise qualified to
946	946	13 cast a ballot under this Article, the election authority shall
947	947	14 cast and count the ballot on election day or the day the ballot
948	948	15 is determined to be valid, whichever is later, adding the
949	949	16 results to the precinct in which the voter is registered. If
950	950	17 the election judge or official determines that the signatures
951	951	18 do not match, or that the voter is not qualified to cast a
952	952	19 ballot under this Article, then without opening the
953	953	20 certification envelope, the judge or official shall mark
954	954	21 across the face of the certification envelope the word
955	955	22 "Rejected" and shall not cast or count the ballot.
956	956	23 In addition to the voter's signatures not matching, a
957	957	24 ballot subject to this Article may be rejected by the election
958	958	25 judge or official:
959	959	26 (1) if the ballot envelope is open or has been opened
960	960
961	961
962	962
963	963
964	964
965	965	HB2803 - 25 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
966	966
967	967
968	968	HB2803- 26 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 26 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
969	969	HB2803 - 26 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
970	970	1 and resealed;
971	971	2 (2) if the voter has already cast an early or grace
972	972	3 period ballot;
973	973	4 (3) if the voter voted in person on election day or the
974	974	5 voter is not a duly registered voter in the precinct; or
975	975	6 (4) on any other basis set forth in this Code.
976	976	7 If the election judge or official determines that any of
977	977	8 these reasons apply, the judge or official shall mark across
978	978	9 the face of the certification envelope the word "Rejected" and
979	979	10 shall not cast or count the ballot.
980	980	11 (g-5) If a ballot subject to this Article is rejected by
981	981	12 the election judge or official for any reason, the election
982	982	13 authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all
983	983	14 cases before the close of the period for counting provisional
984	984	15 ballots, notify the voter that his or her ballot was rejected.
985	985	16 The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the
986	986	17 ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear
987	987	18 before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after
988	988	19 the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be
989	989	20 rejected. The voter may present evidence to the election
990	990	21 authority supporting his or her contention that the ballot
991	991	22 should be counted. The election authority shall appoint a
992	992	23 panel of 3 election judges to review the contested ballot,
993	993	24 application, and certification envelope, as well as any
994	994	25 evidence submitted by the vote by mail voter. No more than 2
995	995	26 election judges on the reviewing panel shall be of the same
996	996
997	997
998	998
999	999
1000	1000
1001	1001	HB2803 - 26 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
1002	1002
1003	1003
1004	1004	HB2803- 27 -LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b HB2803 - 27 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
1005	1005	HB2803 - 27 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b
1006	1006	1 political party. The reviewing panel of election judges shall
1007	1007	2 make a final determination as to the validity of the contested
1008	1008	3 ballot. The judges' determination shall not be reviewable
1009	1009	4 either administratively or judicially.
1010	1010	5 A ballot subject to this subsection that is determined to
1011	1011	6 be valid shall be counted before the close of the period for
1012	1012	7 counting provisional ballots.
1013	1013	8 (g-10) All ballots determined to be valid shall be added
1014	1014	9 to the vote totals for the precincts for which they were cast
1015	1015	10 in the order in which the ballots were opened.
1016	1016	11 (h) Each political party, candidate, and qualified civic
1017	1017	12 organization shall be entitled to have present one pollwatcher
1018	1018	13 for each panel of election judges therein assigned.
1019	1019	14 (Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)
1020	1020
1021	1021
1022	1022
1023	1023
1024	1024
1025	1025	HB2803 - 27 - LRB104 11877 SPS 21968 b