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Illinois House Bill HB3047

Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB3047 Compare Versions

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11 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3047 Introduced , by Rep. Kam Buckner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new Amends the Election Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Voting Rights Act of 2025. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 Article. Provides that a political subdivision, State agency, or any other government official or entity responsible for election administration shall not implement or enforce any election policy or practice, or take any other action or fail to take any action that results in, is likely to result in, or is intended to result in disparate outcomes. Creates the Language Access in Elections Article. Provides that a local election authority shall provide language assistance for elections conducted in a political subdivision if that political subdivision meets specified conditions. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 and the Language Access in Elections Articles in the Code. Effective July 1, 2025. LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3047 Introduced , by Rep. Kam Buckner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new 10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new 10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new 30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new Amends the Election Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Voting Rights Act of 2025. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 Article. Provides that a political subdivision, State agency, or any other government official or entity responsible for election administration shall not implement or enforce any election policy or practice, or take any other action or fail to take any action that results in, is likely to result in, or is intended to result in disparate outcomes. Creates the Language Access in Elections Article. Provides that a local election authority shall provide language assistance for elections conducted in a political subdivision if that political subdivision meets specified conditions. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 and the Language Access in Elections Articles in the Code. Effective July 1, 2025. LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b A BILL FOR
22 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3047 Introduced , by Rep. Kam Buckner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
33 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new 10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new 10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new 30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new
44 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new
55 10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new
66 10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new
77 10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new
88 10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new
99 10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new
1010 10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new
1111 10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new
1212 10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new
1313 10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new
1414 10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new
1515 10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new
1616 10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new
1717 10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new
1818 10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new
1919 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new
2020 10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new
2121 10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new
2222 10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new
2323 10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new
2424 10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new
2525 10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new
2626 30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new
2727 Amends the Election Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Voting Rights Act of 2025. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 Article. Provides that a political subdivision, State agency, or any other government official or entity responsible for election administration shall not implement or enforce any election policy or practice, or take any other action or fail to take any action that results in, is likely to result in, or is intended to result in disparate outcomes. Creates the Language Access in Elections Article. Provides that a local election authority shall provide language assistance for elections conducted in a political subdivision if that political subdivision meets specified conditions. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 and the Language Access in Elections Articles in the Code. Effective July 1, 2025.
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3333 1 AN ACT concerning elections.
3434 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3535 3 represented in the General Assembly:
3636 4 Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Illinois
3737 5 Voting Rights Act of 2025.
3838 6 Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Article
3939 7 3A and Article 3B as follows:
4040 8 (10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new)
4141 9 ARTICLE 3A. VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 2025
4242 10 (10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new)
4343 11 Sec. 3A-1. Purpose. In order to advance the protections
4444 12 for the right to vote under Section 1 of Article III of the
4545 13 Illinois Constitution; the right to free and equal elections
4646 14 under Section 3 of Article III of the Illinois Constitution;
4747 15 the protections against voter suppression and discrimination
4848 16 provided under Section 8 of Article III of the Illinois
4949 17 Constitution; the guarantees of equal protection, freedom of
5050 18 expression, and freedom of association under the Illinois
5151 19 Constitution and United States Constitution; and to protect
5252 20 against the suppression, dilution, and abridgment of voting
5353 21 rights on account of race, color, or membership in a language
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5757 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3047 Introduced , by Rep. Kam Buckner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
5858 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new 10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new 10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new 10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new 10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new 30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new
5959 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new
6060 10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new
6161 10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new
6262 10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new
6363 10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new
6464 10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new
6565 10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new
6666 10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new
6767 10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new
6868 10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new
6969 10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new
7070 10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new
7171 10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new
7272 10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new
7373 10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new
7474 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new
7575 10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new
7676 10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new
7777 10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new
7878 10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new
7979 10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new
8080 10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new
8181 30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new
8282 Amends the Election Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Voting Rights Act of 2025. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 Article. Provides that a political subdivision, State agency, or any other government official or entity responsible for election administration shall not implement or enforce any election policy or practice, or take any other action or fail to take any action that results in, is likely to result in, or is intended to result in disparate outcomes. Creates the Language Access in Elections Article. Provides that a local election authority shall provide language assistance for elections conducted in a political subdivision if that political subdivision meets specified conditions. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 and the Language Access in Elections Articles in the Code. Effective July 1, 2025.
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9191 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading new
9292 10 ILCS 5/3A-1 new
9393 10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new
9494 10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new
9595 10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new
9696 10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new
9797 10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new
9898 10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new
9999 10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new
100100 10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new
101101 10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new
102102 10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new
103103 10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new
104104 10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new
105105 10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new
106106 10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new
107107 10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new
108108 10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new
109109 10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new
110110 10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new
111111 10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new
112112 10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new
113113 30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new
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132132 1 minority group, it is the public policy of this State to:
133133 2 (1) encourage participation in the elective franchise
134134 3 by all eligible voters to the maximum extent; and
135135 4 (2) ensure that eligible voters have an equal
136136 5 opportunity to participate in the political processes of
137137 6 this State and to exercise the elective franchise without
138138 7 denying or abridging that opportunity on account of race,
139139 8 color, or membership in a language minority group.
140140 9 (10 ILCS 5/3A-5 new)
141141 10 Sec. 3A-5. Definitions. As used in this Article:
142142 11 "At-large method of election" means a method of election
143143 12 in which candidates are voted on by all voters in the political
144144 13 subdivision, voters are allowed or required to cast as many
145145 14 votes as there are seats to fill, and voters cannot cast more
146146 15 than one vote for a given candidate.
147147 16 "District-based method of election" means a method of
148148 17 election in which the political subdivision is divided into
149149 18 districts, each district is represented by a single
150150 19 representative, and candidates are voted on by only voters
151151 20 residing in the district.
152152 21 "Election policy or practice" includes any qualification
153153 22 to be a voter, prerequisite to voting, or method of election,
154154 23 as well as any law, statute, ordinance, resolution, charter or
155155 24 code provision, regulation, rule, policy, practice, procedure,
156156 25 standard, or action with respect to voting or the
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167167 1 administration or schedule of elections.
168168 2 "Method of election" means the method by which candidates
169169 3 are elected to a governmental body of a political subdivision,
170170 4 and includes any at-large, district-based, share-based, or
171171 5 other method of election, as well as any districting or
172172 6 redistricting plan used to elect candidates to the
173173 7 governmental body.
174174 8 "Other method of election" means a method of election
175175 9 other than an at-large, district-based, or share-based method
176176 10 of election, or any combination of methods of election.
177177 11 "Political subdivision" means a geographic area, which is
178178 12 organized under State or local law for the provision of
179179 13 government or other services, and which conducts elections
180180 14 administered by a local election authority, including, but not
181181 15 limited to, a county, city, town, village, school district,
182182 16 any other district organized under State or local law, a
183183 17 county clerk, or board of election commissioners.
184184 18 "Protected class" means a class of eligible voters who are
185185 19 members of a racial, color, or language minority group and
186186 20 includes members of a reporting category that has ever been
187187 21 established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
188188 22 Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for
189189 23 Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race
190190 24 and Ethnicity, and may include a class of two or more such
191191 25 groups.
192192 26 "Share-based method of election" means a method of
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203203 1 election in which more than one candidate is to be elected and
204204 2 different groups of voters may each elect their preferred
205205 3 candidates to the seats to fill based on their relative share
206206 4 of the votes cast. "Share-based method of election" includes,
207207 5 but is not limited to, the single transferable vote,
208208 6 cumulative voting, limited voting, and party-list or
209209 7 slate-list systems.
210210 8 "Voting eligible population" and "eligible voters" means
211211 9 individuals who are eligible to register and vote, regardless
212212 10 of whether the individuals are registered to vote.
213213 11 (10 ILCS 5/3A-10 new)
214214 12 Sec. 3A-10. Construction in favor of the right to vote.
215215 13 Any provision of this Article, any regulation, charter, home
216216 14 rule ordinance, or other enactment of the State or any local
217217 15 government relating to the right to vote shall be liberally
218218 16 construed or applied in favor of the rights enumerated in
219219 17 paragraphs (1) through (5). To the extent a court is afforded
220220 18 discretion on an issue, including, but not limited to,
221221 19 discovery, procedure, admissibility of evidence, or remedies,
222222 20 the court shall exercise that discretion and weigh other
223223 21 equitable discretion in favor of the rights enumerated in
224224 22 paragraphs (1) through (5) as follows:
225225 23 (1) protecting the right to cast a ballot and make the
226226 24 ballot valid;
227227 25 (2) ensuring eligible individuals seeking voter
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238238 1 registration are not impaired in being registered;
239239 2 (3) ensuring eligible voters are not impaired in
240240 3 voting, including, but not limited to, having their votes
241241 4 counted;
242242 5 (4) making the fundamental right to vote more
243243 6 accessible to eligible voters; and
244244 7 (5) ensuring equitable access for protected class
245245 8 members to opportunities to be registered to vote and to
246246 9 vote.
247247 10 (10 ILCS 5/3A-15 new)
248248 11 Sec. 3A-15. Prohibiting voter suppression.
249249 12 (a) A political subdivision, State agency, or any other
250250 13 government official or entity responsible for election
251251 14 administration shall not implement or enforce any election
252252 15 policy or practice, or take any other action or fail to take
253253 16 any action that results in, is likely to result in, or is
254254 17 intended to result in, either of the following:
255255 18 (1) a material disparity in voter participation,
256256 19 access to voting opportunities, or the opportunity or
257257 20 ability to participate in any stage of the political
258258 21 process between members of a protected class and other
259259 22 members of the electorate; or
260260 23 (2) based on the totality of the circumstances, the
261261 24 opportunity or ability of members of a protected class to
262262 25 participate in any stage of the political process is
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273273 1 impaired.
274274 2 (b) There shall be no violation under paragraph (1) of
275275 3 subsection (a) if the political subdivision, State agency, or
276276 4 any other government official or entity demonstrates by clear
277277 5 and convincing evidence that (i) the election policy or
278278 6 practice is necessary to significantly further an important
279279 7 and particularized governmental interest and (ii) there is no
280280 8 alternative election policy or practice that results in a
281281 9 smaller disparity between protected class members and other
282282 10 members of the electorate.
283283 11 (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a violation exists
284284 12 under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) in circumstances that
285285 13 include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
286286 14 (1) a political subdivision closes, moves, or
287287 15 consolidates one or more precincts, polling places, early
288288 16 voting sites, or ballot drop boxes or reassigns precincts
289289 17 to polling places in a manner that makes it more difficult
290290 18 for members of a protected class to cast their ballot or
291291 19 results in a disparity in geographic access between
292292 20 members of a protected class and other members of the
293293 21 electorate;
294294 22 (2) a political subdivision provides or changes the
295295 23 hours or date of an election or for early voting in a
296296 24 manner that impairs the right to vote of members of a
297297 25 protected class, including, but not limited to, making the
298298 26 change without proper notice as required by law; and
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309309 1 (3) a political subdivision or State agency fails to
310310 2 provide voting or election materials in languages other
311311 3 than English as required by federal, State, county, or
312312 4 other local law.
313313 5 (d) Implementing a reorganization of a political
314314 6 subdivision, including, but not limited to, an annexation,
315315 7 incorporation, dissolution, consolidation, or division of a
316316 8 political subdivision, violates subsection (a) if, based on
317317 9 the totality of the circumstances, the reorganization impairs
318318 10 the opportunity of protected class members to nominate or
319319 11 elect candidates of the protected class member's choice, or
320320 12 otherwise influence the outcome of elections.
321321 13 (10 ILCS 5/3A-20 new)
322322 14 Sec. 3A-20. Prohibiting vote dilution in political
323323 15 subdivisions.
324324 16 (a) No political subdivision shall employ (i) an at-large
325325 17 method of election, (ii) a district-based method of election,
326326 18 (iii) a share-based method of election, or (iv) any other
327327 19 method of election for any office that has the effect, will
328328 20 likely have the effect, or is motivated in part by the intent,
329329 21 of diluting the vote of protected class members.
330330 22 (b) A political subdivision violates subsection (a) if:
331331 23 (1) either: (A) elections in the political subdivision
332332 24 exhibit racially polarized voting resulting in an
333333 25 impairment of the equal opportunity or ability of
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344344 1 protected class members to nominate or elect candidates of
345345 2 their choice; or (B) based on the totality of the
346346 3 circumstances, the equal opportunity or ability of members
347347 4 of a protected class to nominate or elect candidates of
348348 5 their choice or influence the outcome of elections is
349349 6 impaired; and
350350 7 (2) one or more modifications to the existing method
351351 8 of election or one or more new methods of election exist
352352 9 which would cure or mitigate the impairment described in
353353 10 subparagraph (1). For the purpose of satisfying this
354354 11 requirement, it is not necessary for the total number or
355355 12 share of protected class members to exceed any numerical
356356 13 threshold in any district or in the political subdivision
357357 14 as a whole.
358358 15 (c) Members of different protected classes may jointly
359359 16 file an action under this Section if that they demonstrate
360360 17 that the combined voting preferences of the multiple protected
361361 18 classes are polarized against the rest of the electorate.
362362 19 (10 ILCS 5/3A-25 new)
363363 20 Sec. 3A-25. Prohibiting vote dilution in Legislative and
364364 21 Representative Districts.
365365 22 (a) As required by Section 3 of Article III of the Illinois
366366 23 Constitution which declares that "All elections shall be free
367367 24 and equal," in any redistricting plan under Section 3 of
368368 25 Article IV of the Illinois Constitution, the districts shall
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379379 1 be configured in such a way as to provide adequate
380380 2 representation to protected classes protected by federal and
381381 3 State law. Therefore, as explained in subsection (b), no
382382 4 Legislative Districts and Representative Districts shall be
383383 5 drawn such that the redistricting plan has the effect, or is
384384 6 motived in part by the intent, of impairing the opportunity or
385385 7 ability of members of a protected class to participate in the
386386 8 political process and elect or nominate candidates of their
387387 9 choice or otherwise influence the outcome of elections as a
388388 10 result of diluting the vote of such protected class members.
389389 11 The requirements imposed by this subsection (a) are in
390390 12 addition and subordinate to any requirements or obligations
391391 13 imposed by the United States Constitution, any federal law
392392 14 regarding redistricting Legislative Districts or
393393 15 Representative Districts, including, but not limited to, the
394394 16 federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Illinois
395395 17 Constitution.
396396 18 (b) A redistricting plan under Section 3 of Article IV of
397397 19 the Illinois Constitution for Legislative Districts and
398398 20 Representative Districts violates this subsection if:
399399 21 (1) either: (A) elections in one or more Legislative
400400 22 or Representative districts exhibit racially polarized
401401 23 voting resulting in an impairment of the equal opportunity
402402 24 or ability of protected class members to nominate or elect
403403 25 candidates of their choice; or (B) based on the totality
404404 26 of the circumstances, the equal opportunity or ability of
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415415 1 protected class members to nominate or elect candidates of
416416 2 their choice or otherwise influence the outcome of
417417 3 elections is impaired; and
418418 4 (2) one or more reasonably configured alternative
419419 5 redistricting plans exist which would cure or mitigate the
420420 6 impairment described in sub-subparagraph (1) by providing
421421 7 members of a protected class an equal opportunity or
422422 8 ability to nominate and elect candidates of their choice.
423423 9 For any such reasonably configured alternative
424424 10 redistricting plan, it is not necessary to show that members
425425 11 of a protected class comprise a majority in any such
426426 12 districts.
427427 13 (c) A civil action to cure a violation of this Section may
428428 14 be brought by the Attorney General or any individual or entity
429429 15 aggrieved by a violation of this Section in the Illinois
430430 16 Supreme Court, which holds exclusive jurisdiction over
431431 17 redistricting matters.
432432 18 (d) An entity aggrieved by a violation of this Section
433433 19 includes, but is not limited to, any entity (1) whose
434434 20 membership includes individuals aggrieved by a violation of
435435 21 this Section; or (2) whose mission would be frustrated by a
436436 22 violation of this Section, including, but not limited to, an
437437 23 entity who would expend or divert resources to fulfill its
438438 24 mission as a result of such violation or who shall expend
439439 25 greater resources or efforts to advocate before an elected
440440 26 body that is less responsive to the entity or its members due
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451451 1 to the alleged violation. An entity shall not be compelled to
452452 2 disclose the identity of any specific member to pursue a claim
453453 3 on behalf of its members.
454454 4 (e) In an action involving a districting plan, any
455455 5 individual who resides in the defendant jurisdiction and is a
456456 6 member of the affected protected class or classes, whether
457457 7 they reside in any particular district, may challenge the
458458 8 districting plan as a whole.
459459 9 (f) A person whose rights have been violated under this
460460 10 Section is entitled to injunctive relief against district maps
461461 11 that constitute a violation of subsection (b).
462462 12 (g) This Section is intended to benefit and protect the
463463 13 rights of individual voters and to provide a remedy for
464464 14 infringing on the rights granted under this Section. This
465465 15 Section shall be construed liberally to confer standing as
466466 16 broadly as the Illinois Constitution permits.
467467 17 (10 ILCS 5/3A-30 new)
468468 18 Sec. 3A-30. Guidelines and relevant circumstances to
469469 19 evaluate compliance.
470470 20 (a) To evaluate the totality of the circumstances
471471 21 paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 3A-15, subparagraph
472472 22 (B) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 3A-20, and
473473 23 subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section
474474 24 3A-25:
475475 25 (1) the following factors may be relevant:
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486486 1 (A) whether members of the protected class vote at
487487 2 a lower rate than other voters;
488488 3 (B) the history of discrimination affecting
489489 4 members of the protected class;
490490 5 (C) the extent to which members of a protected
491491 6 class are disadvantaged, or otherwise bear the effects
492492 7 of past public or private discrimination, in any areas
493493 8 that may hinder the member's ability to participate
494494 9 effectively in any stage of the political process,
495495 10 including education, employment, health, criminal
496496 11 justice involvement, housing, transportation, land
497497 12 use, or environmental protection;
498498 13 (D) the use of overt or subtle racial appeals in
499499 14 political campaigns or by government officials, or in
500500 15 connection with the adoption or maintenance of the
501501 16 election policy or practice;
502502 17 (E) the extent to which members of a protected
503503 18 class have been elected to office;
504504 19 (F) the extent to which members of a protected
505505 20 class have faced barriers with respect to accessing
506506 21 the ballot, receiving financial support, or receiving
507507 22 any other support for an election;
508508 23 (G) the extent to which members of a protected
509509 24 class contribute to political campaigns at lower
510510 25 rates;
511511 26 (H) the extent to which candidates face hostility
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522522 1 or barriers while campaigning due to their membership
523523 2 in a protected class;
524524 3 (I) the use of any election policy or practice
525525 4 that may enhance the dilutive effects of a method of
526526 5 election in the local government;
527527 6 (J) the lack of responsiveness by elected
528528 7 officials to the particularized needs of protected
529529 8 class members or a community of protected class
530530 9 members;
531531 10 (K) whether the election policy or practice was
532532 11 designed to advance, and does materially advance, a
533533 12 valid and substantial State interest; and
534534 13 (L) other factors deemed relevant;
535535 14 (2) no set number or combination of these factors
536536 15 shall be required to determine that a violation occurred;
537537 16 and
538538 17 (3) evidence of these factors is most probative if it
539539 18 relates to the political subdivision in which the alleged
540540 19 violation occurred, but is still probative if it relates
541541 20 to the geographic region in which that political
542542 21 subdivision is located or to this State.
543543 22 (b) When evaluating whether a violation of Section 3A-15,
544544 23 Section 3A-20, or Section 3A-25 has occurred:
545545 24 (1) the following circumstances are never relevant:
546546 25 (A) the total number or share of members of a
547547 26 protected class on whom the election policy or
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557557 HB3047 - 14 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
558558 1 practice does not impose a material burden;
559559 2 (B) the degree to which the election policy or
560560 3 practice has a long pedigree or was in widespread use
561561 4 at some earlier date;
562562 5 (C) the use of an identical or similar election
563563 6 policy or practice in another political subdivision;
564564 7 and
565565 8 (D) the availability of other forms of voting not
566566 9 impacted by the election policy or practice;
567567 10 (2) evidence concerning the intent of voters, elected
568568 11 officials, or public officials to discriminate against
569569 12 protected class members is never required;
570570 13 (3) a State interest in preventing voter fraud or
571571 14 bolstering voter confidence in the integrity of elections
572572 15 is not relevant unless there is substantial evidence that
573573 16 criminal activity by individual voters has occurred in the
574574 17 local government in substantial numbers and the connection
575575 18 between the election policy or practice and a State
576576 19 interest in preventing voter fraud or bolstering voter
577577 20 confidence in the integrity of elections is supported by
578578 21 substantial evidence;
579579 22 (4) whether protected class members typically elect
580580 23 candidates of their choice to the governing body in
581581 24 approximate proportion to their total number or share of
582582 25 the population may be relevant under Sections 3A-20 or
583583 26 3A-25.
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593593 HB3047 - 15 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
594594 1 (c) For the purposes of demonstrating that a violation of
595595 2 subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section
596596 3 3A-20 or subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subsection (A)
597597 4 of Section 3A-25 has occurred, including for the purposes of
598598 5 demonstrating that racially polarized voting exists:
599599 6 (1) racially polarized voting shall be assessed based
600600 7 on relevant election results, which may include, but are
601601 8 not limited to, elections for offices of the political
602602 9 subdivision; elections held in the political subdivision
603603 10 for other offices, such as State or federal offices;
604604 11 ballot measures; and other electoral choices that bear on
605605 12 the rights and privileges of the protected class;
606606 13 (A) no set number or combination of elections
607607 14 shall be required to establish the existence of
608608 15 racially polarized voting;
609609 16 (B) evidence of non-polarized voting in elections
610610 17 for offices outside the political subdivision shall
611611 18 not preclude a finding of racially polarized voting
612612 19 based on elections for offices of the political
613613 20 subdivision;
614614 21 (C) non-statistical or non-quantitative evidence
615615 22 shall not preclude a finding of racially polarized
616616 23 voting based on statistical or quantitative evidence;
617617 24 and
618618 25 (D) low turnout or registration rates among
619619 26 protected class members shall not preclude a finding
620620
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630630 1 of racially polarized voting;
631631 2 (2) racially polarized voting shall be assessed based
632632 3 only on the combined electoral preferences of members of a
633633 4 protected class or classes. There is no requirement that
634634 5 the electoral preferences of each protected class or any
635635 6 subgroup within a protected class be separately polarized
636636 7 from those of other voters; and
637637 8 (3) the causes of or reasons for racially polarized
638638 9 voting, including partisan explanations or discriminatory
639639 10 intent, are not relevant.
640640 11 (10 ILCS 5/3A-35 new)
641641 12 Sec. 3A-35. Pre-litigation notification letter for
642642 13 political subdivisions.
643643 14 (a) Before commencing legal action alleging a violation of
644644 15 Sections 3A-15 or 3A-20, a prospective plaintiff shall send a
645645 16 notification letter to the political subdivision or State
646646 17 agency asserting that the political subdivision or State
647647 18 agency may be in violation of Sections 3A-15 or 3A-20. The
648648 19 prospective plaintiff shall not commence an action against
649649 20 that political subdivision or State agency within 60 days
650650 21 after sending that notification letter. If a political
651651 22 subdivision or State agency passes a resolution, ordinance, or
652652 23 takes other official action approved by its legislative or
653653 24 governing body or its chief executive that indicates a good
654654 25 faith intention to seek a remedy to the alleged violation, a
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664664 HB3047 - 17 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
665665 1 prospective plaintiff shall not commence an action against
666666 2 that political subdivision or State agency for 60 days from
667667 3 the approval date of such resolution, ordinance or other
668668 4 official action.
669669 5 (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a pre-litigation
670670 6 notice letter is not required if:
671671 7 (1) the prospect of obtaining relief would be futile;
672672 8 (2) another party has already submitted a notification
673673 9 letter alleging a substantially similar violation and that
674674 10 party is eligible to bring a cause of action;
675675 11 (3) the prospective plaintiff is seeking preliminary
676676 12 injunctive relief;
677677 13 (4) the prospective plaintiff is seeking preliminary
678678 14 relief with respect to an upcoming election;
679679 15 (5) the prospective plaintiff is seeking to intervene
680680 16 in or join an existing action;
681681 17 (6) following the prospective plaintiff's submission
682682 18 of a notice letter, the political subdivision or State
683683 19 agency enacted a remedy that would not remedy the
684684 20 violation identified in the letter;
685685 21 (7) the prospective plaintiff is challenging an action
686686 22 taken by the political subdivision or State agency in the
687687 23 past year; or
688688 24 (8) the prospective plaintiff is facing other exigent
689689 25 circumstances.
690690
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699699 HB3047 - 18 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
700700 1 (10 ILCS 5/3A-50 new)
701701 2 Sec. 3A-50. Civil actions.
702702 3 (a) A civil action to cure a violation of Sections 3A-15 or
703703 4 3A-20 may be brought by the Attorney General or any individual
704704 5 or entity aggrieved by a violation of these Sections in any
705705 6 State or federal court of competent jurisdiction.
706706 7 (b) An entity aggrieved by a violation of these Sections
707707 8 includes, but is not limited to, any entity (1) whose
708708 9 membership includes individuals aggrieved by a violation of
709709 10 these Sections, or (2) whose mission would be frustrated by a
710710 11 violation of these Sections, including, but not limited to, an
711711 12 entity who would expend or divert resources to fulfill its
712712 13 mission as a result of such violation or who shall expend
713713 14 greater resources or efforts to advocate before an elected
714714 15 body that is less responsive to the entity or its members due
715715 16 to the alleged violation. An entity shall not be compelled to
716716 17 disclose the identity of any specific member to pursue a claim
717717 18 on behalf of its members.
718718 19 (c) In an action involving a districting plan, any
719719 20 individual who resides in the defendant jurisdiction and is a
720720 21 member of the affected protected class or classes, whether
721721 22 they reside in any particular district, may challenge the
722722 23 districting plan as a whole.
723723 24 (d) This Section is intended to benefit and protect the
724724 25 rights of individual voters and to provide a remedy for
725725 26 infringing on the rights granted under this Section. This
726726
727727
728728
729729
730730
731731 HB3047 - 18 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
732732
733733
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735735 HB3047 - 19 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
736736 1 Section shall be construed liberally to confer standing as
737737 2 broadly as the Illinois Constitution permits.
738738 3 (10 ILCS 5/3A-55 new)
739739 4 Sec. 3A-55. Remedies.
740740 5 (a) In any action brought under this Article, except for
741741 6 Section 3A-25, the court has broad authority to order adequate
742742 7 remedies that are tailored to address the violation,
743743 8 notwithstanding any other provisions of State or local law.
744744 9 Unless otherwise prohibited by law, adequate remedies include,
745745 10 but are not limited to, any of the following:
746746 11 (1) drawing new or revised districting or
747747 12 redistricting plans;
748748 13 (2) adopting a different method of election or
749749 14 reasonably increasing the size of the elected legislative
750750 15 or governing body of a political subdivision;
751751 16 (3) adding or changing voting days or hours;
752752 17 (4) adding or moving polling places or ballot drop
753753 18 boxes;
754754 19 (5) eliminating staggered elections so that all
755755 20 members of the elected legislative or governing body are
756756 21 elected at the same time;
757757 22 (6) ordering a special election;
758758 23 (7) restoring or adding individuals to a voter
759759 24 registration list or requiring expanded opportunities for
760760 25 admitting voters;
761761
762762
763763
764764
765765
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767767
768768
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770770 HB3047 - 20 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
771771 1 (8) reorganizing a political subdivision, including,
772772 2 but not limited to, an annexation, incorporation,
773773 3 dissolution, consolidation, or division of a political
774774 4 subdivision;
775775 5 (9) imposing nominal or compensatory damages;
776776 6 (10) imposing punitive damages in the form of a civil
777777 7 fine that shall be deposited into the Voter Outreach and
778778 8 Education Fund;
779779 9 (11) any other form of declaratory or injunctive
780780 10 relief that, in the court's judgment, is tailored to
781781 11 address the violation; and
782782 12 (12) retaining jurisdiction for a period of time the
783783 13 court considers appropriate.
784784 14 (b) In any action in which a court finds a violation of
785785 15 this Article, the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, the
786786 16 Illinois Constitution, the Fourteenth Amendment of the United
787787 17 States Constitution concerning the right to vote, the
788788 18 Fifteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, or any
789789 19 other State or federal law concerning the right to vote for
790790 20 protected class members, in addition to the remedies available
791791 21 under subsection (a), the court may retain jurisdiction and
792792 22 require that, for a period of 10 years, the local government
793793 23 obtain a court order before enacting any election policy or
794794 24 practice as follows:
795795 25 (1) a court shall retain jurisdiction following a
796796 26 violation described in subsection (b) if the violation is
797797
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799799
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803803
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806806 HB3047 - 21 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
807807 1 susceptible to repetition, the remedy is susceptible to
808808 2 circumvention, there is evidence of intentional
809809 3 discrimination by the local government, or the local
810810 4 government failed to adopt broad prophylactic measures
811811 5 that prevent any future violations. Otherwise, the court
812812 6 may retain jurisdiction following a violation described in
813813 7 subsection (b) based on the severity of the violation and
814814 8 whether the local government has any previous violations;
815815 9 and
816816 10 (2) a request for judicial preapproval submitted to a
817817 11 court under this subsection may be granted only if the
818818 12 court concludes that:
819819 13 (A) the proposed election policy or practice will
820820 14 not diminish, in relation to the status quo before the
821821 15 enactment or implementation of the election policy or
822822 16 practice, the equal opportunity or ability of members
823823 17 of a protected class whose voting rights are
824824 18 implicated by the election policy or practice to
825825 19 participate in any stage of the political process or
826826 20 to nominate or elect candidates of their choice; and
827827 21 (B) that the proposed election policy or practice
828828 22 is unlikely to violate any of the provisions of this
829829 23 Article.
830830 24 (c) In any action brought under this Article, the court
831831 25 may order a remedy only if the remedy will not impair the
832832 26 ability of protected class members to participate in the
833833
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839839
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843843 1 political process and elect the protected class member's
844844 2 preferred candidates, or otherwise influence the outcome of
845845 3 elections.
846846 4 (d) In any action brought under this Article, the court
847847 5 shall consider remedies proposed by any parties and interested
848848 6 non-parties and shall not provide deference or priority to a
849849 7 proposed remedy offered by the defendant or the political
850850 8 subdivision simply because the remedy has been proposed by the
851851 9 defendant or the political subdivision.
852852 10 (10 ILCS 5/3A-60 new)
853853 11 Sec. 3A-60. Attorney's fees. A court shall award
854854 12 reasonable attorney's fees and costs, including expert witness
855855 13 fees and other litigation expenses, to a plaintiff who is a
856856 14 prevailing party in any action brought under this Article or
857857 15 under procedures under Section 3A-35. In awarding reasonable
858858 16 attorney's fees, the court shall consider the degree to which
859859 17 the relief obtained relates to the relief sought.
860860 18 For the purpose of this Section, the term "prevailing
861861 19 party" includes any party:
862862 20 (1) who obtains some of their requested relief through
863863 21 a judicial judgment in their favor;
864864 22 (2) who obtains some of their requested relief through
865865 23 any settlement agreement approved by the court; or
866866 24 (3) whose pursuit of a non-frivolous claim or notice
867867 25 of a claim following the procedure under Section 3A-35 was
868868
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878878 1 a catalyst for a unilateral change in position by the
879879 2 opposing party relative to the relief sought.
880880 3 To the extent parties are unable to come to mutual
881881 4 agreement, any party may file a motion or action for
882882 5 clarification of rights.
883883 6 (10 ILCS 5/3A-65 new)
884884 7 Sec. 3A-65. Expedient litigation and preliminary relief.
885885 8 Because of the frequency of elections, the severe consequences
886886 9 and irreparable harm of holding elections under unlawful
887887 10 conditions, and the expenditure to defend potentially unlawful
888888 11 conditions that benefit incumbent officials, actions brought
889889 12 under this Article are subject to expedited pretrial and trial
890890 13 proceedings and shall receive an automatic calendar
891891 14 preference. In any action alleging a violation of this Article
892892 15 or any other law concerning voting rights or elections in
893893 16 which a plaintiff party seeks preliminary relief with respect
894894 17 to an upcoming election, the court shall grant relief if the
895895 18 court determines that the plaintiffs are more likely than not
896896 19 to succeed on the merits, and it is possible to implement an
897897 20 adequate remedy before an upcoming primary or general election
898898 21 that would resolve the alleged violation.
899899 22 (10 ILCS 5/3A-70 new)
900900 23 Sec. 3A-70. Voter Outreach and Education Fund. There is
901901 24 created in the State treasury a special fund to be known as the
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911911 HB3047 - 24 - LRB104 11050 SPS 21132 b
912912 1 Voter Outreach and Education Fund. All penalties and charges
913913 2 directed to the Fund by Section 3A-55 and all other funds from
914914 3 any public or private source directed to the Fund shall be paid
915915 4 into the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall
916916 5 remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Moneys in the Fund
917917 6 shall be used solely for the purposes of educating voters and
918918 7 persons qualified to be voters on the rights ensured to them
919919 8 under federal and State constitutional and statutory law and
920920 9 remedies.
921921 10 (10 ILCS 5/3A-80 new)
922922 11 Sec. 3A-80. Construction and severability.
923923 12 (a) No act of the General Assembly shall be construed to
924924 13 supersede, amend, abrogate, or limit the applicability or
925925 14 scope of this Article, unless it explicitly states that it
926926 15 supersedes, amends, abrogates, or limits the applicability or
927927 16 scope of the Illinois Voting Rights Act, even if the act may be
928928 17 construed as contradicting, conflicting with, or interpreting
929929 18 this Article or violating any of its provisions. When
930930 19 evaluating whether a political subdivision or government
931931 20 official or entity responsible for election administration has
932932 21 violated Section 3A-20, other acts of the General Assembly
933933 22 shall not be considered.
934934 23 (b) The provisions of this Article shall be severable and
935935 24 if any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence,
936936 25 or other portion of this Article is for any reason held or
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947947 1 declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be
948948 2 unconstitutional or preempted by federal law, or the
949949 3 applicability of that portion to any person or facility is
950950 4 held invalid, the remainder of this Article shall not thereby
951951 5 be deemed to be unconstitutional, preempted, or invalid.
952952 6 (10 ILCS 5/Art. 3B heading new)
953953 7 ARTICLE 3B. LANGUAGE ACCESS IN ELECTIONS
954954 8 (10 ILCS 5/3B-1 new)
955955 9 Sec. 3B-1. Definitions. As used in this Article:
956956 10 "Limited-English proficiency" is defined as unable to
957957 11 speak, read, write or understand English adequately enough to
958958 12 participate in the electoral process.
959959 13 "Local election authority" means a county clerk or board
960960 14 of election commissioners.
961961 15 "Political subdivision" means a geographic area which is
962962 16 organized under State or local law for the provision of
963963 17 government or other services, and which conducts elections
964964 18 administered by a local election authority, including, but not
965965 19 limited to, a county, city, town, village, school district,
966966 20 any other district organized under State or local law, county
967967 21 clerk, or board of election commissioners.
968968 22 (10 ILCS 5/3B-5 new)
969969 23 Sec. 3B-5. Language access assistance.
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980980 1 (a) A local election authority shall provide language
981981 2 assistance for elections conducted in a political subdivision
982982 3 if that political subdivision meets any of the following
983983 4 conditions:
984984 5 (1) has a voting-eligible population of at least 600
985985 6 individuals in that political subdivision who speak 1
986986 7 language other than English and have limited English
987987 8 proficiency; and
988988 9 (2) has a voting-eligible population of at least 100
989989 10 individuals in that political subdivision who speak 1
990990 11 language other than English and have limited English
991991 12 proficiency and also comprise 2.5% or more of the
992992 13 voting-eligible population in the local government.
993993 14 (b) On at least a biannual basis, the State Board of
994994 15 Elections shall post on its website both of the following
995995 16 based on data made available by the United States Census
996996 17 Bureau, American Community Survey, or data of comparable
997997 18 quality collected by a public office:
998998 19 (1) a list of each political subdivision that is
999999 20 required under this Section to provide language assistance
10001000 21 for elections under subsection (a); and
10011001 22 (2) a list of each language in which the political
10021002 23 subdivisions listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) are
10031003 24 required to provide language assistance for elections.
10041004 25 (c) The State Board of Elections shall provide the
10051005 26 information posted on its website under subsection (b) to each
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10161016 1 local election authority in this State.
10171017 2 (d) If the State Board of Elections determines under this
10181018 3 Section that language assistance for elections shall be
10191019 4 provided in a political subdivision, the local election
10201020 5 authority shall do the following:
10211021 6 (1) provide effective language assistance for
10221022 7 elections in each designated language and provide related
10231023 8 materials in English, and in each designated language as
10241024 9 translated by a certified translator, including
10251025 10 registration or voting notices, forms, instructions,
10261026 11 assistance, ballots, absent voter ballot applications,
10271027 12 signage at polling places, and other materials or
10281028 13 information relating to the electoral process;
10291029 14 (2) for a language that is oral or unwritten,
10301030 15 including historically unwritten as may be the case for
10311031 16 some Native Americans, provide only oral instructions,
10321032 17 assistance, or other information relating to the electoral
10331033 18 process in that language; and
10341034 19 (3) ensure that all materials provided in a designated
10351035 20 language are of an equal quality to the corresponding
10361036 21 English materials, ensure that all provided translations
10371037 22 convey the intent and essential meaning of the original
10381038 23 text or communication and do not rely solely on any
10391039 24 automatic translation service, and ensure the accuracy of
10401040 25 the translated voting or election materials, including any
10411041 26 varying dialects.
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10521052 1 (e) If available, language assistance for elections shall
10531053 2 include live interpretation. In addition to the other
10541054 3 requirements of this Section, each local election authority
10551055 4 that meets any of the conditions in paragraphs (1) or (2) of
10561056 5 subsection (a) shall make a good faith effort to provide
10571057 6 bilingual election judges.
10581058 7 (f) The State Board of Elections shall produce electronic
10591059 8 copies of any election materials that the State Board of
10601060 9 Elections makes public in each language that has been
10611061 10 designated under subsection (a).
10621062 11 (g) Nothing in this Section prohibits a political
10631063 12 subdivision or local election authority from voluntarily
10641064 13 providing language assistance for elections beyond that
10651065 14 language assistance for elections required in this Section or
10661066 15 passing laws requiring additional language assistance for
10671067 16 elections than required in this Section if the political
10681068 17 subdivision or local election authority determines that
10691069 18 language assistance for elections would be beneficial for the
10701070 19 limited English proficiency residents in that political
10711071 20 subdivision.
10721072 21 (h) This Section takes effect January 1, 2026.
10731073 22 (10 ILCS 5/3B-10 new)
10741074 23 Sec. 3B-10. Public and private right of action. The
10751075 24 Attorney General, any individual aggrieved by a violation of
10761076 25 Section 3B-5, any entity whose membership includes individuals
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10871087 1 aggrieved by a violation of Section 3B-5, any entity whose
10881088 2 mission would be frustrated by a violation of Section 3B-5, or
10891089 3 any entity that would expend resources in order to fulfill its
10901090 4 mission as a result of a violation of Section 3B-5 may bring a
10911091 5 civil lawsuit, in a federal district court or State circuit
10921092 6 court, against the offending unit of government. Any State
10931093 7 claim brought in federal district court shall be a
10941094 8 supplemental claim to a federal claim. This Article is
10951095 9 intended to benefit and protect the rights of individual,
10961096 10 eligible voters and to provide a remedy for infringing on the
10971097 11 rights granted under this Article.
10981098 12 (10 ILCS 5/3B-15 new)
10991099 13 Sec. 3B-15. Remedies.
11001100 14 (a) In any action brought under Section 3B-10, the court
11011101 15 has broad authority to order adequate remedies that are
11021102 16 tailored to address the violation. Unless otherwise prohibited
11031103 17 by law, adequate remedies include, but are not limited to, any
11041104 18 of the following:
11051105 19 (1) adding voting days or hours;
11061106 20 (2) adding polling places or absent voter ballot drop
11071107 21 boxes;
11081108 22 (3) ordering a special election;
11091109 23 (4) imposing nominal or compensatory damages;
11101110 24 (5) imposing punitive damages in the form of a civil
11111111 25 fine that shall be deposited into the Voter Outreach and
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11221122 1 Education Fund;
11231123 2 (6) any other form of declaratory or injunctive relief
11241124 3 that, in the court's judgment, is tailored to address the
11251125 4 violation; or
11261126 5 (7) retaining jurisdiction for a period of time the
11271127 6 court considers appropriate.
11281128 7 (b) In any action brought under Section 3B-10, the court
11291129 8 may order a remedy only if the remedy will not impair the
11301130 9 ability of limited English proficient voters to participate in
11311131 10 the political process and elect the limited English proficient
11321132 11 voter's preferred candidates, or otherwise influence the
11331133 12 outcome of elections.
11341134 13 (c) In any action brought under Section 3B-10, the court
11351135 14 shall consider remedies proposed by any parties and interested
11361136 15 non-parties and shall not provide deference or priority to a
11371137 16 proposed remedy offered by the defendant or the political
11381138 17 subdivision simply because the remedy has been proposed by the
11391139 18 defendant or the political subdivision.
11401140 19 (d) In any action brought under Section 3B-10, the court
11411141 20 has the authority to order remedies that may be inconsistent
11421142 21 with other provisions of State or local law, when the
11431143 22 inconsistent provisions of law would otherwise preclude the
11441144 23 court from ordering an adequate remedy.
11451145 24 (10 ILCS 5/3B-20 new)
11461146 25 Sec. 3B-20. Attorney's fees. Upon motion, a court shall
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11571157 1 award reasonable attorney's fees and costs, including expert
11581158 2 witness fees and other litigation expenses, to a plaintiff who
11591159 3 is a prevailing party in any action brought under this
11601160 4 Article. In awarding reasonable attorney's fees, the court
11611161 5 shall consider the degree to which the relief obtained relates
11621162 6 to the relief sought.
11631163 7 For the purpose of this Section, the term "prevailing
11641164 8 party" includes any party:
11651165 9 (1) who obtains some of their requested relief through
11661166 10 a judicial judgment in their favor;
11671167 11 (2) who obtains some of their requested relief through
11681168 12 any settlement agreement approved by the court; or
11691169 13 (3) whose pursuit of a non-frivolous claim was a
11701170 14 catalyst for a unilateral change in position by the
11711171 15 opposing party relative to the relief sought.
11721172 16 (10 ILCS 5/3B-25 new)
11731173 17 Sec. 3B-25. Expedient litigation. Because of the frequency
11741174 18 of elections, the severe consequences and irreparable harm of
11751175 19 holding elections under unlawful conditions, and the
11761176 20 expenditure to defend potentially unlawful conditions that
11771177 21 benefit incumbent officials, actions brought under this
11781178 22 Article are subject to expedited pretrial and trial
11791179 23 proceedings and shall receive an automatic calendar
11801180 24 preference.
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11911191 1 Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
11921192 2 Section 5.1030 as follows:
11931193 3 (30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new)
11941194 4 Sec. 5.1030. The Voter Outreach and Education Fund.
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