Bill Text: IL SB1744 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections (rather than each election authority) shall process applications for permanent vote by mail status and administer the permanent vote by mail list. Sets forth provisions concerning communications between the State Board of Elections and each election authority. Makes conforming changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-05 - Referred to Assignments [SB1744 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB1744-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1744 Introduced 2/5/2025, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/19-2 from Ch. 46, par. 19-2
10 ILCS 5/19-2.3
10 ILCS 5/19-2.5
10 ILCS 5/19-2.6
10 ILCS 5/19-3 from Ch. 46, par. 19-3
10 ILCS 5/19-4 from Ch. 46, par. 19-4
10 ILCS 5/19-5 from Ch. 46, par. 19-5
10 ILCS 5/19-6.5 new
10 ILCS 5/19-12.2 from Ch. 46, par. 19-12.2
10 ILCS 5/19-13 from Ch. 46, par. 19-13
Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections (rather than each election authority) shall process applications for permanent vote by mail status and administer the permanent vote by mail list. Sets forth provisions concerning communications between the State Board of Elections and each election authority. Makes conforming changes.
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A BILL FOR
SB1744 LRB104 09970 SPS 20040 b
AN ACT concerning elections.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
Sections 19-2, 19-2.3, 19-2.5, 19-2.6, 19-3, 19-4, 19-5,
19-12.2, and 19-13 and by adding Section 19-6.5 as follows:
(10 ILCS 5/19-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-2)
Sec. 19-2. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any
elector as defined in Section 19-1 may by mail or
electronically on the website of the State Board of Elections
appropriate election authority, not more than 90 nor less than
5 days prior to the date of such election, or by personal
delivery not more than 90 nor less than one day prior to the
date of such election, make application to the county clerk or
to the Board of Election Commissioners for an official ballot
for the voter's precinct to be voted at such election. Such a
ballot shall be delivered to the elector only upon separate
application by the elector for each election. Voters who make
an application for permanent vote by mail ballot status in
accordance with shall follow the procedures specified in
Section 19-3 and may apply year round. Voters whose
application for permanent vote by mail status is accepted by
the State Board of Elections election authority shall remain

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on the permanent vote by mail list until the voter requests to
be removed from permanent vote by mail status, the voter
provides notice to the State Board of Elections election
authority of a change in registration that affects their
registration status, or the State Board of Elections election
authority receives confirmation that the voter has
subsequently registered to vote in another election authority
jurisdiction. The URL address at which voters may
electronically request an application to the permanent vote by
mail list shall be accessible to voters throughout the year a
vote by mail ballot shall be fixed no later than 90 calendar
days before an election and shall not be changed until after
the election.
(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-668, eff. 11-15-21;
102-687, eff. 12-17-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(10 ILCS 5/19-2.3)
Sec. 19-2.3. Vote by mail; jails. The State Board of
Elections Each election authority in a county with a
population under 3,000,000 shall collaborate with the primary
county jail in a county with a population under 3,000,000
where eligible voters are confined or detained who are within
the jurisdiction of the election authority to facilitate an
opportunity for voting by mail for voters eligible to vote in
the election jurisdiction who are confined or detained in the
county jail.

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(Source: P.A. 101-442, eff. 1-1-20.)
(10 ILCS 5/19-2.5)
Sec. 19-2.5. Notice for vote by mail ballot. The State
Board of Elections An election authority shall notify all
qualified voters, except voters who have applied for permanent
vote by mail status under subsection (b) of Section 19-3 or
voters who submit a written request to be excluded from the
permanent vote by mail status, not more than 90 days nor less
than 45 days before a general election of the option for
permanent vote by mail status using the following notice and
including the application for permanent vote by mail status in
subsection (b) of Section 19-3:
"You may apply to permanently be placed on vote by mail
status using the attached application.".
(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-668, eff. 11-15-21;
103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)
(10 ILCS 5/19-2.6)
Sec. 19-2.6. Vote by mail; voters with a print disability.
(a) Definitions. As used in this Section, unless the
context otherwise requires:
"Assistive technology" means any equipment, software, or
product used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities, including, but
not limited to, screen reading and magnification software,

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refreshable Braille displays, and speech recognition programs.
"Certified remote accessible vote by mail system" means a
process approved by the State Board of Elections through which
the State Board of Elections an election authority provides
for the electronic transmission of a vote by mail ballot to a
voter with a print disability and through which the voter with
a print disability marks and verifies the voter's ballot using
assistive technology.
"Electronic transmission" means the transfer of data or
information through an authorized electronic data interchange
system.
"Voter with a print disability" means a person having a
temporary or permanent physical or mental impairment, such as
blindness, low vision, physical dexterity limitations, or
learning or cognitive disabilities, that prevents the person
from effective reading, writing, or use of printed material.
(b) The State Board of Elections shall provide a certified
remote accessible vote by mail system for the General Election
of November 8, 2022 and all subsequent elections, through
which a vote by mail ballot can be delivered by electronic
transmission to voters with print disabilities and through
which voters with print disabilities are able to mark and
verify their ballots using assistive technology.
(c) The State Board of Elections Election authorities
shall permit voters with a print disability to receive and
mark their vote by mail ballots (i) through the certified

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remote accessible vote by mail system provided by the State
Board of Elections pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section
or (ii) through a certified remote accessible vote by mail
system provided by the State Board of Elections election
authority.
(d) If a vote by mail ballot application from a voter with
a print disability arrives after the jurisdiction begins
transmitting vote by mail ballots and instructions to voters,
the State Board of Elections election authority shall
electronically transmit the ballot, instructions, and
balloting materials to the voter within two business days
after receipt of the application.
(e) Ballots received and marked pursuant to this Section
must be printed by the voter and returned to the election
authority as provided in Section 19-6.
(f) The State Board of Elections shall adopt rules,
including emergency rules, necessary for the implementation of
this Section. The State Board of Elections' adopted rules
shall include certification standards for a remote accessible
vote by mail system and a method subject to the provisions in
Sections 19-2 and 19-3 of this Article by which a voter with a
print disability may request to use a certified remote
accessible vote by mail system and apply for an accessible
vote by mail ballot.
(Source: P.A. 102-819, eff. 5-13-22.)

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(10 ILCS 5/19-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-3)
Sec. 19-3. Application for a vote by permanent mail
ballot.
(a) (Blank). The application for a vote by mail ballot for
a single election shall be substantially in the following
form:
APPLICATION FOR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT
To be voted at the .... election in the County of .... and
State of Illinois.
I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of
.... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address
for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to vote at
the .... election to be held on ....; and that I wish to vote
by mail.
I hereby make application for an official ballot or
ballots to be voted by me at such election, and I agree that I
shall return such ballot or ballots to the official issuing
the same prior to the closing of the polls on the date of the
election or, if returned by mail, postmarked no later than
election day, for counting no later than during the period for
counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the
14th day following election day.
I understand that this application is made for an official
vote by mail ballot or ballots to be voted by me at the
election specified in this application and that I must submit
a separate application for an official vote by mail ballot or

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ballots to be voted by me at any subsequent election.
Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Section
29-10 of the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
....
*fill in either (1), (2) or (3).
Post office address to which ballot is mailed:
.............................................................
(a-5) The application for a single vote by mail ballot
transmitted electronically pursuant to Section 19-2.6 shall be
substantively similar to the application for a vote by mail
ballot for a single election and shall include:
I swear or affirm that I am a voter with a print
disability, and, as a result of this disability, I am
making a request to receive a vote by mail ballot
electronically so that I may privately and independently
mark, verify, and print my vote by mail ballot.
(b) The application for permanent vote by mail status
shall be substantially in the following form:
APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT VOTE BY MAIL STATUS
I am currently a registered voter and wish to apply for
permanent vote by mail status.
I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of
.... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address
for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to vote at
the .... election to be held on ....; and that I wish to vote

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by mail in:
..... all subsequent elections that do not require a party
designation.
..... all subsequent elections, and I wish to receive a
................... Party vote by mail ballot in
elections that require a party designation.
I hereby make application for an official ballot or
ballots to be voted by me at such election, and I agree that I
shall return such ballot or ballots to the official issuing
the same prior to the closing of the polls on the date of the
election or, if returned by mail, postmarked no later than
election day, for counting no later than during the period for
counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the
14th day following election day.
Under penalties as provided by law under Section 29-10 of
the Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
statements set forth in this application are true and correct.
....
Post office address to which ballot is mailed:
...............
(b-5) The application for permanent vote by mail ballots
transmitted electronically pursuant to Section 19-2.6 shall be
substantively similar to the application for permanent vote by
mail status and shall include:
I swear or affirm that I am a voter with a
non-temporary print disability, and as a result of this

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disability, I am making a request to receive vote by mail
ballots electronically so that I may privately and
independently mark, verify, and print my vote by mail
ballots.
(c) However, if application is made for a primary election
ballot, such application shall require the applicant to
designate the name of the political party with which the
applicant is affiliated. The State Board of Elections election
authority shall allow any voter on permanent vote by mail
status to change his or her party affiliation for a primary
election ballot by a method and deadline published and
selected by the State Board of Elections election authority.
(d) If application is made electronically, the applicant
shall mark the box associated with the above described
statement included as part of the online application
certifying that the statements set forth in the application
under subsection (a) or (b) are true and correct, and a
signature is not required.
(e) Any person may produce, reproduce, distribute, or
return to the State Board of Elections an election authority
an application under this Section. If applications are sent to
a post office box controlled by any individual or organization
that is not an election authority, those applications shall
(i) include a valid and current phone number for the
individual or organization controlling the post office box and
(ii) be turned over to the State Board of Elections

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appropriate election authority within 7 days of receipt or, if
received within 2 weeks of the election in which an applicant
intends to vote, within 2 days of receipt. Failure to turn over
the applications in compliance with this paragraph shall
constitute a violation of this Code and shall be punishable as
a petty offense with a fine of $100 per application. Removing,
tampering with, or otherwise knowingly making the postmark on
the application unreadable by the State Board of Elections
election authority shall establish a rebuttable presumption of
a violation of this paragraph. Upon receipt, the State Board
of Elections appropriate election authority shall accept and
promptly process any application under this Section submitted
in a form substantially similar to that required by this
Section, including any substantially similar production or
reproduction generated by the applicant.
(f) (Blank). An election authority may combine the
applications in subsections (a) and (b) onto one form, but the
distinction between the applications must be clear and the
form must provide check boxes for an applicant to indicate
whether he or she is applying for a single election vote by
mail ballot or for permanent vote by mail status.
(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-819, eff. 5-13-22;
103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)
(10 ILCS 5/19-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-4)
Sec. 19-4. Mailing or delivery of ballots; time.

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Immediately upon the receipt of such application either by
mail or electronic means, not more than 90 days nor less than 5
days prior to such election, or by personal delivery not more
than 90 days nor less than one day prior to such election, at
the office of such election authority, it shall be the duty of
the State Board of Elections such election authority to
examine the records to ascertain whether or not such applicant
is lawfully entitled to vote as requested, including a
verification of the applicant's signature on file with the
office of the election authority, and if found so to be
entitled to vote, to maintain a list of post within one
business day thereafter the name, street address, ward and
precinct number or township and district number, as the case
may be, of such applicant. No later than 50 days before an
election, the State Board of Elections given on a list, the
pages of which are to be numbered consecutively to be kept by
such election authority for such purpose in a conspicuous,
open and public place accessible to the public at the entrance
of the office of such election authority, and in such a manner
that such list may be viewed without necessity of requesting
permission therefor. Within one day after posting the name and
other information of an applicant for a vote by mail ballot,
the election authority shall transmit by electronic means
pursuant to a process established by the State Board of
Elections that name and other posted information to the State
Board of Elections, which shall post maintain those names and

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other information in an electronic format on its website,
arranged by county and accessible to State and local political
committees. No later than 30 days before Within 2 business
days after posting a name and other information on the list
within its office, but no sooner than 40 days before an
election, the State Board of Elections election authority
shall mail, postage prepaid, or deliver in person in such
office, or deliver via electronic transmission pursuant to
Section 19-2.6, an official ballot or ballots if more than one
are to be voted at said election. Mail delivery of Temporarily
Absent Student ballot applications pursuant to Section 19-12.3
shall be by nonforwardable mail. However, for the consolidated
election, vote by mail ballots for certain precincts may be
delivered to applicants not less than 25 days before the
election if so much time is required to have prepared and
printed the ballots containing the names of persons nominated
for offices at the consolidated primary. The State Board of
Elections election authority shall enclose with each vote by
mail ballot or application written instructions on how voting
assistance shall be provided pursuant to Section 17-14 and a
document, written and approved by the State Board of
Elections, informing the vote by mail voter of the required
postage for returning the application and ballot, and
enumerating the circumstances under which a person is
authorized to vote by vote by mail ballot pursuant to this
Article; such document shall also include a statement

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informing the applicant that if he or she falsifies or is
solicited by another to falsify his or her eligibility to cast
a vote by mail ballot, such applicant or other is subject to
penalties pursuant to Section 29-10 and Section 29-20 of the
Election Code. Each election authority shall maintain a list
of the name, street address, ward and precinct, or township
and district number, as the case may be, of all applicants who
have returned vote by mail ballots to such authority, and the
name of such vote by mail voter shall be added to such list
within one business day from receipt of such ballot. If the
vote by mail ballot envelope indicates that the voter was
assisted in casting the ballot, the name of the person so
assisting shall be included on the list. The list, the pages of
which are to be numbered consecutively, shall be kept by each
election authority in a conspicuous, open, and public place
accessible to the public at the entrance of the office of the
election authority and in a manner that the list may be viewed
without necessity of requesting permission for viewing.
The State Board of Elections Each election authority shall
maintain a list for each election of the voters to whom it has
issued vote by mail ballots. Prior to the start of early
voting, the State Board of Election shall provide a list to
each election authority, including every voter in an election
authority's jurisdiction who the State Board of Elections
issued a vote by mail ballot. The list shall be maintained for
each precinct within the jurisdiction of the election

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authority. Prior to the opening of the polls on election day,
the election authority shall deliver to the judges of election
in each precinct the list of registered voters in that
precinct to whom vote by mail ballots have been issued by mail.
The State Board of Elections Each election authority shall
maintain a list for each election of voters to whom it has
issued temporarily absent student ballots. Prior to the start
of early voting, the State Board of Election shall provide the
list to each election authority. The list shall be maintained
for each election jurisdiction within which such voters
temporarily abide. Immediately after the close of the period
during which application may be made by mail or electronic
means for vote by mail ballots, each election authority shall
mail to each other election authority within the State a
certified list of all such voters temporarily abiding within
the jurisdiction of the other election authority.
In the event that the return address of an application for
ballot by a physically incapacitated elector is that of a
facility licensed or certified under the Nursing Home Care
Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013,
the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, within the
jurisdiction of the election authority, and the applicant is a
registered voter in the precinct in which such facility is
located, the ballots shall be prepared and transmitted to a
responsible judge of election no later than 9 a.m. on the
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday immediately preceding the

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election as designated by the election authority under Section
19-12.2. Such judge shall deliver in person on the designated
day the ballot to the applicant on the premises of the facility
from which application was made. The election authority shall
by mail notify the applicant in such facility that the ballot
will be delivered by a judge of election on the designated day.
All applications for vote by mail ballots shall be
available from the State Board of Elections at the office of
the election authority for public inspection upon request from
the time of receipt thereof by the State Board of Elections
election authority until 30 days after the election, except
during the time such applications are kept in the office of the
election authority pursuant to Section 19-7, and except during
the time such applications are in the possession of the judges
of election.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the
contrary, pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 30 of the
Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence,
Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act, neither
the name nor the address of a program participant under that
Act shall be included in any list of registered voters
available to the public, including the lists referenced in
this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-292, eff. 1-1-22; 102-819, eff. 5-13-22;
102-1126, eff. 2-10-23.)

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(10 ILCS 5/19-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-5)
Sec. 19-5. Folding and enclosure of ballots in unsealed
envelope; address on envelope; certification; instructions for
marking and returning ballots. It shall be the duty of the
State Board of Elections election authority to fold the ballot
or ballots in the manner specified by the statute for folding
ballots prior to their deposit in the ballot box, and to
enclose such ballot or ballots in an envelope unsealed to be
furnished by the election authority, which envelope shall bear
upon the face thereof the name, official title and post office
address of the voter's election authority, and upon the other
side a printed certification in substantially the following
form:
I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of
.... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address
for at least 30 days; and that I am lawfully entitled to cast a
ballot.
I further state that I personally marked the enclosed
ballot in secret.
Under penalties of perjury as provided by law pursuant to
Section 29-10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies
that the statements set forth in this certification are true
and correct.
.......................
If the ballot is to go to an elector who is physically
incapacitated and needs assistance marking the ballot, the

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envelope shall bear upon the back thereof a certification in
substantially the following form:
I state that I am a resident of .... in the municipality of
.... in the county of ....; that I have resided at such address
for at least 30 days; that I am lawfully entitled to cast a
ballot; and that I am physically incapable of personally
marking the ballot for this election.
I further state that I marked the enclosed ballot in
secret with the assistance of
.................................
(Individual rendering assistance)
.................................
(Residence Address)
Under penalties of perjury as provided by law pursuant to
Section 29-10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies
that the statements set forth in this certification are true
and correct.
.......................
In the case of a voter with a physical incapacity, marking
a ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the
assistance of another individual, other than a candidate whose
name appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a
parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the
voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or
agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical
incapacity necessitates such assistance.

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In the case of a physically incapacitated voter, marking a
ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the assistance
of another individual, other than a candidate whose name
appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a
parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the
voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or
agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical
incapacity necessitates such assistance.
Provided, that if the ballot enclosed is to be voted at a
primary election, the certification shall designate the name
of the political party with which the voter is affiliated.
In addition to the above, the State Board of Elections
election authority shall provide printed slips, or an
electronic version thereof for voters voting by mail pursuant
to Section 19-2.6, giving full instructions regarding the
manner of marking and returning the ballot in order that the
same may be counted, and shall furnish one of such printed
slips or the electronic version thereof for voters voting by
mail pursuant to Section 19-2.6 to each of such applicants at
the same time the ballot is delivered to him. Such
instructions shall include the following statement: "In
signing the certification on the vote by mail ballot envelope,
you are attesting that you personally marked this vote by mail
ballot in secret. If you are physically unable to mark the
ballot, a friend or relative may assist you after completing
the enclosed affidavit. Federal and State laws prohibit a

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candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless you are the
spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of the
candidate), your employer, your employer's agent or an officer
or agent of your union from assisting voters with physical
disabilities."
In addition to the above, if a ballot to be provided to an
elector pursuant to this Section contains a public question
described in subsection (b) of Section 28-6 and the territory
concerning which the question is to be submitted is not
described on the ballot due to the space limitations of such
ballot, the election authority shall provide a printed copy of
a notice of the public question, which shall include a
description of the territory in the manner required by Section
16-7. The notice shall be furnished to the elector at the same
time the ballot is delivered to the elector.
The State Board of Elections Election authorities
transmitting ballots by electronic transmission pursuant to
Section 19-2.6 shall, to the greatest extent possible, provide
those applicants with the same instructions, certifications,
and other balloting materials required when sending ballots by
mail.
(Source: P.A. 102-819, eff. 5-13-22; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)
(10 ILCS 5/19-6.5 new)
Sec. 19-6.5. List of vote by mail applications. Prior to
the start of early voting, the State Board of Elections shall

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provide each election authority with the vote by mail
applications of the voters the State Board of Elections mailed
a vote by mail ballot to for that election.
(10 ILCS 5/19-12.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-12.2)
Sec. 19-12.2. Voting by physically incapacitated electors
who have made proper application to the State Board of
Elections election authority not later than 5 days before the
regular primary and general election of 1980 and before each
election thereafter shall be conducted either through the vote
by mail procedures as detailed in this Article or on the
premises of (i) federally operated veterans' homes, hospitals,
and facilities located in Illinois or (ii) facilities licensed
or certified pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the
Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the
ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act for the sole benefit
of residents of such homes, hospitals, and facilities. For the
purposes of this Section, "federally operated veterans' home,
hospital, or facility" means the long-term care facilities at
the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Illiana Health Care System,
Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Marion VA Medical Center, and
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center. Such
voting shall be conducted during any continuous period
sufficient to allow all applicants to cast their ballots
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. either on the Friday,
Saturday, Sunday or Monday immediately preceding the regular

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election. This vote by mail voting on one of said days
designated by the election authority shall be supervised by
two election judges who must be selected by the election
authority in the following order of priority: (1) from the
panel of judges appointed for the precinct in which such home,
hospital, or facility is located, or from a panel of judges
appointed for any other precinct within the jurisdiction of
the election authority in the same ward or township, as the
case may be, in which the home, hospital, or facility is
located or, only in the case where a judge or judges from the
precinct, township or ward are unavailable to serve, (3) from
a panel of judges appointed for any other precinct within the
jurisdiction of the election authority. The two judges shall
be from different political parties. Not less than 30 days
before each regular election, the election authority shall
have arranged with the chief administrative officer of each
home, hospital, or facility in his or its election
jurisdiction a mutually convenient time period on the Friday,
Saturday, Sunday or Monday immediately preceding the election
for such voting on the premises of the home, hospital, or
facility and shall post in a prominent place in his or its
office a notice of the agreed day and time period for
conducting such voting at each home, hospital, or facility;
provided that the election authority shall not later than noon
on the Thursday before the election also post the names and
addresses of those homes, hospitals, and facilities from which

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no applications were received and in which no supervised vote
by mail voting will be conducted. All provisions of this Code
applicable to pollwatchers shall be applicable herein. To the
maximum extent feasible, voting booths or screens shall be
provided to insure the privacy of the voter. Voting procedures
shall be as described in Article 17 of this Code, except that
ballots shall be treated as vote by mail ballots and shall not
be counted until the close of the polls on the following day.
After the last voter has concluded voting, the judges shall
seal the ballots in an envelope and affix their signatures
across the flap of the envelope. Immediately thereafter, the
judges shall bring the sealed envelope to the office of the
election authority who shall deliver such ballots to the
election authority's central ballot counting location prior to
the closing of the polls on the day of election. The judges of
election shall also report to the election authority the name
of any applicant in the home, hospital, or facility who, due to
unforeseen circumstance or condition or because of a religious
holiday, was unable to vote. In this event, the election
authority may appoint a qualified person from his or its staff
to deliver the ballot to such applicant on the day of election.
This staff person shall follow the same procedures prescribed
for judges conducting vote by mail voting in such homes,
hospitals, or facilities and shall return the ballot to the
central ballot counting location before the polls close.
However, if the home, hospital, or facility from which the

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application was made is also used as a regular precinct
polling place for that voter, voting procedures heretofore
prescribed may be implemented by 2 of the election judges of
opposite party affiliation assigned to that polling place
during the hours of voting on the day of the election. Judges
of election shall be compensated not less than $25.00 for
conducting vote by mail voting in such homes, hospitals, or
facilities.
Not less than 120 days before each regular election, the
Department of Public Health shall certify to the State Board
of Elections a list of the facilities licensed or certified
pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental
Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care
Act, or the MC/DD Act. The lists shall indicate the approved
bed capacity and the name of the chief administrative officer
of each such home, hospital, or facility, and the State Board
of Elections shall certify the same to the appropriate
election authority within 20 days thereafter.
(Source: P.A. 103-600, eff. 7-1-24.)
(10 ILCS 5/19-13) (from Ch. 46, par. 19-13)
Sec. 19-13. Any qualified voter who has been admitted to a
hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation center due to an
illness or physical injury not more than 14 days before an
election shall be entitled to personal delivery of a vote by
mail ballot in the hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation

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center subject to the following conditions:
(1) The voter completes the Application for Physically
Incapacitated Elector as provided in Section 19-3, stating as
reasons therein that he is a patient in ............... (name
of hospital/home/center), ............... located at,
............... (address of hospital/home/center),
............... (county, city/village), was admitted for
............... (nature of illness or physical injury), on
............... (date of admission), and does not expect to be
released from the hospital/home/center on or before the day of
election or, if released, is expected to be homebound on the
day of the election and unable to travel to the polling place.
(2) The voter's physician, advanced practice registered
nurse, or physician assistant completes a Certificate of
Attending Health Care Professional in a form substantially as
follows:
CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL
I state that I am a physician, advanced practice
registered nurse, or physician assistant, duly licensed to
practice in the State of .........; that .......... is a
patient in .......... (name of hospital/home/center), located
at ............. (address of hospital/home/center),
................. (county, city/village); that such individual
was admitted for ............. (nature of illness or physical
injury), on ............ (date of admission); and that I have
examined such individual in the State in which I am licensed to

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practice and do not expect such individual to be released from
the hospital/home/center on or before the day of election or,
if released, to be able to travel to the polling place on
election day.
Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Section
29-10 of The Election Code, the undersigned certifies that the
statements set forth in this certification are true and
correct.
(Signature) ...............
(Date licensed) ............
(3) Any person who is registered to vote in the same
precinct as the admitted voter or any legal relative of the
admitted voter may present such voter's vote by mail ballot
application, completed as prescribed in paragraph 1,
accompanied by the physician's, advanced practice registered
nurse's, or a physician assistant's certificate, completed as
prescribed in paragraph 2, to the State Board of Elections
election authority. Such precinct voter or relative shall
execute and sign an affidavit furnished by the State Board of
Elections election authority attesting that he is a registered
voter in the same precinct as the admitted voter or that he is
a legal relative of the admitted voter and stating the nature
of the relationship. Such precinct voter or relative shall
further attest that he has been authorized by the admitted
voter to obtain his or her vote by mail ballot from the
election authority and deliver such ballot to him in the

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hospital, home, or center.
Upon receipt of the admitted voter's application,
physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or a
physician assistant's certificate, and the affidavit of the
precinct voter or the relative, the State Board of Elections
election authority shall examine the registration records to
determine if the applicant is qualified to vote and, if found
to be qualified, shall provide the precinct voter or the
relative the vote by mail ballot for delivery to the
applicant.
Upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot, the admitted
voter shall mark the ballot in secret and subscribe to the
certifications on the vote by mail ballot return envelope.
After depositing the ballot in the return envelope and
securely sealing the envelope, such voter shall give the
envelope to the precinct voter or the relative who shall
deliver it to the election authority in sufficient time for
the ballot to be delivered by the election authority to the
election authority's central ballot counting location before 7
p.m. on election day.
Upon receipt of the admitted voter's vote by mail ballot,
the ballot shall be counted in the manner prescribed in this
Article.
(Source: P.A. 99-581, eff. 1-1-17; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)