Bill > HB1698

This bill amends the Election Code to modify how polling places are established in schools, providing a more collaborative process for addressing potential conflicts. Under the new provisions, when an election authority requests to use a school as a polling place, the school district can demonstrate if such use would interfere with scheduled programming or pose safety risks. In such cases, the election authority and school district must work together to find an alternative location. If they cannot agree on an alternative site, they are required to submit a detailed report to the Board of County Commissioners, which must include voter turnout data (including early voting and mail-in voting percentages), a list of previous polling places within a reasonable distance, and a list of early polling places nearby. The Board of County Commissioners is then obligated to determine a polling place as quickly as possible to prevent delays. The bill maintains the existing encouragement for school districts to either close schools or hold teacher institutes on election days when they are being used as polling places. This approach aims to balance the need for accessible voting locations with the safety and operational concerns of school districts.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1698&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104