SPRINGFIELD (WEEK) -- Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday to expand vote by mail efforts.
The two pieces of legislation - and - also expand early voting hours at permanent polling places and make election day a state holiday, according to a statement by the governor's administration.
Local election officials will be required to mail or email vote-by-mail applications and the timeline to vote by mail to voters who cast a ballot in the 2018 general election, 2019 consolidated election or the 2020 general primary election.
Voters who submit a vote-by-mail application by Oct. 1 will receive their ballot by Oct. 6.
The legislation also requires the State Board of Elections to:
- Post an application for a vote by mail ballot on its website;
- Modify the online voter registration system to allow a new registrant to apply for a VBM ballot when completing the online registration;
- Provide notice to each election authority about what it must do to comply with the new law and;
- Adopt emergency rules to provide reimbursement for expenses related to the 2020 general election incurred as a result of COVID-19 and the new requirements.
In an effort to improve the signature verification process, the legislation requires the election authority to appoint a bipartisan panel of three election judges to verify voters' signature and the validity of the ballot. Currently, only a single election judge makes this determination, according to the release.
Additionally, the bill makes election day a holiday for all government offices, except election authorities, k-12 schools, and post-secondary institutions governed by the State Universities Civil Service Act. The state has already established election day as a holiday for state employees.
The new laws take effect immediately.
