SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WREX) � If you enjoyed the expanded options to vote well before the election last year, Governor JB Pritzker just made them permanent for Illinois.
Gov. Pritzker signed HB 1871 into law today to establish permanent ballot drop boxes and allow curbside voting across Illinois for early voting or on Election Day.
The new law codifies safety measures that were implemented ahead of the 2020 general election, allowing residents to safely exercise their constitutional right to vote.
During the pandemic, a record number of Illinoisans voted by mail or through secure drop boxes and curbside options. These alternatives allowed vulnerable residents, such as seniors and individuals with disabilities to wield their right to vote, without the risks of voting in-person during a pandemic.
Under the new law, these options will remain in effect for future elections.
Drop Boxes
This legislation permits election officials to install drop box sites where voters can submit mail-in ballots without postage. Election officials must collect and process all ballots at the close of each business day, and voters can return vote by mail ballots at any collection site through the close of polls on Election Day. Ensuring voter safety is paramount, and all collection sites must be secured by locks and only opened by election authority personnel. To further bolster security, the State Board of Elections can establish additional guidelines for the collection sites.
Curbside Voting
The legislation permits local election authorities to establish curbside voting for individuals to cast a ballot during early voting or on Election Day. Curbside voting allows certain voters to complete their ballot from their vehicle in a designated zone outside of the polling place. Prior to the new law, this option was only available to voters with a temporary or permanent disability, who may face difficulties entering the polling place. In this instance, the voter may request that two election judges—at least one from the Democratic Party and one from the Republican party—deliver a ballot to the voter at each vehicle where curbside voting is taking place.
Help America Vote Act
Previously, the Governor worked with the State Board of Elections to dedicate funding from the federal Help America Vote Act to help subsidize ballot drop boxes and increase pay for local election judges across the state. This legislation builds on those efforts by permitting the State Board of Elections to distribute any remaining funds they may have received under the Help America Vote Act to local election authorities to help with the maintenance of drop boxes.
The new law takes effect immediately.
