Voting News from Equip for Equality

VOTING NEWS FROM EQUIP FOR EQUALITY

Recently, there have been severalelection law changes that expand voting rights and make voter registration and voting easier.

Election Day Registration and Voting/Grace Period Registration and Voting

This process allows individuals who miss the voter registration deadline to register and vote after registration has closed up through Election Day. Persons using this process must register and vote at the same time.

The new law extends the time for grace period registration and voting and change of address from the close of voter registration until and including Election Day. This can be done at the local election authority, at any early voting site beginning 15 days before an election, at a polling place on Election Day or any other voter registration location designated by the election authority for this purpose.

Vote by Mail(previously known as absentee voting)

Anyone can vote by mail.

The new law allows completed vote by mail ballots to be returned to the election authority by a person authorized by the voter to do so (the voter can also return the ballot or mail it to the election authority). If the voted ballot is returned by an authorized person, the voter and the authorized person must complete the authorization on the return envelope provided by the election authority.

Early Voting

Registered voters can vote before Election Day by going to an early voting location.

The new law extends the time for early voting from 40 days before an election until and including the day before Election Day. The new law also requires early voting locations to be open during the 15 days before Election Day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on weekdays. During the 8 days before Election Day, early voting locations shall be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays, and 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Public University Voting

The new law requires election authorities that have a public university in their area to have grace period registration and voting (in addition to early voting)at the student union of that university (in addition to other places where grace period registration and voting and early voting are allowed).

For this purpose, “public university” means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University and Northeastern Illinois University.

For Further Information

You should contact your election authority to find out the exact locations and hours for voting.

A list of election authorities with their contact information can be found at:

ANY QUESTIONS?

Contact Equip for Equality at 1-800-537-2632 (TTY: 1-800-610-2779) or