Raoul proposal expands access to early voting
Legislation would extend early voting, grace period voting to the day before an election
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13th) proposed letting Illinoisans exercise their early voting and grace period voting options up until the day before an election. He presented the measure, Senate Bill 2212, to the Senate Subcommittee on Election Law, which voted last week to send it to the full Executive Committee for consideration.
“Voting is the keystone of our form of government, and we should find ways to make it easier and more convenient whenever we have the capacity to do so,” said Raoul, a champion of voters’ rights who sponsored the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011. “I’ve witnessed voter suppression and eight-hour waits at polling places in other states, and here in Illinois I know we can be more progressive about moving toward maximum voter access.”
Since 2005, Illinois has offered in-person early voting in addition to absentee voting. Currently, registered voters may go to a county clerk’s office or other designated location any time between fifteen days and three days before the election in order to submit a ballot early.
Grace period voting is an option for people who did not register to vote before the close of the registration period for that election or who moved but failed to change their address with the county election authority. During the grace period, a would-be voter may fill out a registration or change of address form and then vote by mail or in person. Grace period votes are counted once the election authority confirms the voters’ eligibility and residency. The grace period currently extends only to the third day before the election.
“With the technology available today, there’s no reason we can’t allow voters to exercise their right throughout the period leading up to an election,†Raoul said. “Our democracy thrives when everyone who’s eligible to vote has optimal access to the ballot box – why make it needlessly complicated?â€
