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SB 3511

ELEC CD-GENERAL ELEC HOLIDAY

104th Regular Session Introduced by Julie Morrison

General Election Day becomes a statewide holiday with a free online vote-by-mail tracking system and protections for voters in line when early voting ends.

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Bill Summary · SB 3511

Summary of SB3511 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Title: ELEC CD-GENERAL ELEC HOLIDAY

Status: Introduced February 5, 2026 by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

Purpose (as introduced)
- Establish General Election Day as a statewide legal holiday.
- Create a secure, free online tracking system for vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots.
- Ensure voters in line when early voting ends can still cast a ballot.
- Make conforming changes to related procurement, school, and civil service laws.

Key Provisions

1) General Election Day as a State Holiday
- Section 2A-1.1d adds: The general election date—on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years—shall be a State holiday known as General Election Day, observed statewide.
- General Election Day is treated as a school holiday for purposes of the School Code and the State Universities Civil Service Act.
- If a school is closed for General Election Day, the facility may be used as a polling place by an election authority.

2) Vote-by-Mail Tracking System
- Section 19-25 creates a mandate for a secure, free online tracking system (by January 1, 2026) that allows VBM voters to:
- Track delivery and receipt of their mail ballot by the election authority.
- Determine whether their ballot was accepted for counting, and if not, the reason for rejection.
- The system must be available to all VBM voters from when ballots are accepted until 5:30 days after completion of the canvass (i.e., a multi-month window around canvass).

3) In-Person Voting Timing – In-Line Voters
- Section 19A-15(b) requires election authorities to allow any voter who is in line when an early voting polling place closes to cast a ballot.

4) Changes to Administrative Code and Related Statutes
- Illinois Procurement Code: conforming changes to reflect the new holiday and election-day-related processes.
- School Code: align holidays (General Election Day) with school calendars and potential polling-place use.
- State Universities Civil Service Act: align holiday observances with the General Election Day provision.

5) Other Election-Related Provisions (Existing framework referenced)
- The bill amends multiple sections to integrate the General Election Day holiday with school schedules and civil service provisions, and to standardize counting and processing windows consistent with the new holiday status.

Effective Date
- Effective immediately upon becoming law.

Impact and Implications

  • Voters:

    • General Election Day becomes a state holiday, potentially affecting school and some government office operations while ensuring election-related activities are prioritized.
    • A new, secure, free online system will enable voters to track their vote-by-mail ballot and understand its status, increasing transparency and confidence in the mail voting process.

  • Election Administration:

    • State Board of Elections must implement the tracking system by January 1, 2026, in coordination with local election authorities.
    • Election authorities must accommodate voters in line at the close of early voting, reducing the risk of disenfranchisement for those still waiting to vote.
    • The holiday designation could affect scheduling for schools and workplaces, particularly around Election Day.

  • Schools and State Agencies:

    • General Election Day is recognized as a school holiday; schools closed for the holiday may serve as polling places.
    • Conforming updates to procurement, school, and civil service policies to reflect the holiday and election-day processes.

Notes
- The act includes several conforming references to previously enacted General Election Day holidays (e.g., 2020, 2022, 2024) and updates related definitions of “holiday” for computation of deadlines.

Conclusion
SB3511 seeks to modernize Illinois’ election framework by codifying General Election Day as a statewide holiday, expanding voter choice and accessibility through enhanced vote-by-mail tracking, and ensuring protections for voters who are in line when early voting ends. The provisions are designed to improve transparency, participation, and efficiency in the administration of elections.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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