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SB 2243

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2025 Regular Session

SB2243 standardizes and expands transparency for voting: timely voter registration actions, published vote-by-mail rules, judge training, and post-election reporting.

Approved by Governor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2243

SB2243 — Amendments to the Election Code (104th General Assembly, 2025)

Status: Approved by Governor (enrolled and signed March 2025)
Introduced: Feb. 7, 2025 — Sponsor: Sen. Sally J. Turner (co‑sponsors listed)

Summary
This bill revises multiple provisions of the Illinois Election Code to increase timeliness, transparency, and standardization in voter registration maintenance, vote‑by‑mail processing, election judge training, and post‑election reporting/auditing.

Key provisions and changes
- Automatic registration timing
- Requires election authorities to act on National Change of Address (NCOA) information within 90 days when automatically registering voters (revises timing for NCOA‑based registration actions).

  • Voter registration verification schedule

    • Moves the required periodic verification of voter registrations to a specific window: after a consolidated election in an odd‑numbered year but before the first day of candidate petition circulation for the following even‑year primary (replaces “at least once every 2 years” language).
    • County clerks and Boards of Election Commissioners must certify to the State Board of Elections (SBE) that the verification was completed, within 30 days of completion.

  • State Board duties and training

    • Directs the SBE to develop training materials/guidelines for judges of elections to be incorporated into election authority training courses.
    • Clarifies/updates SBE powers to provide uniform manuals, forms, and oversight.

  • Vote‑by‑mail transparency and auditing

    • Election authorities with public websites must publish their vote‑by‑mail processing procedures on the website at least 120 days before a general, primary, or consolidated election.
    • Vote‑by‑mail ballots received after Election Day are subject to audit by the SBE, and the SBE is tasked with providing auditing guidelines.

  • Post‑election reporting and affidavits

    • Section 1‑9.2: Within 48 hours after polls close, each election authority with a website must post the number of ballots remaining uncounted, separated into: (1) ballots cast on Election Day, (2) early ballots received but not counted, and (3) vote‑by‑mail ballots sent but not returned. Update daily until counting period ends.
    • All authorities (even those without websites) must share the same information with the SBE on the same schedule.
    • If delivery of tally sheets to the county clerk is delayed more than 5 hours after polls close, designated judges from each of the two major parties must sign/submit a written affidavit explaining the delay; county clerks must retain affidavits one year and make them available (including posting on the authority’s website alongside the number of uncounted votes).

  • Political party notification

    • The State central committee chair of each established political party must receive prior written notice of the time and place of any random selection procedure and may be represented at that procedure.

Who is affected
- Election authorities: county clerks, Boards of Election Commissioners, and local election administrators — new timing, certification, posting, and recordkeeping requirements.
- State Board of Elections: new responsibilities for training materials, audit guidelines, and receipt/collection of post‑election reporting.
- Judges of election: new training standards and affidavit duties when delays occur.
- Voters: greater transparency about uncounted ballots and vote‑by‑mail procedures; potentially earlier/easier automatic registration actions.
- Political parties: advance notice and representation rights for random selection procedures.

Procedural/timeline aspects to note
- Verification window tied to consolidated odd‑year elections and the candidate petition circulation period for the next even‑year primary.
- Election authorities must post vote‑by‑mail procedures at least 120 days before covered elections.
- Uncounted ballot posting and SBE reporting must begin within 48 hours after polls close and be updated daily until counting ends.
- County clerks must certify verification completion to the SBE within 30 days of finishing the verification.

Potential impacts (practical effects)
- Increased transparency and public access to post‑election information and vote‑by‑mail procedures.
- Greater statewide standardization of judge training and post‑election auditing.
- Additional administrative workload for local election officials (timely postings, certifications, retention of affidavits, and coordination with SBE).
- Potentially faster processing of NCOA‑derived registrations and clearer timelines for voter roll maintenance.

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

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