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HB 2800

Requiring PSC modify processes regarding trash hauling rates

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rick Hillenbrand and 4 co-sponsors

The bill shortens provisional ballot validation to 7 days after Election Day, requiring faster counting and canvassing while preserving existing eligibility rules.

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Bill Summary · HB 2800

Summary — HB 2800 (ELEC CD — Provisional Ballots)

Status: Referred to Rules Committee
Introduced: February 13, 2025 (sponsored by Rep. Tony M. McCombie)
Subject: Amendments to the Illinois Election Code regarding validation and counting of provisional ballots

Purpose / Intent

The bill shortens the legally allowed timeframe for county election authorities to validate and count provisional ballots after an election. It makes conforming edits to related Election Code provisions that reference the validation timeline.

Key provisions

  • Shortened validation period:
    • Requires the county clerk or board of election commissioners to complete validation and counting of provisional ballots within 7 calendar days of the day of the election. (Current law uses 14 calendar days.)
  • Canvass timelines:
    • The county clerk/board has 7 calendar days after completion of provisional ballot validation to conduct the county’s final canvass.
    • The State Board of Elections must complete its final canvass of votes for all public offices within 31 calendar days of the election (unchanged).
  • Validation criteria (retains and restates existing standards, with conforming edits):
    • A provisional ballot is valid and must be counted if specified conditions are met, including that the provisional voter:
    • Cast the provisional ballot in the correct precinct (with specified rules for votes for federal/statewide offices cast in the wrong precinct),
    • Submitted an affidavit that includes at least first and last name, house number and street, and signature/mark,
    • Is a registered voter according to information available from identified sources (the provisional voter, election judges, the statewide voter registration database, county records, or Secretary of State records),
    • For certain provisional-ballot situations, did not already vote by mail in that election, or provided required documentation within 7 days of election day (where applicable).
  • Verification process and conflict resolution:
    • The county must seek registration information from the listed sources and make a determination based on the totality of circumstances.
    • Where conflicts exist between the statewide voter registration database and the county’s registration records, the text indicates rules for which record controls (the bill retains language directing which database governs in conflicts).
    • Election authorities may not require provisional voters to complete additional forms or to appear in person beyond the provisional affidavit, nor impose blanket additional documentation requirements on classes of provisional voters.
  • Conforming amendments:
    • The bill amends multiple sections of the Election Code (listed in the bill caption) to align cross‑references and timelines with the 7‑day validation requirement.

Who is affected

  • County clerks and boards of election commissioners — must complete provisional ballot validation and counting more quickly and may need to accelerate inter‑agency checks.
  • State Board of Elections — receives provisional ballot transmission and performs the statewide canvass on the preserved schedule.
  • Provisional voters — quicker resolution of whether their provisional ballots will be counted; certain deadlines (e.g., providing documentation) remain short (7 days).
  • Election judges and local election staff — may face increased workload and tighter deadlines for followup and verification.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • The principal operational change is the reduction of the validation window from 14 to 7 calendar days.
  • Counties retain a 7‑day window after completing validation to perform the county final canvass; the State still completes its canvass within 31 days of the election.
  • The bill makes conforming edits across multiple Election Code sections referenced in the bill caption.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Benefits: faster resolution of provisional ballots could lead to earlier final results and reduced post‑election uncertainty.
  • Challenges: smaller or resource‑limited election jurisdictions may face operational strain to complete verification processes on the shorter timeline; increased need for timely access to statewide and county voter‑registration data and for efficient electronic transmission processes.
  • Legal/administrative: the bill retains procedural protections about not requiring extra forms or blanket in‑person appearances, and it continues to rely on multiple data sources to resolve registration status.

Note: The provided document included unrelated text from an Arizona bill (also labeled “HB 2800”) dealing with fire-insurance cancellation during emergencies. That Arizona text is not part of this Illinois Election Code amendment.

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

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