What's in the SB 1863 Bill Pending Governor's Signature About Voting?

(From the Illinois League of Women Voters summary.) 

​Significant strides in ensuring wide access to voting were made when SB 1863 passed both the House and Senate of the General Assembly. This bill now awaits the Governor’s signature in order to become law. Major provisions of the bill that apply to all election authorities include:

• Registered voters may apply for a ballot online as soon as the bill is signed into law;
• Expands vote-by-mail by automatically sending ballot applications, no later than August 1, 2020, to those who applied to vote in 2018, 2019, and March 2020 either by mail or voted in person at the polls.
• New registrants or change of address registrants will be allowed to apply for a mail-in ballot at time of registration;
• Mandates a statewide vote-by-mail public education program in cooperation with the Secretary of State office, State Board of Elections and local election authorities;
• Allows Election Authorities to establish a 3 member election judge panel to process (not tally) mail-in ballots as received. This 3 member election judge panel must be unanimous in its decision to reject a completed ballot;
• Election Authorities will accept mail-in ballots even if insufficient or no postage.
• Election Authorities may establish collection sites for postage free return of mail in ballots;
• Expansion of early voting hours will include weekends and holidays;
• Recruitment of election workers as young as 16, to avoid putting elderly workers at risk should there be a resurgence of COVID-19;
• Those receiving unemployment payments may be paid as an election judge without penalty;
• Election Day on November 3rd 2020 becomes a state holiday allowing schools to safely be used as polling places;
• Each polling site must comply with Illinois Department of Public Health safety and health practices;
• Curbside voting will be allowed as a safe alternative to in-person voting;
• Local Election Authorities will be able to apply for reimbursement for funds incurred by implementing the bill. 

The Illinois League says, "SB 1863 is a step in the right direction to increasing wide access to the polls. Importantly, the provisions of the bill are only for the November 2020 election. LWVIL advocacy must continue in the future to work towards the goal of a ballot being sent to every voter. LWVIL will work with local Leagues on partnering with their local election authorities and educating voters about the new law. Voter access is not a partisan issue, but a right that the League has championed for 100 years, and we are not done yet."