Peoria Standard

Challenging the provisions stated in Senate Bill 825, assistant Republican Leader Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) tried to find more answers on the bill that amends the Election Code.

During the House Ethics & Elections Committee hearing, he asked witness Brian Pollock, a representative from the Kane County Clerk’s Office, about permanent mail-in voting.

“Can you talk more about the notion of a permanent vote-by-mail list and the safeguards on removal of voters from that list,” Spain asked. “You mentioned that there would be an exercise to do that but I'd like to learn a little bit more and understand what's required of every election authority,” Spain continued.

Pollack explained that they are alerted “when someone moves out of the county and goes to a different jurisdiction,” and they then handle the records related to these events.

“This is what you do in Kane County?” Spain further asked. “Could it be different in other counties?”

Pollock clarified that he can’t speak for other counties “but state law requires us to do certain things.”

Senate Bill 825 allows voters to apply for permanent vote-by-mail status. They will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the next elections unless they request to be deleted from the list, have moved to another county, or there would be a change in registration status.

The bill was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 17. Some provisions are effective on the same date it was signed and others took effect on July 1.

Spain has argued that the bill was not meant to empower voters but was crafted as a 'protection for redistricting.'