Chambana Sun

Chapin Rose introduced SB0181 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 17, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Election Code. Requires Voter Identification Cards for those who do not have acceptable photo identification. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card. In provisions concerning electioneering at voting precincts, provides that electioneering includes the distribution of food or drinks to voters. Provides that each election authority shall establish procedures for the registration of voters and for change of address during the period from the close of registration for an election until the 7th day before the election (currently, the day of the election). Provides that a polling place shall not be located in any residential building, including, but not limited to, an apartment or dormitory. Provides that election authorities shall establish vote centers in at least 2 locations. Specifies the locations where vote centers shall be located. Provides that each election authority shall keep a secure record of the number of ballots printed and distributed to the judges of election at each polling place of each precinct or district. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall develop standards that each election authority shall implement for the 2026 general primary election, and all subsequent elections, to count and track the number of ballots printed and distributed. Removes provisions allowing voters to apply for permanent vote by mail status. Removes a provision that authorizes election authorities to maintain one or more secure collection sites for the postage-free return of vote by mail ballots. Provides that the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall complete the validation and counting of provisional ballots within 7 calendar days (rather than 14 calendar days) of the day after the election. Provides that specified vote by mail ballots returned to an election authority shall be counted on or before the 7th day after the election. Provides that any person who, during an early voting period, gathers on behalf of another and submits to an election authority more than 3 vote by mail ballots shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Makes other changes."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Illinois Election Code by implementing several changes to voting procedures. It introduces mandatory Voter Identification Cards for voters without government-issued photo IDs and sets conditions and exemptions. It shifts the voter registration deadline from election day to seven days prior and prohibits polling places in residential buildings. Two vote centers are required, with specified locations. The bill removes provisions for permanent vote by mail status and prohibits maintaining secure collection sites for such ballots. It also shortens the timeline for counting provisional ballots and vote by mail ballots to seven calendar days post-election. Moreover, it criminalizes gathering more than three vote by mail ballots during early voting with a Class 4 felony, excluding authorized postal or courier services. Other changes include adjustments to voter assistance documentation, early voting hours, and a repeal of a specific section of the Election Code.

Chapin Rose has proposed one other bill since the beginning of the 104th session.

Rose graduated from the University of Illinois in 1997 with a BA and again in 2000 from University of Illinois with a JD.

Chapin Rose is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 51st Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Kyle McCarter in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB0181	01/17/2025	Amends the Election Code. Requires Voter Identification Cards for those who do not have acceptable photo identification. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card. In provisions concerning electioneering at voting precincts, provides that electioneering includes the distribution of food or drinks to voters. Provides that each election authority shall establish procedures for the registration of voters and for change of address during the period from the close of registration for an election until the 7th day before the election (currently, the day of the election). Provides that a polling place shall not be located in any residential building, including, but not limited to, an apartment or dormitory. Provides that election authorities shall establish vote centers in at least 2 locations. Specifies the locations where vote centers shall be located. Provides that each election authority shall keep a secure record of the number of ballots printed and distributed to the judges of election at each polling place of each precinct or district. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall develop standards that each election authority shall implement for the 2026 general primary election, and all subsequent elections, to count and track the number of ballots printed and distributed. Removes provisions allowing voters to apply for permanent vote by mail status. Removes a provision that authorizes election authorities to maintain one or more secure collection sites for the postage-free return of vote by mail ballots. Provides that the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall complete the validation and counting of provisional ballots within 7 calendar days (rather than 14 calendar days) of the day after the election. Provides that specified vote by mail ballots returned to an election authority shall be counted on or before the 7th day after the election. Provides that any person who, during an early voting period, gathers on behalf of another and submits to an election authority more than 3 vote by mail ballots shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Makes other changes.
SB0182	01/17/2025	Amends the Carbon Capture and Sequestration Title of the Environmental Protection Act. Prohibits a person from conducting a carbon sequestration activity over any federally designated sole source aquifer. Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing a carbon sequestration permit if the Agency knows that the applicant is intending to conduct carbon sequestration activity over any federally designated sole source aquifer. Effective immediately.