Most Government Offices Must Close for 2020 General Election Day

Most Government Offices Must Close for 2020 General Election Day

  Thursday, June 18, 2020    Julie Tappendorf

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On June 16, 2020, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Public Act 101-0642 declaring November 3, 2020 as a State holiday known as 2020 General Election Day. The law requires all government offices to close for Election Day on November 3, 2020. There are a few exceptions for the following government offices:

• county clerks;
• boards of election commissioners; and
• government offices authorized to be used as a location to provide election day services or serve as a polling place.           

Schools and state universities will also be closed to observe the 2020 General Election Day as a State school holiday. Schools will be available as polling places, and schools and election authorities must comply with state health and safety procedures. Election authorities using a school as a polling place on Election Day may have their reasonable cleaning expenses reimbursed, subject to availability of federal funds.

The law also provides minimum hours at certain in-person early voting locations during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Additional in-person early voting hours may be established for persons with increased health risks from COVID-19.

The new law also expands vote by mail and makes other changes to facilitate the administration of the 2020 General Election. 

Note that the new law is expressly limited to the 2020 General Election and does not make changes for the April 2021 local government elections.

Post Authored by Daniel J. Bolin and Michael P. Halpin