HB0439 Summary

• Creates a pilot program for DuPage County allowing election authorities to obtain driver's license photographs from the Secretary of State to verify voter identity and affix pictures to poll books on an opt-in basis, with the program to be established before the 2018 general election.

• Removes provisions allowing voter registration or address changes at any early voting site beginning 15 days before elections; restricts these changes to the election authority office, permanent polling places, or designated registration locations.

• Modifies grace period registration requirements in counties with less than 100,000 residents and no electronic poll books, changing the threshold from 20% of county "residents" to 20% of county "registered voters" for mandatory grace period voting sites.

• Permits votes by mail to be processed as they arrive and requires election authorities to have more than 15 days to process mail ballots; removes the provision allowing early voters to vote at any early voting site.

• Requires any individual challenging petition validity to notify the applicable election authority when filing a court challenge contesting the election authority's decision.