HB0045 Summary

• Amends the Election Code (Sections 19-4, 19-8, and 19-10) to modify vote-by-mail ballot procedures, including signature verification methods and ballot processing timelines.

• Changes signature verification from comparing ballots to "permanent voter registration record cards" to comparing signatures "on file with the office of the election authority" for vote-by-mail ballots.

• Modifies the Judicial Circuits Districting Act of 2022 and Circuit Courts Act to correct drafting errors, including removing Lake County precincts inadvertently included in the 22nd Circuit's subcircuit 1.

• Converts remaining at-large judgeships in the 6th and 17th judicial circuits to resident judgeships, similar to the 3rd and 19th circuits, and clarifies that boundary changes do not affect incumbent judges' tenure or retention rights.

• Increases Cook County resident circuit judges from 165 to 220 and adds 55 additional resident judgeships created from associate judge vacancies occurring after June 1, 2023.