HB1244 - Illinois Voting Protection Act

• Creates Article 3A of the Election Code establishing "Rights of Voters" protections prohibiting voting qualifications or procedures that deny or abridge voting rights based on race, color, or language minority status.

• Requires election authorities in "covered localities" (where more than 5% or 10,000 eligible voters are language minority members unable to speak English adequately) to provide voting and election materials in the applicable minority language.

• Establishes procedures requiring election authorities to publish proposed "covered practices" (changes to election methods, district boundaries, polling places, and language services) at least 45 days in advance, hold public hearings, and accept comments for at least 30 days before implementation.

• Prohibits at-large election methods that impair protected class members' ability to elect candidates of their choice; allows voters to challenge violations in circuit court and recover attorney's fees.

• Creates the Voter Education and Outreach Fund to receive penalties from violations (up to $50,000 for first violation, $100,000 for subsequent violations) and allows the Attorney General or affected voters to bring civil actions for injunctions, compensatory damages, and punitive damages.