Pritzker signs budget, bill pushing Illinois’ 2022 primary to June

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation into law on Thursday that will push back the state’s usual March primary to June and that allows the spending plan for Illinois’ next fiscal year to be implemented by its July 1 start date.

Along with setting next year’s primary date as June 28, Senate Bill 825 also establishes permanent vote by mail registries, changes the title “alderman” to “alderperson” and allows sheriffs outside of Cook County to establish polling locations at their county jails, something the state’s most populous county already does.

“With attacks on voting rights on the rise in states across the nation, Illinois is proud to stand up for a strong, secure, and accessible democracy,” Pritzker said in a statement, also thanking the sponsors of the legislation. “This legislation articulates the rights of Illinois citizens to vote by mail, allows those awaiting trial to cast their ballots, and makes a state holiday of Election Day 2022.”

The bill also establishes a central polling location in counties across the state and enhances cybersecurity standards for the state’s election authorities, according to a news release announcing the signing.

The governor also signed Senate Bill 2800, or the state’s spending plan, into law after issuing an amendatory veto earlier this week to add, and fix, some effective dates in the bill.

Pritzker called signing the $42. 2 billion spending plan a “giant step forward, toward true fiscal stability.”

“We balanced the 2022 fiscal year budget independent of the American Rescue Plan, by working together with tireless lawmakers who went up against the challenges of a global pandemic and passed a budget that meets the moment. Together, we are putting Illinois on the right track.”