New law allows students time off to vote

Posted on January 23, 2020
State Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) credits high school kids with a new law that allows schoolchildren of age time away from class to vote. (PHOTO: WJBC File Photo)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – May I be excused? I have to go vote.

That’s now the law in Illinois schools. High school students old enough to vote are now entitled to up to two hours away from class to cast a ballot – even during early voting.

The sponsor, State Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago), says high school students brought him the idea and recalls a committee hearing at which Republicans pushed back.

“One of the young people said to me, ‘Why do they not want to give us the opportunity to have a say?’” Sims said at Wednesday’s bill signing. “I said, ‘You just got a lesson in civics. You got a lesson in there are some who do not want everybody to have an opportunity to make a difference.’”

The students involved are from Thornton Fractional North in Calumet City, where the governor signed the bill.

The school does have the ability to determine when the student may vote.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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