Illinois Governor Signs Law Making Election Day a Holiday, Expanding Voting by Mail

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Chicago, Ill., on March 20, 2020. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo

The governor of Illinois this week signed legislation that lets voters apply to permanently case ballots via mail and makes Election Day a state holiday.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, said the bill “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.”