Pandemic keeps Secretary of State offices closed until next year

The Illinois Secretary of State announced today that offices closed November 17 will now remain closed until week of January 4, according to a news release issued by Jessie White.

"As the health and safety of employees and the public are paramount, we decided to extend the closure of Driver Services facilities until Jan 4, 2021, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic," White said in the statement. "Unfortunately, face-to-face transactions potentially increase the further spread of the virus, and protecting the health and safety of our residents is my top priority."

Offices around the state have been closed since November 17 in anticipation of a surge in COVID-19 infections.

Locally, the Titon and Rantoul offices will remain open with limited services. The Tilton office, located at 5 Southgate Drive, and the Rantoul office at 421 S. Murray Road will continue to have drive-through license sticker renewals. In addition, the inside office will be open for commercial driver’s license (CDL) applications, and new drivers can also register at the facility.

White has expanded online services for the public, which they can take advantage of by visiting www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Some of these services include:

• Renewing a license plate sticker;
• Renewing a valid driver’s license for qualifying drivers;
• Renewing a valid ID card for those age 22-64 (seniors 65 and older have free, non-expiring IDs);
• Obtaining a driver record abstract;
• Filing Business Services documents, such as incorporations and annual reports; and
• Customers with issues involving administrative hearings may contact adminhearings@ilsos.gov.

White said expiration dates of driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended until June 1 of next year.

Senior drivers have up to a year to renew Illinois state drivers license

Secretary of State Jesse White recently announced that Illinois residents 75-years-old or older will have a year to renew their licenses if they expire in 2020. The state is extending the renewal deadline 365 days from the current expiration date in 2020 on the individual's current license.

Illinois requires drivers 75 and older to renew their licenses in person and to take both a vision and road test. The extension allows older drivers to wait until a few weeks before their 2021 birthday to visit a Secretary of State facility to renew their licenses.

"I am mindful of the heightened risks associated with seniors contracting COVID-19 and that is why I have authorized this important change during this challenging and unique time," White explained in a statement released by the SoS.

Drivers whose licenses are suspended or revoked do not qualify for the extension.

There are 147,000 drivers age 75 and older whose licenses have already expired or will expire in 2020. They are being notified by letter of the extension. Licensed drivers are advised to keep the letter with them as further proof that they have been given an extension. Law enforcement agencies throughout the state have been notified that the drivers have been given an extension.

All other Illinois drivers under the age of 75 whose licenses expired earlier this year have until Nov. 1 to renew them.

Secretary of State offices are now closed until March 31

All Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Facilities statewide are now closed as per recommendation by public health experts. Offices will not be open tomorrow and are expected to reopen on April 1.

Because of the closure, expiration dates for driver’s licenses, identification (ID) cards, vehicle registrations and other transactions as well as document filings will be extended by 30 days through an emergency rule.

In an attempt to utilize social distancing, Secretary of State Jesse White said in the release that his "...office will continue to monitor the COVID-19 crisis. Expert advice, news and events involving the virus will influence the reopening date of offices and the Driver Services facilities."

There are three confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in the Springfield area according to Sangamon County health officials. One patient is a 71-year-old woman who is in a intensive care unit, another is a Springfield Park Board member in self-isolation at home. On Sunday, another patient was revealed to be hospitalized in Springfield.

"After careful consideration, it is clear that this decision to close offices and Driver Services facilities is the right one to make for the health and safety of Illinoisans," said White on Monday. "This important action will help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus."

Across Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed 105 individuals out of 1,143 cases tested positive for the Coronavirus. According to the University of Virginia Survellience Dashboard, two patients have recovered from the infection. Illinois has recorded no deaths at this time, while Indiana just reported its first COVID-19 death.

White is reminding residents that many transactions with the Secretary of State’s office may be conducted online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

During the closure Illinois residents are encouraged to go online where they can obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card; renewing a vehicle registration;renewing a standard driver’s license with the Safe Driver Renewal program; and file Business Services documents.