No patient who has resided for less than 180 days in any hospital or mental institution in this State shall by virtue of his abode at such hospital or mental institution be deemed a resident or legal voter in the town, city, village or election district or precinct in which such hospital or mental institution may be situated; but every such person shall be deemed a resident of the town, city, village or election district or precinct in which he resided next prior to becoming a patient of such hospital or mental institution. However, the term "hospital" does not include skilled nursing facilities.
10 ILCS 5/3-4