Voting Access Scorecard - Illinois
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Illinois. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Illinois ranks 11. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 20 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later 10 ILCS 5/6-29, 10 ILCS 5/5-5, 10 ILCS 5/4-6, 10 ILCS 5/5-50, 10 ILCS 5/6-100, 10 ILCS 5/4-50: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ChapterID=3&ActID;=170; Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/registervote.pdf | Y |
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| State offers Election Day registration 10 ILCS 5/6-29, 10 ILCS 5/5-5, 10 ILCS 5/4-6, 10 ILCS 5/5-50, 10 ILCS 5/6-100, 10 ILCS 5/4-50: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ChapterID=3&ActID;=170; Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/registervote.pdf | Y |
| State has automatic registration Common Cause: http://www.commoncause.org/press/illinois-becomes-10th-state.html?referrer=https://t.co/lwnz3y6wOA | Y |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/DRGuide.pdf | N |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes 10 ILCS 5/4-6.2(b), 5/16.2(b), 5/6-50.2(b): http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=001000050HArt%2E+4&ActID;=170&ChapterID;=3&SeqStart;=11000000&SeqEnd;=15300000 | N |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Locations determined by local officials. Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/EarlyVoting.pdf | V |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Hours determined by local officials. Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/EarlyVoting.pdf | V |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/EarlyVoting.pdf | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/EarlyVoting.pdf | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformation/pdf/votebymail.pdf | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformation/pdf/votebymail.pdf | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/VotingByMail.aspx | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Illinois State Board of Elections: http://elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/VotingByMail.aspx | N |
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| State allows voters to register online Illinois State Board of Elections: https://ova.elections.il.gov/ | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/PollingPlaces.aspx | N |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/InfoForVoters.aspx | N |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/InfoForVoters.aspx | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/InfoForVoters.aspx | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/InfoForVoters.aspx | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form Illinois Administrative Code 216.50: ftp://www.ilga.gov/JCAR/AdminCode/026/026002160000500R.html | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | N |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | Y |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Illinois State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/AboutTheBoard/PDF/ElectionIntegrity_2017_July_7.pdf | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete 10 ILCS 5/3-5: http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K3-5.htm | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration 10 ILCS 5/3-5: http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K3-5.htm | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole 10 ILCS 5/3-5: http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K3-5.htm | Y |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail 10 ILCS 5/24A-16: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/001000050K24A-16.htm | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training Prior to serving, all the judges must have completed at least 4 hours of training, passed an exam, and taken an oath. 10 ILCS 5/13-2.2, 5/13-8, 5/14-4.1(6); 5/14-7: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ChapterID=3&ActID;=170 | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification Illinois State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/VotingSystems.aspx | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Illinois State Board of Elections: http://www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/VotingSystems.aspx | Y |
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