Governor Signs Law Making it Easier for Inmates to Vote

Governor JB Pritzker has signed a package of legislation expanding voting rights, civic engagement and educational and rehabilitation programming in Illinois’ criminal justice system.

Senate Bill 2090 expands voter access and education efforts in jails across the state. The new law takes the following steps:

• Directs county jails and local election officials to establish a process that allows detainees awaiting trial to cast their ballots during elections
• Establishes a temporary polling place at the Cook County Department of Corrections
• Directs the Illinois Department of Corrections and county jails to provide a voter registration application and detailed information about their voting rights, including notification that their voting rights have been restored, to any person in custody eligible to vote for those being released
• Clarifies that for in-person voting, non-partisan poll watchers are limited to one per division within the jail, instead of one per precinct and requires in-person voting to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act

SB 2090 takes effect immediately.