Earlier this afternoon, the full Illinois Senate approved House Bill 4469 on a vote of 38-17. The bill expands the opportunity to vote for person being detained pre-trial and provide those leaving prisons in Illinois with a voter registration application and a “know your rights guide” tailored to people with records.
The following can be attributed to Khadine Bennett, Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois:
No matter one’s political views, nothing is more fundamental to participating in our society than voting. House Bill 4469 moves this fundamental notion forward in Illinois by helping to assure that every person eligible to vote in the State of Illinois is able to exercise the franchise.
When Governor Rauner signs this measure into law, Illinois residents – already eligible to vote – being held in pretrial detention and those leaving prison will get to access the ballot box. We applaud Senator Omar Aquino, State Representative Julianna Stratton and other supporters of moving this non-partisan measure forward. We urge the Governor to sign the bill as soon as possible.
