Help Restore Voting Rights to People in Prison!

Tell your state rep to vote yes on House Bill 39!

It’s time to restore voting rights to community members in prison.

When people in prison cannot vote, influence policy, or hold elected officials accountable, things like inhumane prison conditions, problematic judges, and “tough-on-crime” policies persist more easily.

Felony disenfranchisement is a relic of the Jim Crow era. Today in Illinois, 55% of people in prison are Black despite Black people making up only 15% of the state’s overall population. Disenfranchising people in prison silences community members, without making anyone safer.

House Bill 39 & Senate Bill 1483 (formerly Senate Bill 828), Voting in Prison, restores voting rights to people incarcerated in Illinois prisons, post-conviction. If passed, House Bill 39 (HB39) would make Illinois the first state to restore voting rights to people in prison, joining Maine, Vermont, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico as places in the U.S. that allow incarcerated citizens to vote.

Send a Tweet to Support Voting in Prison!

The lives of people in prison are influenced by policies made by elected officials and those who are elected are held accountable by their constituents. Help us restore the right to vote for people in prison to hold elected officials accountable with #HB39 bit.ly/supportH39

In 2019, SB2090 was successfully passed, ensuring eligible voters in jail have access to the ballot. Now IL is going even further, pushing to restore the right to vote to people in prison. Help us enfranchise over 30,000 people with #HB39 bit.ly/supportHB39

NOW is the time to tell our lawmakers to support #VotingInPrison #HB39! Just type in your address and VOILA!!! Your lawmaker is asked to support a more inclusive democracy! bit.ly/supportHB39

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Join the Unlock Civics Coalition

Over 80 organizations across the country have signed on in support of House Bill 39, Voting in Prison. Organizational support has looked like hopping on a bus to advocate down in Springfield, sharing updates with members, phone banking, and more.

Join the coalition!

A movement that won’t be silenced.

Read our latest piece in The Fulcrum
“Support for Illinois Senate Bill 828: Voting in Prison” – Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
“Voting rights advocates say it’s time to give convicted inmates the chance to vote” – Chicago Sun-Times
“The Illinois Legislature Is Standing In The Way Of Restoring Voting Rights To 30,000 Disenfranchised Imprisoned People” – Blavity
“Four Reasons Why the Illinois Constitution Allows Voting in Prison” – Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
“Prison polling places? Some lawmakers, advocates want to restore voting rights to those behind bars” – Chicago Sun -Times
“Illinois legislation would allow people to vote while serving felony sentences“ – New Jersey Monitor
“Should people in prison regain their vote? Some in Illinois say yes and hope the country follows suit.” – USA Today
“Youth organizers pressure lawmakers to expand voting rights in Illinois prisons” – WBEZ
“It’s time to unlock democracy for incarcerated Illinoisans” – The Daily Line
“State lawmakers discuss allowing former prisoners to vote” – Austin Talks
“The Right to Vote Should Be Available to Everyone — Including Prisoners Like Me” – Truthout
“Grammy Award Winning Artist John Legend Asks Lawmakers to Restore Voting Rights to Illinoisans in Prison” – The Chicago Crusader