Restoring the Right to Vote for Incarcerated Citizens
This groundbreaking legislation is critical to creating a more inclusive democracy in Illinois by restoring voting rights to individuals in prison and expanding civics education within our correctional system.
We are proud to work with our partners in the Unlock Civics Coalition to get this passed in 2025 in Illinois.
The Reintegration and Civic Empowerment (RACE) Act is transformative legislation that would restore voting rights to incarcerated individuals just 14 days after conviction. It also ensures access to vote-by-mail for those in custody and expands civic education to the first year of incarceration, empowering individuals to engage with democracy from the start.
Why It Matters
Felony disenfranchisement is a relic of Jim Crow that disproportionately silences communities of color. In Illinois, Black individuals account for 55% of the prison population despite making up just 15% of the state’s overall population. This systemic inequity undermines democracy and silences entire communities.
When incarcerated individuals cannot vote, they lose the ability to hold elected officials accountable. This perpetuates injustices like inhumane prison conditions, harmful “tough-on-crime” policies, and problematic judicial practices. The RACE Act is a critical step toward addressing these inequities and ensuring fairness in Illinois’ democratic system.
Building on Progress
Illinois has already taken steps to empower incarcerated individuals through the 2019 Civics in Prison Act, which brought peer-taught civic education programs to correctional facilities. Since its implementation, over 270 educators and 5,000 participants have benefitted from the program.
The RACE Act builds on this progress by:
Restoring voting rights 14 days after conviction.
Expanding civic education to the first year of incarceration.
Ensuring access to vote-by-mail for incarcerated individuals.
You can make your voice heard by urging lawmakers to support the RACE Act. Every letter and signature counts in this fight for equity and justice.
Illinois lawmakers must take bold action to show that they are strengthening democracy by making the Reintegration and Civic Empowerment (RACE) Act part of their priority agenda now. The RACE Act would restore voting rights 14 days after conviction, expand civic education programs to incarcerated individuals, and ensure access to vote-by-mail for those behind bars. Your voice is crucial to show lawmakers that Illinoisans demand a fairer democracy. Don’t wait—write to Senate President Don Harmon...
Illinois lawmakers must take bold action to show that they are strengthening democracy by making the Reintegration and Civic Empowerment (RACE) Act part of their priority agenda now. The RACE Act would restore voting rights 14 days after conviction, expand civic education programs to incarcerated individuals, and ensure access to vote-by-mail for those behind bars. Your voice is crucial to show lawmakers that Illinoisans demand a fairer democracy. Don’t wait—write to Senate President Don Harmon...
Right now, thousands of incarcerated Illinoisans are being silenced in our democracy.
The RACE Act would restore voting rights to incarcerated individuals 14 days after their conviction, ensure access to vote-by-mail, and expand civic education programs to the beginning of incarceration.
This isn’t just about Illinois—it’s about setting an example for the nation. Please pass the RACE Act and ensure that our democracy works for everyone.
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