Bill > SB1484

This bill, known as the Facilitating Voting By All Eligible Citizens Act, aims to establish a new approach to voting in Illinois by treating voting as a civic duty similar to jury service, as practiced in over 24 countries, including Australia. The bill recognizes that out of approximately 10 million eligible voters in Illinois, around 8.1 million are registered to vote, and about 5.7 million cast ballots in the 2024 general election. The legislation proposes that all eligible citizens are expected to cast a ballot in every general election, with the flexibility that a blank ballot would satisfy this requirement. Importantly, the bill stipulates that no fines, fees, or penalties will be imposed on eligible citizens who do not vote, making participation mandatory but without punitive consequences. The bill draws its inspiration from the Illinois Constitution's Article III, Section 4, which calls for facilitating registration and voting for all qualified persons, and positions Illinois as a potential national leader in implementing a universal civic voting policy.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1484&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104