SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, recently supported legislation that would require the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to provide individuals being released from prison with information about their voting rights.
“There is a common misconception that people who have served time in prison are no longer able to vote once they re-enter society, and we need to make sure that people being released from incarceration know their rights,” said Slaughter. “By informing individuals that they have the right to vote, we are encouraging them to engage in their civic duty and become contributing members of society.”
The Slaughter-backed House Bill 3653 requires the IDOC to inform incarcerated individuals of their restored voting rights under the Illinois Constitution upon the completion of their sentence. The legislation also requires the DOC to provide individuals with information on how to register to vote and allows the IDOC to participate in automatic voter registration with the Illinois Board of Elections to help make the process easier and more accessible for individuals as they reintegrate to society.
“Making sure that people who are re-entering society have an understanding of their rights as citizens and how they can participate in our democracy is critical to reducing recidivism and making our communities stronger,” said Slaughter. “This legislation will help citizens exercise their rights and play active roles in building a better future for our state.”
