History is made as detainees in Illinois were allowed to vote in a Presidential Election. They cast their ballots on Oct. 19, 2020. In Chicago, the Cook County jail served as a polling station for those awaiting hearings and trials. Officials said they half of the jail population to vote — about 2,000.
Inmates exercised their right to vote in the Primary Election in March.
Gov. Jay Robert Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2090 into law, reports the ACLU on Aug. 21, 2019.
The Bill not only made way to allow detainees to vote, but it also provides for educating inmates about voting and their rights as a returning citizen.
Rev. Jesse Jackson and the ACLU have been fighting for these rights for years. Detainees will not be excluded from having equal access to the ballot box.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
WHDH Boston News: Illinois inmates cast their votes in 2020 election
ABC7 Chicago: Cook County Jail detainees awaiting trial vote in Illinois primary for 1st time
ACLU: ACLU CELEBRATES GOV. PRITZKER SIGNING SENATE BILL 2090, EXPANDING VOTING IN JAILS
Featured Image Courtesy of pmonaghan’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Eric Allix Rogers’ Flickr Page – Creative Common License
