Chicago Criminal Lawyer Comments on Voting Rights for Felons

This Chicago Criminal lawyer posted here about voting rights for felons.  She wants to remind you that each state has different laws on whether felons can vote, and if so when can they vote and how can they vote.

In Illinois, being a convicted felon is not a bar to voting.  That said, convicted felons are barred from voting while they are incarcerated.  This is the case in every state, except for Maine and Vermont.  Those states do permit convicted felons to vote while incarcerated via absentee ballots.  

Constitution of Illinois:

ARTICLE III 

SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS

SECTION 2. VOTING DISQUALIFICATIONS
A person convicted of a felony, or otherwise under
sentence in a correctional institution or jail, shall lose
the right to vote, which right shall be restored not later
than upon completion of his sentence.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

There is no bar to voting while a case is pending. There is no bar to voting for misdemeanor convictions in Illinois state courts.

Tomorrow is Election Day!