Expanding Democracy

Public Act 98-1171

“The highest office in the land is the office of citizen.”

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On July 1, 2014, Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation (Public Act 98-1171) to allow election-day voter registration. The law also extended in-person early voting hours.

View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Landmark Legislation to Expand Voting Opportunities in Illinois.

On July 27, 2013, Gov. Quinn signed legislation to allow Illinois residents to register to vote online.

View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Legislation to Allow Online Voter Registration.

On July 2, 2013, Gov. Quinn signed legislation to give 17-year-olds the ability to vote in primary elections if they would be 18 by the general election date.

View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Legislation to Allow 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Primary Elections.

On March 7, 2011, Governor Quinn signed Illinois’ first Voting Rights Act to protect the voting rights of racial and language minorities.

View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Major Redistricting Reforms.

Following the untimely death of Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka on December 10, 2014, Gov. Quinn signed legislation on January 10, 2015, to give Illinois voters the opportunity to fill statewide elected offices by special election in the case of a vacancy.

View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Legislation to Strengthen Democracy.

Since our nation’s founding, the expansion of the right to vote has been an important part of American history:

  • In 1870, voting rights were extended to former slaves through the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution.
  • In 1920, the right to vote was extended to women with the ratification of the the 19th Amendment.
  • In 1971, the right to vote was extended to 18-year-olds with the ratification of the 26th Amendment.
  • The 24th Amendment in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 expanded the franchise further by striking down artificial impediments to voting, including literacy tests and poll taxes.

View the Governor’s Office Statement on 49th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.