Illinois Election Rules: A Call for Reform
September 30, 2025 • By Lydia Grace
After reading the Election Rules Review—an international voting survey conducted by The Meyers Report—I felt initially intimidated by the report’s depth and detail. However, this intimidation quickly turned into a mixture of interest and concern.
It was disheartening to discover that my home state of Illinois scored only 39 out of 100 points, placing it among the lowest-ranking states in the nation for election integrity.
The 17 Key Risk Areas in Voting
The survey evaluated states based on these 17 risk areas:
- Citizen-only voting
- Same-day registration voting
- Ranked choice voting
- In-person early voting days
- Mail-in ballots allowed
- Qualifying requirements for absentee ballots
- Number of mail-in ballot voting days
- Accepting late ballots
- Ballot harvesting
- Voter ID requirements for voting and registration
- Small precincts
- Paper ballots
- Finger marking (ink stains)
- Manual or machine vote counting
- Routine audits
- Quick results reporting
- Citizen access to voter roll lists
Illinois Falls Short
Voters who care about election integrity can likely see where Illinois is failing in these areas. The Illinois Election Integrity Program, supported by the Illinois Conservative Union, is committed to protecting voters’ rights and fighting for transparency in elections.
Illinois citizens should be concerned about our state’s score of 39. Based on written regulations and laws, this makes Illinois one of the lowest-scoring states in the survey, indicating little voter integrity protection.
The people in charge are not being held accountable for weak election rules. There’s an inconsistent approach to election security among lower-scoring states. Most other nations follow strict voting policies that include no same-day registration, citizen-only voting, in-person voting only, no mail-in ballots, and strict requirements for absentee voting.
Additionally, 92% of nations require photo identification to vote. In contrast, even though Illinois law states you must be a U.S. citizen to vote, Illinois does not require documentary proof of citizenship prior to registering to vote or casting a ballot. Illinois election law relies completely on the “honor system”–the registrant/voter simply checks a box, “attesting” that they are a U.S. citizen.
The Path Forward
The only way to ensure voting transparency in Illinois is to hold those in charge accountable. Illinois has two main election oversight bodies:
- The Illinois State Board of Elections: an independent state agency providing statewide election oversight
- Local election authorities: county clerks and boards of election commissioners who handle local-level elections
We need to start accountability efforts at the local level. This means ensuring that those in charge fully understand and follow the law, demonstrate trustworthiness and honesty–qualities that can then spread throughout all levels of the voting system.
Fair and equal treatment of all votes is essential. This includes verifying that registered voters are legal citizens and ensuring vote counting processes are transparent, regardless of political party. These steps are crucial for maintaining elections that are both fair and impartial.
(For more writings by Lydia Grace, visit her blog: https://phoenixrisingfire.blogspot.com/
This article was proofread using Claude.ai)
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ICU & Judicial Watch Legal Actions: Victories for Illinois Election Integrity!
| GREAT NEWS! Judicial Watch Sues to Enforce Voter Roll Clean Up on Behalf of Illinois Conservative Leaders (Joint Press Release issued by Illinois Family Action, Breakthrough Ideas, and Carol J. Davis) Wheaton, IL (March 6, 2024) – Non profit organizations Illinois Family Action and Breakthrough Ideas; along with lawfully registered Illinois voter Carol J. Davis; join with Judicial Watch in announcing that a federal lawsuit has been filed against the Illinois State Board of Elections and its Executive Director, Bernadette Matthews. At issue is failure to comply with federal law regarding voter roll maintenance (the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, NVRA). The lawsuit was filed in United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Details of the lawsuit can be found in the Judicial Watch press release at this link: https://www.judicialwatch.org/illinois-voting-rolls/ The NVRA requires states to “conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove” from the official voter rolls “the names of ineligible voters” who have died or changed residence. The law requires registrations to be cancelled when voters fail to respond to address confirmation notices and then fail to vote in the next two general federal elections. According to Davis, “The research conducted by Judicial Watch indicates that both the Illinois State Board of Elections and many Illinois counties show a shocking disregard of and lack of compliance with federal law.” Davis went on to say, “There is a crisis of confidence regarding the accuracy of elections among voters in recent years. One of the primary factors contributing to this lack of confidence is poorly-maintained voter rolls. Every serious election official must view maintaining accurate voter rolls as one of their primary duties. The voting public demands this.” Judicial Watch has a prominent national reputation and a successful record as advocates for election integrity. Illinois Family Action (https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/), Breakthrough Ideas (https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/) and Carol J. Davis (https://www.ilpac.org/) are pleased and honored that Judicial Watch has come alongside them to help advocate for properly maintained voter rolls in an effort to ensure honest elections throughout the state of Illinois. |
February 15, 2024: UPDATE – The 90-day period expired today. We cannot give more details at this time, but work is proceeding with Judicial Watch on this issue. Stay tuned.
December 8, 2023: The clock is ticking for the IL State Board of Elections to comply with Federal Law and clean the rolls!
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it sent notice letters to election officials in the District of Columbia, California, and Illinois, notifying them of evident violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, based on their failure to remove inactive voters from their registration rolls…
… The notice letter to Illinois, sent on behalf of Judicial Watch, Illinois resident and voter Carol J. Davis, and Illinois Family Action, states:
- In Illinois’ responses to the EAC’s survey, 23 Illinois counties reported removing fewer than 15—and, in almost half of those counties, zero—voter registrations from November 2020 to November 2022 for failing to respond to an address confirmation notice and failing to vote in two consecutive general federal elections.
- Thirty-four Illinois jurisdictions simply did not report any data about such removals.
- Fifteen Illinois jurisdictions have more voter registrations than citizens of voting age.
In total, 57 Illinois counties that either reported removing 15 or fewer registrations or failed to report any data at all under the NVRA’s change of address removal procedures. These 57 counties contain over five million registered voters. [See entire Judicial Watch Press Release here.]
This is GREAT NEWS for Illinois! We’ll know by February 15, 2024 if Illinois will comply with Federal law, or if we have to proceed with a lawsuit. Stay tuned.
August 18, 2023: Clarification Regarding Statement Displayed During “Lindell Election Summit”
This is to clarify a statement which was displayed on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, during the “Lindell Election Summit” broadcast. The individual who presented the statement is not affiliated with and is not a spokesperson for ICU. The statement was in regard to the lawsuit settlement in Illinois Conservative Union v Illinois State Board of Elections. The statement might be misinterpreted to mean that the ICU settlement agreement would apply to the general public, when it in fact it only applies to Illinois Conservative Union and our attorneys at Judicial Watch. The statement which might be misinterpreted reads as follows:
“On July 20, 2023, Judicial Watch / Illinois Conservative Union vs. The State of Illinois won a settlement that will give the citizens of Illinois long sought after access to the Illinois Voter Rolls that include 15 years of voter history. BIG WIN!!”
The settlement was between ICU and the Illinois State Board of Elections, not “the citizens of Illinois”. Therefore, as a result of the settlement, Illinois Conservative Union is given access to the Illinois voter roll data through 2026, including 15 years of voting history of those included in the registration list. This data is subject to a non-disclosure agreement between ICU and the State. This suit did open the door to now allow all citizens in Illinois access to the statewide registration list, albeit with redactions such as address and date of birth information.
If citizens would like to assist in the process of verifying and validating the Illinois voter rolls, consider getting involved in our Illinois Election Integrity Program (www.ieip.org), or become an official Precinct Committeeman within your political party organization. ###
July 21, 2023: Judicial Watch & Illinois Conservative Union: Settle Voter Roll Lawsuit with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
See:
Judicial Watch Press Release 7/21/2023 https://www.judicialwatch.org/illinois-settles-voter-roll-lawsuit/
The Federalist (new): https://thefederalist.com/2023/07/24/court-illinois-must-forfeit-voter-roll-data-to-conservative-group/
Two federal courts have recently found that states have no sovereign immunity under the Elections Clause (new) https://electionlawblog.org/?p=135034
June 1, 2021: ICU Lawsuit UPDATE: Illinois Conservative Union together with Judicial Watch announce that a federal court has ruled that our lawsuit against the state can proceed. The goal of the suit is to ensure that Illinois comply with Federal law regarding cleaning and maintaining Illinois voter rolls. https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-releases/court-rules-voter-rolls-illinois/
September 21, 2020: Illinois Conservative Union together with Judicial Watch announce that suit has been filed in regard to the Illinois State Board of Elections violation of federal election law.
http://www.ilpac.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/092120_FINAL_PR_JW-ICU-File-Suit.pdf
September 21, 2020: Judicial Watch Sues State of Illinois for Refusing to Disclose Voter Roll Data in Violation of Federal Law
https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-releases/illinois-refuses-voter-roll-data/
Start an election integrity task force in your county
This presentation by Tazewell County GOP Election Integrity Task Force is very helpful for those who want to start an EI Task Force in their own county. This is not a public link – only those who have the link can access the video. Please do not share link on social media, in email newsletters or in blast emails. Thank you.