Voting & Civil Rights

Open book with fist holding scales

Voting & Civil Rights

LGBTQIA+ issues
(6 resources)
Rights of LGBTQIA+ people in Illinois
An overview of LGBTQIA+ rights in areas such as employment, housing, education, and family.
Text article
Bathroom access in Illinois
Learn about the right to access public bathrooms in Illinois, including Chicago and Cook County.
Text article
Updating sex and gender markers on identification
Answers to common questions about sex and gender markers on identification documents.
FAQ
Parental responsibilities or custody in same-sex marriages
A birthing parent's partner can become a child's legal parent, and couples without a birthing parent can adopt a child.
Text article
View all
Voting rights
(5 resources)
Voting in the 2026 General Election
Understand who can vote in the 2026 General Election, voter registration requirements, and how to report voting issues.
FAQ
Voter registration
Get the facts on voter registration in Illinois, including who can register, how to register, and when to register.
FAQ
Voting with a criminal record
Discover how to vote in Illinois with a criminal record or when awaiting trial, and when voting rights return after serving time.
FAQ
Voting in person
Learn about voting in person in Illinois, including polling hours, early voting, ID rules, voter challenges, accessibility, ballot assistance, and time off.
FAQ
View all
Open records
(2 resources)
Freedom of information act or FOIA basics
An overview of The Freedom of Information Act including the state agencies covered, and the information you can or cannot get from the act.
Intro
Submitting a state FOIA request
Learn how to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to a state agency and to appeal the request, if necessary.
How-To
View all
Reproductive rights
(1 resources)
Abortion law in Illinois
Learn more about abortion and reproduction law in Illinois.
FAQ
View all
Other rights
(3 resources)
How can I get out of jury duty?
Explains situations when you can be excused from jury duty or be deferred to a later date.
Text article
My right to free speech and protest
Resources that discuss encounters with police and your rights while demonstrating
Text article
Legal information for Native Americans
A list of government agencies and other resources for Native Americans looking for legal help and information.
Text article
View all