Voting & Civil Rights

Voting & Civil Rights

LGBTQIA+ issues
(4 resources)
Bathroom access in Illinois
Learn about the right to access public bathrooms in Illinois, including Chicago and Cook County.
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Rights of LGBTQIA+ people in Illinois
An overview of LGBTQIA+ rights in areas such as employment, housing, education, and family.
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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.
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Gender-affirming identification common questions
Answers to common questions about sex and gender markers on identification documents.
FAQ
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Voting rights
(5 resources)
Can I vote if I have been convicted of a felony?
Gives information about your voting rights if you have been convicted of a felony. Also explains how to re-establish your voting rights after a felony conviction.
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Voting basics
Explains the right to vote in Illinois and when elections happen.
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Voting by mail basics
Explains absentee ballots if you are not able to vote in the state, getting a mail ballot, and casting a vote by mail.
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What Illinois voters need to know before Election Day 2024
An article about the most important things Illinois voters should know for Election Day 2024.
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Open records
(3 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.
Guide
Submitting a state FOIA request
Steps to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to a state agency and appealing the request, if necessary.
How-To
Sunshine laws
Manual on the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. 2024 edition.
IICLE
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Reproductive rights
(2 resources)
Your abortion rights in Illinois now that Roe is overturned
Explains changes to abortion access following Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Includes links to legal aid organizations, abortion funds, and maps of state legislation trackers.
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Abortion law
Possible common questions and answers about the abortion and reproduction law in Illinois.
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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.
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My right to free speech and protest
Resources that discuss encounters with police and your rights while demonstrating
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Legal information for Native Americans
A list of government agencies and other resources for Native Americans looking for legal help and information.
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