Senator Graciela Guzmán Introduces Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2026 with Support of a Statewide Voting Rights Coalition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2026
CONTACT:
Zindy Marquez
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
zmarquez@clccrul.org
Senator Graciela Guzmán Introduces Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2026 with Support of a Statewide Voting Rights Coalition
This legislation will streamline and strengthen state-level protections against voter discrimination and ensure fair representation for communities of color across Illinois
CHICAGO, IL – In a major step towards protecting democracy in Illinois, Senator Graciela Guzmán has introduced the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2026 (SB 3170). This groundbreaking legislation will streamline and strengthen protections that are no longer guaranteed at the federal level and ensure voting rights for Black and Brown voters and eligible voters whose first language is not English. Long-standing nonpartisan civil rights and voting rights organizations including Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Lugenia Burns Hope Center, CHANGE Illinois, and NAACP East St. Louis Branch worked together to draft this legislation and form the Illinois Voting Rights Coalition that has already garnered support from a dozen Illinois nonprofit and community-based organizations since it was formed at the start of this year.
As federal courts have gutted and narrowed the protections of the federal Voting Rights Act—one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in our country’s history—and civil rights grow increasingly under strain, states must step in to make sure voters are not left vulnerable to discrimination or exclusion. Illinois has the opportunity to take control of protecting the right to vote by codifying and strengthening the core protections of the federal Voting Rights Act into state law.
Illinois’s electoral processes still contain inequities that impact voters statewide. Voter suppression and a lack of language services keeps too many eligible voters away from the polls. These disparities impact Black and brown voters the most.
The Illinois Voting Rights Act will:
Ensure elections in Illinois are fair and accessible to everyone.
Protect Illinois voters against further weakening of federal voting protections.
Strengthen legal tools to combat voter suppression.
Create stronger protections against unfair districts or election systems that prevent Black or Brown voters from having a real chance to elect the candidates they prefer.
Expand language access requirements for voters with limited English proficiency so that every eligible voter can cast a ballot.
“The last year has reminded us that democracy is not self-executing - it requires continued vigilance and strong protections for the fundamental right to vote,” said Senator Graciela Guzmán, chief sponsor of the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2026. “This bill will ensure elections in Illinois are fair and accessible to everyone and protect voters against further weakening of federal protections. I’m proud to champion this bill to help build a democracy that works for all.”
“For too long, communities of color in Illinois have faced systemic barriers to full and fair participation in our democracy,” said Rod Wilson, Executive Director at Lugenia Burns Hope Center. “Our hard-fought and hard-won civil rights that we fought for generations for are being eroded and the right to vote is no exception. Our communities know firsthand the challenges of voter suppression, language barriers, and unfair maps. We cannot allow this dangerous backsliding to continue. This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring that every vote counts and every voter is heard.”
“Illinois must take proactive steps to protect the fundamental right to vote,” said Conner Kozisek, Program Counsel of the Midwest Voting Rights Program at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights. “Over the course of the last decade and a half, the US Supreme Court and federal courts across the country have gutted and narrowed the protections under the federal Voting Rights Act. Many states have already passed their own modern state-level voting rights acts, and Illinois must follow suit to guarantee protections to ensure that every eligible voter—especially in communities of color—can participate in our democracy without facing barriers.”
“The Illinois Voting Rights Act is key for our state to meet the moment and push back against ongoing threats to our democracy,” said Ryan Tolley, Executive Director at CHANGE Illinois. “It gets us closer to a stronger and more equitable democracy that ensures Illinois voters’ voices matter in our elections.”
“Achieving racial equity for Black and Brown people requires us to protect existing voting rights and challenge the current attack on Democracy,” said Robin Carey-Boyd, President of the NAACP East St. Louis Branch. “We have to stand on the side of change and show up at the ballot box to elect people who are representative of the constituents they plan to serve.”
"As federal attacks on voting rights continue to multiply, states must take up the mantle to protect their own voters from discrimination," said Adam Lioz, Senior Policy Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund. "Nearly three-quarters of voters across the country, including 81% of Black voters, want their representatives to prioritize passing a State Voting Rights Act. We urge Illinois residents to contact their senators and representatives to let them know they agree — and the General Assembly must pass the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2026."
For more information about the Illinois Voting Rights Act, click here.
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Illinois Voting Rights Coalition
The Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2026 is supported by a broad, nonpartisan coalition of civil rights, voting rights, disability justice, faith-based, and community organizations across Illinois: Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; Lugenia Burns Hope Center; CHANGE Illinois; NAACP East St. Louis Branch; Access Living; Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community; Common Cause; Faith Coalition for the Common Good; HANA Center; Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative; NAACP Chicago Far-South Suburban Branch; Northside Action for Justice; People Matter; South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI); Westside Rising.
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is a non-partisan, non-profit group of civil rights lawyers and advocates working to secure racial equity and economic opportunity for all. We provide legal representation through partnerships with the private bar, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights. For more information, visit www.clccrul.org.