State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is pushing a change to the Illinois Constitution that would require citizenship to vote in any election.
In response to growing efforts to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, Bryant has unveiled Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 14, which would eliminate perceived vagueness that activists have capitalized on to push voting for non-citizens.
Bryant says voting is one of the most important rights, and responsibilities, we have as citizens of the U.S. She reports recent proposals to allow non-citizens to vote in local and municipal elections have gained traction.
A city ordinance proposed in the Chicago suburb of Evanston would allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections for mayor and city council. Another proposal filed in the Illinois Senate would extend voting rights to non-citizens in school board elections.
Bryant’s constitutional amendment would remove the words “in State elections” from the third article of the state constitution to make it abundantly clear that U.S. citizenship is required to vote in any election in Illinois.
As a proposed amendment to the constitution, SJRCA 14 would need to be approved by both houses of the Illinois General Assembly by May 5. It would then be placed on the November 5, 2024, General Election ballot to be approved by voters before becoming part of the state constitution.
