Even if someone in jail knows that they are eligible to vote, they’ll likely run into the next barrier: difficulty registering to vote. In 30 states, including Alabama and New York, voters have to register before Election Day, and that can be an issue for anyone who misses a deadline because they’re in jail, according to the report.
Illinois is one of the twenty states that allow same-day voter registration, so long as the person votes at the time of registration. That makes it easier for people who are in jail – and everyone – to register to vote. Those in Cook County Jail can participate in same-day voter registration at their polling location inside the facility on Election Day.
Voter ID laws add an additional barrier to people voting in jail, where people are less likely to have valid forms of identification. Many forms of ID that are acceptable to vote are confiscated from people when they are arrested. The report suggests state legislators abolish voter ID laws, or expand the list of valid forms of ID to include those provided by correctional facilities.
The report also cites mail delays, and restricted access to forms and information to check registration status as additional barriers to voting while in jail.
However, this isn’t as much of a problem for Cook County Jail, where administrators submit a list of eligible voters to the Chicago Board of Elections, which then prepares ballot applications to be distributed to those in jail.