Chicago Votes Action Fund

We are young people committed to dismantling systems that don’t serve us & reimagining new ones. #ParadeToThePolls® #GiveAShitChicago #UnlockCivics #CCJVotes

[State Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. @Repevans33]

Proud to stand with @ChicagoVotes and my colleagues in supporting the Reintegration and Civic Empowerment (RACE) Act (SB2983/HB5414) would expand democracy in Illinois by: Restoring voting rights to people in prison, expanding civic education at the beginning of incarceration, ensuring access to vote‑by‑mail for eligible voters in custody. If passed, Illinois would join Maine, Vermont, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The RACE Act is about fairness, access, and ensuring that every eligible voice is heard. That’s how we build a strongly , more inclusive democracy for everyone.

“𝕀𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕟𝕠 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕪 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕤 𝕒 𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕝 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕛𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕤. 𝔸 𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕓𝕖 𝕛𝕦𝕕𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕪 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕚𝕥 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕤 𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕙𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕟𝕤, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕤.” — ℕ𝕖𝕝𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕄����𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕒

🗣️Let me know what you think about this initiative.

[Chicago Votes Action Fund @ChicagoVotes]

Roughly 55,000 people in Illinois lose their right to vote each year due to incarceration and felony disenfranchisement. This system disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities. Help us protect voting rights by passing the RACE Act.

@DonHarmonIL @SpeakerWelchIL

[Chicago Votes Action Fund @ChicagoVotes]

Roughly 55,000 people in Illinois lose their right to vote each year due to incarceration and felony disenfranchisement. This system disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities. Help us protect voting rights by passing the RACE Act.

@DonHarmonIL @SpeakerWelchIL

[Alexi Giannoulias @Giannoulias]

Proud to have been on this esteemed panel last night talking about the importance of protecting our elections and our democracy, especially in the face of voter suppression attempts coming out of DC. 🗳️
Thank you 40th Ward Dems @ChicagoVotes @ACLUofIL

[Chicago Votes Action Fund @ChicagoVotes]

The voices in the #SilencedSeries are powerful — and necessary. Hear directly from advocates fighting for the #RACEAct and the right to vote in prison.
📺 Full episodes on our YouTube: https://t.co/wIb4Jlv2Kv
#UnlockCivics

[Chicago Votes Action Fund @ChicagoVotes]

The #SilencedSeries amplifies voices from advocates demanding change. It’s time to pass the #RACEAct (SB1733) and restore voting rights to people in prison. Our democracy is stronger when everyone has a voice. 🗳️ #UnlockCivics

[It’s Ms. Corres @mbcorres]

Thank you @ChicagoVotes for organizing the early voting field trip for our @BoganBengal79 students! #earlyvoting2024 #youthvote #firsttimevoters

[Chicago Votes Action Fund @ChicagoVotes]

Join us for RACE Act Lobby Day! 🚨 We’re heading to Springfield on Nov 13th to rally for justice and we need YOU! 💥 Let’s meet with lawmakers, make change, and fight for equity together.

Sign up now to be part of the movement! ✊🏽 https://t.co/9loDqSeOmQ #RACEAct #LobbyDay

[Juliana Stratton @JulianaStratton]

Bottom line, know your rights and spread the word.

Forever grateful to @ChicagoVotes, @ACLUofIL, @ChgoCivilRights, @LWVIL and so many of the coalition who helped make this possible.

Your vote is your power. Use it.

[Saint Xavier Esports @SXU_Esports]

We're proud to have had @ChicagoVotes come out and talk to our team about the upcoming election and the importance of getting out and voting! 🫡🫡🫡

[Chicago Votes Action Fund @ChicagoVotes]

Join us for RACE Act Lobby Day! 🚨 We’re heading to Springfield on Nov 13th to rally for justice and we need YOU! 💥 Let’s meet with lawmakers, make change, and fight for equity together.

Sign up now to be part of the movement! ✊🏽 https://t.co/9loDqSeOmQ #RACEAct #LobbyDay

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

I am looking for people with loved ones in jails or prisons in Hurricane Milton's path. If that's you, and you are willing to talk, reach out at [email protected] Info I have so far is below.

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

Lee County is also NOT evacuating it's jails for Hurricane Milton. The downtown jail is in an evacuation zone.

[Chicago Votes Action Fund @ChicagoVotes]

Keeping people detained during a hurricane in evacuation zones is inhumane for people detained and workers of the jail. We must have better evacuation protocols for ppl in jails to reduce the harm as stronger storms continue across the country.

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

Lee County officials say both their jails are 100% staffed and everyone is in hardened structures. They say water tanks are on hand and they have 2-weeks worth of food. They will move people to top floors in case of flooding.

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

UPDATE: According to Florida Department of Corrections website: "FDC has successfully relocated 4,636 inmates without compromising public safety and additional evacuations are underway."

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

UPDATE: HILLSBOROUGH County Jail (AKA Orient Road) IS evacuating.

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

Manatee County jail says they are also NOT evacuating for Hurricane Milton.

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

I just contacted PINELLAS COUNTY JAIL which is in a mandatory evacuation zone for Hurricane Milton. They told me that as of now they are NOT evacuating but "have a plan in place.

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

Quote: "While we do not give out potential inmate movements, I can tell you we have emergency plans in place should either of our facilities become compromised due to hurricanes or any other type of emergency." (2/)

[Shannon Heffernan @shannon_h]

I called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to see if they were moving people at the jail, who are in a mandatory evacuation zone for the hurricane heading to Tampa, Florida. The answers are vague. (1/)