Republicans challenge Illinois voter rolls
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Voters cast their ballots on the second day of early voting in the 2024 presidential election in Chicago. Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
Three Republican lawmakers want Illinois to turn over voter rolls to investigate potential fraud.
The latest: In a letter to the Illinois Board of Elections, Republican Reps. Mary Miller (R-15), Mike Bost (R-12) and Darin LaHood (R-16) question the accuracy of the state's voter rolls and accuse the state of not complying with the National Voter Registration Act.
- A spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections says the board has until Feb. 12 to respond.
Why it matters: Republicans are suggesting, without evidence, that Democrat-run states like Illinois are rigging elections.
The big picture: On Monday, President Trump said he wants Republicans to nationalize elections in at least 15 states.
- That statement comes after the FBI searched election offices in Fulton County, Georgia, which has been the focus of Trump's baseless claims that he lost the 2020 election due to voter fraud.
What they're saying: "For years, Illinois Democrats have refused to take even the most basic steps to secure our elections," Miller said in a statement. "The state will not require voter ID, continues counting mail-in ballots long after Election Day, and has failed to implement a serious statewide program to clean up voter rolls."
- "These failures undermine public confidence and raise legitimate questions about whether Illinois is complying with federal law."
- Lawmakers also say few, if any, voter removals have occurred after the 2024 election.
How it works: Illinois does not require IDs for in-person voting; it relies on signature matches and registration checks. In special cases, election judges may request identification.
The intrigue: The letter comes just days before early voting begins for the midterm cycle in Illinois.
Zoom in: The letter follows an inquiry sent by the House Administration Committee in January, which accused the Illinois State Board of Elections of failing to provide data to the Election Assistance Commission, an independent, bipartisan federal agency created after the 2000 election to improve elections.
Yes, but: Illinois runs its own elections, not the federal government. The state has no legal requirement to provide voter data.
- Also, claims of election fraud have been unsubstantiated in the past.
Zoom out: This isn't the first election-related objection the GOP has filed in Illinois. Rep. Bost was a co-plaintiff in a 2022 lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections, which alleged that Illinois' practice of counting mail-in ballots after Election Day violates federal law.
- The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that Bost could move forward with the suit, potentially opening the door to more lawsuits challenging election outcomes.
The bottom line: As Trump and Republicans intensify accusations of election fraud, Illinois may have to defend its process well into the 2026 election season.