Chapter 12. Voter Assistance

12.D. Options Available For Voters Needing Further Assistance

12.D.4. Assistance From Someone Other Than Election Judges

12.D.4.b. Who May Not Assist a Voter

The assistant cannot be:

  • The voter's employer or agent of the voter's employer.
  • An officer or agent of the voter's union.
  • In addition, when voting by mail, a candidate on the ballot cannot assist a voter, unless the voter requesting assistance is a relation to the candidate, such as:
    • spouse,
    • parent,
    • child, or
    • sibling.


A person who has knowledge that the voter:

  • is not blind,
  • does not have a physical disability,
  • is not illiterate, or
  • does not require assistance because of a language barrier,

cannot assist a voter.

Relevant Illinois State Law

Any voter who declares upon oath, properly witnessed and with his or her signature or mark affixed, that he or she requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, physical disability or inability to read, write or speak the English language shall, upon request, be assisted in marking his or her ballot, by... a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union.

10 ILCS 5/17-14

No person shall secure or attempt to secure assistance in voting who is not blind, a person with a physical disability, or illiterate as herein provided, nor shall any person knowingly assist a voter in voting contrary to the provisions of this Section.

10 ILCS 5/17-14

In the case of a voter with a physical incapacity, marking a ballot in secret includes marking a ballot with the assistance of another individual, other than a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless the voter is the spouse or a parent, child, brother, or sister of the candidate), the voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union, when the voter's physical incapacity necessitates such assistance.

10 ILCS 5/19-5
Vote by Mail

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