Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-200-010 Title.
2-200-010 Title.
This chapter shall be known as the “The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance”.
(Added Coun. J. 5-20-26, p. 43263, § 1)
THE REVEREND JESSE L. JACKSON SR. FAIR ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY ORDINANCE
Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 2, ch. 2-200
in effectMunicipal Code of Chicago § 2-200-020 Definitions.
2-200-020 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this chapter:
“Advisory Council” means the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Advisory Council on Access to Democracy.
“Election Board” means the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago.
“Government worker” means a temporary or full-time worker of a unit of local government, school district, or board of elections, exclusively within the City, including vote-by-mail processing staff, any individual serving as an election judge, election coordinator, or early voting official, or any other person designated by the Election Board to perform official election duties. The term “government worker” does not include a public employee whose identity, home address, or personal information is a matter of public record by virtue of their official duties, or who holds an elected office or a senior appointed position that requires confirmation by a legislative body.
“Personally identifiable information” means any information that can be used to distinguish or trace a person’s identity, such as name, prior legal name, alias, mother’s maiden name, and date or place of birth in combination with other information that is linked or linkable to a person: such as:
(1) social security number, home address, non-work phone number, non-work email address, or non-public social media accounts; or
(2) medical, financial, or consumer information, data, or records; or
(3) any sexually intimate visual depiction; or
(4) any information that provides access to a person’s teleconferencing, video-teleconferencing, or other digital meeting room.
(Added Coun. J. 5-20-26, p. 43263, § 1)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-200-030 Prohibition on disclosure of personally identifiable information of government workers.
2-200-030 Prohibition on disclosure of personally identifiable information of government workers.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to disseminate, disclose, or publish any personally identifiable information of a government worker without the consent of the government worker, knowing that such information could be used to locate, contact, or target the government worker, if the person acts with the intent to cause death, bodily injury, stalking, harassment, or intimidation of the government worker or a family or household member of the government worker.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with Section 230 of Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. § 230), to prohibit any activity protected under the Constitution or laws of the United States or the Constitution or laws of Illinois, or to prohibit reporting criminal activity to law enforcement authorities. Nor shall this section apply when dissemination, disclosure, or publication is required by any federal, State, or local law or regulation, or court rule or court order.
(Added Coun. J. 5-20-26, p. 43263, § 1)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-200-040 Enforcement and penalties.
2-200-040 Enforcement and penalties.
Any person who violates Section 2-200-030 of this chapter shall be fined not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues or occurs, and each violation committed per day, shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply.
(Added Coun. J. 5-20-26, p. 43263, § 1)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-200-050 Private right of action.
2-200-050 Private right of action.
A government worker whose personally identifiable information is disclosed in violation of Section 2-200-030 of this chapter may bring a civil action against any individual who committed such violation for damages, injunctive relief, and reasonable attorney’s fees.
(Added Coun. J. 5-20-26, p. 43263, § 1)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-200-060 The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Advisory Council on Access to Democracy.
2-200-060 The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Advisory Council on Access to Democracy.
(a) Establishment. There is hereby established the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Advisory Council on Access to Democracy. In addition to an invited member of the Advisory Council from the Election Board, the Advisory Council shall consist of 10 members appointed by the Mayor. Of the initial appointments to the Advisory Council, 3 members shall be appointed for a term of one year, 3 members shall be appointed for a term of two years, and three members shall be appointed for a term of three years. Succeeding appointments to the Advisory Council shall be for terms of three years. All members of the Advisory Council except for the ex-officio members shall be subject to confirmation by the City Council. Initial appointments to the Board shall be introduced to the City Council within 30 days of the effective date of this section.
(b) Composition.
(1) The Advisory Council shall consist of the following members:
The Chief of Policy for the Mayor of the City of Chicago, or their designee, who shall be an ex-officio member of the Advisory Council and shall serve as its Chair;
Nine members, including one member between the age of 18 and 24 years old, with experience in one or more of the following categories: civil rights, disability access, community organizing, election protection, language access, or voter engagement, recommended for appointment by the Chief of Policy with input gathered from the members of the City Council.
(2) The Advisory Council shall invite the Election Board to designate an ex officio member of the Advisory Council.
(c) Purposes. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to study and make recommendations regarding policies and practices that promote safe, fair, and accessible participation in elections within the jurisdiction of the City of Chicago, including, but not limited to:
(1) Accessibility of public infrastructure surrounding polling places, including sidewalks, lighting, signage, and transportation;
(2) Public education and outreach efforts to inform residents about voting rights and registration;
(3) Strategies for connecting with residents who are disengaged from the democratic process and identifying barriers that prevent participation in elections;
(4) Approaches to increasing civic engagement and democratic participation throughout the City, including through partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, and local stakeholders;
(5) Coordination between City departments and election authorities to support safe and accessible voting;
(6) The potential impacts of federal law enforcement activities or other governmental actions occurring near polling places that could interfere with or intimidate voters;
(7) Barriers to voting access within areas subject to City authority;
(8) Recommendations for City policies, practices, or programs that improve access to the polls and protect voters and election workers;
(9) Recommendations for changes to state law or election administration practices and transmit those recommendations to appropriate state officials and the Election Board; and
(10) Recommendation to facilitate dialogue among community organizations, voters, and public officials regarding voting access, voter registration and election safety.
(d) Meetings. The Advisory Council shall meet at least quarterly and may hold public hearings or community meetings as necessary to gather information and public input. A majority of members of the Advisory Council, including the invited member, shall constitute a quorum.
(e) Report. The Advisory Council shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council no later than June 1 of each year, beginning with the first June 1 following the establishment of the Advisory Council. The report may include recommendations directed to the Illinois General Assembly and the Election Board.
(f) Staff support. The Mayor’s Office shall provide administrative support to the Advisory Council and the Advisory Council may request assistance from other City departments, as necessary.
(g) Construction.
(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant the Advisory Council authority over the administration of elections.
(2) No member of the Advisory Council may intentionally perform any prohibited political activity, as the term is defined in Section 2-156-010 of this Code, to the extent such conduct is prohibited under Section 2-156-135 of this Code.
(Added Coun. J. 5-20-26, p. 43263, § 1)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2703645Fetched: 10/24/2026