Amendment of Municipal Code Title 2 by adding new Chapter 2-200 titled The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance and establishment of The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Advisory Council on Access to Democracy
- Record number: SO2026-0024036
- Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
- Status: Final
- Sponsor: Johnson, Brandon
- Committee: Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight
- Introduced: Mar 18, 2026
- Final action: May 20, 2026
- Official record: Office of the City Clerk
Roll call: Passed May 20, 2026
42 yea, 8 nay. This was a divided vote. On motion of Alderperson Martin, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of May 20, 2026.
Nay (8): Marty Quinn (13), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Silvana Tabares (23), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Nicholas Sposato (38), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), James M. Gardiner (45)
Yea (39): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Monique L. Scott (24), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Scott Waguespack (32), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)
Former members who voted: Jeylu B. Gutierrez (Yea), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (Yea), Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (Yea)
Plain-language summary
Written by AI (@cf/openai/gpt-oss-120b) from the ordinance text only: SO2026-0024036 Substitute Ordinance FINAL.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.
The ordinance creates a new chapter that protects the personal information of city election workers and other government employees from being shared without consent, especially when it could lead to harassment or intimidation. It also establishes an advisory council to study and recommend ways to make voting more accessible and safe in Chicago. Violations can result in fines of $500 to $5,000 per offense.
- It makes it illegal to disclose personal data of government workers if intended to threaten or harass them.
- Violators can be fined between $500 and $5,000 for each day the violation occurs.
- Government workers can sue for damages if their personal information is improperly shared.
- A 10-member advisory council, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, will recommend policies to improve voting access and safety.
- The council must meet at least quarterly and submit an annual report to the mayor and city council.
Who: The ordinance affects city government workers, election staff, and voters by protecting workers' privacy and aiming to improve voting access and safety.
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline
- Mar 18, 2026: Referred, City Council
- May 19, 2026: Substituted, Committee on Health and Human Relations
- May 19, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight
- May 20, 2026: Passed, City Council
Documents
- O2026-0024036 Ordinance.pdf (Legislation)
- SO2026-0024036 Substitute Ordinance FINAL.pdf (Legislation)
- O2026-0024036 Mayoral Letter.pdf (Miscellaneous)
- SO2026-0024036 Committee Letter.pdf (Committee Letter)