What does AVR do?

Automatic Voter Registration, commonly known as “AVR,” is a bipartisan initiative, signed into law by former Governor Bruce Rauner on August 28, 2017. AVR establishes electronic voter registration at multiple Illinois state agencies, including at Secretary of State Driver’s Services facilities. The purpose of AVR is to streamline the voter registration process while you interact with a designated AVR agency.

You may have heard some common misconceptions about AVR, however AVR:

• Does not automatically register you to vote without agency interaction;
• Does not allow non-citizens to automatically register to vote; and
• Does not send non-registration information to the State Board of Elections.

How do you become registered through AVR?

As you interact with certain Illinois State agencies, voter registration information may be electronically carried over to a voter registration application in order to minimize the amount of time it takes you to complete the process through a dual-purpose application. When making your dual-purpose application you will be informed if you are already registered to vote and afforded the opportunity to register as a new voter in Illinois or update your current voter registration.

AVR maintains the voter attestation method of registration for the large majority of voter registration applications. Through this method of registration you are asked if you would like to register to vote and are required to affirm certain criteria, such as age and citizenship, and provide your signature. For example, when you are applying for a standard non-REAL ID driver’s license, you would fall into this method of registration.

AVR also creates a new method of registration for people who already prove their citizenship with the documents provided, such as a birth certificate or a passport. Under this method of registration, for example when you apply for a REAL ID compliant driver’s license, you will be automatically registered to vote unless you opt-out. If you fall into this method of registration, you will be afforded the opportunity to decline to register to vote or update your current voter registration.

If you have any questions about AVR, or any other election related laws, please contact us.
Click here for Applicable Law: Public Act 100-0464 [10 ILCS 5/1A-16.1, 16.2, 16.7]
Click here to Register to Vote Online
Click here to Check Your Voter Registration Status Online