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Read. Follow. Verify.Illinois Prohibits Firearms in Polling Places and Establishes Misdemeanor Penalties
Last action · May 8, 2026: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha DeuterSponsors: Bob Morgan and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Illinois House Bill 34 criminalizes carrying or possessing a firearm inside any polling place, making violators guilty of a . The prohibition exempts peace officers acting in the performance of their official duties.
Voters and election workers face criminal penalties for bringing firearms into voting locations, altering the legal rules regarding weapon possession at polling sites across the state.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Voters and General Public
Individuals are prohibited from carrying or possessing firearms inside polling places and face criminal misdemeanor charges for non-compliance.
Peace Officers
Law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their official duties are explicitly exempted from the firearm prohibition.
Election Workers
Poll workers operate in voting locations where unauthorized firearm possession is newly prohibited and classified as a misdemeanor.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is exempt from the firearm ban in polling places?
What is the penalty for violating the polling place firearm prohibition?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
15 actions- May 8, 2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha Deuter
- Mar 27, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- Mar 27, 2026HouseCommitteeRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- Feb 11, 2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Gun Violence Prevention Committee
- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommitteeAssigned to Gun Violence Prevention Committee
- May 31, 2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
Show 9 earlier actions
- Mar 21, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- Mar 21, 2025HouseCommitteeRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- Feb 25, 2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Criminal Committee
- Feb 13, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- Feb 13, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Bob Morgan
- Feb 4, 2025HouseCommitteeAssigned to Judiciary - Criminal Committee
- Jan 9, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Rules Committee
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroducedFirst Reading
- Dec 6, 2024HouseIntroducedPrefiled with Clerk by Rep. Bob Morgan
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
ftp.ilga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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