The 2026 Second Chance Index
How Illinois ranks for second chances
Illinois ranks 24th of 51 (tied) in the 2026 Second Chance Index, scoring 66 out of 100 for clearing a record, voting rights and where its felony line falls. That's 4.5 points above the median state (61.5). It shares the rank with Ohio.
Built from Illinois's record-clearing, voting and felony-class records, last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
66 out of 100
- Clearing a record
- 37 / 50
- Voting rights
- 22 / 30
- Where the felony line falls
- 7 / 20
Every point Illinois earned and missed
Each line is a field we publish about Illinois, checked against state law and official guidance. The points are the index's; the method lists every one.
Clearing a record
37 of 50 points| What we score | Illinois | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Some records clear automatically | Automatic clearing passed, not yet in effect | 5/15 |
| A general route to clear a felony | Yes | 12/12 |
| A general route to clear a misdemeanor | Yes | 8/8 |
| A way to clear a case with no conviction | Yes | 8/8 |
| A fee waiver on at least one route | Yes | 4/4 |
| A DUI conviction can be cleared | No | 0/3 |
Voting rights
22 of 30 points| What we score | Illinois | Points |
|---|---|---|
| When the vote comes back after a felony | After prison | 22/30 |
Where the felony line falls
7 of 20 points| What we score | Illinois | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Theft becomes a felony at | More than $500 | 2/10 |
| Repeat DUI becomes a felony | From the 3rd offense | 5/10 |
Where the 34 missing points are
- 10Some records clear automatically: Automatic clearing passed, not yet in effect
- 8When the vote comes back after a felony: After prison
- 8Theft becomes a felony at: More than $500
- 5Repeat DUI becomes a felony: From the 3rd offense
- 3A DUI conviction can be cleared: No
The index scores what state law says, not how courts apply it. A lower score doesn't mean Illinois offers no relief; its pages list every route.
States ranked near Illinois
- #22North Carolina68
- #23Montana67.5
- #24Illinois66
- #24Ohio66
- #26Kentucky61.5
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "How Illinois ranks for second chances" https://secondchanceindex.com/state-rankings/illinois, checked October 29, 2026.