Kane County Reporter

Devin Corbett, chairman of the Aurora Township Republicans, has expressed concerns over Illinois' approach to election integrity. He said that the state appears to be defying President Trump's executive order, potentially leaving its elections vulnerable to fraud. Corbett's remarks were made in an interview with the Kane County Reporter on April 2.

"Illinois appears to be openly violating President Trump's executive order Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections by refusing to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship during voter registration," said Corbett. "This apparent disregard for federal directives undermines efforts to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in American elections. By not enforcing photo ID requirements or verifying citizenship documents, the state leaves its elections vulnerable to fraud and outside interference. Illinois must prioritize election integrity and comply with federal standards to restore public trust in the democratic process."

According to Capitol News Illinois, despite a new executive order from President Trump requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, Illinois voters in the April 1 consolidated elections were not required to provide such documentation. Under current Illinois law, as per the National Voter Registration Act, voters are only required to sign a sworn statement affirming their citizenship and are not mandated to present photo identification at polling stations. The executive order calls for updates to federal voter registration forms and threatens to withhold election funds from non-compliant states. Acceptable documents for proving citizenship include passports, REAL ID-compliant licenses, and certain military or government-issued IDs.

A post on the White House website dated March 25 outlined the Executive Order titled ‘Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.’ The Order emphasized that "free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic." It further said that "the right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election."

The Illinois Policy Institute reported on recent legislative efforts aimed at granting voting rights to noncitizens. According to the Institute's findings, over 43,000 migrants currently reside in Chicago and approximately 425,000 noncitizens live in Illinois. Recent proposed legislation included Senate Bill 1345 in 2023 which would have allowed noncitizens with children attending school to vote in local school board elections. Additionally, a failed ordinance introduced in late 2023 in Evanston’s City Council sought to permit noncitizens with defined legal status to vote in local elections.

Corbett was first elected as Chairman of the Aurora Township Republican Party in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Aurora Township voters."