OK. Where were we? A month ago we were preparing to vote in the Consolidated Election. Where are we now?
We’re not sure if “Congratulations!” are in order, considering a year of pandemic reactions that closed schools, locked down businesses and created health issues way beyond COVID-19, all challenges that may have prevented voter interest and turnout in an election that attracted more hopefuls than we ever remember Many folks have been wondering, what’s next?
For one thing, news on April 26, 2021, was expected that Illinois lost a seat in the U.S. Congress because of declining population according to the 2020 Census results. Time will tell how the districts will be redrawn from 18 Congressional seats to 17. So where’s some good news?
First, let us list the victors in the Consolidated Election. We urge all residents to get to know them. They are your fellow residents; perhaps friends and neighbors; maybe even family. Pay attention to the folks who will be setting public policy and approving budgets. As the Election Judge always reminds us at City Hall, local elections are votes for your pocket book. Read your tax bill carefully when it arrives.
The Results
Voters reelected Councilman Benny White and added three newcomers, Ian Holzhauer, Paul Leong and Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, to the 9-member Naperville City Council for the next four years.
Four newcomers, Mary Gibson, Leslie Ruffing, Alison Thompson and Rhonda Ansier, were elected to four-year terms on the 7-member Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners.
Amanda McMillen was elected for her first four-year term, joining three incumbents – Kristin Fitzgerald, Donna Wandke and Charles Cush – on 7-member School District 203 Board of Education.
Two incumbents, Susan Taylor Demming and Laurie Donahue, and two newcomers, Supna C. Jain and Alison Fosdick, will make up the 7-member School District 204 Board of Education.
Voter Turnout
Voter turnout always has been a disappointment in Illinois, especially for Consolidated Elections. We can’t even begin to calculate the costs in time, energy, yard signs and promotional pieces that went into four elections with a total of 39 candidates for 2021. (Sometime soon we’ll address public forums via Zoom with some thoughts to streamline those demands for candidates and the viewing public.)
We’ll give voters a little slack for the past two elections, both held during this nasty pandemic.
But wouldn’t you think with so much focus on recent election challenges, H.R.1, Georgia and on and on, voters would begin to see the importance of informed votes and making every vote count?
OK. You have a right to vote. And you have a right not to vote. We agree. In fact, write-in votes and “no” votes have been a feature of our ballots every time we’ve voted when we’re not satisfied with the qualifications of candidates. Straight ticket? Not a chance.
Yet, even with the pandemic we wonder. Why does any voter need 40 days in advance of an election to send in a mail-in ballot? Why do we need 20 days of early voting? And what’s wrong with Voter ID?
OK. We hear the cries with vitriol and accusations as we remind citizens that voting is a States Right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
But wait! On April 23, a story in the Wall Street Journal led us to an online “Statement of Secretary of State Bill Gardner regarding the Impact of H.R. l on New Hampshire Elections.” Gardner is a Democrat who has been overseeing voting in his state since 1976.
Fact filled with information that dates back to New Hampshire Constitution written in 1783, Gardner’s eye-opening statement is chock full of reasons why making voting easier does not necessarily lead voters to the polls.
According to Gardner, it’s all about trusting the process and having faith that every vote matters.
Gardner stated, “New Hampshire has had the third highest voter turnout in the country for each of the last four presidential elections. Compared to our third-ranking in the country, California has ranked 46th, 49th 49th and 43rd for turnout in the last four presidential elections. You can review these statistics on our website homepage at www.sos.nh.gov.
“New Hampshire has a solid track record for running sound and trouble free elections that do not warrant this type of federal meddling (found in H.B.1).”
Election Day Memories
When I first voted as a young adult living in New York City, my employer gave us the day off. For several elections thereafter, I recall standing in a long line that wrapped all around the block before the entrance to the school where our precinct voted. Back then I considered it a privilege to vote for our freedom of choices on Election Day. And I still do.
In our view, it’s disappointing that recent investigation into election turnout doesn’t match up to the local promotion of longer voting periods. We tried not to be too quick to pass judgment. Voting comes with a cost in so many ways. We hope you’ll think about it.
– Stephanie Penick, PN Publisher
