Consolidated election on April 7 is critical.

The Doings Newspaper

January 29, 2009

Consolidated election on April 7 is critical:
Don't sit this one out.


More than 56 percent of the U.S. voting-age population turned out for the Nov. 4 presidential election. Voters studied each candidate's positions on issues and made their choices accordingly.

How great would it be for your community to see such an enthusiastic turnout in the April 7 local election? How much better would it be if each resident took as much care in seeking out the stances that local candidates have on issues?

Sadly, a much smaller percentage of eligible voters turn out for local elections, which is a shame since these elections impact residents the most.

The April 7 election is consolidated, meaning there may be any combination of positions: school board, city council, village board, mayor or village president, township posts and positions on library, park and fire boards. Many are uncontested, already a sign of lack of interest. But there are still important choices to be made by the voters.

The leaders elected on April 7 will have the final say on how big your tax bills will be. They will decide whether to offer incentives to bring or keep business. They will set the course for your child's education. They choose which schools to renovate and which parks to improve. They approve the budgets of their respective governments, budgets that reflect the values of the community.

And with economic pressures forcing local governments to reassess their spending priorities, it is even more important that voters select these leaders carefully.

Many voters who don't have children in the schools may sit out the election for school boards. But that's short-sighted, because school board members make decisions that affect all taxpayers, not just parents of students. The biggest bite of your tax bill goes to schools, and good quality schools contribute to a community's strength and appeal to home buyers.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be profiling the candidates and presenting their views. So look to us as a source for information about candidates.

But first, eligible voters need to register if they have not done so already. To register, you must be a U.S. citizen, be 18 years old by April 7 and be a resident of your precinct at least 30 days prior to the election.

By state law, voter registration in Illinois closes 28 days before an election, or March 10.

Some people might not vote because they will be out of town, or they are physically unable to get to their polling places on April 7. These citizens, however, may vote early or by absentee ballot.

All citizens of voting age who are eligible to vote should exercise that right on April 7. Let's all resolve to educate ourselves about the issues and candidates and boost the turnout to presidential levels.