 “Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking”
My column in the City Quarterly typically covers a single topic or theme. For this issue, I will be departing from the norm a little and talking about two unrelated, but very important issues that are currently facing our community.
The first issue is voter fraud. In the October 2005 issue of the City Quarterly, my column described how, nationwide, our election system has become extremely compromised. There are two schools of thought as to why this has happened. Some believe that incompetency or human error is to blame and others point to fraud.
For this column I will be focusing on voter fraud. The State of Illinois has continued the trend of making it easier for citizens to vote by passing legislation in 2005 that allows voters to cast their ballots earlier than ever before. Early voting for the March 21st general primary began on February 27th and continued through March 16th. Voters were able to appear in person to cast their ballots early without having to provide a reason or an excuse.
Under the new legislation, the election judge or official is not required to verify the signature of the early voter by comparison with the signature on the official registration card. However, the judge or official must verify the following before providing an early ballot to the applicant: identity of the applicant, that the applicant is a registered voter, the precinct in which the applicant is registered, and the proper ballots of the political subdivision in which the applicant resides and is entitled to vote. Applicants are required to present an Illinois driver’s license, a non-driver identification card issued by the Illinois Secretary of State, or another government-issued identification document to prove their identity.
While the new legislation will make it easier and convenient for citizens to vote, it also provides another vehicle for further voter fraud cases. Safeguards are in place to prevent this from occurring as long as election judges and officials follow the proper practices and meticulously verify the proper items.
The early voting legislation does not eliminate the absentee voting option. I am of the opinion that voting by absentee ballot should be the chosen method for only those who truly cannot get to the polls on election day. An example of someone that would qualify for an absentee ballot is an elderly person who is confined to a long-term nursing facility and is mentally competent and eligible to cast their vote. Another example would be our citizens who are stationed overseas, serving their country in the military.
I firmly believe that political decisions should be freely made at the election polls by eligible voters whose votes will be properly and accurately counted, and I applaud the criminal prosecution of voter fraud that has occurred in the Metro East over the past year.
The second issue that is currently facing our community is the subject of impact fees for our schools. While the establishment of these fees is extremely important to our schools, it’s important for the citizens of O’Fallon to understand that there is a process that must be successfully completed before the City Council can fully review and act on the school’s proposal.
In November 2005, the superintendents who represent the four school districts in O’Fallon and Shiloh brought before the City Council a proposal to enact school impact fees. However, impact fees must be based on a plan of action that clearly identifies the facilities needed in the future (needs assessment) and the fee that should be charged to accommodate that growth. The plan is required in order to comply with State Statutes and case law governing this type of fee. The superintendents submitted a partial plan in November and are currently (mid-March) assembling a needs assessment and the land and capital facilities acquisition plan for the four school districts. We anticipate receiving the completed plan in late March or early April and the City Council will immediately
begin its review process.
It is an honor to serve as your Mayor, and I appreciate being given the opportunity to work for the residents of O’Fallon. I am willing to meet one-on-one with anyone who has a concern about any issues related to our city. I welcome your suggestions and comments and encourage you to contact me at 624-4500. It is through your input and dialog on important issues that we will make O’Fallon an even better place to live and work.
Gary L. Graham
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