Aurora residents may seek election commission referendum

A new movement may be afoot to disband the Aurora Election Commission.

A citizen petition drive is emerging as the latest option, an Aurora alderman says. A proposal last year failed that called for the election commission to put a question on the ballot calling for its own demise.

But 1,000 signatures on a petition to Kane County Circuit Court can start the process of getting a question on the ballot — although DuPage County Aurorans' signatures can't be included, according to the city's legal counsel.

A citizen-initiated referendum also would be required by law to ask “shall the city election law be rejected,” a wording Alderman Lynda Elmore said may confuse residents and have them fearing for their right to vote.

Elmore said she supports disbanding the election commission because of its increasing cost to the city.

The city paid $345,903 in 2010 and $367,560 in 2011 to support election commission costs that weren't covered by Kane County, according to a memo from Assistant Chief of Staff Rick Guzman. In 2012, that amount is expected to rise to $529,041.

Linda Fechner, Aurora Election Commission executive director, directed questions to the commission's attorney, Pat Bond, who did not return calls seeking comment Friday.

While Elmore favors disbanding the election commission, many residents of her ward live in DuPage County, and can't lead the petition drive or sign their support for letting voters decide the commission's future because they don't receive services from the Aurora Election Commission.

“I certainly want it to move forward, but there's not a whole lot I can do to move it forward,” Elmore said about a possible petition drive for a referendum. “I literally would have to secure (signatures) from nonresidents of my ward, and while that's certainly possible, it is harder if you don't know people to convince people that what you're doing is for the benefit of the city.”

With the city expected to owe the election commission more than half a million dollars in 2012, Elmore said savings are the main motivator behind the quest to eliminate the election commission.

“Why are we spending all this money when the counties are supposed to provide (election services?)” Elmore said. “That's still my rationale.”

To get a question on the ballot, petitions must be submitted 91 days before an election, Guzman said. The deadline would be Dec. 19 for the March 20 primary or August 6 for the November general election.

Elmore said it's unlikely enough signatures could be gathered before Dec. 19, but some residents have expressed interest in starting a petition drive for the August deadline.