Take back our election process

I am writing to urge Kane County Voters to vote “yes” for the advisory question on the Nov. 6 ballot. The question on the ballot reads: Should the United States Constitution be amended to limit the use of corporate, special interest and private money in any political activity, including influencing the election of any candidate for public office?

For many years, states and the federal government have been able to control campaign financing. In 2010, the Supreme Court in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruled that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political contributions from corporations and unions. As a result of this decision, super PACs can accept unlimited and undisclosed contributions from individuals, corporations and other special interests. Now we have super PACs with no accountability and billionaires footing the bill for candidates. Our elections are awash in money.

Estimates by the Center for Responsive Politics are that more than $6 billion will be spent in this election cycle on the Presidential and Congressional and races. This is up from $3 billion in 2000.

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent, vote “yes” for the Nov. 6 advisory question. Let’s take back our vote and tell the billionaires, corporations and other special interests we decide how much is too much.

More than 14,000 Kane County voters signed petitions to get this advisory question on the ballot. If you want to help email kanemovetoamend@gmail.com.

Barbara Young

Elgin