Lake County Gazette

A former state legislator is unhappy with the introduction of a bill that would allow for non-citizens to vote in school board elections in the state.

The bill, SB 1345, provides for a "noncitizen of the United States may register to vote in school board elections."

“Another crazy bill from the Democrats,” Suzi Kostiuk Schmidt, a former state legislator, said on Facebook. 

The bill’s sponsor is Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). The bill has been assigned to the Assignments Committee where Democrats hold a 4-2 majority and is chaired by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Hillside). 

“Villanueva cites the Illinois Constitution, Article III, Section 1 – that school board races are considered 'non-State elections' and therefore they are not subject to a 'citizenship requirement,'"  Illinois Review wrote.

The bill amending the school code "Requires the State Board of Education to create a voter registration affidavit that shall be the exclusive means by which a noncitizen of the United States may register to vote in school board elections." It would allow "the elections conducted under the provisions are considered non-State elections and are not subject to the citizenship requirement in the Illinois Constitution." 

The bill's synopsis also noted that SB 1345 also "Provides for what the individual shall attest to in the voter registration affidavit. Provides that the voter registration affidavit shall be valid for one school board election. Provides for the notice that shall appear in the voter registration affidavit.” 

As the April 4 school board elections approach, Homer Township supervisor and Will County Board member Steve Balich has been expressing his opinions. 

“It is so important to get good people on the school board because in my opinion the Socialist Democrats have taken over and stealing the minds of our children,” Balich told Will County Gazette. “Cultural Marxism has at its core to destroy our culture, Morals, religion, symbols, economy, etc. Schools are doing just that with sex ed that is frankly porn, children identifying as animals called furries, Re-writing history (1619 Project), making white kids feel bad for being white and black kids to feel unable to compete with white kids. Don't talk about Asians cause they need to be kept out because they study and achieve in school.” Balich suggested that  “schools need to be color, race, religion, gender, etc. blind. Excellence should once again be the goal and rewarded. Schools need to get back to basics. and leave the woke stuff out.”