Lake County Gazette

A simple clarification to the Illinois Township Code will help prevent irregularities in the caucus process and "end a rigged system," state Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) said, according to a press release announcing House passage of a measure she sponsored.

According to Wheeler, the current system allows some townships to employ a weighted system during caucus voting, which gives some committee members dozens of votes but registered voters just one vote. SB666 would change the system so that all voters in a given party have one vote, she said. Townships often use caucusing systems to avoid the expenses of primary elections.

“This legislation is good government policy that seeks to end the manipulation of township elections,” Wheeler said, according to the release. “It is never good when a political party has the ability to limit the participation of voters due to the misinterpretation of the law. This change will ensure township voters in McHenry County have the same freedom of participation as those in any other county.”

Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) sponsored the bill in the Senate, where it was advanced was sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner.