Why you should Vote "Yes" for the Alternative Voting Methods Bylaws Amendment on 10/14!

Over the past few days, emails have been circulated which contain inaccurate information about electronic voting. The facts below support why you should Vote “Yes” for this Amendment:

1. Electronic voting is optional. It will not eliminate “in person” voting.

2. Caucus votes are affirmations of candidates to endorse,  not contested municipal, state or federal elections. Caucus votes do not elect governmental representatives.

3. Governments in 35 countries utilize electronic voting including the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, France, India, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Panama,  etc.

4. Hacking fears are baseless. The final two vendors have never been hacked in the decades they have provided these services. The Caucus has never been hacked.

5. Political organizations and cities that are clients of a final vendor and utilize electronic voting - Republican Party of Mesa, Maryland Republican Party, Democratic Party of Oregon, DC Democratic Party, Kansas Democratic Party, New York State Democratic Committee, South Dakota Democratic Party, Green Party of Canada, Liberal Party of Canada, City of El Paso, and Clarington.

6. Lake Forest has 15,454 registered voters. Less than ½ of 1% of registered voters, typically vote “in person”. Why? Residents who are sick, disabled, who don’t drive, who are out of town for business or pleasure, who have childcare responsibilities, who work in Chicago or other counties,  away college students, etc., cannot appear “in person” to vote.  

7. The Ad Hoc Committee included electronic voting in each of its “no vote” recommendations and supports the Amendment. It would not have done so if electronic voting was unsafe, too costly, etc.

8. Electronic voting costs are not an issue. The Caucus is funded by private donations and not by taxpayer dollars. Caucus donors support electronic voting.  Electronic voting costs will be almost completely covered by savings from the Caucus eliminating the use of expensive mail service for the Caucus Connection Ballot.

9. Meta Data. If requested, the final vendors can produce for a recount the meta data (trail) in paper format that supports the vote results.  

10. Confidentiality. The Caucus will not know how an individual voted: only the names of who voted electronically and the total voting results (i.e., how many “yes/no” votes were cast).  

11. No confidential voter information is disclosed. Voters who register will receive a unique password to input to access the online portal. The vendor will only be provided with the voter’s name and address who matches the password. Emails, phone numbers and voting history, will not be provided.  

    
    

Expanding voting options allows registered voters who have not been able to participate, to vote, and will encourage community engagement, increase voter input, and make vote outcomes more representative of the community at large. Continuing to have only “in person” voting ensures that votes can be determined by a very small number of residents many of whom may belong to special interest agenda driven groups.

Please vote “YES” for this Amendment! We need a 2/3rds “YES” vote to pass!

Thank you!