SUN CITY – Sun City residents will need to find their new polling place for the 2022 general elections. With a 4 to 3 vote at the March 24 board meeting, the Sun City board decided to not renew the polling place contract with the Kane County Board of Elections for 2022.
As explained by Executive Director Deanna Loughran, this discussion came about after political party representatives complained to the State’s Attorney on November 3, 2020 regarding the removal of campaign signs from outside Prairie Lodge. Illinois election laws permit the display of campaign signs, on election day itself, on common areas outside polling places. The signs had been removed by association staff members early in the day since the signs violated the Association’s Governance Covenants regarding the display of any campaign signs anywhere within Sun City. The signs were replaced at the instruction of the State’s Attorney’s representative.
Loughran explained to the board that the polling place arrangement started when Del Webb began construction of Sun City and entered into an agreement with the Kane County Board of Elections to allow Drendel to become a polling place for several precincts. The current Governance Covenants were not in place until the current Home Owners Association regulations were established upon Pulte’s departure.
The State’s Attorney’s office did not respond to phone calls seeking further information regarding the incident.
The 2020 election was the first time the campaign signage restrictions were challenged by candidates. A lengthy pro versus con discussion among the board members took place before the vote was taken. It came down to a decision of Sun City autonomy versus resident convenience. Or, abide by state election laws and allow campaign signs only on election day or maintain the no campaign sign restrictions that are in the community’s Governance Covenants.
There were 5,297 registered voters in the Kane County portion of Sun City as of the 2020 election. Approximately 3,000 of those actually voted. The end result of the vote was that Loughran was directed to inform the Kane County Board of Elections that Sun City would not be signing a polling place contract for the 2022 general election.Sun City’s withdrawal as a polling place location presents a new challenge for the Kane County Board of Elections. A new polling place, or several polling places, will be needed for the precincts that had previously voted in Drendel. Fortunately, the Board of Elections has many months to search for an acceptable location.
Both Loughran and SCCAH Board President Vito Benigno were asked for comments on this story.
Loughran’s reply was “no comment.”
Benigno’s reply was “Thank you for the inquiry but the Board does not use outside media to communicate Board actions/decisions to our residents. Actions taken and reasons for those actions are part of the Board meeting itself, which is an open meeting for all residents to attend. The respective Board Meeting agendas and minutes are also provided on the Association website.”
