Leaders move to end voting at schools, protect students

 

Topinka, Franks & Bivins join law enforcement in announcing legislation

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL  – Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, State Rep. Jack Franks and State Senator Tim Bivins joined the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and other law enforcement leaders in announcing legislation that would remove polling places from public and private schools, and ultimately protect students.

Planned legislation amends the state Election Code and state School Code by eliminating public and private schools as voting site options and striking language that requires School Districts to make buildings available as polling places.

“This is a common-sense step that puts students first,” Topinka said. “There is no reason to have members of the public strolling through school parking lots and entering buildings where classes are being held. There are government buildings, churches and other polling place locations that do not put students at risk or disrupt the school day, let’s utilize them instead.”

Safety concerns have prompted communities in Illinois, and across the country, to rethink school polling locations. In addition, lawmakers in Indiana, New York and Virginia are considering statewide bans on voting at schools. Legislation introduced in New Jersey would require schools that serve as polling places to have a written security plan.

“As schools across the country reassess security measures, it makes sense for the state to eliminate this potential threat to students,” Franks said. “We’re talking about hundreds, even thousands, of people walking on school grounds, going into school buildings and potentially coming into contact with our students. It is an unnecessary risk that we should no longer take.”

On Tuesday, law enforcement leaders stood with Topinka, Franks and Bivins in announcing the proposed change. Representatives from the Police Benevolent and Protective Association, the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association and several Police and Sheriff’s Departments were unified in their support of the new legislation.

“As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the Village of Riverside it’s my duty and obligation to prepare for the worst – and to prevent it, if possible,” Village of Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel said. “School administrators are already hiring officers to work security details at schools throughout Illinois during the next election. We can do even better by removing the polling places sites completely.”