On Monday Senate Bill 452 advanced from a state Senate panel by a vote of 8-3. The bill will now go before the full Senate for approval.
Senate Bill 452, co-authored by Senator Ed Charbonneau of Valparaiso, contains recommendations from the Kernan-Shepard Report. These recommendations include:
1) Moving municipal elections to even-numbered years to coincide with state and federal general elections. In 2007 only 14% of registered voters participated compared with 60% in the 2008 general election. Moving the elections to even-numbered years will save money and encourage more voter participation.
2) Moving school board elections to the general election in November. Another measure to save money and increase voter participation.
3) Allowing all 92 Indiana counties to consolidate precinct polling places into voting centers. Voting centers could be located in grocery stores or other public places giving voters easier and earlier access to voting.
4) Banning local government employees from running for elected office in the same unit in which they work. It would prohibit firefighters, police officers or even, street department foremen, from running for mayor or city council. If they chose to run for office, the ban would force them to quit their dayjobs. Banning dual-office holders would reduce the influence they would have on voting themselves raises and other benefits. A conflict of interest. A good example is Al Salinas, who is 2nd District Councilman and is a foreman for the Hammond Street Department. As city councilman, Salinas made sure he gave himself a nice pay raise and a 2008 Chevy Silverado pickup truck as a take-home car.
We urge our readers to contact their state senators and representatives and ask them to vote in favor of Senate Bill 452. These are good changes that will benefit Hoosier taxpayers and voters.