On April 11th, 2006, advocates of peace fanned out in various communities
to take a once-a-year opportunity to " seize the day".

Leaning on Illinois township Statute, 60 ILCS 1/30-205, representatives made appearances at their annual township meetings and made motions to add a ballot question for voters to answer at the next scheduled election. In Illinois, the next election will be held in November '06.

According to the Illinois statute: Township meetings, Article 31: " By a vote of the majority of electors present at a town meeting, the electors may authorize that an advisory question of public policy be placed on the
ballot at the next regularly scheduled election in the township. The township board shall certify the question to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question in accordance with the general
election law. (60 ILCS 1/30-205) "

The ballot question read," "Shall the United States Government immediately begin an orderly and rapid withdrawal of all of its military personnel from Iraq, beginning with the National Guard and Reserves?"

Text of the resolution is here:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZATION OF ADVISORY QUESTION OF PUBLIC POLICY REGARDING
IRAQ

_____ TOWNSHIP, _____COUNTY, ILLINOIS

WHEREAS voters in ______ Township should be permitted to cast a vote and advise their elected representatives on the continued occupation of Iraq,
using of an advisory question of public policy; and
WHEREAS 60 ILCS 1/30-205 indicates the electors present at a town meeting may authorize that an advisory question of public policy be placed on the
ballot at the next regularly scheduled election in the township;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY the Electors of _____Township assembled
at the 2006 township meeting of _____ Township, _____ County, that it is
hereby directed that the following advisory question of public policy be placed on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election in the township; and that the township board certify the question to the proper
election officials: "Shall the United States Government immediately begin an orderly and rapid withdrawal of all of its military personnel from Iraq, beginning with the National Guard and Reserves?"

PASSED THIS eleventh day of April, 2006 by the Electors duly assembled at
the ______ Township, _______ County, Illinois 2006 township meeting.

(Seal)

______________________________ _________________________________

The communities and townships involved in this effort included Berwyn, Oak Park, Proviso, Aurora, Geneva, Blackberry, Elgin, Batavia, Campton, DeKalb, Sycamore, Riverside, Stickney, and all townships in DuPage County.

In Oak Park Township the electors passed unanimously a motion to ask township voters on the November 2006 ballot whether the US should immediately begin an orderly and rapid withdrawal of all its military
personnel from Iraq, beginning with the National Guard and Reserves. This effort was organized by the Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice (OPCTJ). Contact person: Bill Barclay, 708-386-1371.

Other results are as follows:
Anti-war referendum questions on November ballot

Batavia -NO

Oak Park- YES

Proviso- NO - Motion to add the item to the agenda was voted down

Aurora township - YES will have a referendum on the ballot 859-1030

Aurora - YES

Geneva - YES

Berwyn- YES- pass unanimously

Riverside Township- 14-3 YES

Stickney - NO - Peace activist Mary Schmidt was told it was too late to add an agenda item even though she arrived at the beginning of the meeting.

Blackberry- NO

Elgin- NO

DeKalb- YES -record attendance at DeKalb- for more information Dan Kenney
815-754-0641, 815- 793-0950

Sycamore - YES

Campton- NO - activist were told that it would be illegal to put it on the agenda

Addison Township - NO

Bloomingdale Township NO

Downers Grove- a majority voted YES under new business, call for clarification

Lisle Township - NO

Milton Township - NO

Naperville- NO

Wayne- NO

Winfield - NO

York - NO

Groups involved included: Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice, Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice, Dupage Against the War Now (DAWN), Dupage Peace through Justice Coalition, Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice, Greater Aurora Peace and Justice, and DeKalb Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice.

For more information about the each local effort, contact information is listed:

Aurora- for info call Nadia Kanhai Zamora, (h)859-1030

Batavia- Beth Johnson, 879-7466

Blackberry, Geneva- Siobhan Kolar: (h) 630-845-9418
Elgin- Mary Shesgreen 847-742-1406

Campton- Martin McNamara, 365-5288

DeKalb and Sycamore- Dan Kenney 815-754-0641, 815- 793-0950

DuPage County - Kathy Slovick 630-459-8251

Riverside, Stickney and Berwyn - Laurel Lambert Schmidt 708-447-9577

Oak Park and Proviso - Bill Barclay, 708-386-1371.