Committee voices concern after council removes proposed posting language from 2026 election regs

The Election Committee of Martin's Additions discussed council actions on the 2026 election regulations and flagged several areas where the committee wanted clearer, written procedures.

Committee members had proposed language to make explicit that village staff shall post election information as specified by the committee. Arthur Alexander and others said the council declined to adopt that specific phrasing, and the committee expressed disappointment. Committee members said there have been multiple past occasions when language the committee submitted was altered or omitted from posted notices, and they want a procedure for consulting the committee before any substantive edits are made.

Arthur raised a hypothetical example to illustrate the potential problem if posting authority were unclear, and committee members responded that, while they believed prior deletions were likely errors, the pattern warranted a safeguard. The chair and others asked that, if staff have concerns about posting content, they consult the committee and, if needed, counsel rather than unilaterally edit committee material.

The committee also sought clarity on who will record the vote-counting session. The current regulations read as if Electech would handle the recording; village staff member Michael Silliman said he normally records the session or will coordinate with Electech depending on whose Zoom meeting is used and will confirm arrangements with the committee.

There was no formal change to the adopted regulations during the meeting. Committee members agreed to revisit the drafting and procedural questions at a future date if needed and to include a short summary of the discussion in the committee report to the Feb. 19 council meeting.