By Shara Esbenshade
Gargoyle contributor
Posted Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006, The OG, opinions

ELECTION DAY IS less than a week away. Nov. 7 will be particularly important because of the very real possibility of Democrats gaining a majority in the U.S. House. It is going to be a close race. However, for Champaign-Urbana area voters, there is another reason this election will be significant.

This year's ballot for both Cunningham Township (Urbana) and City of Champaign Township will include two advisory referenda: C-U citizens may vote on whether or not they would like President Bush and Vice President Cheney to be impeached for misleading the nation to war and spying on citizens, and whether or not they support a speedy and organized withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Additionally in Cunningham Township, there will be a referendum asking whether voters believe the Illinois governor should resist further mobilization of Illinois National Guard troops for service in Iraq on the basis of the war's “illegal, immoral, and harmful” nature. (For more information on these referenda, click here and here.)

These questions were put on the ballot thanks to the work of the local branch of the Green Party and AWARE, the Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort. Due to a little-known law in Illinois, any advisory referendum can be put on a township's ballot if supported by a majority of electors present at the annual town meeting. An elector is defined as anyone who is a registered voter in the area.

On April 10, members of AWARE packed the town meetings and got the referenda placed on the ballot. In Champaign, the referenda faced resistance and debate. However, Champaign Mayor Jerry Schweighart, a leader of the opposition, said in Monday's News-Gazette that those averse to the referenda have only themselves to blame for its placement on the ballot. Although the issue and the town meeting were publicized widely, turnout from the opposing side was not large enough. The advisory referenda were put on the Champaign ballot by only a few votes.

If getting them on the ballot was that close, the vote for passing the advisory referenda on Nov. 7 will be just as close. Although the referenda are expected to pass in Urbana, every vote will literally count in Champaign. If you feel strongly about these issues (and you can legally vote), you should take advantage of this opportunity to weigh in on our country's actions and direction. As the town meeting demonstrates, it will make a difference.

Champaign-Urbana is not the only community to have such an opportunity. Several towns and cities across the country will make their opinion heard by voting on impeachment referenda this coming Tuesday. John Nichols recently recognized Urbana as one of those communities in an article in The Nation magazine, describing what he calls the impeachment-from-below movement.

“The impeachment-from-below movement is the modern-day expression of the oldest of American ideals: No man, be he pauper or president, shall stand above the law,” says Nichols.

Although romanticized by Nichols, this referendum is that significant; it is an innovative, constitutional, and effective possible beginning for a movement. This November, let us call upon our government to truly represent the people.