Lake Forest Caucus officials have scheduled a second vote on a proposed bylaw change that would allow members to vote electronically.

After the measure narrowly failed last October, the Caucus will again ask members to approve the change on Jan. 24. The vote will be held on a weekend day and includes revisions to the proposed amendment.

Caucus leadership has advocated for updating voting procedures to permit members to cast ballots electronically using devices such as phones or tablets. Under current rules, voting is limited to in-person participation.

In October, 427 members voted in favor of the change while 244 voted against it. However, Caucus bylaws require a two-thirds majority for approval, leaving the proposal 21 votes short.

Caucus leaders believe the measure would have passed on Oct. 14 if not for widespread delays on Metra that afternoon, which affected the entire commuter rail system and prevented some members from arriving at the Gorton Center in time to vote.

Caucus President Regina Etherton said she heard from numerous members who were upset that they were unable to participate.

“For two days I heard from people who were angry they didn’t get to vote,” Etherton said. “The issue is that people were deprived of voting on it. Whether they were yes or no, that isn’t the way Lake Forest is supposed to work.”

To address concerns about a repeat of the train delays, Caucus leadership moved the vote to a Saturday, with voting scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Gorton Center.

“People said they want to be there and don’t want to run into the same issue,” Etherton said. “Do it on a Saturday so we know we won’t have this interference.”

Holding the vote in January could still affect turnout, as winter weather may deter participation and some residents may be away at second homes in warmer climates. Etherton said, however, she has heard from many residents who support the change.

“I understand that some people will be gone,” she said, “but it is much easier for people — particularly those with children and varied schedules — to find five minutes on a Saturday to come and vote.”

Ahead of the vote, some residents raised concerns about the wording of the amendment and how future voting would be conducted.

The revised proposal includes language changes intended to clarify that in-person voting would remain available, with electronic voting offered as an additional option.

“We didn’t want confusion going forward,” Etherton said.

The version of the amendment to be voted on in January states that “in-person voting shall be made available.”

However, John Trkla, co-founder of Lake Forest For Transparency, said the revised language still falls short.

“If they want to be clear, why not just say that in-person voting must or will always be there?” Trkla said. “But they choose not to do that.”

If the bylaw change is approved, Etherton said the Caucus has received two bids from vendors to implement an electronic voting system.

The Lake Forest Caucus was founded in 1935 and plays a central role in local governance by vetting residents interested in serving on boards and commissions. Candidates endorsed by the Caucus often run unopposed in municipal elections.

Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/lake-forest-caucus-second-vote-bylaw-changes/