Biased Language
Eliminate the Office of County Auditor
Shall Peoria County eliminate the internal Office of County Auditor when Peoria County already has an external Auditor as required by state law? This would be a cost savings of approximately $150,000 annually.
— Peoria County, Illinois, General Election, November 8, 2022.
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Why This Language Is Biased
Internal Auditor
There is an office of County Auditor, but no such designation of “Internal Office of County Auditor.“
External Auditor
The Peoria County Auditor performs statutory duties that cannot legally be performed by an external auditor. Download Document
Cost Savings
There is no effective date given, nor a method for how the presumed annual $150,000 cost savings is calculated. The 2022 Auditor's Budget is $112,750.
Elected Office Term
The current elected office of County Auditor has a term (December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2024) that cannot be retroactively changed.
Free & Fair Elections
Candidates and topics should be presented in an unbiased format. The language attempts to persuade voters to cast a “yes” vote.
Neutral Language
Ballot measures should contain neutral language without any descriptive qualifiers.
Even Judge Mack agreed that the language is suspect. Circuit Court of the 10th Judicial Circuit Peoria County, Illinois, No. 22 CH 28. Circuit Judge James Mack on October19, 2022.
Examples of Unbiased Language
“Shall LaSalle County eliminate the office of the elected County Auditor?”†
— LaSalle County, Illinois, General Election, November 3, 2020.
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“SHALL the Office of the Champaign County Auditor be eliminated, effective ?”‡
— Champaign County, Illinois, General Election, November 2, 2010.
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— Lake County, Illinois, General Election, November 7, 1978.
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† La Salle County Clerk removes referendum from ballot due to La Salle County Board passing referendum resolution more than one year in advance of the election.
‡ Champaign County Clerk removes referendum from ballot due to Champaign County Board voted to put it on the ballot more than a year in advance of the election.
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