Warren Higgins’ goal is to encourage 100 percent turnout in N.12
SUN CITY – Warren Higgins of N.12 is issuing a challenge to his neighbors and the Sun City community at large: get out and vote.
Warren Higgins of N.12 has a goal for this year’s SCCAH board election: 100 percent turnout in his neighborhood. He plans to accomplish this by spreading the word to neighbors and regularly reminding them to vote. (Chris La Pelusa/Sun Day Photo)
To put it more specifically, Higgins is working to encourage Sun Citians to cast their ballots for the upcoming Sun City Community Association Board elections with the ultimate goal of getting 100 percent turnout in N.12 and hopefully boosting turnout in other neighborhoods as well.
“What an accomplishment that would be…..for Sun City to revel in and celebrate,” Higgins said. “What a ‘beacon’ it could be for Huntley, McHenry County, Illinois, and the whole United States.”
Higgins and his wife Maxine both work as election judges in Huntley for state and federal elections. He said he feels dismayed that voter turnout in the United States is lower than that of other countries.
In recent elections, voter turnout has been higher in Sun City than the rest of Grafton and Rutland Townships. In the November 2012 presidential elections, voters from the three Grafton Township precincts in which Sun City is located had the three highest turnouts in the township, averaging 85 percent turnout. This beat the township average of 70 percent.
Sun City stretches across four precincts in Rutland Township and those four also represented the township’s highest turnouts in 2012, averaging 83 percent. Rutland Township’s total average turnout in the election was 72 percent.
Still, Higgins strives to boost those numbers for this year’s election. His plan includes regular emails and phone messages to neighbors reminding them to vote. Higgins plans to start these once the ballots are made available on Sept. 23. He hopes other neighborhood leaders will follow suit and spread the word to their neighbors.
Though Higgins enjoys encouraging voters to participate, he said he has considered a board candidacy but decided to leave that up to other residents.
“I thought of it and I see such great background for the people that are running and such dedication to Sun City from the people who are running; I probably would pale in comparison to them,” he said.
