Jun 27 2005
Entering the Blogging World
Welcome to the Champaign County Clerk blog. I think this a natural outgrowth of our efforts to communicate with the public about election issues. It also is a great way to solicit input from the public about our election process with the hope of continuing to improve it.
This blog will focus on changes in election laws, improvements to how we conduct elections in Champaign County, and educating the public about current topics in elections here locally. I think this has an opportunity to be a great forum for our community that will lead to greater understanding of elections, and greater participation in the process as a whole.
In starting this blog, it is imperative that I make everyone aware that blogging can not be, and will not be, the focus of my day. While I will monitor the blog routinely, if it becomes something that takes too much of my time, I will simply not be able to continue with it.
I have great faith in our community and feel that the blog and those who post here will become a valuable component to an active and knowledgeable electorate. I’ll look forward to the comments of people as we move forward into the blog world.
Great idea, thank you for starting this!!!
I hope that you’ll use this space to discuss your office’s policies with respect to U of I students.
Congrats on starting this blog. Keep up the great work!
Good job! It’s a gutsy move to leave open a public commenting system. Not a lot of politicians would do that — control freaks, dontchaknow?
I approve.
More politicians should follow your lead! Welcome to the blogging community.
DSP
Another positive step to connect the Internet age and the average yogie bear citizens to the County Government and Elections process. When are we going to get new voting machines??? In the recent Municipal Elections, I had trouble with my stylus poking through the Chad. I told the election Judge and she checked with a Sample Ballot and it seemed to work fine, but the actual Official Ballot Card Stock seemed to be thicker or the Ballot’s Chads were not properly pre stamped to make the Chad fall out easily. I had to re-insert my ballot three times and when I was done, I had to brush off hanging Chads. Your ole budy BigRed, a life long Republican!
Unique and interesting test you’ve got here. Many will be watching, closely, to what becomes of this.
Well done Mark! As ususal, you’re leading the way, not following.
Awesome idea! Way to go, Mark!
Welcome! But I have a feeling you’re going to regret keeping these comments open. LOL
Great idea Mark. I look forward to reading the blog. As always, you are a step ahead in innovation in local government.
This is wonderful.
You are Light years ahead of your time.
Now if you would just let the U of I students register and vote without obstruction, then you would be really ahead of the curve.
I can’t wait for the Scott Tapley blog!
Luke, this might be a good place to ask your boss for a raise. Just a thought.
Any chance you’ll change your attitude about making it difficult for U of I students to exercise their right to vote at their campus address?
I wonder how many times this question will be asked before comments are closed.
Apparently a lot of Chicago Democrats don’t like the fact that our county clerk enforces the election laws down here. Boo, hoo. If you change addresses then update your registration. Being a student doesn’t make you special.
I moved back to the Chicago area so I don’t work in the office any more. The blog is a nice way to keep up with the office though.
It’s amazing to me that the people like to blame Mark for student voter problems, yet when I reviewed his web site just now, I found these conventient ON CAMPUS LOCATIONS for persons to register. They are in high traffice places:
You can also register to vote at one of our voter registration kiosks.
Current Kiosks are located at:
Round Barn IGA (2110 Round Barn Rd., Champaign) - available 24 hours/7days a week
Illini Union - SE entrance (1401 W. Green St., Urbana)
- 7am to Midnight - Sunday to Thursday
- 7am to 1am - Friday and Saturday
Union website - http://www.union.uiuc.edu/
Undergraduate Library (Lower Level Entrance Area)
- 8am to 3am - Monday to Thursday
- 8am to 7pm - Friday
- 11am to 7pm - Saturday
- 1pm to 3am - Sunday
Undergraduate Library website - http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/
If a student is to lazy to get registered or to change their address, I don’t feel sorry for them.
Students should be subject to the same registration rules as everyone else. No special treatment, DownLeft!
I’m a student at the U of I, I registered to vote,and then I voted. What is your problem?
This blog could be an interesting way to exchange information about this county! Thanks for setting it up!