Dec 21 2009
Use eVoter at your peril
Update: I’ve posted more about eVoter has responded to these issues here.
A company has begun trying to make money off of our voter registration data. When I first heard about their effort, I had concerns. I wrote the company with this e-mail.
While I told the company I wouldn’t be tracking them, I ran across them when I received a google alert about their site that purports to allow voters to order an absentee ballot. Unfortunately, their site only adds an unnecessary and burdensome step for Champaign County voters.
A voter using eVoter will have at least one and perhaps two extra mailings. A simple phone call or email to our office would provide voters with a higher level of service. I’ll write more about some changes we’re making to absentee voting in Champaign County in the next week.
We’re moving forward in ways that enhance security, save money, and improve service. eVoter is moving in the exact opposite direction.
It’s great that the folks in Champaign County can access their absentee ballot online. But not everyone comes from Champaign County. The eVoter site is really a useful tool for voters statewide. It’s nice to have everything in one place. That’s the great thing about the site. I don’t see that as “moving in the exact opposite direction.” More access to this information for all voters is a GOOD thing. It doesn’t have to be an “either/or” proposition no matter where you live.
There are plenty of other problems with the site that I’ll write about.
And yes, for Champaign County voters it is the opposite direction. In the past, absentee voting has required two mailings for voters. We are going to reduce that now to one in many instances in Champaign County. eVoter is increasing it to 3.
I now see that they’ve modified their website. Some improvement for our county. But for other counties there still might be problems.
[...] Use eVoter at your own peril. [...]
[...] I’ve been a little busy to give my latest reviews of eVoter. So my apologies for anyone who’s had a poor experience. My advice remains the same as it did before. Use eVoter at your own peril. [...]
[...] I’ve posted twice about the new eVoter website which is getting substantial play in Illinois news and is looking to make a bigger splash across the country. Here’s an article in the Springfield Journal Register. While I’ve had some substantial criticisms, I have to give a lot of credit to their responsiveness to the concerns we have pointed out. [...]