This year, residents can see vote totals come in from the comfort of their own homes: By watching it on the Internet. The city of Racine will broadcast election results, with updates every 60 seconds, as election results come in after the polls close Tuesday at 8 p.m.
The Web site got its first test run during February's primary election. City Director of Information Systems Dennis John said the department got a number of phone calls from people indicating they thought it was a good idea.
John said the idea came up in January after he and consultant Brian Jensen went to each of the city's departments and spoke with managers about possible uses of technology.
In visiting with City Clerk Karen Norton, John said they found out staff members were still writing election results up on a chalk board on election night.
After talking with Jensen, John said they came up with the plan for the Web page. He said at first, no one seemed to excited, but after tweaking the former, staff members indicated they thought it was a good idea.
Election judges began bringing in the results by 8:15 p.m., and an hour later, everyone knew the final result that would be presented to the canvassing board.
"It's instantaneous," Jensen said.
"I think it's excellent," Norton said.
Frequently, campaign workers will come into the clerk's office to get results, cramming into the room as staff members compile the results. Now with a computer and Internet access, those at campaign parties can watch them come in live.
Following the primary election, Norton said her staff got a lot of positive comments about the Web site.
John said some minor changes have been made. After watching onlookers flipping to see the results for each candidate by precinct, John and Jensen changed the site to display results for each candidate by precinct in a side-by-side format.
Broadcasting election results via the World Wide Web is just one example of how the city of Racine is moving toward so-called electronic or "e-government."
John said the city is moving toward developing more so-called "e-government" functions under the strategic plan the council has adopted. Right now, the city's Web site is more information-based.
That could change in the next few months, however. John said the city plans to roll out a new Web site later this spring, and staff members envision it will eventually provide 24-hour service for residents that could eventually allow someone to purchase pet licenses, pay parking tickets or access property valuations complete with aerial photos on-line, he said.
Norton said a computer will be set up with an overhead projector at City Hall Tuesday night to broadcast the results for those without access to the Internet, or those who would rather see the results come in at City Hall.
With Mayor Jim Smith seeking re-election through a write-in campaign and more aldermanic candidates in the running, city staff member expect Tuesday's results will come in later.
"The first one looked like a track meet. The second will be more like a marathon," Jensen said.
Quelle: The Journal Times
