Yesterday was election day in the state of Illinois. What were we electing? I really don't know, and that's why I didn't vote. I like to be an informed voter and know the topics and candidates before I go. When I tried to do research, I found that unless I lived within the boundaries of the city of Chicago, there was no consolidated list of offices, etc. up for election in my community. Sure, the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times have online centers, but I have to wade through every community and category to figure out the candidates.
Take the election "center" from the Tribune. There's a nice drop down that has Mount Prospect in 4 different places, with the library separated from the park district. Then I have to remember that we might have school board elections, and oh yeah, which districts (elementary and high school) do I live in? Hmmm... None of these names match the signs I see on people's lawns. What am I missing?
For major elections (US senate/house, state senate/house, presidential, etc.), both the Trib and Sun-Times have a form where I can submit my address, and it will show me my ballot. It's 2007. Why don't/can't they do this for local elections, too? I know there is more data, but at least they don't have to generate a database of addresses--it's already around from the last election.
Did I miss something? The Daily Herald (Big Picture. Local Focus.) didn't even make it easy...
UPDATE: It never fails, as soon as I post something like this, I find the information I am looking for. The Cook Count Clerk has a site that will show you your ballot. I wonder if there is something similar for surrounding counties?
Dupage does.
It also had unofficial results, which was nice. So they got that going for them.