Live-Blogging Primary Election Night

Posted March 14th, 2006 at 03:19 PM by Gordy Hulten
in

I had been planning to do this for a few weeks now, but Rich Miller has prompted an announcement of sorts:

I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Please, live blog election night, especially between 9 and 11. And try to give me a heads up about what you plan to do in advance.

There is a lot of talent out there, and we've been given an opportunity to showcase it on election night. I also think it's fantastic that a mainstream media outlet is taking interest in what's going on in the blog world. Kudos to them.

I'm planning on live-blogging Champaign County's results, especially the District 9 Democratic Primary and the GOP Governor and Lt. Governor races, but also the CSWMTD and Unit 4 referenda.  As I can glean information about the statewide results from the Internet and whatever TV access we have at Brookens, I'll opine on that as well.

I've never done anything like this before, so I'm not quite sure how it's going to work, or what problems I'm going to have.  But I'm going to give it a shot, and invite comments throughout the next week with suggestions and that evening with your opinions, too.  I'm hoping other IP.com authors (especially Scott Tapley and Jason Barickman) will do something that evening as well.

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On March 14th, 2006 at 06:23 PM, Matthew (not verified) said:

This sounds like a great idea.

Of course, I'd prefer to read something without a Republican slant to it, but there you go.

I'll probably be at Brookens that night, just for fun, but I thought someone said that the election results would start coming in a lot sooner this time, due to the new voting machines? Is that true?

On March 14th, 2006 at 06:25 PM, Gordy Hulten said:

Having worked with Mark Shelden to test the new tabulators, I think they're faster than the old ones, but because they're new, the pace might be more deliberate. I think our days of waiting until past midnight should be behind us, however.

And don't worry about a Republican slant.  It's pretty hard to slant election results - they're just numbers.  ;-)  And you can always comment to set me straight left.

On March 14th, 2006 at 06:27 PM, Jason Barickman said:

Gordy, I'll gladly join you at Brookens, and look forward to assisting in our first live-blog.

On March 15th, 2006 at 02:02 AM, handymom (not verified) said:

Gordy,

Thanks for taking this on. I hope it all goes well and I will be checking in.

ScottTapley's picture
On March 15th, 2006 at 04:42 AM, ScottTapley said:

I'll be down at Brookens, too...after getting the results of the CSWMTD referendum in my precinct (poll watchers can examine the printout at the polling place before the results are sent to Brookens).

YoungRighty's picture
On March 16th, 2006 at 05:38 AM, YoungRighty said:

I don't thnk it will be the first live blog.

I would like to think I could take credit for the debate live-blog a few weeks ago.

On March 16th, 2006 at 06:50 AM, curious (not verified) said:

Do they have wireless at Brookens now? Last I was there they didn't.

On March 16th, 2006 at 03:09 PM, Joan (not verified) said:

Brookens is always the happenin' place on election night. I'll be there. It probably won't be like the old, long nights though, with the new machines. Yea.
Gordy, I'll be busy helping precincts and couldn't monitor this but how about a thread during the day, asking folks to comment on their voting experience and turnout, etc.?

On March 16th, 2006 at 05:24 PM, Gordy Hulten said:

I don't think they have wireless at Brookens. I've made alternative arrangements to get online.

On March 16th, 2006 at 10:29 PM, ROTCGirl (not verified) said:

Joan,

That would be fun. Too bad I can't see it that day since I'm a judge. I may mosey to Brookens since I can't go to Bloomington for the Brady victory celebration!