On Wednesday, February 28, 2024,  League members Trisha Cowley, James Manrique, and Kannitha Fay led a Members Zoom session that explored many ways voters have to become informed about primary election candidates this spring. Below is a summary of the discussion at this event.

Be an Informed Voter: How to Find Information about Candidates

My Voting Information: Trisha Crowley reminded everyone to access My Voting Information on the county clerk’s website to see or download your sample ballots for both parties.
 
Champaign County’s Candidate Guide is the best local resource for nonpartisan information about candidates in contested races. James Manrique explained how he and other team members connect with candidates, gather their contact information, and request their responses to a questionnaire. Icons by each candidate’s picture lead to their website, social media, and perhaps email and phone number, all ways to find out more information about each candidate.  
 
How about social media? At the bottom of each of our website pages are icons that take you directly to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and YouTube. From there, you can look up candidates’ pages. Kanittha Fay pointed out that a candidate’s website might provide policy statements, but it’s usually static. Social media sources are immediate, direct communication with voters. For example, access a candidate’s Facebook page and click on “Photos” to see what the candidate has been doing lately, often with commentary. Although brief and likely not in depth about issues, social media provides a real-time view of candidate activity.   
 
Adding in other sources—advice from knowledgeable people, local media reporting, candidate forums and meet-and-greets, and opportunities to meet personally with candidates—all lead to being an informed voter. 

Access the candidate's social media. If the candidate's website doesn't provide links to their social media, type in the candidate's name + social media platform name.

Recently, LWVCC recorded a forum between the two Democractic candidates for Champaign County Coroner. The Coroner is responsible for the investigation and certification of cause and manner of death in cases of violence or undue means.  Press the button below to watch the video.  Or, learn more with these links:

• LWVCC Candidate Guide (site with  candidate info and question/answers)
• Office of the Coroner (download Fact Sheet)
  

On Thursday, February 1, 6:30 pm, the Reading Club will meet on Zoom to discuss Civic Education. This discussion, which is a follow up to a discussion which started in the October Reading Club, will be led by LWVCC President Trisha Crowley.

Here are two suggested reads:

• Article - "Heroes, Patriotic Education and The Shadows of History" by Bryon Warnock, Ohio State University (attached is a pdf copy)
• Book - The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens by Richard Haass

Readings are not required for attendance. Join us for a thoughtful discussion at this Zoom meeting.

Questions to Annette Lansford at [email protected].

The LWVCC Reading Club meets three times a year to  discuss either a book or a few articles on a topic of interest.