Community Outreach Activities 2000
The bi-state "Making Voting Popular" program was officially launched for the election year. Introductory letters to major corporations in the greater Kansas City Metropolitan area were mailed.
The Election Office prepared Elections 2000 informational materials and registration forms for distribution to the public by the Prairie Village Homes Association Welcome Wagon committee and other Welcome Wagon groups in the county.
Connie Schmidt, Election Commissioner, was the guest speaker throughout the county in 2000. Presentations included current Elections 2000, Satellite Voting Information and an invitation to join the Celebration of Patriotism Foundation of Johnson County. Speaking events included:
- Leadership Olathe
- Shawnee Kiwanis
- Old Mission Kiwanis
- Prairie Village Kiwanis
- Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce
- Leawood Women's Club
- Shawnee Rotary Club
- Blue Valley Optimist Club
- Lenexa Chamber of Commerce
- National Council of Jewish Women Greater Kansas City
- College Boulevard Kiwanis Club
- Merriam Christian Church
- HS&A Disability Support Group
- Leawood Chamber of Commerce
- League of Women Voters
- Republican Reorganization Meeting
- Merriam Kiwanis Meeting
The Election Office participated in the Turkey Creek Festival Parade in May with the Vote-Mobile. The white van featured signage with the word "VOTE" on the sides, American eagle and Election Office information. A Promote the Vote and voter registration booth was available to the public.
Connie Schmidt participated in an interview on May 25th, 2000, with Jim Sullinger of The Kansas City Star regarding the Celebration of Patriotism Foundation and promoting the vote.
A press conference was held in June announcing the establishment of the Celebration of Patriotism Foundation of Johnson County and promoting the vote in Elections 2000. Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh joined Foundation Members, Craig Pirner and Joe Berman in the press conference. Area school district superintendents endorsed the participation of 16- and 17-year-old students in the election process by serving as Election Workers.
The Election Office hosted the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission meeting on June 27th, 2000. All candidates were invited to attend for updates in election reporting.
The Celebration of Patriotism Foundation of Johnson County and the Johnson County Election Office were the Recipients of an Honorable Mention Award in the Annual Best Professional Practice competition sponsored by the Election Center, a national association of election administrators. Several jurisdictions have requested more information on the organization of this non-profit, non-partisan foundation.
Contact was made for Elections 2000 media coverage in The Kansas City Star, Sun Publications, Olathe Daily News, Shawnee Journal Herald, Spring Hill/Gardner News, and De Soto Explorer. All television stations were contacted as well as KMBZ radio station. Multiple media visits and photo opportunities were coordinated with the Sun Publications, The Kansas City Star, and television channels 4, 5, 9, and 41.
An informational flyer focusing on Elections 2000 was created and distributed to 1,100 individual contacts for distribution.
The Election Office and the Celebration of Patriotism Foundation sponsored an Uncle Sam stilt walker as an entry in the Old Settlers Day Parade on September 9th, 2000. The entry received a third place award for parade entries.
Staff members were host to newly naturalized citizens and representatives of the Jewish Community Center and demonstrated the voting machine and explained the process on Election Day at the polls.
In order to serve the voting public more efficiently, two Satellite Election Offices were opened 20 days prior to Election Day for in-person advance voting. The Johnson County Northeast Offices and Wastewater Administrative Offices allocated space for satellite advance voting. The Election Office was the first county to open satellite locations in the State of Kansas.
The Election Office, along with many county departments, participated in an ADA of polling place accessibility on Election Day. County staff from Facilities, Legal, and Planning provided expert advice and assistance for ADA audit requirements. Joe Waters accompanied the federal ADA auditor to various voting locations on Election Day. Steve Polkey assisted with the countywide audit of the voting locations and coordinated additional signage, ramps, and other accessibility needs at all of the voting locations.
On Election Day, November 7, 2000, the Election Office received 3,021 telephone calls from the public. This set a new record on responding to the needs of the public by telephone. An average non-election month totals approximately 4,000 inbound calls. During October and early November, 14,775 telephone calls were received and processed totaling 533 hours and 54 minutes.
Site last updated: March 29, 2007 4:26 PM
Please send any comments or questions to the developer at election@jocoelection.org or to the Johnson County Election Office 2101 E. Kansas City Road, Olathe, Kansas 66061. Phone: (913) 782-3441. Fax: (913) 791-1753.
Map to the Election Office
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Relay Center: 1-800-766-3777 Nationwide: 711