Local civics blogger Joe Lance announced the creation of a new website aimed at providing voters across Tennessee with information about the upcoming elections.
TennesseeTicket.com (http://tennesseeticket.com/) originated with the title "Chattanooga-Hamilton Civic Forum" in January 2005.
Mr. Lance said, "This weblog goes beyond the usual "commentary, news and links" postings: its supplemental pages contain candidate and election information for the complete array of Tennessee’s elected offices, from governor to School Board to circuit judge. The full General Assembly is covered, as are all nine U.S. House of Representatives seats and the U.S. Senate.
"Media outlets and election commission data are scanned for names of potential campaign entries, and tips come from readers who send e-mail. As elections take shape through the primary process and general attrition, the pages act as previews of the general election ballot for each position. The home page (the actual blog) provides timely analysis of a particular race or grouping of seats. The sidebar content emphasizes candidate and campaign blogs, as well as selected political blogs and civics-related websites. A guide to all local and state political parties with a web presence rounds out the site's offerings. Local election information is available for Chattanooga and Hamilton County voters.
"The blog is also a personal writing space. Its entries are categorized among a range of topics, most of which regard an aspect of representative government. Individual opinion and style are as integral as are the plain facts, but the presentation is non-partisan and open to discussion. The author has received acclaim from bloggers across the state and along the political spectrum; and after blogging for several months, he was invited to write a regular civics column for the leading weekly newspaper in the Chattanooga market, the award-winning Pulse.
"TennesseeTicket.com is growing; change is expected. The site began as a small volunteer effort by an impassioned voter who continues to make civic awareness opportunities a priority, and is intended to be a trusted and useful statewide resource."