Jel Overhauls CA Secretary of State Official Voter Guide Web Site
in 15 Days
November 2003

SACRAMENTO, CA - November 2003 - Interactive technology agency Jel announced that it has re-launched the Official Voter Information Guide portion of the California Secretary of State's website (www.voterguide.ss.ca.gov). Thousands of voters viewed the online Guide in the weeks prior to California's first-ever recall election on October 7, 2003.

Secretary of State Kevin Shelley retained Jel Productions in mid-September to update the online Voter Information Guide, which provides polling place locations, candidate statements, and much more. His Election Office staff asked that Jel expand the site's content to include information about the ballot Propositions and over 145 recall election candidates. At the same time, they needed the online Guide redesigned to match the Guides mailed to each voter.

Jel had only two weeks to implement a solution. During those two short weeks, however, court battles raged over the wording of the ballot, a sample of which is included in the Official Voter Guide. Jel responded by helping the Election Office keep the content of the existing Voter Guide updated while developing the design and content of the replacement website. In the process, they also integrated a better Content Management System.

"This was a historic opportunity for Jel, because we were able to help the state of California make voter information accessible and user-friendly before the Special Election," said Jon Lee, CEO and co-founder of Jel. "Every team member at Jel felt proud to see the redesigned, expanded online Official Voter Information Guide go live precisely when promised -- on Day 15."

About the Secretary of State Election Office
The Secretary of State's Elections Division is responsible for everything from certifying the official lists of candidates to determining which types of voting systems are acceptable for use in California. It also has a comprehensive Voter Registration and Outreach Team, which oversees printing registration forms, encouraging registration and voter turnout, and producing several voter information publications.

About Jel, Inc.
Jel Inc. is a premiere web development and design firm that helps organizations improve their business by providing Internet-focused strategic planning, design and application development. Founded in 1993, Jel has a 10-year legacy in technical design and Internet technologies, and is proud of a diverse list of clients including Genentech, Roche, Saturn/General Motors, Apple Computers, Williams-Sonoma, Duraflame, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, CALFED Bay-Delta Program, UC Davis Health System, City of Sacramento, the California Secretary of State, and many others.

For More Information
Jon Lee
Jel Inc.
(916) 447-5463 ext. 102
jon@jel.net