Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Cool tools, Odds and ends, Internet, Internet Tools, App Store
Vote Report helps poll the polls on Election Day
I love this idea -- if there's one thing our voting system here in the US could use, it's a little more transparency, both in how the votes are counted and weighed, and in how the polling itself takes place. And now there's an iPhone app aimed at making sure that on next month's Election Day, we get exactly that. Vote Report is currently submitted to the App Store -- all you do is download the app, punch in your Twitter information (although the site says you don't have to, but I'm not sure how it makes the report otherwise), and then when you're done voting, you can fill out a quick form that will send information on how it went straight to Twitter itself (you can see all the reports collected on this page as well).
Of course, the Internet (including Twitter) will be awash with reports from polling places on November 4th, but if you're bringing your iPhone along, this will be a quick and easy way to get the word out if something went right or wrong. And Vote Report has teamed up with Election Protection, so if something does go really wrong at the polls, they'll hopefully be standing by to get the word out.
If you are in the US, no matter what your political leaning or affiliation, do make sure to vote on November 4th -- the wheels of democracy only turn when we all get out and push. Let's exercise those rights while we've got them.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andy Dahl said 7:27AM on 10-30-2008
Uh.. how come you're promoting one political party over another? Or are you simply ignorant of who "Election Protection" really is? This group is ACORN on steroids!
And did you ever really stop to think how Twitter could "protect the election"?
This site is becoming a joke.
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Patrick J-Whitty said 8:26AM on 10-30-2008
How's that tinfoil hat working out for ya?
Jack said 9:30AM on 10-30-2008
You are right. I would not have noticed who "Election Protection" was aligned with. Yeah, much like the poll shenanigans from last election, this one will also mysteriously seem to be favoring Obama... but when the votes are counted McCain will either lose or win by 1/2 a percent. This application does not impress me very much.
Charles R Hamilton said 8:03AM on 10-30-2008
Put in a box to check that says"ACORN canceled my vote with ten dead people and an imaginary mouse" and I'll think about it.
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Dan S. said 9:01AM on 10-30-2008
Thanks for your insight, Chuck.
Nothing like conflating Voter _Registration_ Fraud with Voter Fraud.
Because we really needed to drag the discourse down to a 3rd grade level. (The middle-school tone of the election was just going over too many people's heads.)
Oh, and the only person arrested, so far, on charges related to election registration fraud, was a GOP operative who falsified thousands of voter registrations and affiliation shifts in California.
ranum said 9:52PM on 10-30-2008
Well, Dan. You're obviously not paying a lot of attention. A New York Democrat Congressman's staffer was fired for having registered AND VOTED in Ohio despite being a New York state Citizen.
And it's already being proven on a daily basis that those fraudulent registrations are being converted to fraudulent votes. To think otherwise is, at best, wishful thinking and, at worst, the same kind of partisanship that would howl about voter machines but turn a blind eye to the ACORN investigations in close to 20 states. 20!
Sorry, but when you defend ACORN, you lose any and all crediblity.
Very Amusing said 8:05AM on 10-30-2008
Um, we DON'T have a "right" to vote...
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erik said 10:37AM on 10-30-2008
So, let me get this straight. Ensuring equal access to the ballot for all Americans is somehow a bad thing? Here's a list of Election Protection's partners:
http://www.866ourvote.org/partners/
Yes, many of them are progressive orgs. Only because conservative groups have no incentive to join in an effort to protect ballot access for minorities and the working class. When those groups show up, conservatives lose.
More on topic. It is exciting to see how much technology is helping to democratize democracy. More please!
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George Stuart said 10:49AM on 10-30-2008
Yes, you are correct. When dead people and Disney characters vote, Republicans lose. Those folks always seem to vote for Democrats... how "odd".
This app might be fun, but the weak link is that all options are negative. Which means it will only report poll _problems_. Most voters will vote and leave. Thus the recorded results from this app will not likely be indicative of much that is meaningful.
JKT said 12:26PM on 10-30-2008
Hey George: Name one, ONE case of "dead people and Disney characters" voting. Go ahead, we're all waiting. Or are you (like so many other non-thinkers) confusing voter registrations with voting?
It sure would be nice if people engaged their brains before posting.
RaT said 1:01PM on 10-30-2008
JKT:
Why dont you just shut it, open your eyes and have a look around?
Because of a democrat the whole world is financially unstable!
I said shut it!!
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George Stuart said 3:36PM on 10-30-2008
JKT:
Sheesh, chill out. Voter Reg. fraud is not Voter fraud (you get a cookie) -- but it's a necessary first step in many jurisdictions. It's not Daffy Duck I'm worried about, it's "John Smith" who has a fake address that nobody verifies. And they don't put voter names on ballets (have you ever voted?) so tracking this after the fact is impossible. That's why transparent and legal voter registration is so important. And abuses of this system occur most egregiously in metropolitan areas - which are overwhelmingly Democratic.
As for this app -- I just think that whatever results are determined will be unreliable. So it might be marginally interesting, but it's ultimately pointless.
Cheers
Joe said 3:03PM on 10-30-2008
I haven't checked out this app yet, but here's Acorn's response to the voter fraud allegations, if any of you are interested.
You should all do your own research and read up about voter suppression as well. Suppression isn't a conspiracy theory; its employment has been well-documented and it's proven to be a successful electioneering tool.
Acorn response video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdNgMKPV9xQ
Voter Suppression on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_suppression
Voter Caging on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caging_list
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Ethan said 3:38PM on 10-30-2008
I don't see the option for "too many black people at the polling station"
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EatingPie said 3:39PM on 10-30-2008
This is one of those posts that makes us just jump into our partisan trenches, dig in, and scream at each other from there.
I wish there were an unbiased source that gave accurate information.
Case in point, the above Wikipedia links above list ONLY Republican-blamed voting fraud. While I am certainly one to believe it's *possible* only one party tried to defraud voters, I have seen enough corruption on both sides to *highly* doubt that possibility. Wikipedia is also a TERRIBLE source on political (or religious) information.
The above "Caging" Article bases its primary information on Slate.com, a *highly* biased source, and a blog site rather than a news source. That puts the information very much in question as they actively work to expose their opposition, but not those they support.
I have never had a problem voting. My two issues are that (1) I don't want any computer/electronic voting machines, and (2) I DO want my ID checked before I vote, as anyone knowing my name can just walk up and steal my vote. Because of this, I will likely vote early, as those are paper ballots.
George's point on the "weak link" is imperative. If we only receive negative information, that will not be an accurate reflection on the true nature of the overall vote. There will very likely be mistakes, failures, gaffs, and, sadly, fraud. But if that is ALL we see, then how do we *honestly* evaluate the accuracy of the vote?
-Pie
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Joe said 6:25PM on 10-30-2008
I'm not making an argument that this app is useful.
I am trying to raise awareness that deliberate and systematic strategies like voter suppression -- which seek to dissuade or bar from voting tens of thousands of *legitimate* voters -- have a much greater effect on elections than a few dozen "John Smith" or "Donald Duck" applications. Comparatively, there aren't many of those.
@EatingPie, I get the feeling you're being partisan by not considering the validity of those articles based on merit instead of the 'bias' of the source. Every publication has a bias. The solution is to read a lot and draw your own conclusions. I'd look forward to reading any other links you could provide that shed more light on the subject.
Of course we should validate voters' identities. But we should also make sure all real citizens can vote, and that their names aren't unfairly purged from the list of legitimate voters.
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Andy Dahl said 9:05PM on 10-30-2008
Joe: What's wrong with "voter caging"? As I understand it, if you claim that you live at a certain address, and you can't prove it, you're not eligible to vote in that district. So if I send you a letter, and it's returned "undeliverable", there's a problem. Maybe you don't live where you say you do, and that could void your voter registration.
I see not problem with anyone checking up on me to make sure that I am who I say I am, and that I live where I say I do.
Don't cheat (or try to cheat) and there's no problem!
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