Election Day is just around the corner. So in order to help you get informed about the candidates, the issues, the numbers and the process, we’ve pulled together a list of the top 10 election-related tools on the web. Enjoy — and get out there and vote!
- Refresh your memory as to what the candidates have said in their speeches. Add election-related gadgets to your site, like Google’s series of electoral map and video mashups that link to clips of major candidates’ speeches and track where and when they spoke.
Check out the latest polling data on your iPhone. Polling trend site Pollster.com, published by National Journal columnist and Democratic pollster Mark Blumenthal, and contrarian news, politics and culture web mag Slate.com, have linked up to create this handy app, Slate Poll Tracker.- Get a closer look at polling data and electoral projections. The breakout success of election-related sites this electoral season, fivethirtyeight.com is run by two guys who’ve said they’re voting for Obama but that the site is about poll data, not partisanship.
Follow the money. The non-partisan Open Secrets.org, run by the Center for Responsive Politics, tracks the flow of donations to candidates. Or poke around your friends’ and neighbors’ donations with Fundrace.org, run by the left-leaning megablog The Huffington Post.- Find out which candidates are getting the most media and blogosphere attention. Perspctv.com follows the ebb and flow of coverage on the veeps and presidential contenders with a series of graphs and charts.
- See how the dailies weigh in on the candidates. Journalist Mark S. Luckie’s blog 10,000 Words has a bunch of helpful election-related links. If what the major papers think about the candidates might sway your vote, take a look at this newspaper endorsement map mashup.
- Take an issues-focused online quiz to find your ideal candidate match. Glassbooth.org’s Facebook quiz compares your responses to questions on major issues with candidates’ policy positions. But be ready for surprises: the quiz takes all candidates into account, not just the frontrunners.
- Tell the candidates how you really feel — and see what others are saying — by posting a video to the non-partisan whatwouldyousaytothepresident.com
Don’t forget the regional elections. The League of Women Voters has a series of handy state-by-state guides to state and local candidates and ballot initiatives, measures and propositions, and Ballotopedia’s user-generated content helps unravel the pros and cons of proposals on this election’s ballots.- And if you haven’t voted yet, get ready for Nov. 4 by finding your polling place via map tools from Google and Vote411.org.
I know a lot of this stuff has probably only emerged recently but I would have loved a list like this a few weeks ago. Still, interesting stuff.
We just launched http://www.politics.com as well.
Interesting set, we also have our Spy tool which shows what people are watching by country, if you look at the US visitors you’ll notice a huge increase in Politics and News viewership which is growing exponentially as we get closer towards the Nov. 4th election.
Another great resource is: 270towin.com
You can play along on election night as the results come in.
Wow dude, I have to admit you hit the nail square on the head with this one dude. Well done.
Jif
http://www.Privacy-Center.net
I’m very concerned about electronic voting machines and their trustworthiness. Just seeing clips from the film “Hacking Democracy” is enough to get one very worried.
Here’s an interesting site that shows what kind of voting technology is in use within each state (has county-level detail). You’ll notice that many key “swing” and/or undecided states have some amount of e-voting technology in place: http://www.verifiedvoting.org/verifier/index.php?topic_string=5std&ec=mixed&year=2008
Check out http://www.dvice.com/voting to find out how hackable the machine you’re voting on is
What, no Electicker? I’ve found it the #1 most comprehensive aggregator of election-related content.
We’re throwing an international election night party/video webcast from Montreal, Vancouver and Brisbane Nov 4th. Think of it as an organic counterbalance to CNN et al.
More info at http://canadaforobama.ca if you’re interested.
Or if you want to do some research on your own about the candidates, these sites are great:
http://www.govtrack.us
http://www.ontheissues.org/
http://www.social42.com recently went live recently. You can listen to people’s opinions and leave your own. Pretty neat way of interacting.
What about Skewz.com?
http://www.skewz.com
Over the last week I’ve been looking into non-partisan resources for people who might have problems at the polls. I’ve found some good sites, including:
Election Protection Hotline and Updates(866-OUR-VOTE)
Twitter Vote Report
http://www.giveusahope.com recently went live.
Your chance to send a message to the good people of the USA and inspire them to make a considered, informed choice when they go to the polls
Your chance to try and galvanise America to turn out and vote
To vote with a global conscience in the knowledge that the choice they make that day will affect all of us; in every corner of every country on every continent for the next four years
This is a new democracy
One picture – No vote
Very interesting stuff…
will be exciting to use these tools as the results keep coming in
Cool stuff!
I use a widget to keep up with the progression of polls.
I think you might like it:-)
http://www.youcalc.com/apps/1218019592041
Make a difference – keep voting!
Thanks for the great suggestions and kind feedback everyone. We’re looking at putting an update to this post out soon.
In the race to the moment of truth people are still deciding who to
vote for as the next most influential person in the world.
In order to make the decision easier, a dutch company called
Kieskompas has developed the Electoral Compass. This voting advice
application is one of a kind. All the important issues are embedded in
the application that makes it easy to see where you fit in the
political compass. To what extent are you progressive (social liberal)
or traditional (social conservative) or left or right in economical
terms. And which candidate do you relate to the most.
If you haven’t decided who to vote for than take the test.
http://www.electoralcompass.com
To study English, I am reading the article written in English.
Thank you for a wonderful article.
Thank you from Japan.