hot topic | MOBILE VOTING
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Alaskans who got a new voter registration card for the 2012 election cycle noticed something a little different this time around. The cards came with one of those funny, black barcode squares on the back. The QR code—QR stands for quick response—could instantly take smartphone users with a free QR barcode reader to a special website, where they were able access personal information on their polling place, sample ballots, voting procedures, and early and absentee-in-person voting locations. The simple, new feature provided tech-savvy voters with election help on demand. State election officials say the new cards were a big hit, providing better customer service to people who could take advantage of the easy-to-access and user-friendly government application. “Voters now spend more time than ever on their smartphones and tablet computers,” said Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, who led the new voter registration card initiative. “Understanding that the most effective way to reach Alaskans—particularly younger voters—is through mobile and social networking technologies, we have taken steps to make sure that anyone can easily find out where to go vote and get
up-to-date information on demand.” Gone are the days when just putting up a website was enough. The 2012 election cycle ushered in a brand new wave of state-driven tools designed to assist busy voters who increasingly rely on smartphones and tablet computers to conduct their business with government. States launched a number of initiatives designed to leverage mobility in elections, including mobile-optimized websites, mobile tie-ins with social media and new applications—commonly referred to as apps—available for download. This shift was highlighted in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, when several hard-hit Mid-Atlantic states utilized text messaging to communicate with voters just days before the Nov. 6 presidential election. While these new uses of technology come with challenges, the benefits of mobile-enabled services—improving constituent access and decreasing costs—tend to outweigh the negatives. Many officials believe these tools are just the beginning of something much larger: Mobile technology is slowly changing the way Americans votes.
The New Normal
Mobility is rapidly becoming a must-have capability for election offices, according to a National Association of Secretaries of
by Kay Stimson
State survey of state election offices on voter outreach programming for the 2012 general election. The survey found more than half of all states devoted significant time and resources to ensuring their election websites were optimized for smartphone and tablet users, particularly in states that offer voting information look-up tools. These efforts typically were complemented by social media tie-ins on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. “This is the new normal in elections,” said Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller, 2013 NASS president. “State election officials are clamoring for mobile capabilities, not only because they are what voters want, but also because they are typically cost-effective solutions for budget-conscious state and local governments.” Miller led a two-year initiative to streamline the registration process in Nevada by enabling voters to register online. For a cost of about $250,000, voters in all 17 Nevada counties were able to use online registration, joining California, Maryland, New York and South Carolina, which introduced this service statewide in 2012. Thirteen states now offer online voter registration, with more soon to follow. These states say their new systems reduce administrative burdens on local clerks while realizing big gains in voter registration figures.
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JULY / AUG 2013
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“State election officials are clamoring for mobile capabilities, not only because they are what voters want, but also because they are typically cost-effective solutions for budget-conscious state and local governments.” —Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller, 2013 NASS president
