Time to Vote

We shouldn’t place barriers on voting that deter potential voters. We should make voting easily accessible, and incentivized, so we get as many votes as we can for the fairest possible election.

Even if the government disagrees, citizens are fed up and taking these matters into their own hands. Celebrities are trying to make voting seem like the cool thing to do. People on Facebook are developing apps and groups that encourage people to become informed voters. Not only is voting information becoming available in more and more places, but some of your old voting locations are getting new technology to speed up the end-of-night paperwork for voting registrars. In Stafford county, one man, Cameron Sasnett, developed a program called “results-logic” to tabulate results faster and with more accuracy. This also allows voters to get through the lines more quickly, speeding up the process on both ends.

As the presidential election is upon us, it is important now more than ever to look at how Americans’ voices are heard even before we get to vote. New technology is emerging that allows for more effective communication between Congress and its constituents. Former congressional aide Marci Harris left her position to solve one of government’s biggest problems,  ‘The way information is processed is breaking. There has to be a new way,’ said Harris, who founded PopVox, a startup that aims to improve the communication between Congress and its constituents. This technology is focused on getting citizens’ opinions TO Congress, but what technology exists that enables, nay forces, Congress to directly communicate back to its constituents? Is that even a technology solution or is it just a matter of Congress stepping up their level of transparency? I’d be interested to see how these new technologies can benefit each and every American, even those without internet, or those uncomfortable giving out private information online. It should be an attractive thing to vote, but so many people have voting limitations thrust upon them, or they just don’t understand the tremendous value associated with voting. Perhaps if citizens thought their voices would actually be heard, and valued, they’d take the time to vote for an America they actually want.

Writer: Mallory Smith worked as Program Manager & Administrator at Futurist.com