Communications of the ACM
Students' Web App Seeks to Simplify, Modernize Voter Registration
A new Web application can sent a short sample registration form to unregistered voters, and display information required to register and the registration deadline for the next election.
Credit: Wayland, MI
Votemate, a new Web application developed by five Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students, Microsoft's Scott Su, and marketing specialist Brandon Uveges could make it easier for people to confirm they are registered to vote.
Votemate is designed to integrate with many state-based voter registration websites, according to its developers. They note the app will deliver a short sample registration form to unregistered voters, and it will display only the information required to register and the registration deadline for the next election. Users will be able to find their polling place and receive email reminders for the next coming election.
The team conceived the app as a solution to simplifying and modernizing voter registration for millennials. "With Votemate, we wanted to ensure that our peers and anyone else new to the political process could engage in a familiar way," says MIT graduate student Keertan Kini. "Our Web app lowers the barriers to register and, we hope, vote."
The developers note a study of the 2008 election found 21 percent of those between 18 and 24 years of age reported they did not know how or where to register to vote.
From MIT News
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