I am in Brasil to keynote the Social Good Brasil Conference (had to vote early), but I can still watch democracy unfold in real-time through my friends updates on Twitter, Facebook, and other social channels. I love seeing these photos of polling places where my friends are voting.
But you can also see aggregated information about the voting process on Our Vote Live created by Election Protection,Lawyers’ Committee, NOI, and Ushahidi. It is mapping out all reported voting/election questions and incidences around the country. You can report problems on the website: http://www.ourvotelive.org/ or by using Twitter: #OVLreport, or calling into Election Protection’s hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE
According to this post by Craig Newmark, the site allows voters to report problems at the polls, receive assistance from trained volunteers more quickly and easily, and allow for better tracking and reporting on the nature and location of these incidents. Features include:
- Easier reporting. New systems allow voters to report problems and submit questions and concerns around the voting experience using smart phones, online, and Twitter (#OVLReport), in addition to the existing telephone hotline.
- Faster, more accurate response. Trained volunteers have instant access to necessary data, including polling place information and local election rules and regulations – streamlining the processing and resolution of complaints, and expanding the capacity of volunteers to respond to reported issues.
- Greater transparency and more accurate reporting. As reports are filed, the data will be collected and grouped into categories, and then visually shown on an online interactive map and timeline to provide a real-time interface showing the types and regularity of election-related problems.
