Social media platforms are effective
and efficient mechanisms to send voters a quick heads-up and inform them in
real-time on latest news and developments. However,
the content that can be distributed through social media platforms is
limited. Therefore, while the use of social media has many advantages, social
media strategies should be seen as complementary to user-friendly websites that
offer a one-stop shop for all election-related
information.
Today, in many contexts – especially
in developing countries – it is more likely that young people have regular
access to smartphones than to desktop computers or laptops. EMBs therefore
should develop mobile-responsive websites.
Despite the many benefits of the
mobile web, election-specific smartphone apps are becoming increasingly popular. The main advantage of apps is
that they do not require internet connection and allow people offline access to
content and functions, something which is particularly important for people
living in rural areas with a limited, slow and/or unstable internet connection.
The MyINEC app developed by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) has become a one-stop shop for all INEC information. It enables
subscribers to use their mobile phones to access election-related news, such as
for example information on candidates and political parties[i].
Additionally, apps are being
developed for interactive games. Games are an interesting feature to present
elections in a fun and interactive way and to introduce first-time voters to
the electoral process. However,
the development of good games is rather costly. If funding allows,
EMBs can reach out to external services to develop
interactive games or to adapt those already used elsewhere.
Example: Three weeks before Tunisia’s first free democratic
elections in 2011, UNDP teamed up with the country’s Radio Mosaique FM to launch
“DemocraTweet,” an educational game about voting aimed at mobilizing youth to
actively participate in the electoral process and to educate them about the
importance of voting to ensure their rights and freedoms. Game players learned about the democratic system, the role and tasks of
the National Constituent Assembly and the institutional framework for
elections. The game also included information on the electoral process,
including election procedures, and the importance of a large voter turnout if the
results are to be accepted by Tunisians.[ii]
Example: In
2014, the Election
Commission of India (ECI), with support
from the EC and UNDP, developed
the video game “Get Set Vote,” which
is available on its website (eci.gov.in). The game – available in English and Hindi – is designed to engage
citizens of all age groups to learn about democracy and the electoral process
in an interactive manner. The
concept is easy: with 10 levels of mazes, players receive at each level pieces
of information on democracy, registration, assistance from ECI and so on. The
information provided becomes more specific with every level and the mazes get
more challenging as the game progresses.[iii]
Example: In Japan, a newspaper company offers
‘candidate matching’ website. Voters answer a series of questions, and then
will be matched with candidate whose policies or platform are closest to the
voter.[iv]
[ii] Jamel Haouas, "Supporting Democratic Elections in the
New Tunisia," (UNDP Brussels), accessed August 2018,
http://www.undp.org/content/brussels/en/home/ourwork/democratic-governance-and-peacebuilding/successstories/supporting-democratic-elections-tunisia/.
[iii] "Election Commission Launches Video Game Titled 'Get Set
Vote' to Promote Voter Awareness," Economic Times (India), October 1, 2014,
http://articles.economictimes.
indiatimes.com/2014-10-01/news/54516648_1_video-game-voter-awareness-electoral-participation.
[iv] https://pasolack.com/goodvalue/election-matching/#i
