From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 17/09/02 17:35
Subject: Policy Post 8.19: Use of the Web in Campaigns Hits the Mainstream
CDT POLICY POST Volume 8, Number 19, September 17, 2002
A BRIEFING ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES ONLINE
from
THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY
CONTENTS:
(1) Use of the Web in Election Campaigns Now the Norm
(2) Non-Partisan Online Voters' Resources Offer Information on
Candidates
(3) How Candidates Can Make Better Use of the Web
(4) Tips for Organizations Creating Online Voter Education Guides
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) USE OF THE WEB IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS NOW THE NORM
With the end of the primaries, election 2002 has kicked into high gear.
It is clear that candidate Web sites and online voter education guides
have become standard tools for candidates and promoters of voter
awareness.
CDT takes this opportunity to highlight some of the online resources
that are helping improve electoral democracy. These include:
* Non-partisan online voters' resources providing information about
all candidates in selected races.
* Guides for candidates seeking to use the Web - do's and don't's of
online campaigning.
* Tips for creating online voter education guides for both advocacy-
oriented and non-partisan groups.
To keep up to date on election and campaign resources, we recommend
joining Steve Clift's Democracies Online Newswire --
http://www.e-democracy.org/do/
Steve maintains a comprehensive list of 2002 U.S. Election News,
Information and Links at http://www.e-democracy.org/us/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) NON-PARTISAN ONLINE VOTERS' RESOURCES OFFER INFORMATION ON
CANDIDATES
Several years ago, there was a rush by for-profits companies to create
political Web sites. Most of those efforts folded with the bursting of
the dot-com bubble, but the quality of the remaining resources has
improved. Most of these are now run by nonprofit groups, government
agencies or a collaboration between the two. Here are a couple of the
best:
* DemocracyNet (DNet) -- http://www.dnet.org
DNet is an interactive Web site designed to improve the quality and
quantity of voter information and create a more educated and involved
electorate. Founded by the Center for Governmental Studies, DNet is
now a project of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. The site
encourages candidates to address a wider range of issues, and in
greater depth, than they might in other media. On DNet, candidates
debate their positions in an "electronic town hall" before on-line
audiences. Voters can email candidates directly to ask questions,
to volunteer or to make donation. Voters can also submit questions
to be posed to all the candidates in a race.
DNet is easy to use. Candidates can enter their positions directly,
without any editing. And voters enjoy one-stop shopping for
information on candidates, ballot measures, campaign finance
information, political parties and elected officials, all based
on zip code.
* Michigan's Publius Voter Information Center --
http://www.michigan.gov/sos or http://sos.publius.org
In the 2000 election, it became evident that many citizens could not
confirm whether they were registered to vote or to see what a ballot
looked like before they got to the polling booth. Many state
governments and public interest groups have tried to solve this
problem using online systems. Yet most either do not provide enough
information or put privacy at risk in trying to confirm the identity
of users. From what CDT has seen, Michigan is the first state to get
it right.
Working with the Secretary of State, a Detroit based group called
Publius has developed the Voter Information Center. The site asks a
voter's name, but limits the collection of personal information to
only the amount needed to confirm a registration. Once registration
is confirmed, the voter is given polling place information (including
a map); a mock-up ballot with links to candidate Web sites;
instructions on how to use the voting equipment at the polling
place; and a voting calendar. Thus, tailored information is provided
to users without sacrificing privacy. This Michigan system should
serve as a national model.
Non-profits in Minnesota http://www.myballot.net and California
http://www.smartvoter.net have also put together excellent systems to
provide almost the same level of information available in Michigan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) HOW CANDIDATES CAN MAKE BETTER USE OF THE WEB
While almost every candidate today has a Web site, very few use them
effectively. A new tool put out by the Institute for Politics, Democracy
& the Internet provides the best how-to guide we've seen so far: "Online
Campaigning 2002: A Primer" -- http://www.ipdi.org/primer2002.html
Drawing on conferences, surveys, interviews, field research,news reports
and academic studies, the Institute has amassed an amazing amount of
information into a concise (and free!) resource.
CDT especially highly recommends that all campaigns take a look at the
Primer's "Best Practices Checklist." Aside from the fact that the list
will be used by the Institute and others to review campaign sites for
praise and scorn, it also offers the best guide available on how to
make sites interactive and accessible to voters, volunteers and
community groups.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) TIPS FOR ORGANIZATIONS CREATING ONLINE VOTER EDUCATION GUIDES
For years libraries, the news media and nonprofit organizations have
made printed voter's guides to help educate the public on candidate's
positions on issues. Effective use of the Web can make these guides
available to more people at a lower cost. However, many groups have
simply put the printed version of their guides online or have otherwise
failed to make use of the Internet's potential for presenting
information in new ways.
One of the leading groups providing educational materials for voters,
the California Voter Foundation (CVF), has now put together a resource
to help promote best practices in the creation of online voter guides.
"How to Make an Online Voter Guide: Quick Tips for the Voter Educator"
-- http://www.calvoter.org/manual/quicktips.html offers a quick and
easy-to-follow set of tips in creating these important resources.
CVF's own Online Voter's Guide http://www.calvoter.org/2002 serves as
a model. The site gives voter's a comprehensive overview not only of
the candidates and their donors, but also detailed information on the
often confusing ballot propositions that continue to mark California's
elections.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detailed information about online civil liberties issues may be found
at http://www.cdt.org/.
This document may be redistributed freely in full or linked to
http://www.cdt.org/publications/pp_8.19.shtml.
Excerpts may be re-posted with prior permission of [log in to unmask]
Policy Post 8.19 Copyright 2002 Center for Democracy and Technology
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