SASKATOON – Sifting through a pool of political information on the internet can be overwhelming. But now, there’s an app for that.
In a social media centric election, the way voters engage, disengage and seek information is changing. A new app called Pollenize, developed by two Toronto based co-founders, hopes to help disinterested voters and those just looking for a concise summary of what the political parties stand for.
“The amount of information is overbearing. There is so much out there. And it’s really hard to cut through the noise and get to the facts,” said Pollenize co-founder, Trevor Blades.
The app walks voters through federal leaders and their stance on issues like the economy, the environment, aboriginal affairs and healthcare. It promises to skip the political jargon and information overload.
“This is the way of the future. This is the direction that politics is heading. And I hope this type of technology gets embraced on a federal level,” said Blades.
IN-DEPTH: Federal Election 2015
Other political apps like VoteNote and Politips also hope to increase voter turnout.
According to University of Saskatchewan political scientist David McGrane, Twitter and Facebook add to the equation. With more leaders embracing an online presence, he thinks this federal election is different from the last.
“Social media allows for targeting voters. That’s never happened before. So the great thing for politicians is that you’re able to micro target things,” he said.
And the future of voting may be changing even more. With more confidential transactions taking place online, such as filing taxes, online banking and even making big purchase through credit cards, McGrane says it’s only a matter of time before voters can cast their ballots electronically.
“It’s just inevitable. The question isn’t if we’re going to have e-voting in Canada. It’s when,” he said.
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