Vote for Widgets/Gizmos ‘08!
Today is Election Day, the most important day in the calendar for those of us in the United States (corny civics alert!). It’s bigger than the 4th of July, more exciting than Flag Day, and almost as cool as Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s (although I hear Ben & Jerry are getting into the act and giving out free scoops today in honor of our democratic process).
This Election Day is, by far, the most important in my short time as an eligible voter. In 2000, I was two weeks too young to vote for President, and in 2004, my absentee ballot (sent from college) went uncounted because it was not needed to decide the outcome in Pennsylvania. So this will mark my first real vote for President — in an important swing state, no less.
Today, I will head straight to my polling place after work, and wait in line to make my choice official. Because of local borough council elections, my polling place covers a very small area — just a few square blocks. In fact, while waiting in line at my polling place, I could throw a baseball across the street and hit ANOTHER polling place. I assumed this would make for a short wait tonight (last November, I voted late in the afternoon and was just the 35th voter). But Andrea voted just before 8 a.m. this morning and was #145! I didn’t even think that many people lived in our little corner of town.
While browsing all of the major news websites last night, I noticed a new trend: Widgets. Nearly every site had some sort of election widget available for use and download. On CNN.com, you could enter your zip code and download a widget that will track the presidential race and all local elections in real time. ABCnews.com offered an interactive electoral vote estimator, and MSNBC.com offered an entire “Widget Download Page” that is counting down hours and minutes until live results are available.
On the popular social networking site Facebook.com, there is a special election page that allows users to post voting stories and even provides a map to help you find your polling place (and the closest Ben & Jerry’s … seriously). The very top of Facebook (and Yahoo!) includes a button to click after you’ve voted. The site is keeping track of Facebook users who have voted (well over 2 million as of 1:30 p.m.). Even the candidates had Facebook widgets to keep supporters up to date on the latest information. You can even “donate” your Facebook status update to your favorite candidate for the day. So instead of letting everyone know how you’re feeling, or what you had for lunch, you can tout Obama or McCain. I guess it’s the 21st century equivalent of a sign in your front yard.
I never fully appreciated these widgets and gizmos until I worked at Dynamic Digital Advertising. Our experienced web programmers have created widgets for numerous applications, and can make widgets to basically whatever a client wants them to do. With the explosion of social networking sites, our programming and custom application division — DDA Apps — is always pushing the envelope with the latest widgets and custom applications that can tie in with the Web 2.0 craze. So even if you’re not running for President of the United States, you can still use widgets to your advantage with help from DDA Apps.
But as much as widgets can do these days, they can’t go into a booth and push a button or flip a lever. So, like many today, I’m taking my tiny corner of the blogosphere to urge you to vote, no matter who you vote for. Otherwise, you have no right to complain about anything for the next four years. Stand in line, have intelligent conversations with neighbors, and make your choice.
Otherwise, no free ice cream cone for you.
Entry by: Steve