Friday, October 22, 2010

MyBallot allows users to show how they're voting

Sarah Stern is an open book on Facebook when it comes to her ballot.

She's choosing Democrat John Hickenlooper for governor and casting her vote for Democrat Michael Bennet in Colorado's U.S. Senate race. The state's personhood amendment and trio of tax-slashing measures get her "no" votes.

All of her Facebook friends can get a sneak peak at how Stern, a recent University of Colorado graduate, is voting in November's mid-term election. She's part of a voyeuristic voting trend gaining momentum on the social-networking site. The grassroots-type of voters guide called "MyBallot" is developed by New Era Colorado, a civic engagement group with a youthful edge.

With the application, it's as though Facebook friends are virtually following one another into the voting booth and peering over their shoulders.

For Stern, showing off her ballot could spur her friends into action.

"I think that a lot of kids my age don't realize what's on the ballot," said Stern, 23. "They think it's just candidates, especially in a midterm year."

Using a voter's zip code, the application generates a ballot loaded with races for Congress and statewide offices, as well as ballot measures. New Era partnered with the Bus Federation, a sister organization with a national reach, to make the application available to voters in all 50 states.    More -

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