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The power of the cyber

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Illinois

Since early September, Chicago elections officials received an average of 150 new or updated online voter registrations daily, Allen said. The number skyrocketed to more than 1,600 Friday, he said. Over the weekend, about 5,000 people registered online to vote in Chicago.

Statewide data showed more than 30,000 online registrations Friday, up from 2,800 the previous day. The momentum continued throughout the weekend, with 9,000 registrations Saturday and 5,000 on Sunday.

A Facebook post popped up in news feeds Friday, encouraging people to register and taking them to vote.USA.gov, where they can enter their state and get directed to their state voter registration page. […]

“This latest Facebook post, it wasn’t just that people saw a reminder to register, but I suspect a lot of people posted it and re-posted it. That kind of social pressure can be effective,” said [Zachary Cook, a political science professor at DePaul University], who clicked on it to change his voter registration address.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 10:16 am

Comments

Celebrity videos have been poppin’ up on Youtube encouraging folks to register to vote for a few weeks.

Comment by yeah Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 10:19 am
Not good for Kirk or Munger.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 10:21 am
Cyber succeeds where EDR has had trouble. We’re dealing with a few generations that don’t have time or won’t make time to do certain things. Facebook made it instant; they responded. Now, we’ll see if they’ll make the time to vote or grab a cup of coffee instead. Generally, it’s good news.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 10:24 am
I saw it not as a Facebook ad, but on my actual wall, placed there by Facebook itself, not a political group.

My concern is whether or not Facebook (the company) targeted me because I “liked” someone else’s political post, or through their algorithm they assume I’m with a particular party. If they put this post on everyone’s wall that is fine, but if they target people that is an entirely different issue and brings up all sorts of complications related to in-kind donations and using corporate resources for political purposes.

Comment by Not It Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 10:25 am
I was curious how successful that facebook newsfeed post would be.

Registering voters is the perfect clicktivism campaign. It requires very little effort on the part of the clicktivist, but could have a potentially large effect on a real world conflict (i.e. elections).

Still I wonder if registering will equate to voting. Registration is a major hurdle to certain voting blocs, but so is getting to the polling place and waiting in line.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 10:30 am
Registering online still requires that in some cases additional “proofs” may still need to be provided at the polling place in advance of actually casting a vote. I hope that is being communicated properly.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 10:59 am
Chicago_downstater”Still I wonder if registering will equate to voting. Registration is a major hurdle to certain voting blocs, but so is getting to the polling place and waiting in line.”
Not if the next facebook campaign involves early voting

Comment by simple mind Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 11:40 am
Congrats on winning the lawsuit IPI. On the other hand, the social media campaign is causing a lot of those people who you’d hoped wouldn’t be able to register on election day to register early.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 12:36 pm
Not It @ 10:25 — It was on my Facebook wall too. I am confident that I am not being targeted due the things the FB algorithms would find pleasing.

Responsa @ 10:59 — a successful registration on line does not require further ID (it does require the registrant to have a D/L or State ID number, which serves as the ID and provides the signature to go with the voter file). The ones who might potentially need to provide further ID info are those who use the mail in form and do not provide sufficient information when it is sent in.

Comment by titan Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 12:50 pm
This seems like a good spot for this: https://ova.elections.il.gov/

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 12:58 pm
Lol great post title

Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 3:00 pm