Voters need information fast in a form that's easily used. Phone based apps work well, but often take a lot of time and money to create. How does a small group with limited funds and tech expertise quickly create a map based app for their project?
This blog explains how ROV volunteers created a mobile app with Georgia dropbox locations in a day. Volunteers collected dropbox locations by crowdsourcing in a Google Sheet which was converted into a mobile app with the free GlideApps software without any programming. Voters can easily find their closest dropbox location from a phone or laptop - without having to instal an app.
Georgia Absentee Ballot Dropboxes
"Many Georgia counties offer Absentee Ballot Dropboxes for the January 5th runoff elections. Voters do not need a postage stamp to return their ballots at a drop box, but they must use a drop box located in their registered county. Other counties without drop boxes, but let voters return their ballots in person at their county Board of Registrations and Elections office. Ballots must be RECEIVED by 7PM on election day to be counted." - Georgia Voter Guide
Reclaim Our Vote (ROV) wanted to offer Georgia voters:
- A resource to find Absentee Ballot Dropbox locations
- The ability for ROV to collect and update information as dropbox locations change
- A simple way for voters to access this information from a phone or laptop with the least amount of click
- The ability to search for location and also get driving directions
- The resource that could be rolled out quickly as early voting had already started
- A solution that could be used on phones without requiring an app to be installed
How the system works
ROV volunteers collect details on Dropbox locations and enter them into a Google Sheet and also keep it updated with new information.
Google Sheets allows multiple volunteers to enter and update data at the same time.
The information from the Google Sheet is converted into a mobile app using the free GlideApps solution.
The ROV map of Absentee Dropbox Locations is shared as a link (https://georgia-dropbox.glideapp.io/) which can be used from a phone or laptop.
Takeaway
Software has become much easier to use and flexible to meet many of the needs of grassroots groups, non-profits and campaigns. Consider free apps like GlideApps and Google Sheets for your next project.
Deepak
DemLabs
Image credit: Wikimedia