Votecastr Ignites Controversy
Members of the VoteCastr team at a development meeting in Palo Alto, California in January. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth D. Herman of The New York Times.

Votecastr Ignites Controversy

This November, Americans will have the opportunity to view the projections of presidential candidates as they are voting on election day.

According to npr.org, a company called Votecastr will be sharing real-time information about how the candidates are standing on Election Day. The projections are going to focus on the important battleground states, including Wisconsin.

Votecastr’s projections will be appearing on Slate, which is an online magazine. According to Slate.com, they will be posting and analyzing information regarding voter turnout.

As mentioned on Slate.com, media outlets have strayed from revealing information about the presidential election until after the polls actually close. In the past, the media has chosen not to share early projections because there is a fear that it will deter people from voting if they see which candidate is in the lead.

The idea of showing these projections before polls close is extremely controversial. At the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, both students and professors have varying opinions about Votecastr.

Heather Molenda-Figueira, assistant professor of psychology, might use the website on Election Day. She believes that Votecastr could make some people choose not to vote but hopes that it would not prevent a lot of people from voting because this election is so critical.

In partnership with Slate, Votecastr will publicly debut its real-time projects based on voter turn out November 8. Image courtesy of www.votecastr.us.

In partnership with Slate, Votecastr will publicly debut its real-time projects based on voter turn out Nov. 8. Image courtesy of www.votecastr.us.

“I think perhaps if people see that their candidate is ahead at some point they would be less likely to go out and vote for that person. I think it could prevent people from going to the polls to support their candidate,” Molenda-Figueria said.

Austin Lowe, senior health promotion major, has been following this election closely and is taking it very seriously.

“This is an awfully important election for our country. It’s really pathetic that it has come down to these two bad candidates that are not focusing on real issues. Our country is in a very serious state of turmoil, and it’s extremely disappointing to see that,” Lowe said.

Despite being unhappy with some of the presidential candidates, Lowe still plans to vote this November. He feels that Votecastr will be a good source of information and will be utilizing Slate.com come election day.

“If you have a strong will to vote one way or another for one candidate, then Votecastr shouldn’t have much of a negative effect,” Lowe said.

Noble Rundman, senior communication major with an emphasis in media production, thinks that the early projections would have the potential to affect voter turnout in a negative or positive way.

“I don’t think I’m necessarily for or against it in a large way. I am interested to see what other people will think and how they will react to this,” Rundman said.

Rundman does admit that Votecastr adds more controversy to an already controversial election.

“It kind of gives a whole new outlook to voting. I think this will dramatize things more; it will add a new dimension of drama to the election because you can see what is happening as it’s happening,” Rundman said.

Caroline Chalk

Reporter

cchal845@uwsp.edu

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