Election season is upon us again, and nationwide, the electorate is being bombarded by television commercials, phone calls, Internet ads, and door-to-door solicitations. While there are plenty of people reminding us to vote, there are few places where voters can access unbiased, unfettered information on the issues and candidates. Googling an initiative has been rendered virtually ineffective. In the height of political season, you are more likely to be taken to a party sponsored website than to the secretary of state’s informational site. What is a confused voter to do? This is where an interactive response system could come in handy. Local, state, and even federal governments could establish IVR systems that could be utilized by all of their constituents. Users on the go could call in, and choose from a menu of choices that would allow them to hear about issues and candidates in a succinct, easy to understand manner. Users would not have to have television or Internet access, but instead could call this system from anywhere and receive additional information on everything from ballot initiatives to candidate platforms. A forum like this would be publicly sponsored, and as such, free of advertising. Users would have access to information up to and through Election Day, and this IVR system would basically act as a telephonic reproduction of the informational ballot books sent out by the state. This system could even be eco-friendly by eliminating the need for states to send out paper ballot explanations! An IVR system like this would be a great resource for all voters, and would allow them to access important voting information on the go and from anywhere!
