Idea Lab

The Role of Citizen Media in Ensuring Fair Elections

by David Ardia
2007 Knight News Challenge Winner

Yesterday, I read an article in the New York Times describing the fears some voters in Duval County, Florida have that their early votes will be lost and never counted. I found the article deeply disturbing. It wasn't because it surprised me that people fear their votes won't be counted (that fear has some precedent in Duval County, where 26,000 ballots were discarded in the 2000 election), but because it brought into focus for me the apprehensive feelings I've been having about the upcoming election. I have this nagging feeling that something . . . well, terrible . ....

• October 30, 2008
• 1 comment

Online Voter Guides and Election Coverage Down the Ballot?

by Steven Clift
2007 Knight News Challenge Winner

I was pretty amazed last night with the multiple live feeds CNN.com provided to the different Iowa Caucus candidate parties. Each Presidential election, the major media sites and a gazillion .com ventures ratchet up their online coverage of this signature race. My question to blog readers - is there any sign that this creativity has any momentum down the ballot? Please share any links in your comments. In 2006, I was the host of a unique asynchronous two week online candidate debate among all the candidates on the ballot for Minnesota Governor. Beyond basic online voter guides and article packages,...

• January 4, 2008
• 1 comment