How to get millennials to vote
There are two things millennials love the most; a quick and easy dating app and getting immediate access to information.
That is why it is no surprise that a new political app called Voter is making headlines.
Voter-Matchmaking for Politics is an app that combines the user interface of dating apps such as Tinder, Grindr and Bumble, by replacing the picture of potential matches with questions on political and social issues.
After swiping left or right on some of the most contested debates in the U.S election, users are then immediately matched with a party, candidate and political influencer who best aligns with their views.
Automatically generated, with detailed imaged-based results, all calculated within minutes.
Genius, right? Such technology could be the solution to low voter turnout rates and apathetic attitudes that have plagued Canadian politics.
There’s just two problems: One, the app is not yet available in Canada; Two, our political landscape seems to be allergic to technology.
When it comes to political technology and innovation Canadians are severely lagging behind.
Living in close proximity to the U.S, we can’t help but be reminded that our political environment is less of a celebrity showdown and more like a straw-blowing competition at your local fair — long, tedious and unnecessary.
Our political system is slowing dying, with no one showing interest in delivering a cure.
That cure is technological innovation. It’s the wave of the future and the future is now.
Technology allows for greater efficiency, wider reach, and serves as the gateway to a generation that has not lived without it.
No longer can we afford to have a political system detached from technological innovation that has the power to connect with young voters.
However, little effort is being made to ensure this is fulfilled. Instead, we rely on the same old methods to increase voter engagement.
If Canadian politics is to survive beyond the fanfare of Justin Trudeau mania, it will need the integration of political technology, engaging a new demographic of voters who are fluent in emojis, communicate through gifs and prefer to have information delivered through a device of their choosing.
When it comes to getting these voters to the polls, the process needs to be easier and more accessible. However, instead of being proactive in Canada, we idly wait and hope innovators and companies will expand their services here.
Relying on the U.S. to fill in our technological gaps is not sustainable. Their will or desire to expand into the Canadian market is not a lucrative one. We have a completely different political system, with a different set of needs and relationship to our constituents.
That is why we need to invest in developing our own technological solutions that prioritize the realities of our political environment. My question is, how long do we keep on waiting?