About
E-Voter Institute is a non-partisan trade association founded in 1999 to advance the interests of Web publishers and solution providers within the political and advocacy communities.
In order to accelerate the use of these powerful online tools, E-Voter Institute research and events focus on the convergence of politics and the Internet, and the opportunities and obstacles faced by candidates and campaigns.
Our mission is to help level the playing field at the local, state, and national levels in order to encourage more candidates to run for public office and contribute to a more robust democracy.
The historic campaign of 2008 showed it is no longer a question of is the Internet a necessary part of a political campaign but how to use the Internet effectively. E-Voter Institute salutes all the pioneers who fought to get a seat at the table in order to get the Internet included in campaign strategies.
Now the real work begins.
Smokey the Bear and Friends
Guest on the podcast today is Kassy Perry, President and CEO, Perry Communications Group talking about efforts by the California State Parks Foundation to raise awareness and inform government officials about concerns about state park closings. With little time and a small budget, this advocacy group used Facebook, YouTube, email and Twitter to organize and motivate. Efforts so far have produced 47,000 letters to the Governor’s office, over 31,000 petition signatures, and more than 1,000 pictures and videos posted from visitors to state parks showing how much they enjoyed the park. Kassy’s theory is that the more voices are heard and faces put to the issue, the tougher it is for elected officials to cut programs.
Listen to the lively discussion with Kassy Perry, a proud Californian, who understands the true meaning of the state parks, why people care, and how to tap into that passion with online social media.
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Francine Busby Fundraiser Fireworks
In late May 2009, Francine Busby, Democrat, running in 2010 for Congress in the 50th District of San Diego, was a guest on the Digital Politics podcast.
On June 26, Francine had a fundraiser in San Diego. This turned into a quite a melee. See below for link to one of many stories in the San Diego Union Tribune this week. Other news sources picked up the incident, bloggers had a field day.
Fundraiser fracas set for DA’s scrutiny
Candidate Busby to meet with sheriff
By Tanya Mannes UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
2:00 a.m. July 2, 2009
Even Countdown with Keith Obermann called out the deputy who responded to the noise complaint with back-up from a helicopter, K-9 unit and firetruck.
Democracy is messy. Happy 4th of July.
Political Strategists
In the Digital Politics podcast this week with Patrick Ruffini, 
partner in Engage, the topic was how political strategists need to adapt to take advantage of web tools. In addition to Patrick’s general reaction to the Personal Democracy Forum held in NY this week, he also describes how campaigns need to embrace the creativity of constituents to build momentum and develop relationships. Tips on what might go viral in social media and the use of humor are also covered in this conversation with a genuine industry leader
.
Civic Engagement
Topic of the Digital Politics podcast last week was how the web is being used to energize state and local government. Guests were Jason Kiesel and Kurt Daradics from Freedom Speaks, a site that aims to transform civic engagement. This site lets people find their elected officials at all levels and enables them to communicate quickly about issues and concerns. In addition to being useful to citizens, there are applications for advocacy groups to help mobilize constituents. Check out the interview.
Digital Politics
Announcing the new Digital Politics podcast format.
Your Opinion Counts
If you are a political consultant, media strategist, fundraiser, grassroots organizer, public relations professional, pollster, campaign manager, direct mail guru, television ad expert, phone bank provider or interested academic take the 8th Annual E-Voter Institute Survey of Political and Advocacy Communications Leaders
Click here to take this short, confidential survey:
https://www.hcdsurveys.com/go/J7392
OR
Put on your voter’s hat and take the 4th Annual E-Voter Institute Survey of Voter Expectations
Click here to take this short, confidential survey.
https://www.hcdsurveys.com/go/J7391
Once again our partner is HCD Research. All responses are anonymous and no identifying information is retained.
Healthcare Under the Microscope
Digital Politics podcast this week Healthcare Under the Microscope with Glenn Kessler, CEO, HCD Research was particularly relevant because Glenn has been exposed to the H1N1 swine flu. Topics include whether Twitter and google trends are a way to predict spread of disease or whether they are an indication of how interest and concern is spreading based on reports in traditional media.
Candidate as Comedian
Digital Politics podcast today with Larry Ward, president, Political Media, looks at the public perception of political humor and what kinds of funny ads and videos are most likely to go viral. Parody, cartoons, and self-mocking humor all might work in the right situation to get across a message. Nasty jokes fall flat.
Larry has real world experience with candidates and advocates–some funnier than others. He predicts that candidates will need to be better at making fun of themselves as well as responding appropriately to humorous attacks.
Check out the Colbert Nation in Iraq videos from this week for some political humor that is sure to offend and amuse just about everyone.
Water Water Everywhere
Here in San Diego, mandatory water restrictions took effect on June 1. On the Digital Politics podcast from June 4 with guest Sara Katz, founder and president of Katz & Associates, we hear how the public agencies and businesses involved in water conservation and desalination are thinking about the web. Sara says that the situation is so dire in Southern CA that there is no time to discuss the problem of water shortages, people just need to go to the web to find out what they can do to save water. I suspect there are many ways for the web to enhance outreach and conservation efforts by engaging community members through online tools. Suggestions? Listen to the interview.
California Campaigns 2010
Guest on the Digital Politics podcast this week was Francine Busby, candidate for Congress in 2010 in the 50th district in San Diego. This is the old Duke Cunningham district currently represented by Brian Bilbray. Francine says that the district went for Obama in 2008 and that both the DCCC and RCCC will be paying close attention to this one. Not expecting any Primary competition, Francine anticipates that all of the Democratic candidates for CA governor will be knocking on her door to get her help in this district with an unusually high number of voters registered as Choose Not to Declare.
Along with the possibility of the same sex marriage initiative getting back on the 2010 ballot, to say nothing of the fact that the State is broke, I predict that unprecedented amounts of money will be spent on California campaigns between now and election day 2010. It also looks like the war will be fought online like never before. Francine put off the recent announcement of her candidacy for a week because the web site wasn’t ready.
