Technological Technological Advancements in Advancements in

International ElectionsInternational Elections

November 14, 2007November 14, 2007

Role of Technology: 2006 -2008

• U.S. 2006: Arguably the “YouTube” Election?

• France 2007: Heavy emphasis on video (Sarkozy); blogging (Royal)

Influence of Video

• 2006: Exposure, Exposure, Exposure!

• 2008: Video-Centric Design

• Off-Loading Hosting

• Security

Bloggers to Content Creators

• 2004: Bloggers as journalists

• 2008: User creationism

• Create your own ad contests

• Independent content: ala “Obama Girl”

Social Networking & Web 2.0

• 2006: MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, et al

• MySpace – over 60 million visitors a month

• Youth focus

• Full disclosure

• 2008: Leveraging SocNets and Verticals

Mobile Campaigning

• SMS and MMS to deliver the GOTV and Action Alerts.

• Short common codes

• Fundraising via mobile phone

• WAP & .mobi sites

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CRM Systems

• Data management

• Microtargeting

• Relationship management

• Campaign coordination

Offline Technology

• Mobile phone applications: move away from PDAs

• VOIP phonebanks• Outbound phoning• Virtual townhalls

• Proximity marketing: utilizing bluetooth technologies

Shifting Focus: Closed Societies•Belarus•Burma•China•Cuba•Egypt•Iran•North Korea•Saudi Arabia•Syria•Tunisia•Turkmenistan•Uzbekistan•Vietnam Thirteen “Enemies of the Internet” as

described by Reporters Without Borders