Are you not sure how or when to vote? Don’t worry. You are not the only one. Google has recently added a customized guide within their Google Trends Election Hub that can help you get started. This new state-by-state voting guide provides individuals with voter ID requirements, deadlines, mail-in ballot information and even explains how early voting procedures work. This new feature comes one month after Google created a tool that informed individuals on how to register for the upcoming election.
“Whether you’re a first-time voter, a resident in a new state, or your state laws have changed since the last time you voted, you can now come to Google for information on how to vote in the upcoming election,” according Emily Moxley, a Product Manager at Google. “We hope this customized state-by-state guide will help you find the information you need quickly and easily to help get your voice heard.”
Ever since Google released their customized voter registration guide, they have seen millions of individuals using the tool to learn how to vote in the United States.
“In fact, compared to the same time four years ago, nationwide searches for voter registration are up 190% nationwide,” Moxley said.
To show the fluctuations between 2012 and today, Google created a map to show where the searches for “voter registration” have shifted the most. In their research, Google stated that some of the largest fluctuations have been seen in New York, West Virginia, California, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine.
“We’re committed to making it easy for people to find information, and have their voices heard in November,” Moxley said. “So we’re also making the data that powers our “how to register to vote” and our “how to vote” search results publicly available, so nonprofits and organizations promoting voter education can benefit and expand the reach of this critical information.”