With less than three weeks until the 2024 election, mobile apps and digital platforms are playing a vital role in reshaping voter engagement, especially within Houston’s Black community. Technology is proving to be a game-changer in empowering traditionally underserved voters by simplifying voter registration, streamlining the process of finding polling places, and educating the public about candidates.
The Impact of Digital Voter Engagement
Mobile technology has led to the rise of civic engagement apps like Activote for voter research, InfoVote for voter awareness, MOXY for voter empowerment, and the website When We All Vote, gaining popularity among Black voters in Houston. These platforms enable users to check their voter registration status, locate polling stations, and receive election reminders, all from their smartphones. Organizations such as the NAACP and Black Voters Matter have also embraced these tools to mobilize voters in the face of misinformation and voter suppression concerns.
“I found out I wasn’t registered to vote through an app, and it helped me get everything straightened out before the deadline,” said Jasmine Mitchell, a Houston resident. “In past elections, I’d miss deadlines or forget to update my information, but now it’s all right there on my phone.”
Enhancing Voter Turnout through Technology
Research indicates that the use of mobile apps and digital platforms has been associated with an increase in voter turnout within Black communities.
Despite Texas experiencing its highest voter turnout percentage in the 2020 election, the state still ranked low in terms of overall turnout. “The challenge lies not just in registration but in the turnout of registered voters,” stated Mike Doyle, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party. “The key is to find ways to encourage voter turnout.”
Historically, turnout for presidential primary elections in Texas has been low. In 2020, only around 12-13% of registered voters participated in the Republican and Democratic primaries. Local organizations in Houston have embraced platforms like TurboVote, which sends text messages with deadline and polling location information. MyVoteTexas is another popular tool providing non-partisan details on candidates and ballot measures, ensuring voters can make informed decisions at the polls.
This article is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship Lab. The Lab initiative is supported by Comcast NBCUniversal.