Video Voter

Prototyping is the process of building a model of a system. At Video Voter, we build proof of concept examples, test them in the real world and integrate our findings into future efforts. We createmultiple forms of videos, test them in working "democracy labs" (YouTube, cable tv, www), and create working models of successful voter information systems and use them as prototypes to encourage governments and private media to create their own video voter information systems. Video Voter helps to create a widely available, scalable, inexpensive voter information system that governments and media can adopt to help voters learn about candidates and ballot measures.

One way of articulating this concept is, "Prototype as if you are right, but listen to and observe the feedback as if you are wrong." After a few years of learning from our mistakes, we have fully incorporated this concept into our approach, and it has proved hugely successful for our clients. We are constantly on the lookout for new and disruptive technologies that can make or break our clients' projects. When we started, there were huge barriers in the way, especially concerning the overhead of hosting videos on a website. Innovations like YouTube and Vimeo have lowered those hurdles, yet others have taken their place - and we strive to anticipate and alleviate these concerns before they effect our clients.

Video Voter has broken new ground in distributing Video Voter produced content, utilizing the web, cable television's On Demand technology, mobile devices and point of sale kiosks, such as the video screens at BP gas stations.

As the rate of technological advancement increases, it is more and more difficult for organizations to stay with the curve, not to mention ahead of it. Video Voter helps our clients navigate through the overwhelming possibilities and turn their ideas into reality.

Video Voter has, for example, worked with New York, Los Angeles and other cities to provide candidates and ballot measure committees with opportunities to videotape short statements on their positions. The cities have aired these videos on their governmental access cable TV channels, on city websites and television stations and on other participating outlets. Los Angeles has even written Video Voter into its local ordinances.