Use Election Outreach

The Election Outreach solution delivers a set of capabilities that help you share information about current elected representatives with the public, get voters to an appropriate voting center or Election Day polling place, and communicate voting wait times.

In this topic, you’ll learn how to use the solution by assuming the role of a user and performing the workflows below.

Find elected representatives

You will assume the role of a resident in the community who wants to find information on elected representatives.

1. In a browser, go to the Promoting Transparent Elections site.
2. Scroll to the Who’s My Elected Representative section.
3. In the Search for an address search box, type an address, and then press Enter.
4. Review the list of elected offices. Click an elected office to expand and view the elected representative's information.

   Using the list of elected offices, you can discover your elected representatives and their contact information. For example, county commissioners are responsible for the management of county funds and have fiscal and regulatory powers.

Locate a polling place

Many states divide communities into geographic areas called precincts and assign registered voters to designated polling places based on their residential address. On Election Day, ballots are cast at these designated polling places and then tabulated to determine the winner of a political contest or proposal.

You will assume the role of a voter interested in locating the polling place where your ballot can be cast on Election Day.

1. In a browser, go to the Promoting Transparent Elections site.
2. Scroll to the Voting Locations section, and then, under the Locate My Polling Place header, click the Launch App button to open the Election Polling Places app.
3. In the Search for an address to find your polling place search box, type an address and press Enter.

   The map updates to display the area covered by the voting precinct where the address is located.

   The Information panel displays details about the polling place, such as the election date, location, operational hours, and contact information. If the app has been configured to show wait times, they can be visualized on the map, where polling place symbols are color-coded according to reported wait times. Depending on when you access the app, you will see an operational status of Open Now or Closed below the hours of operation.

4. After you finish, return to the Promoting Transparent Elections site.

Locate voting centers and ballot drop boxes

Voting centers are an alternative to traditional, neighborhood-based precincts. When a jurisdiction opts to use voting centers, voters may cast their ballots on Election Day at any voting center in the jurisdiction, regardless of their residential address. Voting centers may also communicate early voting options such as ballot drop boxes.

As a voter in the community, you are interested in locating nearby voting centers and ballot drop boxes.

1. In a browser, go to the Promoting Transparent Elections site.
2. Scroll to the Voting Locations section, and then, under the Locate a Voting Center header, click the Launch App button to open the Voting Centers app.
3. In the Search for an address or place search box, type an address and press Enter.

   Tip:

   Alternatively, click the Search this area button near the top of the map.

   The Information tab displays results for voting centers and ballot drop boxes that are located within the search area.

4. Expand Voting Centers and click a voting center from the search results.

   The Information tab displays center-specific information such as the election date, location details, early voting time frame, operational hours, and contact information. If the app has been configured to show wait times, they can be visualized on the map, where voting center symbols are color-coded according to reported wait times. Depending on when you access the app, you will see an operational status of Open Now or Closed below the hours of operation.

5. Collapse Voting Centers and expand Ballot Drop Boxes.
6. Click a ballot drop box from the search results.

   The Information tab displays center-specific information, such as the election date, location details, and early voting time frame.