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google assistant, maps and search can now help you figure out where to vote

AVATAR Greg Kumparak
Greg Kumparak
Editor, TechCrunch
October 16, 2020
google assistant, maps and search can now help you figure out where to vote

As Election Day draws nearer, are you still uncertain about the location of your closest polling station or ballot drop-off site? Google is offering assistance.

The company announced this morning the launch of several new features across Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Search, all designed to activate when a user appears to be seeking details about voting locations.

When using Google Search, a query such as “ballot drop boxes near me” will now display a specialized resource for locating them. Simply enter the address where you are registered to vote, and the tool will identify nearby drop boxes or polling places. This same resource will also appear when searching for phrases like “how to find polling place” or “where to vote,” offering a range of search options.

Alternatively, if you have a device with Google Assistant (such as a Nest Mini, Nest Hub, or Android phone), you can ask “Hey Google, where do I vote?” and Assistant will determine your voting location based on your current position, noting that it assumes this is where you are registered.

The integration with Google Maps is somewhat more straightforward. A search for “where do I vote” within the Google Maps mobile app will direct you to the web-based Google Search resource described above. After identifying your location, selecting the “Directions” button will return you to the Maps app.

Google states that it is obtaining its polling location data from the Voting Information Project through a collaboration with Democracy Works. The company anticipates adding further polling places in the days leading up to Election Day, with a goal of having over 200,000 locations available in the system.

If you prefer not to obtain your polling place information from Google, or wish to verify the details, resources like Vote.org (which, for reference, is the recommendation from Siri when asked “Where do I vote?”) are available. Vote.org also offers information on verifying your voter registration and becoming a poll worker, among other services.

#google assistant#google maps#voting#polling place#election#search

Greg Kumparak

Greg Kumparak held a position as an editor with TechCrunch. He initially joined TechCrunch in May 2008, beginning his work as the editor of MobileCrunch, a related website. His reporting largely centered on businesses geared towards consumers, with a specific interest in companies developing devices, robotic technologies, or augmented reality applications. Disclaimers: Greg has investments in exchange-traded funds and mutual funds, and he also possesses a limited quantity of cryptocurrency assets (ETH, ADA).
Greg Kumparak