The U.S. elections are coming up on November 6, which means politics, candidates and issues are at the forefront of many American conversations. Of course we have traditional media such as TV and radio to keep us “in the loop” as candidates make their pitches and issues are debated, examined and politicized.
However, for this election season, many more of us have smartphones in our pockets, and there are some amazing apps and services for Lumia that can make your phone an important partner in your quest to be an informed citizen.
Stay informed
There are a lot of claims being made and positions being thrown around in media, whether it’s during the presidential debates or about your local ballot measures. Here are a few ways your smartphone can help you be smarter about the political landscape:
CNN – The Nokia-exclusive CNN application is a must-have for the current news and issues at the national level. CNN’s app is updated around the clock with the latest developments from the presidential race and every other race with national significance.
Newser – For a really nice view of the day’s top stories (with lots of election topics this time a year), check out Newser. Every day, editorial staff members select 60 of the most essential and often quirky news stories and summarize them in two paragraphs each. Newser is easy on the eyes and has a nice grid layout for getting to interesting stories fast.
BaconIt – Reddit is one of the most visited websites on the Internet and it’s because the Reddit community always has relevant and interesting stories being discussed, no matter the time of day. Baconit is a Reddit app made for Lumia phones that brings the best of Reddit straight to your hand.
Reddit not only has relevant and thought-provoking news (with lots of elections items this time of year), but also adds humorous stories, all driven by the “upvotes” of other Reddit users.
Do your research
Sometimes you just want the facts, such as how your elected officials have voted, what committees they’re on – and what they’re saying on Twitter and on video. Congress is an app that delivers your elected officials’ names and contact information, based on your location. You can also read about their latest news stories, tweets and videos, all from this well designed and factual app.
What is the current mood on Twitter? With election events happening each and every day, it’s interesting to see what the sentiment is on Twitter. PolitiTrends tracks current tweets about the 2012 presidential candidates. The app is updated every 20 minutes with the most talked about election news, most re-tweeted comments and candidate popularity. If you’re wondering what Twitter is saying about the presidential candidates, this app is your best friend.
2012 U.S. Elections brings you all the top images, news stories and analysis from multiple news agencies all in one app. The news sources range from the Wall Street Journal, to Politico and USA TODAY – with many others. This app is a must-have if you want perspective from across the news world via one convenient interface.
Stay light hearted
It’s so easy to get caught up in the emotion and drama of an election. But sometimes it’s good to take a step back and bring humor back into the situation, especially when you and your friends get into a heated discussion about an issue or candidate. Funniest Political Jokes FREE is a fantastic gallery featuring top and classical political jokes. The jokes are hand-picked and are sure to bring some humor to your day.
If you find a joke you like, you can easily share it with friends via email or text messaging…perfect for sharing the essential laugh.
What apps are keeping you “in the loop” this election season?
Image credit: Beverly & Pack and Nidreas