Online Users are Politically Active

On Monday, Nielsen-Online released a study that found that 89 percent of web users over 18 are registered to vote. "The fact that so many Web users are registered to vote suggests that online campaign efforts will drive results at the polls," said Jon Gibs, vice president, media analytics, Nielsen Online. "Campaigns are no longer dabbling online – we expect a candidate's Web presence to be an integral part of both campaigns," he added.

This study should hopefully wake up all those campaigns out there that don't believe that the web is an important medium to engage voters.  The challenge for many campaigns is to figure out how to best engage supporters and voters in this arena.

Comments

[Drew]

This is a double-edged sword. Sure, 89% may be registered to vote, but you have to be careful not to assume they WILL. Look at Dean in 2004. If his online tidal wave had translated into actual votes, we may have been looking at a President Dean today...

Or look at Ron Paul today. I know the media tried to pigeonhole his online support as a few crazies, but there are a LOT of people out there with whom his message resonates. Yet when it came to the primaries, they couldn't get that message to resonate outside of his evangelists.

I'd be interested in re-running that poll and to find out what percentage of internet users turn out to vote...

I absolutely agree that the internet is the best thing to hit politics since sliced bread, but it's dangerous to say, "89% of internet users vote, and we've got 80% of internet users in our favor, we're a lock!" :)

[RJ]

What percentages of people without internet are registered to vote. Trying to reach out to those who don't have internet, or even a computer, will be the next challenge (after figuring out Drew's problem of how many internet users vote).

Is there a tie between low-income or rural internet projects and voting?

[Tina]

I agree with both Mike and Drew. Everyone is hyped up on the web concerning politics these days, so it's absurd not to have a functioning website. But will it pay off in the end?

I am excited to see the outcome of the November elections given the popularity of Obama on the web. The younger vote might be all over the web, but will they show up on election day?

[Melanie]

Good point Tina-everyone assumed that in the Kerry/Bush election the young people were going to have record numbers from all the "Vote or die" and other campaigns-but that assumption was wrong. It will be interesting to see what plays out here.

Ryan brings up a good point-what DO we do for the people who aren't on the web? Should a non-profit or politician pour all of their financial resources into the web 2.0 technologies because it is the direction the world is going in? What steps (if any) should be taken to reach those who are left behind in the technology dust?

[Priscilla]

The Nielsen study also notes that while there is about an even number of Republicans and Democrats who are registered voters and use the internet, the Obama site had 2.3 million unique visitors compared to McCain's 563,000 visits in June. What can we attribute this difference in number of visits to? Apparently, the Obama site has more "imaged-based impressions" and McCain has more "sponsored-link impressions". Being new to all of this terminology, could you give us a heads up on whether one of these might be a bigger draw with word of mouth/buzz also stimulating visits to a good site.

[Melanie]

I really have no research to back me up on this-but I have to wonder if another reason for so many hit's on Obama's site is that Hillary supporters are checking it out. I know I didn't go to Obama's site until I came to terms with the fact that Hillary was out.