Google Earth’s service to Democracy
The applications to which Google earth is being put is expanding far and wide, right from finding out illegal mining activities in the far remote of the Amazons to the unveiling of encroachments on Government owned lands. Google earth is helping in every sphere of Human activity. What we humans fail watch on earth, the satellite imagery reveals, even the smallest detail of any human activity on the land may it be illegal activity or people sunbathing in their patios with their kit off is noticed by the satellites!! The recently held mid term polls in America, which were crucial for Prez. Bush were also covered by Google earth and the electoral maps provided by Google earth helped many voters to know about their constituencies and the candidates.
This way Google earth has once again proven its capability. In connection with the mid term polls Google earth has launched the 2006 Google earth Election Guide. The guide is available in Google earth what all the voters had to do was to download the it from www.google.com/earth. Since there was not any information available in one single format the Engineers at Google Earth conceived this idea. In this connection Director of Google earth and maps, John Hanks says "We're excited to connect voters across the country to timely and locally relevant information about the upcoming elections and the candidates,” His further comments reinforces Google’s commitment to democracy he says "We continue to believe that Google Earth can serve as the ultimate tool for organizing and sharing similar geo-based information."
In the Google earth election guide the voter can easily access the information about the candidates, voters registration, as well as the campaigns for funding the elections. Previously all this information was not available online but Google earth has done it for the voters and the voter can easily exercise his right to vote in a democracy. The Google earth election guide includes all the 435 Congressional districts, which are place marked. The voter could click on this marks and get the relevant information about candidates. The voter could find in the place marks information regarding the list of candidates who are contesting the elections with live feeds from Google Web, Image and News search for every candidate. The voter could also get information from the Federal Election Commission regarding the campaign finance for the candidates. This way Google also helped to have transparency in election and keeping it away from any poll rigging. The place marks for these Congressional districts was also accompanied by a link that showed Voter registration and voter information sites. All this information had been configured to the local states. The 2006 Google earth election guide was available under the layer tab of the Google earth sidebar. The Google earth election guide also included information on where and how to vote. The election map provided in the Google earth election guide had map of the United States, with little stars resembling the likeness of the American flag. Google earth, polls, Google earth election guide, candidates
Tags: Google Earth
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