How online ads shape voter priorities: A study on the 2021 Dutch and 2022 US elections

#BeElectionSmart is an initiative from Media Literacy Ireland and EDMOIreland to help people find reliable election information and recognise false or manipulative content ahead of the 2025 Presidential Election. Reading beyond the headline is essential because headlines are designed to capture your attention. That’s why they often oversimplify, distort, or omit crucial details about the story. You need to read the full article to understand the context including potential bias by the author and subtle cues about intent and the reliability of the sources. #BeElectionSmart Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ee4EbxUr

A year and a half ago, my friend and I were in a heated argument. “Politics is a high-touch, relationship-driven industry. You can’t replace that with software!” 😡 I was pitching my friend on my idea for Victory Waves, a tech-enabled campaign in a box. My friend was right. Politics is an industry built on trust and human relationships. And yet our electoral democracy also needs a campaign in a box. Let me explain. Many people are unhappy with their elected officials, and they are waking up to the idea that competition is good 💪. This year (with Election Day next Tuesday), more than 70% of the 30,000 elected seats in the United States 🇺🇸 will go uncontested. That is simply unacceptable. The fact is, if we are to change this, it needs to be easier to run a political campaign. While we read about the presidential campaigns with billions of dollars, most down-ballot candidates (think town council, board of ed, state assembly) don’t have access to those resources. That’s where a campaign in a box is most useful. Since we’ve been doing this for the last year at Victory Waves, here is our view on key points that a solution MUST address to truly make it easier for candidates to run. 1. 🧗 Streamline the onboarding process. Up until now, there have been two parts of a campaign - the candidates and the operatives. Political operatives know how to access voter data and extract insights from the campaign data. Candidates don’t have the time to learn how to do this. A campaign in a box solution must be easy to learn and enable candidates to understand their district voters and communicate with them. 1. 🏆 Democratize best practices. Politics can be counterintuitive and many of these learnings are well guarded by seasoned professionals, leaving down-ballot candidates confused as to how to prioritize. Should they focus on getting key endorsements, and how? What is the best way for them to reach and persuade voters? A campaign in a box should serve as an educational tool and provide access to industry best practices. 1. 📱Embrace a 21st-century campaign approach. Technology and societal changes (eg, COVID) have made it necessary to adopt a variety of ways of communicating with voters, including social media and digital presence. Not all buildings can be door-knocked, nor do people respond well to canvassing in some parts. Phone calls and texts may get spam filtered and never seen. It’s important for a campaign in a box solution to embrace a variety of communication channels and recommend the most effective one for the situation. Given the advances in technology and what we’ve seen at Victory Waves, I’m confident that such a solution can be developed and that we can bring back competition into our elected offices. Please share with someone who you think should run for office!

#BeElectionSmart - Compare Information Sources If a piece of information is only being reported from one source or one media type, it might not be the whole story. Ask yourself who produced it, why, and how it has reached you? Comparing sources allows you to see the bigger picture and make more informed decisions. When you read multiple accounts of the same story, you can identify patterns in what is included or omitted. For instance, a political event might be framed positively by one outlet and negatively by another. Comparing these helps you separate opinion from fact. Verifying facts across different sources increases your confidence in their accuracy. If multiple reputable outlets report the same data, it’s more likely to be reliable than information found in only one place. This is an initiative from Media Literacy Ireland and European Digital Media Observatory to help people find reliable election information and recognise false or manipulative content ahead of the 2025 Presidential Election. Coimisiún na Meán 🔗Visit the link below to read more: https://lnkd.in/ee4EbxUr

A year and a half ago, my friend and I were in a heated argument. “Politics is a high-touch, relationship-driven industry. You can’t replace that with software!” 😡 I was pitching my friend on my idea for Victory Waves, a tech-enabled campaign in a box. My friend was right. Politics is an industry built on trust and human relationships. And yet our electoral democracy also needs a campaign in a box. Let me explain. Many people are unhappy with their elected officials, and they are waking up to the idea that competition is good 💪. This year (with Election Day next Tuesday), more than 70% of the 30,000 elected seats in the United States 🇺🇸 will go uncontested. That is simply unacceptable. The fact is, if we are to change this, it needs to be easier to run a political campaign. While we read about the presidential campaigns with billions of dollars, most down-ballot candidates (think town council, board of ed, state assembly) don’t have access to those resources. That’s where a campaign in a box is most useful. Since we’ve been doing this for the last year at Victory Waves, here is our view on key points that a solution MUST address to truly make it easier for candidates to run. 1. 🧗 Streamline the onboarding process. Up until now, there have been two parts of a campaign - the candidates and the operatives. Political operatives know how to access voter data and extract insights from the campaign data. Candidates don’t have the time to learn how to do this. A campaign in a box solution must be easy to learn and enable candidates to understand their district voters and communicate with them. 2. 🏆 Democratize best practices. Politics can be counterintuitive and many of these learnings are well guarded by seasoned professionals, leaving down-ballot candidates confused as to how to prioritize. Should they focus on getting key endorsements, and how? What is the best way for them to reach and persuade voters? A campaign in a box should serve as an educational tool and provide access to industry best practices. 3. 📱Embrace a 21st-century campaign approach. Technology and societal changes (eg, COVID) have made it necessary to adopt a variety of ways of communicating with voters, including social media and digital presence. Not all buildings can be door-knocked, nor do people respond well to canvassing in some parts. Phone calls and texts may get spam filtered and never seen. It’s important for a campaign in a box solution to embrace a variety of communication channels and recommend the most effective one for the situation. Given the advances in technology and what we’ve seen at Victory Waves, I’m confident that such a solution can be developed and that we can bring back competition into our elected offices. Please share with someone who you think should run for office!

#BeElectionSmart - Read Beyond The Headline. Reading beyond the headline is essential because headlines are designed to capture your attention. That’s why they often oversimplify, distort, or omit crucial details about the story. You need to read the full article to understand the context including potential bias by the author and subtle cues about intent and the reliability of the sources. This is an initiative from Media Literacy Ireland and European Digital Media Observatory to help people find reliable election information and recognise false or manipulative content ahead of the 2025 Presidential Election. Coimisiún na Meán 🔗Visit the link below to read more: https://lnkd.in/ee4EbxUr

Gwen McGarry and her colleagues at M & R have done some fascinating research on message effectiveness. A must read for creatives especially in the advocacy and electoral space. #messaging #persuasion #effectiveness #digital ads

Unlock Voter Power: Essential Mobilization Strategies for Local Wins! In the U.S., where voter turnout dips below 60% (and as low as 10% locally), mobilizing voters is key to representative democracy. Our latest GoodParty.org blog breaks it down: What voter mobilization means, why it matters, who drives it, and 10 proven grassroots tactics. Key insights: - Turnout stats: 64% in the 2024 presidential, but youth at 47% & locals at 15-27%. - Tactics: Door-to-door canvassing, relational organizing, texting, organizing events, and utilizing social media. Whether you're a candidate, organizer, or advocate, these strategies energize communities and fuel voter mobilization. Read the entire blog here: https://lnkd.in/gCUjYc-U. What's your top mobilization tip? #VoterMobilization

Are political robocalls a nuisance or a game-changer for campaigns? In our latest blog, we explore how automated calls work, why they remain a staple in elections, and how Independent and grassroots candidates can use them ethically to boost visibility and mobilize voters without big budgets or party backing. Key takeaways: What they are: Prerecorded messages for introductions, event invites, voting reminders, and more. Why use them: Scalable, cost-effective outreach that reaches thousands quickly, especially older voters. How to do it right: From building call lists and scripting messages to choosing compliant providers (like GoodParty.org's tools) and strategic scheduling. Effectiveness & regs: Modest boosts in turnout when paired with other tactics, plus FCC rules to avoid fines (no AI voices, time limits, etc.). For candidates running people-powered campaigns, robocalls can level the playing field. But remember: Use them wisely to build trust, not spam! Read the full guide here: https://lnkd.in/eUUqqSDa. What are your thoughts on robocalls in campaigns - helpful or a headache? Share below! #PoliticalCampaigns #IndependentCandidates #ElectionStrategy

Our latest GoodParty.org blog breaks it down: What political texting is, who sends them, how they get your number, and tips for responding! Learn more about: Texts boost engagement with 98% open rates and drive actions like voting reminders, donations, or event invites (Candidates get 5,000 free texts by clicking the link in our bio). Sources: Voter records, petitions, data brokers. For campaigns: Use P2P for honest conversations, personalize, and stay compliant (TCPA rules). Role in mobilization: Timely texts increase turnout in low-participation elections. Whether you're a voter dodging spam or a candidate building support, this guide empowers you to engage in ethical outreach. https://lnkd.in/eSnFY_Mv

Are platforms meeting their obligations to protect electoral integrity? EDMO Ireland has published its initial observations on how major online platforms performed during Ireland’s 2025 Presidential Election. Our findings raise concerns about whether platforms are meeting their Digital Services Act (DSA) commitments to identify and mitigate systemic risks, including those affecting democratic processes. Issues observed include: • Harassment and intimidation of political candidates and public figures • Inadequate labelling of AI-generated content • Weak user information tools and facilitation of illegal vote-spoiling content • Failures in transparency around political advertising These trends raise serious questions for both platforms and regulators about how effectively systemic risks to electoral integrity are being addressed in practice. A full report with detailed case studies and analysis will follow in the coming weeks. https://lnkd.in/edr7ZPqd