Uchaguzi: Mapping Elections in Kenya
The power of maps! When we can use Maps to monitor elections on a real time basis to ensure fairness; you know that this is the “Location Revolution” era.
How do people ensure free and fair elections with limited resources? Crowd sourcing of information + Geographic visualization! That is precisely what Uchaguzi is all about.
Uchaguzi, an online initiative aims to help Kenya have a free, fair, peaceful and credible general election. A joint initiative between SODNET, Ushahidi, CRECO and Hivos Foundation with support from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) lead to this amazing and efficient idea.
Wondering how it works? Simply send a message like this (town name, intersection and Name of polling station), Ineligible Voters allowed to vote, More details) to the specified number or use social media to get the message across. The work flow looks like this –
Uchaguzi is coordinated through an ICT platform, which enables the locals to ensure free and fair elections and provides many avenues using any technology through which they can report incidences significant to the elections. The electoral process according to Uchaguzi doesnt stop with just the Election day or counting day, its perceived as a permanent and recurrent cycle.
A wonderful application of location based information and visualization.
Lets keep elections free and fair. Hope this trend becomes mainstream. Here’s the link to the site
Location Revolution – Citizen Power!
Source: Ushahidi