How can technology strengthen democracy?

Jefferson Center
Sep 5, 2018 · 2 min read

From the good (using social media to increase political engagement) to the bad (bots sharing fake news and false information), technology is changing the way democracy operates. At the upcoming New York Times Athens Forum on Democracy, we’re working with journalists, international business leaders, policy makers, and attendees from across the globe to address today’s big topics in democracy, including “how are rapid technological advances changing the nature of politics?”

Today, nonprofits like ourselves use technology to broaden our reach and easily boost awareness using social media and digital campaigning. People are also using technology to selectively choose their news, and sometimes create “filter bubbles” of content they already agree with, causing us all to become more entrenched in our political beliefs. But, it’s become clear to us that technology does have the power to strengthen democracy, as we’ve recently used technology to help citizens become more engaged on local issues.

Shifting citizen roles

As more and more countries around the world share data and statistics with their citizens, we’ve been exploring ways to more easily connect people to local issues and offices. Openly accessible data about overdoses or bike lanes may not seem immediately related to politics, but this kind of information helps all of us make more informed political decisions for our communities.

In Your Voice Ohio, a project to strengthen community-driven journalism, we’ve partnered with Hearken to help journalists listen to the public. Their online platform helps gather questions and ideas readers want to know more about and journalists follow up on ideas and subsequent work on the topic, from “pitch to publication.” This method allows readers themselves to be part of the reporting process, and often, part of the solution.

Gathering informed citizen input

To help citizens use technology to provide input on community issues, we’ve also used GroundSource in rural Minnesota, which allows anyone to have a direct, two-way conversation with texting. During the Red Wing Community Assembly, we introduced participants to MetroQuest, a public involvement software that helps communities engage audiences, collect their informed feedback about an issue, and deliver that input back to the stakeholders.

But as we’ve written before, some citizens may not have stable internet access, or may not feel comfortable enough with technology to participate. That’s why it’s key to combine these new digital outreach techniques with traditional strategies, including door knocking, postcards, and in-person engagement events (like Citizens Juries!) so that more can participate in conversations about topics that affect all of us.

Join the conversation

How do you see technology changing the way we experience democracy? Share below and join our upcoming Twitter chat on Monday, September 10 at 11:00 am CT with the hashtag #DemocracyChat!

Jefferson Center

Showcasing the work of the Jefferson Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit partnering with citizens, communities, and institutions to design and implement informed, innovative, and democratic solutions to today’s toughest challenges.

Jefferson Center

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Designing the future of democracy by unleashing creative citizen-driven ideas. Find us @ jefferson-center.org & @jeffersonctr

Jefferson Center

Showcasing the work of the Jefferson Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit partnering with citizens, communities, and institutions to design and implement informed, innovative, and democratic solutions to today’s toughest challenges.

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