Earlier this week, we kicked off debate season with the first official throw down amongst the Democratic presidential candidates. You know what that means: It’s time to start unfollowing some of your Facebook friends because their overzealous rants keep crowding your newsfeed. But it’s also time for people to assume their civic duty of researching all of the issues - as well as each candidate’s stance - so they can be informed voters by Election Day.
Honestly, how many people really do all of that?
Luckily, we don’t have to anymore. A forthcoming app called CandiDating, which will match you with political candidates who best share your beliefs and values, will eliminate the legwork (and guesswork) involved in voting.
Automating the due diligence process
Logan Brown, CandiDating's founder and an MBA student at Babson, said the app came about thanks to one of his classes requiring a feasibility project. Although school may have given him the push to create CandiDating, he’s had the concept for quite a while.
“The due diligence process for voters is still all done manually,” Brown told me. "So for the GOP, people have to look at 16 candidates and somehow figure out which one represents them best. Usually what happens is that people will passively follow debates, and then when there are 1 or 2 candidates left, they’ll pay attention and pick one they like.”
The time and effort it traditionally takes for voters to stay informed undermines politics. People let politicians who’d be perfect fits for their beliefs slip through the cracks. At the same time, voters have grown accustomed to just going with the party line and picking the frontrunner.
"I’ve realized that both sides have good people with good ideas, so I want to help other people understand the full spectrum of political ideas."
Brown says no more.
“CandiDating is a mobile app that matches voters with politicians who align with their best interest,” he said. "It automates the due diligence process, so people will be more engaged in elections from earlier on.”
How it works
The app is still in development - it’ll launch in a couple of months - but all of the details have been worked out. When users log into the app, they'll be prompted to select the election in question - everything from the local up to the presidential level. They'll then be asked to pick certain issues that they consider important. They’re then presented with a list of stances taken from different candidates’ public statements. For each issue, you'll point out whichever statements you agree with. Once you’re done, CandiDating will tell you which politician with whom you align most.
“So, for example, you may like Hillary, but CandiDating told you you matched with Bernie Sanders most,” Brown explained. "You’d probably go into a debate paying attention to what Bernie was saying. You may notice yourself agreeing with him more, and it could sway you to vote for him in the primaries when you otherwise wouldn’t have.”
In general, Brown wants CandiDating to help voters have an open mind and understand all of their options — not just defaults. He admits that his personal journey from Alabama to Utah and now to Boston has shed light on this need.
“I grew up in the South and then went to BYU, so I had fairly conservative upbringing,” he started. "But I’ve been reading more lately and I’ve started watching White House press briefings. I’ve come to realize that the White House isn’t this terrible organization like I had heard during my upbringing.”
"I can now see both sides of politics - both sides have good intentions,” Brown continued. "I’ve realized that both sides have good people with good ideas, so I want to help other people understand the full spectrum of political ideas. We won’t be so partisan if people have better exposure to the full spectrum.”
Photo courtesy of Logan Brown.
