Three Free Apps To Create Campaign Videos With Just A Laptop
Fast news cycles demand a rapid response. Short videos work best, but how does a campaign with little money, time and video skills create a rapid response video?
Three free video creation apps give even the smallest group the chance to be heard. They are simple to learn and easy to use.
DemLabs has tested and trained progressive groups for over two years to create videos with them. The videos they have created include campaign videos for state election, protests against food stamp cuts, police brutality and demands for better public housing.
1. Lumen5 - An easy to use app with royalty-free, professional video and sound clips.
2. Adobe Spark - Fast creation and customization of videos.
3. Microsoft Flipgrid - Remotely collect video comments from voters on an issue.
These apps generate videos that can be used independently of the apps in social media ads, on web sites, or shared by email. The videos can be easily revised with new content and customized for different campaigns.
Lumen5 : Why cut food stamps ?
Background: An activist group wanted to protest the Trump administration's plan to cut food benefits and encourage voters to contact their senator. Project: The fifty second video was produced in a day with Lumen5 on a laptop in one day by a volunteer. It includes a snippet of a movie trailer, a sound track from Lumen5, royalty free images from pxhere and a $15 image from Political Cartoons. A list of senators with their contact info from Postcards For America was used. It was converted with bit.ly (a free app) to create an easy to remember URL (http://bit.ly/whereismycake). The video was uploaded to Vimeo which allows for ad-free streaming. Lumen5 includes hundreds of royalty-free video clips and soundtracks which can be 'cut-and-pasted' to create new videos. Adding captions is simple. Learn more about using Lumen5 here. Lumen5 case studies Black Voters Matter - protest police violence against young African-American men. Annette Hyde Virginia campaign - advocate for better gun safety policies. Make The Road Nevada - build community support against ICE deportation of local resident.
SPARK: Do-It-Yourself (DIY) campaign videos
Background: Sean Frame ran for office in California's fourth district. There were three key issues tin his race - broadband internet access, fire insurance and affordable healthcare. He had no budget nor staff to create campaign videos. Project: Sean first recorded a fifteen second message for votes on his iPhone. Volunteers used SPARK to creates three issue-specific campaign videos in a 'lego-like' model. The introduction to each video is different, but the call to action for votes was the same in each. This reduced the time and effort needed to create each video. Watch the actual video with sound here and learn more about using Adobe SPARK here. SPARK case studies: - Herb Jones campaign for Virginia Senate 3 district. - Barbara Baisin campaign for County Commissioner, North Carolina District 3.
Flipgrid: Harnessing videos from real people to demand change
Backround: The Legal Aid Justice Center provides legal representation for low income individuals in Virginia. They wanted to advocate for better living conditions in community housing with personal video comments from residents. Project: DemLabs trained local activists to collect video comments from public housing residents using Flipgrid. This was done by first recording a prompt which was shared in the form of a link. Residents could record their videos on phones or laptops. All the videos were collected automatically and used to create an advocacy video in Spanish that can be see here. Watch this 20 minute tutorial prepared by National Democratic County Officials (NDCO) and DemLabs on how to use Flipgrid to collect video comments. Flipgrid case studies: Make The Road Nevada: Collecting community voices to protest planned deportation of local community resident in Las Vegas. Census 2020 - Vietnamese appeal for more participation in the count.
Streamlined video creation with apps
Generic videos don't work well in all races, but producing a unique video for each race is too costly. These three apps provide the best of both worlds. Groups first record their key message which is then customized with additional content to different campaigns.
- Political action committees (PACs) create issue videos. These are then customized for the candidates supports rather than creating individual videos for each candidate.
- Candidates (like Sean) record their appeal for votes and then adapt the core video for different campaign issues.
Design videos for engagement
Nathan Mathis' video before the Roy Moore election had over 5 million views! What drives such engagement and sharing?
1. Timely
2. Authentic
3. Personal
4. Concise
5. Video quality is less important than the content
Video clips from real people most impacted by an issue resonate. Such clips are often more compelling than studio-based recordings by actors. Campaigns can collect video responses to questions they pose. and incorporate (with permission) in their videos.
Take away
Nathan Matthis' video demonstrates the power in real people's voices to persuade others. Progressive groups should collect such voices and use these free apps to create campaign videos themselves. Learn more on how to do this here.
Deepak
Co-Founder, DemLabs
Please share this bulletin. DemLabs is a SF-based, progressive hub for ongoing technology and creative innovation with free and affordable apps. Donate here to support our work.
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Why do Republicans who claim to care for veterans, block $5 billion allocated for the VA and veterans' care? Deny veterans their right to vote? This...
Canvas better with smarter software
Canvas better with business software that does more and costs less. Canvassing is vital to register more voters and mobilize supporters. Think beyond the voter file...
Make data easier to understand and share
The truth will set you free. John 8.32 So will the facts. But first you have to make them understandable. Organize and present data so it's...
Stand Your Ground bill has deadly consequences
Adil Dghoughi was killed in his car outside a house in Martindale, Texas. The case against the killer could be hindered by Texas' "Stand Your Ground"...
Target groups with QR-coded messages to improve response rates
Target different groups with tailored messages and QR Codes shared across social media, emails and flyers to improve response rates. How can this be done quickly...
Virginia Election: Youngkin morphs into Trump
Virginia GOP candidate Youngkin tries to distance himself from Trump. Activists create GIFs to highlight their similarities. "Trump has endorsed Youngkin. "A great gentleman. We've got...
Keep it real
People buy brownies, not the recipe. Emphasize how you'll improve their lives. Skip the geek-speak. Anat Shenker-Osorio is the founder a of ASO Communications and a...
Bring Zuckerberg and Facebook to justice
Image credit: Justice League Zuckerberg denies Facebook spreading racist posts, election meddling, COVID disinformation and worse. Superheroes needed to bring him to justice. What can be...
Frame and deliver your message to be persuasive
Frame your message to be persuasive. Practice presenting it so you can deliver it naturally. Share your script so others can amplify your message. Anat Shenker-Osorio,...
Create infographics like ‘Six Supreme Court Injustices’ with the free Infogram app
Pictures convey information better than words. This blog is intentionally short to demonstrate the power of visual communication. Now you can create your infographics in minutes...
Make Facebook Whistleblower Testimony Video Available To All Audiences
The Facebook whistleblower testimony is important for everybody to see, no matter what language they speak. Frances Haugen explains in her testimony how Facebook conceals information...
Ten Supreme Court SHADOW DOCKET decisions made in the dark of the night that changed America
"The Supreme Court increasingly relies on the shadow docket to make decisions often in a dramatically accelerated fashion, without providing signed opinions or detailed explanations. Decisions...
Don’t mess with Texas women
Image: Handmaid's Tale - Hulu Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he'll “eliminate” rape rather than let victims get abortions. That's after his bill that bans abortions...
TARJIMLY connects volunteer translators with nonprofits
The free Tarjimly app connects nonprofits with bi-lingual volunteers to overcome language barriers. Tarjimly was founded in 2017 to improve the lives of refugees and the...
Service helps mothers released from jail using text bots to first survey their needs
How does a small group collect the information it needs to serve community members during a pandemic? A text bot to automatically conduct surveys. Life After...
Train more people to spot misinformation with new Zoom based teaching app
Train more people to spot and counter misinformation with new Zoom based teaching apps. Disinformation is being used to manipulate people into behavior that could kill...
Billionaire moochers dodge taxes and rig the system
Why do Republicans block any efforts to have billionaires pay their fair share of taxes? What do billionaires do with the money they make from dodging...
Improvise solutions with design thinking
Floods and power blackouts in the middle of a pandemic. That's Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Every disaster is unique and demands its own...
What’s in the new budget for you?
The new Democratic budget strengthens the public safety net, invests in working Americans and the environment. Universal preschool, paid family leave, federal support for child care...
Fight gaslighting. Replay what they said before.
Some people try to rewrite history by denying what they said. Keep them honest by replaying their own words. There's an app for that. The best...
Answering hard questions in a Zoom meeting
Viewers catch any confusion in answering a question during an online briefing. Use a dynamic teleprompter, unless you're a veteran press secretary, Traditionally newscasters and politicians...
Indivisible Michigan fights Republican voter suppression with relational organizing
'Michigan GOP plans “shocking” scheme to ram through voting restrictions' - Salon "Republicans state legislators in Michigan have already introduced 39 bills that restrict citizens’ voting...
Are you one the losing side of the DATA DIVIDE?
One side of the data divide has companies making money from personal data. The other side buys data from them. Which side are you on? Companies,...
Republican voter suppression targets the visually disabled. Voicebots inform and mobilize them.
Republicans suppress disabled voters in order to kill the ACA. Republicans have tried to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA) over 70 times. Republicans aim to...
Speak truth to power, but first practice your lines.
There are few chances to speak truth to power. Make the most of them. Help your supporters make the most of their turn in the spotlight...
Maps are an activist’s best friend
Maps help activists and campaigns engage, inform and mobilize supporters. New apps make it easy. Maps are easy to understand and navigate. They're intuitive and wonderful...
Yard sign activism for fair redistricting
Ohio voters show their support for fair redistricting maps and opposition to gerrymandering with Fair District yard signs. Voters should choose their legislators - not legislators...
How to make rapid response videos. Like for Voting ProChoice after the Texas abortion ban.
Texas governor signs extreme six-week abortion ban that bars abortion with no exception for rape or incest. "18-year-old Paxton Smith used her valedictorian address to protest Texas’s near-total...
Activists use new digital tactics to fight environmental racism
Forests destroyed to make wood pellets for corporate profits. Black communities devastated by the pollution and flooding it causes. That's environmental racism. Community activists struggle to...
Zoom media interview? Perform better with realtime invisible helpers.
There's little margin for error in a Zoom interview and performance anxiety just makes it worse. Fortunately there are ways to stay on message and get...
Fight the connectivity poll tax that disenfranchises poor voters
Connectivity is a poll tax that stifles voters in Black, Brown, indigenous and rural communities who cannot afford to get online. "Poll taxes were essentially a...
Public infrastructure or tax cuts? Check these maps for answers.
Republicans block investments in public infrastructure but give huge tax cuts to their rich donors. Working Americans struggle with poor infrastructure. Invest tax payers' money in...
Campaigning with WhatsApp
WhatsApp has over 2.5 billion active users and has been downloaded five billion times. Over 100 billion WhatsApp messages are sent every day. Does your campaign...
Cruel & unusual punishment: South Carolina’s racist executions
"New death penalty law makes inmates pick electric chair or firing squad in South Carolina." - CBS Nineteen of the 37 inmates currently on the state's...
Fundraise with relational organizing
Your best donors are people you already know. How do you tap a large number of your contacts for donations, but in a personal manner? How...
Volunteer driven social media campaign generates a billion impressions For The People Act
Campaigns shape public narratives by having volunteers share GIFs through peer-to-peer messages and social media posts. Why are GIFs so popular? How does a campaign use...
Mobilizing Latinx voters? Use relational organizing with WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is the favorite Latinx messaging app. It's free and messages come from a known sender. WhatsApp campaigns cost less than SMS and is ideal for...
Black voters in Georgia recognize that voting has its rewards. Don’t let anyone snatch that away.
Sometimes the benefits of voting aren't obvious. For Black voters in Georgia they are, courtesy a NAACP Atlanta StoryMap that shows how they gain from the...
Zoom fundraising goes better with a teleprompter
Don't take chances with important presentations. Use a teleprompter. Fundraising online is stressful. It helps to maintain eye contact with potential donors while making your appeal....
Think different to persuade more people
Polarized voters. People trapped in information bubbles. Corporations making billions spreading disinformation in order to sell more ads. How do you get heard when calling and...
Zoom event production made easy
Presenters run over their allotted time, others drift off script, struggle with audience questions... How can virtual events be kept on track and presenters on script?...
Why do poor Americans get bad water? What’s race got to do with it?
Contaminated water is a health hazard for many Black, Hispanic and Native American communities. It is even more fatal with disasters such as the recent Texas...
Make videos the easy way. Free app includes hundreds of royalty-free video clips and soundtracks.
Videos get six times more traction on Facebook! Learn how to quickly and easily create videos for free with Lumen5. We created a 25 second video...
Reach more people. Caption and translate videos.
Reach the one in five Americans who do not speak English and others who prefer to watch videos on mute. Add captions and translations to your...
Guard against hackers. Reduce your digital footprint.
Reduce the amount of public information that hackers can find about you online to disrupt your work, harass you and steal confidential information. What can you...
Double-talk. Denial. Stupidity. This week’s best political cartoons.
This week's top ten political cartoons lampoon Republican double-talk, denial and stupidity. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon" - Saul Alinsky “It is almost impossible to...
Answer tough questions on Zoom without breaking a sweat
You're stumped by a question on Zoom. What do you do? Use an on-screen teleprompter so an assistant can help you with the answer. You respond...
The Greene Dossier
Some people are especially 'interesting'. Keep info on them handy with a dossier. Wakelet is a free app that makes it easy to create and share...
Memory loss, impeachment & hope. This week’s best political cartoons.
Political cartoons explain things as they are - with humor. This week's top ten cover impeachment, political excuse making, Q-Anon and Game Stop. Here are top...
Cause of death: Could not afford internet access.
Lack of internet access can be fatal. That's partially why people of color are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than White Americans. Health groups...
Prepare activists to demand fair redistricting in virtual Town Halls
Politicians shouldn’t be allowed to draw voting maps to stay in office. Let voters choose their politicians, not politicians choosing their voters. Public hearings give activists...
Riots. Pardons. Change. The week in political cartoons.
This momentous week as captured in Political Cartoons. These ten cartoons best cover the siege of the Capitol and political aftermath. DeepakDemLabs Thin Blue Line -...
Political Cartoons Say It Best
No description necessary... Feeding The Fringe - Adam Zyglis Les Deplorables - R.J. Matson Butthurt Base - David Fitzsimmons Trump or the nation? - Bruce Plante...
Activists use relational organizing to push for reusable COVID masks
For Our Kids Montréal taking community action, demanding a green and just recovery from the Quebec government - September 2020 Online petitions help build public support...
Fed up of politicians inciting mob violence and sedition? Hold the companies funding their campaigns accountable.
“Armed violent protestors who support the baseless claim by outgoing president Trump that he somehow won an election that he overwhelmingly lost have stormed the U.S....
Pardon or execute? How wealth trumps justice.
When money buys freedom, it is the poor who die. The Republican Trump administration has pardoned dozens of wealthy supporters while rushing to execute poor people...
Managing a ZOOM event with several presenters? Use an on-screen teleprompter to keep things on track.
It is showtime! Your big Zoom event is at hand. The presenters are lined up and the audience is ready. How do you keep your presenters...
Looking for your Georgia run-off voting location? Call, text or use this app.
Lack of information should not prevent people from voting nor in reporting obstacles they encounter. Reclaim Our Vote and NAACP Atlanta teamed with DemLabs to provide...
The activist’s guide to creating videos quickly, easily with free apps
Videos get three times as much exposure on social media than just words. Making videos has been slow, expensive and complicated - leaving it beyond the...
Pardon or execute?
The poor die when justice is sold to the highest bidder. Some stories require little description. This is one of them. How fairly is justice applied...
Stick to your script. Use an on-screen teleprompter.
Look 'em in the eye and deliver your message forcefully. It's easier with an on-screen teleprompter. Keep your audience engaged with an on-screen teleprompter to project...
We’re texting in the name of the Lord
The Lord may work in mysterious ways, but it's pretty clear his flock at the Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta are fired up. Volunteers in the...
Amplify your message with online volunteer flashmobs
Bots spread disinformation by pretending to be human, sharing and liking content they have been programmed to promote. Building an army of bots requires skills and...
GOTV Concerts organizes virtual concerts featuring Georgia musicians to get out the vote
Music can move people to action, but with COVID raging, online performances have replaced large concerts. Virtual events are tailored to local audiences. Turnout increases as...
Mobile app showing Georgia dropbox locations created in hours with free software and crowdsourcing
Voters need information fast in a form that's easily used. Phone based apps work well, but often take a lot of time and money to create....
Congresswomen Deb Haaland energizes Native Americans voters in Georgia from the BIG STAGE
"Very few of Georgia’s more than 100,000 voting-age Native Americans cast ballots in November. Even a small increase could make a difference in the Senate runoffs."...
How BLUE FUTURE uses textbots to mobilize young voters in Georgia
Young voters are a key Georgia voting group with many voting for the first time! They prefer texting over calling. This demands frugal innovation so organizing...
Who profits from denying internet access to rural America?
Children forced to do their homework outside fast food outlets where there is WiFi. Rural communities denied access to health information. All from lack of internet...
Zoom performance anxiety? Follow these expert tips.
Perform better on Zoom with these expert tips. - How to prepare your script- Body Language- Using a teleprompter- Directing your attendees to take an action-...
Voting in Georgia? Map of early voting locations.
Map of Georgia early voting locations This map is designed with information collected by Reclaim Our Vote and created with ArcGIS. It is freely available at:...
Vaccinate against disinformation
Foreign interference and domestic politics use disinformation to divide, incite and manipulate. It's cheap, effective and hard to counter. Learn how to spot it and inoculate...
Mitch’s scheme to tax without representation
McConnell aims to cling to power by creating an American underclass that pays taxes but cannot vote and gets no benefits. His scheme overturns the American...
Create online training with free, easy-to-use apps
Remote learning is urgently needed but creating training courses the traditional way is slow and expensive. How does a group with little money and few technical...
How relational organizing helps Georgia voters learn about acceptable forms of voter ID
Voter ID laws prevent or intimidate millions of eligible Americans from casting their ballot. Obtaining an ID that fulfills voting requirements is costly and confusing. It...
Fundraising through ZOOM events made easy
ZOOM makes it easy to connect, but how do you get supporters to take the next step and donate? How can they do this while still...
Little Sis tracks the political connections and lobbying of the ultra-rich and corporations
Who do the wealthiest Americans donate their money to? Where did White House officials work before they were appointed? Which lobbyists are married to politicians? Who...
Keep ’em honest. Photograph publicly displayed poll tapes of the vote count.
"Photograph poll tapes at the polling place on election night and check the vote totals against the official vote totals to catch erroneous election results." - Scrutineers...
How The Lincoln Project converts voters into citizen reporters
Voters become citizen reporters with SeeSay2020 to spotlight incidents of voter suppression making it easier for voting right advocates and the media to react quickly. Superman...
Don’t even think about intimidating voters. State laws and penalties.
Federal law prohibits voter intimidation. The right of each voter to cast his or her ballot free from intimidation or coercion is the foundation of a...
Trust but verify. Take photos of poll tapes to make sure vote counts add up correctly.
"Photograph poll tapes at the polling place on election night and check the vote totals against the official vote totals to catch erroneous election results." -...
Inside Edition, billboards & The Lincoln Project show voters how to report voter suppression.
How do you tackle rampant voter suppression? Thousands of citizen reporters exposing voting issues and getting them quickly to the press, officials and voting rights advocates....
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING about voter intimidation.
Federal law prohibits voter intimidation. How can voters report issues preventing them from voting or other election related irregularities in time to do something about it?...
Take a bite out of vote counting crime: Track the poll tapes!
Image credit: DFS "POLL TAPES are printed vote results from voting machines that are transferred to a central tabulator. This process can be used to manipulate...
Souls to the polls. Chatbots connect voters with volunteer drivers by SMS and voice calls.
RIDE TO VOTE : a chatbot powered service for organizer to match voters who need a ride to the polls with volunteer drivers. Voters are suppressed...
Inform eligible felons about their right to vote
Image: "Just Mercy" (Warner Bros.) People are prevented from voting in many ways. Not informing eligible felons about their right to vote is an especially cruel one. Many states...
Fight voter intimidation. See something, say something.
"Trump supporters seemingly attempting to physically intimidate voters and block them from a polling place in Fairfax, Virginia..." - Bipartisan Report Voter intimidation has no place...
Looking for the closest Voting Center in Texas? Call or text this friendly chatbot.
Vote centers are an alternative to traditional, neighborhood-based precincts. Voters can cast their ballots at any vote center in the jurisdiction, regardless of their address. -...
Communicate better on ZOOM. Keep eye contact with an on-screen teleprompter.
Avoid the distraction of looking away at your notes with with an on-screen teleprompter. Online viewers are easily distracted as you look away to refer to...
Hot dogs, music and early voting
Making early voting fun and easy. Turning out early voters in Indiana Vanderburgh County, Indiana has approximately 60,000 voters. The county has the third largest city...
Youth group launches multi-lingual, interactive video campaign on BigStage to get-out-the-vote
Multi-lingual video campaign to get out the vote Gen Z voices urge others to vote with new technology that merges a recorded video with interactive buttons....
How to deliver POWERFUL messages on video
Use these five expert tips to make a bigger impact in your online presentations. They have nothing to do with the lighting or the quality of...
Thank you for your service
Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’. The president has repeatedly disparaged the intelligence of service members, and asked that wounded veterans be...
COVID-19 Death Counter app tracks what really matters
Ignore the distractions. Focus on COVID-19, which is killing a thousand Americans every day. Some politicians would talk about anything other than the Americans that die...
Expert tips on writing text messages that get attention
Peer-to-peer texting offers a personalized way to connect with voters. Texting campaigns costs much less than other forms of outreach. They get a higher read and response...
Interactive music video recruits Gen-Z poll workers
Young poll workers are needed as COVID-19 is a greater risk to seniors who typically staff polling centers. Gen-Z artists recruit the next generation of poll...
Which rural communities will be ruined by the U.S. Postal Service being crippled?
The U.S. Postal Service is the lifeblood of many rural communities. Seniors, veterans and farmers will all suffer from cutbacks. Where will the cuts hurt the...
Ten tips to make anyone a ZOOM fundraising pro
Zoom is child's play with these ten tips. 1. Test the technology Navigate technical issues before they happen to improve efficiency. Technical issues come hand in...
Livestream ZOOM meetings to YouTube & Facebook Live to reach larger audiences
Livestream ZOOM meetings to YouTube/ Facebook Live: The perfect couple to host your next big online event.Increase the turnout for your virtual events and fundraisers by...
Lost your unemployment benefits? Petition your senator to #SaveThe600.
Unemployment benefits cut? Petition your senator. "The Federal $600-per-week unemployment supplement expired and millions of Americans out of work due to the pandemic are wondering how...
Miss that live virtual event? It’s your lucky day, it’s still going on.
Zoom meetings can now stay live for people who missed them. Never miss a live virtual event again. With BigStage Online, events can remain live and...
President Obama’s eulogy used to get out the vote
Former President Barack Obama eulogized the late Rep. John Lewis as "a founding father of that fuller, fairer, better America" that lies in the nation's future. John devoted...
Five lessons in fundraising from infomercials
Listen closely and you can practically hear this photo. If you have ever found yourself dialing the phone number thats practically bursting out of your television...
Infographic contrasts coronavirus relief proposals
Infographic: Differing Coronavirus Relief Bills How will the latest Coronavirus relief proposals impact you? The different Coronavirus relief bills can be confusing. Most people don't have...
How grieving moms use protests against police killings to recruit supporters
Ishtyme Robinson lost two children to police violence. She founded Every Case Matters, a grass-roots organization devoted to stopping genocide of all black, brown and lives....
How to create your own campaign videos for free at home
How does a candidate with little time or money get their message heard? Stephanie Moore, a candidate for State Representative of Michigan's 60th district, met this...
Fundraise Better On ZOOM
Fundraising has moved online with many campaigns choosing ZOOM for virtual fundraisers. But guiding donors from the impulse to give to actually making the donation during...
Social media analysis of reaction to masked Federal agents abducting Portland protestors
"Federal agents dressed in camouflage and tactical gear have taken to the streets of Portland, unleashing tear gas, bloodying protesters and pulling some people into unmarked...
Human sacrifice
"The Trump administration is demanding that all school districts fully reopen in the fall or risk losing their federal funding". Your children have become political pawns....
HipHop Politics On The BigStage
COVID-19 has forced campaigns to move organizing and fundraising online. Conferencing apps are great for meetings, but lacking key features for political events where the goal...
Start a chain reaction
Savvy organizers extend their reach by having supporters text their friends. VoteForce makes relational organizing fast, easy and affordable. Here's how a slate of candidates in...
¡Yo hablo español, 中文 and हिन्दी too!
One in five American speaks a language other than English at home. CIS 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound. DigiDayThe message is clear: caption...
Mapping the protests across America
Preview(opens in a new tab) Protests sweep the nation, but it's hard to fully appreciate the hunger for change. Where are protests occurring? What are their...
David vs Goliath in Kalamazoo
Necessity is the mother of invention. A team of Kalamazoo candidates innovate to overcome their lack of resources. BackgroundThe candidates have little funding and few technical...
Don’t mess with Texas voters
Texas has an election on July 14th with early voting starting on Monday, June 29th and ending on Friday, July 10th. For more details, voters may...
Scan this to recruit volunteers
How to recruit supporters during a pandemic: Recruiting supporters at an event is hard. Lot's of people, activity and little time. How can it be done...
Four innovations to get out the vote in Virginia
Reclaim Our Vote (ROV), a grassroots group in Virginia is innovating to get-out-the-vote (GOTV) in Virginia's primary election. Its volunteers will text 32,000 voters in three...
Voting. Georgia Style.
Georgia is truly special. Hours long lines to vote. Missing vote by mail ballots. $110 million spent on new voting machines. What gives? When in doubt,...
Let The People Speak
How do you bridge the divide between how elected officials vote and what their constituents want? Let people speak directly to power. Kalamazoo Commissioner Stephanie Moore mobilized...
Use Petitions To Harness Outrage And Build Contact Lists With Free New App
Harness the outrage through targeted petitions and also build lists of supporters. Petition drives work, but the pandemic has forced organizing online which demands innovation. Existing...
Record, Save And Share Videos Of Police Action With A Single Phone Command
Videos raise public awareness and hold public servants accountable for their actions. How do you record and share a video quickly in the middle of a...
NAACP Volunteers Use ‘Smart’ Texts To Reduce Lines At Georgia Voting Centers
Voters braving a pandemic, shouldn't have to struggle to find their closest polling location. It's easy for Georgia voters to get confused, and many end up not...
Convert Public Attention Into Supporters And Donations
How do you convert public attention and media coverage into supporters and donors? Use QR Codes. Basics QR Codes are scannable codes that most phones can read....
How To Find Ballot Drop Boxes And Early Voting Locations In Georgia
Voters in Georgia's June 9th election can return their absentee ballots at drop box without a stamp or any human contact. How do they find the...
Speak To Voters In Their Language
Asian American voters are the margin of victory in many key races. Make sure you message reaches the. Translate & caption your videos. In this blog you'll...
Musicians Power Virtual Fundraisers
Musicians and progressive campaigns are teaming to raise funds online with live streaming performances. The Coronavirus has forced campaigns to innovate. How do you fundraise...
Conduct Polls In A Pandemic? Use Chatbots.
Collecting accurate, timely information in a pandemic needs innovation. Mothers Of Hope uses chatbots to collect information from Kalamazoo residents about their Coronavirus care and census participation. The group encourages community members...
Will You Be Counted In The Census?
[caption id="attachment_2319" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image: Lumen5[/caption] How can marginalized groups be inspired to take part in the census during a pandemic? Sharvin Lee with Michigan Voices is experimenting with difference approaches....
Visualizing 40,000 Deaths
Big numbers make it hard to fully grasp the size of a tragedy - such as the number of American deaths from the Coronavirus. The facts are...
Make Sure Everyone Hears Your Message – Regardless Of Their Language.
Make sure every one get to hear your message regardless of their language. One out of five American speaks a language other than English at home. Many...
Vote by Mail. Leave No Voter Behind.
Voting by mail has worked well for years, but will be especially important in this pandemic. But how do voters without a computer or internet access...
Coronavirus Guide. Mobile Training Delivered By Voice And Text.
Coronavirus safety training now available freely by phone. How can safety recommendations be shared with hard-to-contact groups in the middle of a pandemic? Technology designed to...
Bots Push To Overturn Roe V Wade Decision
Image adapted from Handmaid's Tale & Terminator Protests rage as the Supreme Court reviews a case that could could 'render protections by Roe v Wade meaningless'. How are...
Group Uses Personal Video Testimonials To Encourage Use Of Vote-By-Mail Ballots.
Photo by Qim Manifester on Unsplash Make your videos more persuasive with personal testimonials. Video testimonials work but collecting them has been difficult for groups with limited time, money...
Activists Use GIFs To Demand Funding For CDC To Fight Coronavirus
Reach more people, faster and for less money with a GIF. GIFs are just seconds long but get your message heard. They play automatically and engage viewers immediately....
No More Busy Signals
Don't let hackers clog phone lines and block real callers. Use voicebots to guard against such attacks and streamline call handling. "Trump supporters clogged Iowa caucus phone...
Hold Them Accountable
Voters struggle to connect how actions taken by politicians in service of their rich donors negatively affect their lives. Explain the connection and what they can do...
Don’t Zuck Up Democracy
Image adapted from the Economist Grassroots activists struggle to get heard against billionaires and corporations with their armies of lobbyists and PR experts. A free app...
Talk To Me
The disabled, poor, uneducated and senior citizens suffer from not knowing of healthcare cuts and new voting restrictions until it is too late to protest. Flyers,...
Community Oriented Political Outreach
How does a candidate with a small budget standout in a crowded field? Innovation. Seeyew Mo is running to represent S.F. Assembly District 19 at the...
Leave No Voter Behind
People in remote areas are often overlooked by the census and find it hard to vote. Many Americans in remote areas suffer because poor roads and...
Build Or Buy Campaign Software?
Elections have consequences. So do budget cuts. Mobilize voters on the issues that matter to them. People care when public safety is jeopardized by CDC funding cuts that limit...
Tracking Twitter Trolls
Keep an eye on trolls activity and report harassment to Twitter. New apps make it easier and more affordable to monitor trolls. Who is behind the Twitter bots attacking you? What...
Pledge To Vote Cards Go Digital
Canvassers improve voter turnout with pledge to vote cards. Digital pledge cards work even better than printed ones. DemLabs and Deliver My Vote are testing digital Pledge to...
Five Free Apps For Better Canvassing
Trying to find the right campaign app when you're tight on money and not tech savvy? Checkout the DemLabs site with over 110 solutions and Solution Guides like the one...
Free New App Streamlines Information Flow Against The Rush To War
Streamlines the flow of information against the rush to war with the free Wakelet app. Quickly collect, curate and share information for anti-war supporters with Wakelet. The app consolidates information...
Podcast Training Retreat For Women Changemakers
[caption id="" align="aligncenter"] Photo by CoWomen on Unsplash[/caption] Millions listen to podcasts but not enough are hosted and produced by women. How can we fix this?...
Mission Accomplished – The Sequel
"Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it," George Santanya. This parody video shows the similarities between the start of the last Iraq war and...
Moscow Mitch Explains Impeachment In Russian
Spoof videos are weapons of mass persuasion. They convert popular movie clips into political messages disguised as satire. The videos are inexpensive to make, but get millions of views as they're...
We’re Not Lovin’ It
Image: Banksy Issues can be complicated. Relationship maps strip away the BS to show what's really going on. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned a prior ruling making it...
I Will Be Heard
Photo by Mubarak Show on Unsplash There are two ways to hold onto power. Get more people to support you, or silence those who don't. One way is to...
Young Activists Make The Best Storytellers
If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.Get to the table by engaging others to your side with story-telling. Young activists excel at crafting...
Five Free Online Training Platforms To Training Volunteers And Organizers.
How do you train volunteers and staff the skills to be better activists and organizers? Especially when a range of skills have to be taught from...
App Immediately Translates Impeachment Testimony Into Videos In Different Languages.
Language should not be a barrier to knowing the facts. New software quickly and affordably translates and captions video clips for mass distribution. Background Most major...
How Was Your Voting Experience?
Long lines. Not enough ballots. Broken voting machines... Voter suppression thrives in the dark. How often is voting related mischief reported after an election? Why is it that thousands...
Does Your Congressperson Support The Impeachment Inquiry? Ask The Common Cause Chatbot On Facebook.
Politicians can run, but they cannot hide from where they stand on the impeachment inquiry. Common Cause's new Facebook chatbot tells voters where their congressperson stands...
Fighting The Good Fight? Make Sure To Pick The Best Apps.
Magic is a long shot. Bet on innovation instead. Technology is the equalizer against bigger, better-funded opponents. Winning campaigns innovate faster. What holds back Democratic...
The Iowa Caucuses: Analyzing What, Where And When The Candidates Doing?
Campaigns have to make the most of limited time, money and staff. What events should be held? Where? When? What are the other campaigns doing? Software...
Grassroots Group Uses Radio Ads, Chatbots & Mobile Apps To Arrange Rides To The Polls For The Needy.
Why do those with the most to gain from change, face the most hurdles in voting? Living in remote rural areas, a lack of transport, cell...
Wrong Polling Location Info Can Devastate Voter Turnout.
Mapping apps easily guide people to their destinations. Why then do voters often get sent to the wrong polling location? Bad data on polling centers....
Trying To Understand The Impeachment Inquiry? Use A Relationship Map Follows The Money.
Tracking a complex case of corruption? Use a relationship map to follow the money. How to map a swamp It's easy to get lost in...
New App Lets Progressive Volunteers Find Free Lodging With Local Supporters.
Volunteers donate their time and energy to canvas and get-out-the-vote. But often they're cash-strapped and need a place to stay. Supporters have lodging to share....
Impeachment Inquiry Timeline. ‘Cut To The Chase’ With An Infographic.
Some issues are intentionally made confusing to distract people from the truth. Infographics cut to the chase. They combine facts, events, and videos into simple visuals that...
Bet On Winning Posts For Better Facebook Political Campaigns
Campaigns can't avoid Facebook's power to influence people. How can cash-strapped campaigns harness this power to reach more people? Follow the money: Facebook thrives on ad revenue. It keeps people engaged for more...
Black Voters Matter Uses Clips Of Policing In Video Campaign To Encourage People To Vote.
The outrage from incidents shared on social media soon disappears. People are jaded and don't vote because the outcome doesn't improve their lives. How can social media...
Activists Innovate With Free Apps To Alert Supporters Of Rallies, Town-Halls And Canvassing Drives.
Coordination makes all the difference - especially when time and resources are tight. Thousands of people taking part in hundreds of events, organized by dozens of groups. Where and...
Persuasion To Go. Voting Rights Group Uses Billboards To Get Out The Vote In North Carolina.
Billboards work. They're persuasive and cost effective. Here's how Center For Common Ground used billboards in North Carolina-3 to increase voter turnout in the recent special election. Results Cost of billboard...
Grassroots Group Harnesses Consumer Spending To Local Businesses Supporting The Community.
Money talks. And it walks. Every purchase is a vote of support for that business. A consumer boycott is a vote against firms that live off the community but give back little in...
How Small Adversaries Overwhelm Superpowers With Cyber Warfare And Disinformation Campaigns.
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” - Sun Tzu. Instead of the bullets and tanks used in conventional war, online...
How Indivisible Michigan Uses Advanced Software To Coordinate Activities To Flip Swing Districts.
Planning makes all the difference - especially when you're underfunded. Grassroots groups make a bigger impact with better software. StateWide Indivisible of Michigan (SWIM) is a...
Multimedia App Explains Money At Play In Blocking Gun Control Reform.
Short TV segments don't explain complex issues well. How can sustained public support for gun control be built, when mass shootings are soon forgotten and politicians obfuscate? It's not...
New Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powered App, Coaches You To Become A Better Public Speaker.
A very few of us are naturally, gifted public speakers. The rest of us need to practice. Technology can now coach activists, organizers and candidates to become better...
A Free Canvassing App To Get Out The Vote When You Have No Budget And Limited Time.
Native American voters are the margin of victory in many key races. Vast distances, scarce funds and a legacy of voter suppression makes it hard to get out...
App Helps Florida Residents Track Hurricane Dorian And Explains How Cuts To FEMA Will Hurt.
App tracks storm in real-time to help Florida residents prepare for Hurricane Dorian. How will the $155 million cut to FEMA disaster-relief funds hurt? What is behind the cuts? Timely,...
How To Enrich The Voter File With Other Data Sources For Better Results.
Use the best tool(s) available. It's no different in campaigns. Enrich the Voter File with other data sources for better results. Smarter targeting and canvassing. Better results in fund raising and finding unregistered voters....
What’s In Common Between The Contaminated Water Crisis In Flint, Newark And Baltimore?
What do Flint, Newark and Baltimore all suffering from lead-contaminated water have in common? Their disasters are distinct, but share a common thread. How can the cause be explained vividly in order to build...
Worried About Your Child’s Well Being If You’re Deported? There Is An App For That.
How will your children be taken care of if you're deported? How should a community prepare for an ICE raid? What are the latest guidelines...
American Soybean Farmers Suffer From Tariffs On China. StoryMap Explains The Issue.
Why would the Chief of the US Department of Agriculture mock farmers hurt by trade wars as 'Whiners'? A volunteer research team found that farmers' suffering was both real and widespread. "Net farm...
Disinformation Primer: Using The Overton Window To Change What’s Acceptable.
Banning muslims? Putting kids in cages? A president for life? How is the public manipulated to tolerate such extreme steps? How can the range of ideas...
App Converts Phones Into Walkie-Talkies. Ideal For Managing Rallies Without Cell Service.
Large crowds can swamp cell tower capacity. Natural disasters and other groups can disrupt cell coverage at a rally. Rally organizers need to plan for all contingencies. They need a way...
Group Mounts Social Media Video Campaign To Block Redevelopment Of African-American Community.
Make the Road Nevada is fighting in solidarity with Windsor Park residents as the City of North Las Vegas is proposing to sell 80% of the land of...
Mobilizing Citizens To Prevent Cuts To The Food Stamp Program. Technology For A Rapid Response.
The Trump administration is planning to cut the Food Stamp program. This would eliminate SNAP benefits for 3.1 million individuals and take free school meals away from the children in...
Moscow Mitch blocks bills to strengthen election security. How to use technology to follow the money and connections behind his decision.
A single image often captures the truth better than dozens of reports. Technology now makes it easy to design network maps that reveal the motives and connections behind an action. We used this...
As State Close Down Clinics, ACN Uses New Apps To Help Women Find The Nearest One Still Open.
It's becoming increasingly difficult for patients to get care as more and more reproductive healthcare clinics are forced to shut down. Families are being forced to travel further, spend more, and take more time...
Who Profits From The Private ICE Detention Center Boom? Mapping This Swamp To Expose Money’s Role.
Dangerous creatures hide and thrive in swamps. It isn't easy to understand what goes on in swamps - real or political. Details are concealed. Motivations are masked. People have...
Who Profits From The Opioid Epidemic? Free App Maps Connections & Contributions To Follow The Money.
"Follow the money", Deep Throat advised reporters investigating the Nixon Watergate scandal. The advice is still apt and applies to many issues including the opioid crisis. But it's harder than...
Rapid Response To ICE Raids In Las Vegas With Community Sourced Video Campaign.
A rapid community response is needed for imminent threats. Make The Road Nevada (MTRN) a grassroots group, decided to ask community members for video comments about a single mother...
Western Native Voice Uses Free App To Organize Native American Communities.
Organizing Native American communities is challenging. Tribal lands span hundreds of square miles often without internet or cell coverage. Community members often use mailboxes instead of a street address which...
Think Outside The (Mail)Box. Virginia Candidate Uses Voter File For Targeted Mobile Ad Campaign.
People respond more to their phones than letters. It's time for campaigns to think outside the (mail)box. An insurgent campaign in Virginia is innovating to try to unseat the incumbent...
New Map Highlights ‘Hard To Count’ Communities That May Be Left Out Of The Census.
The 2020 census will be different. It's counting on more people to complete census questionnaires online to reduce the need for field workers. This hurts communities without dependable internet access,...
Ten Security Tips From Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protestors For Activists In The ‘Land Of The Free’.
Protestors in Hong Kong have shown that it is possible to organize in a tightly monitored and censored environment. They offer ten practical security tips a free online handbook. Taking...
Free canvassing app for voter registration & census turnout – works without internet access.
Many rural communities suffer from a lack of connectivity. It's harder to stay informed, benefit from online services, locate polling locations, vote and take part in the census. Organizers struggle to reach...
Free app simplifies canvassing and makes it affordable for even small grassroots groups.
Some people drive fancy cars. Others bike. It all depends on your destination and budget. Canvassing is the same. A lack of funds holds back some campaigns from maximizing...
Skill For Good: Matches digital storyteller volunteers with non-profits using an ‘Uber-like’ model.
Ride-sharing services like Uber make it convenient to get a ride by quickly matching passengers with nearby drivers. Why is it so hard to match volunteers...
Hundreds of grassroots organizers to convene at the National Network Assembly in Iowa in August to learn new skills, network and strategize.
How can grassroots energy be harnessed to win elections? How can collaboration between different organizing groups be maximized for greater impact? Hundreds of grassroots organizers will...
How does your audience feel? Find out with an instant poll using the free DirectPoll app.
How does your audience feel about an issue or candidate? A quick poll is best way to find out but hard to manage in a noisy, densely packed room. A count of hands is easy but error-prone. Paper questionnaires are...
The Florida League Of Women Voters Mobilizes To Help ‘Returning Citizens’ Regain Their Right To Vote.
"In November, a supermajority of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to former felons who’ve completed their sentences. Florida legislature advanced a bill that will strip hundreds...
A Free Peer-To-Peer Canvassing App. How To Use Existing Apps For Fast, Frugal Innovation.
Personal connections make a big difference. Especially in peer-to-peer canvassing where volunteers encourage their friends to register to vote. How can volunteers be equipped to easily collect details for a...
Rapid Response. Virginia Candidate Uses Current Events To Focus Attention On What Really Matters.
A gunman walked into a government office building in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Friday, May 31 and murdered 12 people. The incident quickly faded from the news as other...
Advocates install a ‘breathing billboard’ to rally public support for curbing air pollution.
How do you draw public attention to a deadly, but invisible killer? Jhatkaa works on social justice issues including how to build public support to curb air pollution. Their recent campaign generated...
As Alabama Legislators Close Abortion Clinics, Chatbot Jane Sees Surge In Searches Out-Of-State.
Lawmakers Vote to Effectively Ban Abortion in Alabama "These bills essentially ban abortions after a heartbeat is detected, usually about six weeks into pregnancy, a time...
Harness public outrage through Facebook petitions to fundraise and build lists.
Public outrage is both powerful and fleeting. Convert the outrage to also fund raise and build lists for long term change. It is simple with apps that combine the reach of Facebook petitions and the psychology...
Get Your Message Heard Without Breaking The Bank. A Workshop For Underfunded Campaigns.
Necessity is the mother of invention. So is lack of funding. Underfunded campaigns need new ways to compete against better funded opponents. Technology can level the playing field, but awareness and...
Lessons From How The NRA Quickly Mobilizes Its Members For Maximum Political Power.
"The NRA activates its membership when elected officials are facing gun-related legislation, resulting in phone calls and emails and letters to Congress", reports NBC: "How the...
Get your actions more publicity with highlight videos made from the Facebook Live stream.
Organizers use Facebook Live to stream videos of their actions, but their audience is often limited to just those who can watch it all. Short highlight clips make the...
Virginia Candidates Create Issue-Specific Campaign Videos With Free, Innovative App.
"There is an 80% increase in the time spent on watching videos ... 45% of the people surveyed in North America said they expect to watch even more videos on...
Target ads with geographic info on people’s movements and the places they’ve visited.
Farmers use digital tags to monitor their livestock. Advertisers have it easier. People voluntarily carry tags that constantly report their position and activity: mobile phones. Geomarketing Personal...
Up your game with this library of free campaigning and organizing ‘how to’ guides.
Grassroots organizing changes constantly with new tactics and apps. How can the lessons learned on one campaign be quickly shared with other progressive groups? Blueprints for Change converts know-how from campaign organiziners into free...
Make Your Point Clear. Create Infographics Easily With This Free App.
It's hard to quickly explain the scope of corporate welfare and how to bring it under control. How can the case for reform be presented in a simple, engaging manner? Infographics convert complex issues...
They only listen to their own voters. Use geocoding to mobilize better and focus supporters’ energy.
Elected officials only listen to their own voters. So it's essential for campaigns need to direct their supporters to lobby the right official. How can this be done with shifting...
Campaign videos made easy. Free app includes thousands of video clips, photos & soundtracks.
Video campaigns on social media are proven effective. But many candidates can't afford them due to the high costs and specialized skills needed to produce good videos....
Create Your Own Campaign Videos LEGO-Style. It’s Fast, Flexible And Free.
[caption id="attachment_1249" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image by Bruno Glätsch from Pixabay. "LEGO®is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies".[/caption] Cars at the turn of the century...
Who are they, really? Find out with these free apps.
Campaigns can be devastated by opponents pretending to be volunteers and donors. These ten free background research services help reveal the truth. It's advisable to first test the accuracy...
David vs Goliath. Rookie Virginia candidate uses free apps in challenge to powerful incumbent.
In a modern day version of David vs Goliath, a rookie candidate uses high tech stones to challenge a powerful incumbent. The ending has yet to be written... Herb Jones a retired...
Is your campaign a gas guzzler? Cut costs and go further with free apps.
"Fundraise! Money is like gas for your campaign", candidates are advised. How many miles to the gallon (MPG) does your campaign get? Are the funds you work hard to...
The Camera Is Mightier Than The Sword. Nine Progressive Film Makers Revealing The Truth.
The truth shall set you free. A good video cuts through noise to show what's really going on. And to inspire people to take action. These...
Two Free Mapping Apps To Better Target Campaigns
Winning campaigns want to focus their resources and efforts to maximize impact. The challenge is where to focus for the most votes and what issues to emphasize?...
Beware Of Free Gifts. How Hackers Use Social Media To Profile And Trick Their Victims.
Who says there is no point in reading the classics? North Korean hackers adapted the Trojan Horse to hack Chile's entire ATM network. An unsuspecting employee at a company that...
Use this free app to create your own high-quality campaign videos
We love solutions that let more deserving candidates run for office. We really love apps, that are free and easy-to-use. Candidates struggle to produce campaign videos when they are tight on time and money. Adobe...
How To Find And Mobilize Voters With Geo-Fenced Mobile Ads
Where and when someone goes reveals a lot about them. Savvy marketers use these clues to target their ads. Mobile apps report their user's location so they can get a...
Build opt-in text lists by helping people with their issues.
There is no red poverty. Nor blue poverty. Campaigns can engage more people by addressing the issues that really matter to them, and collect information about them in the process. Campaigns find...
Innovations For Persuasive Digital Storytelling.
No one gets it right the first time. It’s how fast we learn and adapt that matters. DemLabs partners with campaigns to innovate better ways of digital persuasion. Following is the process we use,...
8 Highly Effective Training Resources for Organizers
[caption id="attachment_1086" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Photo by Miguel Henriques on Unsplash[/caption] "Change requires more than righteous anger. It requires a program and organizing, which is the only way to...
Work with the news cycle for better press coverage.
[caption id="attachment_1079" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Photo by Kristel Hayes on Unsplash[/caption] Sailors know sailing with the wind and tide gets them further with less effort. Aligning your story with the...
Making friends and influencing people in Silicon Valley? Use a local connector.
Local connections make all the difference. Especially in Silicon Valley. Get a head start with a local partner to guide you and create connections. Innovation thrives...
2020 Census: Let’s count everyone.
Who do you trust for advice? Probably someone you already know who shares your values and concerns. How can such trust encourage more people to take part...
A smart way to find addresses of people to persuade.
Ready. Aim. Fire. Accurate targeting matters. That's why businesses spend billions for the best data to target their outreach. It's the same with campaigns: data quality will determine...
Free resource to locate potential swing voters (and more)
Finding swing voters is hard. Locating people with specific traits, has typically required money, time and technical skills - putting it out of the reach of...
Speaking truth to power – Through digital storytelling.
Powerful corporations hire marketing experts and lobbyists to push their agenda. How does a small community group get the truth heard in such an uneven fight? Here is an...
See something, say something using technology to report voting problems
The midterm elections showed the need to expose voter problems in real time, on election day, in time to do something. We need a new approach...
‘Sí, Se Puede’. Spanish-Speaking Chatbots Offer Voter ID Advice.
Voter ID regulations can be confusing - especially when English isn't your first language. They vary by state and often change at short notice. How can the...
See something. Say something. Especially at polling centers.
"See something - Say something". We see this at airports and on public transportation. So why not do the same while we are trying to vote?...
Where’s the rally?
Uber can immediately match passengers with drivers nearby. Their technology works. So why is it so hard to easily find out about rallies and events nearby?...
Use the news cycle to amplify your marketing
Winning marketing campaigns successfully surf the wave. The message goes further with less effort. Marketing campaigns aligned with the news, increase the odds of getting picked up by...
Leave no voter behind
Many people don't vote because they can't get to their polling center. Several groups offer rides, but requesting a ride is often the bottleneck. Many rural voters have neither internet access nor a cell...
A better way to collect videos for your campaign
Personal stories cut through indifference and can drive people to act. They're especially powerful when shared as videos on social media. This Everytown For Gun Safety video is compelling - and professionally...
Customized campaign videos made simple
Campaign videos work, but many campaigns have neither the budget nor the expertise to create their own. Ideally a single campaign video could be adapted for use...
Fight fire, with fire.
It's ironic: the same technology companies use to slash their workforce is also being used to organize workers demanding fair treatment. Automation is eliminating jobs for...
Let’s please keep it civil
How many Facebook discussions are hijacked by trolls? Bots flood discussions with hundreds of messages, drowning out real participants. How can conversations be kept civil in such...
What’s your story?
Attention spans are shorter. Complex issues have to be simplified and told persuasively to get people to act. Videos are engaging and informative, but they aren't interactive. Infographics and...
Micro-targeting made simple
"GoFundMe raises thousands to place billboard of Trump's anti-Cruz tweet in Texas". Where exactly should you place a billboard to reach the people you want to target? Companies...
Reach more people
Just as with any interaction, people respond better when you speak their language and reply personally to their questions. How's this done online with thousands of...
What I learned at DEFCON about voting machine hacks
Hackers, corporate IT professionals, and three letter government agencies all converge on Las Vegas every summer to absorb cutting edge hacking research at DEFCON. The Vote Hacking Village with a focus on...
Don’t talk to strangers
Don't talk to strangers. Especially if they're sending you phishing emails. Hackers trick you into opening phishing emails by pretending to be from a trusted source. This often starts with them...
We’re on the warpath
Five million Native Americans live in battleground states such as Arizona, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada and North/South Dakota. They could have a big impact in the midterms - if they voted. But voting...
Where’s my prescription?
"An Arizona women was suffering a miscarriage and her pharmacist refused to fill her prescription because he decided that his beliefs were more important than what she and...
Check the fine print
Donations are just one way to support the causes you believe in. Programmers with more creativity than cash, can support their values by restricting how their software can be used....
From Russia with love.
Phishing attacks have blown up many Democratic campaigns and are still widely used to steal log-in credentials. Consider Google's free Advanced Protection service to safeguard your data. And if you still think you're safe, read...
Alexa, what ID do I need to vote?
Over 25 million eligible voters lacking the right Voter ID may be prevented from voting. And getting an acceptable ID in thirty four states with Voter ID laws is both confusing and difficult....
They don’t want you to vote
The Supreme Court just ruled aggressive purging of voter rolls. "States can now kick people off the rolls if they skip a few elections and fail...
Join The Search Party For Fifty Million Unregistered Voters
There are FIFTY million unregistered voters in America! The number of voters is being threatened with voter roll purges and restrictive voter ID policies. Every single...
All Votes Count. Some Just Count More Than Others.
The right to vote is under attack. Confusing requirements and other hurdles are designed to discourage specific groups from voting. And turnout drops with voter suppression, as the 2016 election shows....
You’re suddenly stopped for questioning…
People get stopped for questioning anywhere these days - speaking Spanish in Montana or resembling someone in Oregon. Others encounter sexual harassment, racial discrimination, voter intimidation......
Let’s talk about values
When Super Bowl ads are more compelling than campaign messages, we have a problem. How can we appeal to people's values across the political spectrum? We...
Knock. Knock. Who’s there?
FedEx does it. Uber does it - optimize delivery routes with better software.How can campaigns up their game so canvassers spend less time walking and more time talking with people? The...
Oppo Research Done Right
Good oppo research requires experience and manpower - two things in short supply. A new group meets these needs by combining the savvy of campaign veterans with the energy of online volunteers. This lowers the...
Don’t Mess With Seniors
Why is it so hard for some seniors to vote? Could the locations of polling centers be influencing turnout? You make the call. Case Study We decided to...
“Innovation”
There is a better way. But it’s hard to find when you’re busy. That’s where DemLabs comes in. We test new apps in campaigns and share...
Getting Arms To The Front Lines
Why do so many progressive campaigns in the real world still use yesterday's technology? Campaigns over-spend on out-of-date software. Startups struggle to get new apps to candidates. Training...
What Your Campaign Can Learn From Starbucks
The success or failure of a new store depends on how close it is to its best customers. In the "old days", the placement of a...
This Little Light Of Mine
2018! It's finally "midterm election" year and DemLabs is geared up with some New Ways to Win! We are excited to introduce you to a new...
How to Use Facebook to Nudge Low Propensity Voters to the Polls
Low-propensity voters are an elusive target, but they’re often the margin for victory. Could sales techniques on social media be applied to increase LP voter turnout?...
Open Media Project Increases Government Transparency with Technology
A naive and idealistic man is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn't back...
How Tech Activists Harness Purchasing Power to Bring About Change
Money talks. Companies listen when millions of customers boycott their products and services. Peaceful, economic mass-protests aren’t new. Gandhi and Martin Luther Kings Jr. used them....
Resisting? Running for office? Get trained online, you will.
Darkness is in the air. The Rebel Alliance is hopelessly outmatched. The Empire terrorizes the galaxy. The rebels train to fight back. The ‘force’ is with...
Designing a Facebook campaign to advocate for better opioid care
It’s 1943 and the German air superiority has devastated the Allied forces. The Allies lack the planes to fight the Luftwaffe directly. The U.S. Army Air Corps...
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – It’ll be Computerized
Imagine that you have millions of supporters eager to help your cause. You only have a few weeks to get organized and hardly any existing systems...
3 creative ways people are using our zoom tools
Life hacks have turned digital. Now that virtual meetings are the norm, people are finding ways to innovate and get creative while presenting, fundraising, or performing...
Zoom Teleprompter for all professions, from performers to prayer leaders
All events have one thing in common these days, they take place online. Virtual meetings are the new normal, no matter the profession, and our free...
