“Where do Americans go to cast their vote?” That’s a question that William Drenttel and Jessica Helf posed to citizen journalists during the 2006 midterm elections. The photographers were asked to shoot polling places across America, and now their work is featured in the current edition of the Aperture Foundation’s magazine. I was sent a copy by friend of Why Tuesday? and Aperture Foundation publicist Christina Caputo. You can buy a copy online and lean more about the Aperture Foundation here.

The project has relaunched for the 2008 election, this time with the New York Times.

Aperture was founded in 1952 by photographers Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, Barbara Morgan, and Minor White, historian Beaumont Newhall, and writer/curator Nancy Newhall. The group is a not-for-profit arts institution dedicated to advancing fine photography.

Photo via Aperture.

Posted in Election 2006, Election 2008, Election Reform, Friends of WT? | Comments Off

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — Earlier this month we brought you the results of the MySpace IMPACT Presidential Primary poll. One stat that we found particularly interesting here: 11,453 votes were cast for making Election Day a national voting holiday in order to increase voter turnout. That was 41.26% of the vote for that question.

Today I had a chance to interview, live via iChat, Lee Brenner, the Director of MySpace IMPACT, who was in Washington, D.C., about the results of the poll and what New Media means to this election cycle. The video is after the jump. (more…)

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Friends of WT?, MySpace/MTV, Video Chats | Comments Off

I’m packing my bags and getting ready to head to Iowa to cover the caucuses… which have never been accused of being the most accessible method of voting.

If you live in Iowa, you get to vote on Thursday. But if you don’t… it might be a bit before you get to cast your ballot. That is, unless you want to participate in the MySpace IMPACT Presidential Primary… which starts today and ends tomorrow. (more…)

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Friends of WT? | 1 Comment »

Think the Iowa Caucus is the first presidential contest in the nation? Think again. Friend of Why Tuesday? MySpace Impact (check out our MySpace page) is holding an online presidential primary before a single vote is cast in either Iowa or New Hampsire… and you can participate! Here are the details direct from MySpace:

Beginning on Tuesday, January 1 at 3:01 am EST, MySpace will invite its community to participate in the first MySpace Presidential Primary on the Impact Channel. Taking place just prior to the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primaries, the largest online community will be the first to choose their candidate for the nation’s highest office. Polls will close Wednesday, January 2 at 11:59 pm EST.

(more…)

Posted in Election Reform, Friends of WT?, MySpace/MTV | Comments Off

JOHNSTON, IOWA — We’re back in the press filing center for the Democratic debate here later today. Getting all set up to meet Rose and Pearl, the two beautiful horses that got us to the debate site here yesterday by a 19th century-like buggy. Why? Here’s the answer. Stay tuned for updates from here all day. Videos to follow in the days ahead.

In the meantime check out this cool look at the unusually high voter participation in the state to our north – Minnesota – produced by friend of Why Tuesday? MTV News.

Posted in Election Reform, Friends of WT?, Iowa, Minnesota | Comments Off

Busy tomorrow eve? Hope not. Why? Read an important message from friend of Why Tuesday? Myles Weissleder, of the innovative National Presidential Caucus, after the jump. (more…)

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