The 2016 presidential election, which is still more than a year away, may already be dominating headlines but a range of important municipal elections will occur in mere weeks. At Brigade, we believe in the power of local elections and that’s why we’re rolling out an early version of an interactive Ballot Guide in our latest app update. We’re piloting this tool in our hometown of San Francisco and one of the country’s most politically significant cities, Manchester, N.H., to help people vote smarter on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Starting today Brigade iOS and Android users can find out what’s on their ballot, unlock personalized voting recommendations, pledge their votes to specific candidates and initiatives, and recruit friends to join them in committing to vote for politicians and policies they believe will improve their cities. When users fill out their ballot cards, we’ll match them to aligned local organizations that make candidate and issue endorsements. This will give them, if needed, a higher degree of confidence in their selections.

Members of the Brigade community in San Francisco and Manchester will be able to share their completed ballot cards or vote pledges for specific candidates or issues via social media, SMS and email to incentivize others to do their civic duty in a fun and engaging new way. Other components of the Ballot Guide include an Election Day countdown clock and a polling place locator.

Ultimately, this local experiment will inform our strategy for building robust and engaging election tools in more cities and states ahead of the 2016 election.

“Technology has made many aspects of our lives easier and more fulfilling, yet political engagement is more difficult and less satisfying than ever before. It doesn’t have to be that way,” Brigade CEO Matt Mahan said. “Together, we can begin to restore citizens’ rightful place at the center of our democracy and there’s no better place to start than in our local communities. We’re eager for voters in San Francisco and Manchester to use our Ballot Guide and the other tools we’ll be rolling out in the months to come.”

San Francisco Pilot

In San Francisco, we’ve partnered with the San Francisco Chronicle and Philz Coffee to offer unique, community-oriented ways to educate voters before they go to the polls. The Chronicle’s editorial staff helped curate Ballot Guide content and you’ll be able to find links to Chronicle stories and editorials in our app. Chronicle Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper and columnist C.W. Nevius Brigade will moderate discussions at Philz stores throughout the city to help patrons make sense of the upcoming election.

We hope you’ll join us for coffee and conversation:

• Tuesday, Oct. 13 6-7 p.m. | Philz Dogpatch Store | 1258 Minnesota St. (RSVP)
• Tuesday, Oct. 20 6-7 p.m. | Philz De Haro Store | 1775 17th St. (RSVP)
• Wednesday, Oct. 28 6-7 p.m. | Philz Castro Store | 549 Castro St. (RSVP)

“The Chronicle’s most important role is to inspire and promote civil civic discourse. Nobody is entitled to an uninformed opinion,” the Chronicle‘s Cooper said. “That’s why we are so excited to partner with Brigade on new ways to help increase our region’s democratic literacy.”

“As a homegrown San Francisco company, we’re pleased to partner on efforts to educate people about the issues that impact our community and neighborhoods,”  Philz Head of Community Outreach Young Han said. “Our mission is to better people’s days and fostering a learner’s mindset is part of our culture.”

Advocacy and political groups whose endorsements are featured in the Ballot Guide for San Francisco include:

♦ SF Young Democrats ♦ SF Republican Party ♦ SF Moderates ♦ Log Cabin Republicans of San Francisco ♦ SF Housing Action Coalition ♦ San Francisco Young Republicans ♦ Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club ♦ SPUR ♦ Evolve-CA ♦ SF Labor Council ♦ SF Women’s Political Committee ♦ Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club ♦ sf.citi ♦ No on Prop F ♦ Yes on Prop F ♦ San Francisco Bicycle Coalition ♦ SF League of Conservation Voters ♦ Sierra Club

Manchester, N.H. Pilot

New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary status makes Manchester, the state’s largest city, a hub of political activity and an attractive target to pilot our Ballot Guide. We’ve had a growing presence in Manchester this fall, with members of our team introducing Brigade to local political, community and business groups ahead of a heated mayoral election.

We’re pleased to partner with the University of New Hampshire – Manchester to involve students, faculty and the broader community in an initiative to inform and incentivize Election Day turnout citywide. As part of the relationship, UNH will lead a coordinated effort on campus to encourage people to make vote pledges on Brigade and share those pledges with friends and family.

If your organization makes endorsements in San Francisco or Manchester and would like to join the list, please email us at [email protected]

Ballot Guide Screenshot Gallery