Oklahoma Election Results Web App
When the state election board implemented a web-based reporting system, our team was asked to bring our analog system up-to-date to meet or exceed the state’s.
Functional requirements included:
- Display results in an easy-to-understand format communicating no political bias
- Search feature allowing users to search for candidates and races
- Provide the possibility of a runoff election
- Countdown timer displaying when results would be updated (every 3min)
- Highly performant, aesthetically minimal, and fully responsive
Background
The state election board in Oklahoma transitioned to a web-based reporting system for delivering election results. This shift highlights the need for an updated and efficient platform to provide real-time election updates to the public. Our previous analog system, while functional, lacks the speed and elegance required to keep pace with modern standards and user expectations.
Problem
Oklahomans need timely and accurate election results to stay informed about electoral outcomes. The existing analog system is outdated and inefficient, leading to delays and a subpar user experience. This inadequacy becomes particularly evident during high-traffic periods, such as election nights, where the demand for immediate results is paramount.
Need
There is a need for a modernized, web-based platform that offers fast and elegant election updates. This solution should leverage statewide polling data to deliver real-time results efficiently. The platform must handle high traffic volumes and provide a seamless user experience to meet the expectations of the public and ensure they have access to up-to-the-minute election information.
Solution
Utilizing statewide polling data, the election results web app offers up-to-the-minute results to users across Oklahoma. This project provides fast and reliable updates, becoming a major traffic driver with 13,000 unique visits per hour, constituting over 30% of site traffic. The web app delivers a modernized experience that meets or exceeds the state election board’s web-based reporting system. By ensuring timely and accurate election results, the web app enhances public engagement and trust in the electoral process.
Griffin Communications offers up-to-the-minute election results to users across Oklahoma through their two news organizations, NewsOn6 in Tulsa, and News9 in Oklahoma City. Previously to the launch of this product, results were achieved by utilizing staff members to collect polling numbers from precincts either by physically visiting polling sites or by calling election boards workers.
We connected to the state’s system via an API and transformed the data into a usable, extensible format (JSON). Native web technologies (HTML/CSS/JS) were used to accomplish an incredibly high performant, responsive election results page.
Griffin Communications has a long history of dominating their competition in providing the fastest race results. Griffin’s on-air talent provide election results for top races and direct viewers to the election results page for complete election coverage. With those two goals in mind, we had to make absolutely sure the product could perform under the demands, so we put the app through a gauntlet of unit and user testing.
Conclusion
The new election results web app eliminated the expense of employee man hours and gas consumption while consistently providing blazingly fast answers to voters wanting to know race results.