Social networking site Twitter has highlighted in its latest blog that these midterm elections are the first election day that you can follow entirely on Twitter.com via text and video.
Follow the parties
In order to prepare for the expectant surge in election related tweets, Twitter has compiled a list of Twitter accounts for each of the main parties and lists of various political candidates.
You can follow the official Democrat party tweets @thedemocrats, the Republicans @gopconference, the Tea Party @TPPatriots and the Libertarian Party @LPNational.
Twitter press coverage
Twitter say that they are also working with top media organizations to integrate election related tweets into their coverage.
The Washington Post will, say Twitter, make history by being the first news organization to sponsor a Promoted Trend on Twitter. The Twitter homepage will have a link to #Election which will deliver breaking news on election results, polling news and live video in the Twitter viewing pane.
The New York Times will also be embracing tweets into its election news and CNN will be analysing thousands of tweets in order to figure out the public mood on the various election issues.
Election Hashtags
Hashtags, which are a way of categorizing tweets into a specific subject, will also play a major part in the Twitter election day coverage. By adding the hashtag #votereport to your tweets about your polling day experience, your tweet will also be included in a report done by TwitterVoteReport.com. New York voters should use the hashtag #NYCvotes. Twitter has also urged users to include the hashtag #ivoted in their tweets in order to promote the idea that you should cast your vote.
Other Social Networking Sites
In addition to Twitter, the main parties are also using other social networking sites including Facebook, YouTube and Flickr in order to get their message across and get the vote out. The Republicans currently have around 189,500 Facebook fans on their official page with the Democrats having around 167,500 fans and the Tea Party Patriots with around 508,500 Facebook fans.
