The Voting Information Project (VIP), developed by The Pew Charitable Trusts, Google, and election officials nationwide, offers technology tools that give voters access to the customized information they need to cast a ballot on or before Election Day.

VIP is offering free apps and tools that provide polling place locations and ballot information for the 2014 election across a range of technology platforms:

• Free white-label Android and iOS mobile apps can be customized, branded, and released by state and local governments or third-party organizations. Download the iOS or Android app. These apps provide ballot and polling place information in multiple languages, as well as text-to-speech functionality. Kansas was the first state to brand and release a version of one of the apps — VoteKansas — as its own.  A number of other states also plan to release branded versions of the apps ahead of the election.
• A short messaging service (SMS) provides voters with election information via text message. By texting "VOTE" or "VOTO" to 69520, voters can find polling places, contact information for local election officials, and registration URLs. The app is available in multiple languages. For information on the source code, visit VIP's GitHub repository.
• A mobile-optimized, white-label voting information tool supplements the Google voter information tool and offers official polling place and ballot information, as well as other resources. The tool can be easily embedded on any website in multiple languages (Available Oct. 13-17). Read below how to embed the tool.
• ElectionDesk, a social media monitoring platform, allows state and local election officials to monitor issues as they arise and to interact with voters in real time on Election Day via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and other social media networking streams. The open-source tool permits users to filter posts by custom geographic areas and by topics related to election administration.

VIP works with election officials across the nation to ensure that the information provided through the tools is official and reliable. For more information about VIP or any of these tools, please contact vip@pewtrusts.org.

• Voters in every state and the District of Columbia can use search engines, social media, mobile applications, and online news sites to get answers to questions about the voting process.  
• Media, civic organizations, and candidates can place VIP gadgets on their websites to inform the public and encourage participation. In 2012, more than 600 sites used VIP, drawing 25 million look-ups.
• Technology innovators can develop new applications to increase voter engagement through embeddable gadgets, mobile device applications, and tools for military and overseas voting.