WASHINGTON, D.C. — The complete voting records of MEPs are being made accessible online for the first time with the launch of a new website aimed at promoting better debates and greater transparency in EU decision-making. “This is an historic opportunity and launch for Europe. Citizens from every country will be able to actively engage with MEP’s in a way that only the internet can provide. ElectionMall.com has seen similar projects in the USA but to be involved at the ground level is truly an honor,” said Ravi Singh, CEO of ElectionMall.com.
http://www.votewatch.eu uses the European Parliament’s own attendance, voting and activity data – available through the Parliament’s website – to give a full overview of MEP activities, broken down by nationality, national political party and European party grouping. Using sophisticated statistical methods developed by political scientists from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, the website covers the Parliament’s activities during the 2004-2009 term and will be updated following each voting session in plenary.
Votewatch.eu will be expanded in a second phase to also include information on governments’ decision records in the Council of Ministers. This second phase is planned for late 2009/early 2010.
Votewatch.eu is a not-for-profit organization supported by the Open Society Institute, Burson-Marsteller and ElectionMall.
Votewatch.eu was designed by www.ElectionMall.eu, a non-partisan technology company empowering campaigns of all sizes to take advantage of Web technology. Since 1999, ElectionMall Technologies, Inc. has been pioneering campaign Internet technology, and just recently opened its European office in Brussels.
The website is the brainchild of Sara Hagemann from the European Policy Centre in Brussels, Professor Simon Hix of the London School of Economics and Political Science, Doru Frantescu from Qvorum Institute in Bucharest, and Abdul G. Noury, Associate Professor of Economics at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).
The website’s authors have carefully checked all information regarding the accuracy of the MEPs’ activities, voting records and political allegiances. Although they are confident the information provided on the website is accurate and up-to-date, they have pledged to immediately correct any factual errors.
According to Hagemann, who is leading the project, the website is not aimed at naming and shaming MEPs. “Europe needs a stronger democracy. We want to make the way it works more transparent, so that voters can better understand how their MEPs are casting their vote on important issues which affect or concern them, and we want to help MEPs tell their voters about their activities.”
“We hope this project will inspire more active participation and that ElectionMall.eu will continue to play a key role in the upcoming European elections via technology for voters, candidates and political parties,” stated Singh.
Note to the editor: www.votewatch.eu will be launched on 11 May from 14:00 – 15:30 at the Residence Palace, 155 Rue de la Loi, 1040 Brussels. The website will go live at 15:30.
About ElectionMall, Inc.
ElectionMall, Inc., established in 1999, is a world leader in providing Internet-based non-partisan solutions for elections and campaigns, effectively utilizing technology and business expertise to enable candidates, advocacy groups, or nonprofits to generate enhanced gains in awareness, funds, and votes. From their ten years in the campaign and election industry, ElectionMall has identified over 54 different campaign behaviors and has categorized them into five specific product offerings of: Build, Manage, Raise, Promote and Shop. ElectionMall’s complete product offering successfully encompasses the entire life-cycle of a political campaign. ElectionMall is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Brussels, Chicago and Los Angeles.
