Beta Users for App to Tell Congress How to Vote on Issues
 

Hey all,

I was hoping to get some feedback on an application I just finished the first release.

The app lets you write your legislators through your blackberry, vote on the bills they are voting on (updates your legislators with your votes) and keeps track over time how often your legislators are voting for or against you.

If you feel nice enough to give me some feedback the 4.6+ code for the Storm, Bold and Curve is below.

Point YOUR BLACKBERRY BROWSER TO these and make sure the Browser is set to Blackberry as the default.

http://visiblevote.us/bb/new/visiblevote.jad

For older blackberry models please try:

http://visiblevote.us/bb/legacy/visiblevote.jad

Also if you have a Facebook account you can synchronize it to our version of Visible Vote on Facebook. Please let me know how this works for you by going to the link below, adding the app, and going to Settings. Please remember the password you created on your Blackberry to sync it.

Visible Vote | Facebook

-Paul

I would love to test this app for you. Is it possible to make this for 4.5?

Yeap sorry my post isnt clear...

Try pointing your blackberry browser to:

http://visiblevote.us/bb/legacy/visiblevote.jad

Im really curious to see what happens on the older models with that code. I have started to get feedback back from Storm users and they say it works great.

I just installed it and entered my zip code and it pulled up my state legislators. Is there any way to view local legislators, by district per se?

Hey jsconyers,

Right now its just federal... Unfortunately our government doesnt make it easy for us to pull state and local. If the federal version takes off we will then move to state and local. The app is actually ready for it, its just a pain to get our officials to publish their voting records :-)

-Paul

I work for the state government, so this would be very handy. I can see the dilemma in this, as well as keeping up with all of the changes during the elections. I do like the app. It works well on my 8330 running 4.5.

I played around with this and I like it. How does the blackberry app integrate with the website and facebook? The app gives a facebook code but I dont see what to do with it. Do the two work together, or if I use the blackberry and the website to I run the risk of sending two votes on the same subject?

I also don't see a way to tell which issues I've already voted on.

I can't see a way to tell which issues the official and I issue with.

I am interested in you developing this app further.

Hey gshine,

Thanks for the feedback... Yes you can integrate it into your Facebook account. If you add my Facebook app:

Visible Vote | Facebook

Then after you set it up just go to settings tab. Then you should be able to enter that ID into the website and your password. Make sure you select Copy Votes you have made from your Blackberry.

The app will give you more views on what you have voted on, what each individual legislator is agrees/disgrees with you on. Some Bio information on them and more.

Let me know what you think. Thanks for helping out!

Hey jsconyers,

Well Ill definitely keep you in mind when I get to the state and local government :-)... I just wish all the states had a standardized system to store voting records and legislator info.

Ill keep you posted though...

-Paul

That did it. Thanks!

Comments
 

I love. I wish it would autoupdate the vote screen with every vote. I had to close the app before the issues I had already voted on would move from unanswered to the answered section. I also would like to see the party listed for each senate member. Overall, very good, but these changes would make it even better.

Hey mhuckaby,

I fixed the issue you spoke about... I would try uninstalling the app and reinstalling it for your 9530 from:

http://visiblevote.us/bb/new/visiblevote.jad

All your votes and letters should be saved. Now the screen updates when you place a vote. This still needs to be cleaned up but Ill probably do that when I put the votes agreed/disagreed with.

Thanks for the feedback!

-Paul

Great. I'll go try it...

Interesting app, I got it installed and it's working and I plan to give it a try. Makes me realize though, how many bills are out there, and I definitely need to read up on each one before I can decide how I really want my congress person to vote! I assume I can just go to congress.org to read the full bills?