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Added by Jeff Gerstmann on Sept. 22, 2008

Microsoft issued a press release with the details on the poll that it ran as part of its partnership with Rock the Vote. Thankfully, they aren't pretending that it's actual science, because there are so many holes in this poll that it's impossible to take it as anything other than sort-of interesting. For example, as someone who has more than one Xbox Live gold account, I probably could have voted twice... but I actually didn't see anything on Xbox Live promoting the poll when it was running. Plus, the release is careful to avoid any mention of age, instead just sort of calling you things like "young" and "engaged." I believe that's "engaged" as in "we are able to get them to opt-in on stuff because they are way into Xbox Live," not "going to get married soon."

Anyway, here are the results:

TicketPercentage
 Obama/Biden 43%
 McCain/Palin 31%
 Undecided 13%
 Other 13%

That's from nearly 100,000 US-based Xbox Live users, nearly half of which probably would have voted for a Fenix/Santiago ticket if it was an option. Additionally, the plan to register votes through Xbox Live resulted in the download of over 55,000 voter registration forms. I actually signed up to receive such a form, but never got mine. This part of the process was supposed to be handled via e-mail, with users opting-in to receive an e-mail with a link to a printable form.

Those of you who already know about my dream of a paperless, phone call-free world probably won't be too shocked when I tell you that I think it's about time we got technology more integrated with the voting process. This whole "go to your local polling place and tick boxes on a form or use a crazy voting machine" thing seems like an outdated solution with plenty of room for error. I have hope that we'll see some change along these lines in my lifetime, but then the government isn't exactly known for being speedy or technologically savvy. OK, OK, if I go on I run the risk of turning this into Political Base. But I will say that anything that gets people to take a more active interest in politics is probably a good thing.



24 Comments

AquaGeneral
on Sept. 22, 2008
Interesting...

MasterSplinter
on Sept. 22, 2008
29% of McCain's votes are because of Palin.

papercut
on Sept. 22, 2008
nice

Aaox
on Sept. 23, 2008
Ugh... Politics...

patrick is online
on Sept. 23, 2008
most people i know just chose mccain ironically

The_A_Drain
on Sept. 23, 2008
100% Fail. Everybody knows politics dont work.

MB
on Sept. 23, 2008
It's too bad they don't break down the votes by age.  This hardly surprises me though - younger people are much more likely to support Obama.  I'm surprised McCain got 31%, I was expected half that.

Great_Ragnarok
on Sept. 23, 2008
Ron Paul FTW! oh noes...its too late..

jakob187 is online
on Sept. 23, 2008
So basically, this is a poll of a bunch of 7-12 year olds that have no clue what the hell they are talking about and just picked the guy that they talk about on TV the most?  lol  Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to put a poll on XBL about the next prez/vp?  Tsk tsk...
...next thing you know, they'll end up actually putting voting on Wiis!!!

GalvanizedNails
on Sept. 23, 2008
Big Daddy/ Little Sister ticket!

CrazyManDan
on Sept. 23, 2008
Replace the bumbling buffoon with a lovable one:

Banjo / Kazooie '08.

LordelX
on Sept. 23, 2008
What about Nader?

Superchris129
on Sept. 23, 2008
too bad colbert dropped out...

Splitterguy
on Sept. 23, 2008
Link for president, Kirby for vice. 

"HYAAAAA!"

jyurakyumihawk
on Sept. 23, 2008
Palin 4 president.

Brad
on Sept. 23, 2008
FENIX/SANTIAGO '12

Worm
on Sept. 23, 2008
The best way to see who's the better president is to make 'em face eachother in a 1-on-1 TF2 match.

Metamorphic
on Sept. 23, 2008
Palin kills wolfs :(

link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEDlj3CNmn8

BeeMac420
on Sept. 23, 2008
RON PAUL - THE REST ARE PUPPETS

ElectricHaggis
on Sept. 23, 2008
If McCain wins were all doomed, just saying.


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