Election Guide for TikTokers 

By Jeff Kramer  

Today is Election Day, and the polls are open! Americans all over the country will receive last-minute information from various news sources and websites. But with media bias and fake news being prevalent, it can sometimes be challenging to identify accurate and fair information is accurate. 

In recent years, social media has had an increasingly prominent platform and voice about the election. Apps like Instagram, X, Snapchat, etc., have different stories and features that attract eyeballs and seek to make people more aware of the American political process. One of the biggest social media platforms in the United States is TikTok. TikTok’s young demographic interacted with countless posts about this year’s election. The App recognized its responsibility and created its own Election information feature, the 2024 Elections Center. 

FTC Theatre Arts student A’shya Dawson appreciated the App’s mission. “It’s a good source for finding information, for people who don’t keep up with news daily. It’s a good way for people to stay up to date on the election, especially for people still interested in voting. It also encourages people to do their research and not rely on the same sources.”    

The feature is accessible simply by typing it into the search bar. It has many areas of interest, including a How to Vote section that answers various questions about voting, such as finding information on your local polling place.  

• Where to Vote? FTC students who live in New York can find their polling place and be redirected to the NY State Board of Elections website. If you live outside of New York, type that state in, and your polling place information that is specific to your area and voter registration will come up.  All you need to enter is basic information about yourself, and once you do that, your polling place location will come up. 

• What’s on the Ballot? Another question you can explore in this section is what YOUR specific ballot will look like when you vote. When you click on this question, TikTok takes you to a site called TurboVote, where you can view all candidates up and down your respective ballot based on your address. 

• Do I need an ID?  Voters often wonder what specific ID requirements are required to vote. This info is provided by Democracy Works, a non-partisan organization. Since we have a majority of New York State residents on our campus, if you’ve voted in New York State previously, you don’t need to provide any ID to vote. However, you must show ID if it’s your first time voting.  Here are the acceptable forms: a current and valid photo ID, copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other documents showing your name and address. 

FTC Film student James Fusco liked TikTok’s new features and said, “It’s a great way to get informed on all the election details and get registered to vote if you’re not already.” 

Other sections on the App are helpful guides ahead of election day, such as videos on avoiding misinformation and distinguishing between different sources.  

There are links to outside sources that provide more information on voting, such as canivote.org and the Election Assistance Commission’s website, eac.gov. 

 Also in the feature is a series of Frequently Asked Questions about the election process. These include: 

•  Where do I find Election results? 
• Are voting systems secure? 
• Can I trust the outcome of the election? 
• What are my rights as a voter?  

Lastly, a section on the top of the feature allows you to switch between states listed to see certain state-specific information. FTC Theatre Arts student Tryston Bellon liked this option because ‘it’s good just in case you want to know voting information for a different state, or you recently moved and didn’t know where your polling location is.” 

TikTok’s 2024 Elections Center brought voting to the fingertips of its busy viral online community.