Want to figure out how to vote this November? Just Google it.
The web search giant announced on Tuesday the release of new search tools that the company says will make it easier for voters to cast their ballot on Election Day.
“Whether you’re a first-time voter, a resident in a new state, or your state laws have changed since the last time you voted, you can now come to Google for information on how to vote in the upcoming election,” Google wrote in a post on its policy blog. “This new in-depth search result provides information on ID requirements, deadlines, mail-in ballots and early voting.”
To tap into the new search tool, just type “how to vote” into any Google search bar, and you’ll be given a slew of information that will help inform your decisions on Nov. 8. The results include the opening and closing times for polls; relevant voter ID laws, which Google automatically identifies based on your current location; and other requirements for voting.
The new “how to vote” search tool follows Google’s rollout of its how to “register to vote” tool, which launched in July.
Google says its incentive for launching the new tools follows a spike in election-related searches since 2012. In addition, Google is making the search data for “how to vote” and “register to vote” publicly available “so nonprofits and organizations promoting voter education can benefit and expand the reach of this critical information.”
