Introduction
As they gear up for the midterm elections, Texas voters are facing a busy ballot filled with federal, state, and local propositions. With Election Day set for March 3rd, many individuals find themselves overwhelmed by the preparation required. However, a new tool offers a streamlined approach to help voters navigate the complex choices they will face.
AUSTIN, Texas — Early voting is nearing its conclusion for the midterm elections, with Election Day approaching on March 3rd.
With a range of federal offices, statewide races, and local propositions on the ballot, the elections present a hefty challenge for many voters. For some, preparing to cast their vote can be daunting.
Josh Baer can relate to this sentiment.
“Every year, I set aside an hour or two in my calendar to get ready to vote,” Baer shared. “I plan to read the voting guides and get organized. But to be honest, I never seem to feel truly prepared.”
Baer is the founder and CEO of Capital Factory, a collaborative hub for startups and investment. This year, he found a new solution to navigate his ballot: artificial intelligence.
He provided the AI with two essential directives:
“I instructed it to download the best nonpartisan voting guides available so that it could read through all the information. Then, I asked it to interview me to grasp my voting preferences and suggest who I should support and why,” Baer explained.
In mere moments, the AI produced a comprehensive nine-page report. This document detailed every race and proposition, offering recommendations and rationales. It even included a simplified cheat sheet for Election Day.
“It was truly incredible,” Baer stated. “I felt more prepared than I ever have before heading into the voting booth.”
This experience inspired a larger initiative.
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KEYE
In response to this experience, Baer chose to create a website to allow others to benefit from a similar tool. He began what is known as “vibe coding,” employing AI resources to develop the platform.
“After a few days of experimenting, I was able to develop an incredible website where anyone can achieve the same results I did,” Baer remarked. “I also prioritized safety, ensuring the platform was nonpartisan and trustworthy.”
The outcome is TXVotes.app.
Baer mentions that much of the developmental work was managed by Anthropic’s Claude AI. However, he didn’t stop there. He solicited feedback from other AI systems, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, xAI’s Grok, and Google’s Gemini, to enhance the site’s functionality.
Privacy and transparency are key aspects of the app’s design, according to Baer. “You can explore the website and understand its functionality,” he said. “Most importantly, in just about five minutes, you can be better prepared for any election you face.”
As early voting progresses, Baer hopes this tool will simplify the process of researching ballots, making it faster and less intimidating for voters throughout Texas.
Conclusion
With the midterm elections approaching, TXVotes.app aims to empower Texas voters by streamlining the often complex task of preparing to vote. By harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence, Baer’s initiative seeks to provide clarity and confidence to voters navigating their ballots.
