Democracy Club launched a project to gather information on every candidate for the May 2016 elections in the UK, a feat deemed impossible by many. Through the collaborative efforts of volunteers, open data, and the power of the internet, the group managed to compile a comprehensive list of candidates.
The process involved gathering data from various sources, including the Statement of Persons Nominated (SOPN) documents, which are public but not easily accessible. Volunteers used web scraping techniques to extract information from these documents, and the data was then manually checked for accuracy.
The project’s success is attributed to the dedication of volunteers, the use of modern technology, and the willingness of local authorities to share information. The data collected has been made available to the public on the Democracy Club’s website, providing a valuable resource for voters. The club believes that this project is a stepping stone towards making UK elections more transparent and accessible.
Despite the success, challenges persist. The need for a standardised format for election data, the difficulty in accessing SOPNs, and the reliance on volunteer efforts are issues that need addressing. The club hopes that these obstacles can be overcome to ensure future projects are even more successful.
Go to source article: https://democracyclub.org.uk/blog/2016/04/19/they-said-it-couldnt-be-done-or-how-we-know-about-every-candidate-every-election-may/