TikTok Launches In-App Guide to the 2020 US Elections

TikTok has announced the launch of its in-app guide to the 2020 US elections. The guide aims to provide access to authoritative information and combat misinformation. TikTok has partnered with trusted organizations such as the National Association of Secretaries of State, BallotReady, SignVote, and more to connect 100 million Americans with reliable information about the elections.

The elections guide, now available to users in the US, offers comprehensive information about candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. This information is powered by BallotReady. Users can also find guidance on how to vote in every state, thanks to the National Association of Secretaries of State. Educational videos about misinformation, media literacy, and the elections process are included in the guide, powered by MediaWise.

The guide reflects the diversity of the TikTok community by providing resources for different circumstances. It is available in English, Spanish, and many other languages. It contains information on voting for people with disabilities, overseas citizens or service members, students, and individuals with past convictions. TikTok has partnered with organizations such as SignVote, the Federal Voting Assistance Program, Campus Vote Project, and Restore Your Vote to ensure that everyone has access to the information they need.

Similar to TikTok's COVID-19 resource hub, the election guide can be accessed from the Discover page and election-related search results. It will also be linked at the bottom of videos related to the elections and on videos from verified political accounts. It is important to note that while TikTok verifies accounts to indicate authenticity, a verified badge does not imply an endorsement by TikTok. All users, verified or not, are expected to follow TikTok's Community Guidelines.

User privacy is a top priority for TikTok, and the elections guide is designed with user privacy in mind. Users will need to visit external websites or non-profits to share their information, including registering to vote. Interactions with the guide will not impact future TikTok experiences, such as recommendations or ads.

While TikTok is not primarily a platform for breaking news or politics, it recognizes that it is a space where Americans express themselves. Therefore, TikTok is committed to supporting its users with education and authoritative information on important public issues. The goal is to maintain TikTok as a place where authentic content can thrive, and the elections guide is a testament to TikTok's ongoing efforts to protect the integrity of the platform and the US elections.

Quotes from TikTok's partners:

"We are partnering with TikTok for their elections guide because younger voters often do not realize everything that will appear on their ballot, and we believe that TikTok can help them vote their entire ballot." – Alex Niemczewski, CEO, BallotReady
"We are proud to partner with TikTok in recognizing that a truly equitable world, and election, is possible when we ensure all community members take part!" – Leila Hanaumi, Strategic Engagement Director, SignVote at Communication Service for the Deaf
"By including this information in its elections guide, TikTok is affirming that people with felony convictions deserve to be heard." — Blair Bowie, Restore Your Vote Manager, Campaign Legal Center
"Campus Vote Project is glad to support TikTok's efforts to help young adults understand that they can express their views both within their app and at the ballot box." — Mike Burns, National Director, Campus Vote Project
"Our series of videos will teach first-time voters on TikTok how to spot misleading information online so they can feel confident their vote is based on reliable and accurate information and, at the same time, slow the spread of misinformation." –– Katy Byron, Editor and Program Manager of MediaWise at The Poynter Institute