Amit Kumar thinks his new app #NeverTrump has the potential to ensure Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, Donald Trump stays far from the White House and third-party supporters' votes can still count.
"Let's ensure Hillary wins in swing states, and make sure third-party votes count," #NeverTrump's website reads. "We match Hillary voters in blue states with third-party voters in swing states to help them trade votes. Hillary gets more swing votes and third-party candidates get their votes counted."
SEE ALSO:Why it's completely legal to trade votes across state linesMashablespoke with Amit Kumar on the phone about the app, which his company Trimian started developing after the Democratic National Convention in late July and officially launched Sept. 12.
"Bringing up a 7-year-old and a 16-month-old [my wife and I] thought that just to be sitting on the sidelines was not an option," he told Mashable. "Unfortunately, living in California we knew our vote wouldn't count for much because it's a pretty blue state. So, we started thinking about what we could do."
Here's how it works: a Clinton supporter from New York and a third-party supporter from Pennsylvania trade votes with each other, so the New York voter votes for Jill Stein or Gary Johnson and the swing state voter votes for Clinton. This, theoretically, ensures Clinton gets more votes where it matters, and third-party supporters still get a vote, seemingly increasing their popular support. And, most importantly, to the app's users, Trump does not win.
And, most importantly, to the app's users, Trump does not win.
Kumar explained to Mashablethat he felt especially passionate about making a real effort to help Clinton win is because he is an immigrant and only got his citizenship several years ago.
Kumar presented his initial thoughts to his friend and entrepreneur Zachary Coelius who came up with the idea to introduce a swing state element into the app.
Kumar's company Trimian already had software developed that they were able to use to put #NeverTrump together quickly. So, just a few weeks after Kumar's inspiration, the app was available for download.
First, #NeverTrump asks for some basic info like your location and name (I gave my dream last name instead of my real one since I was just testing it out, but they encourage users to use their real names).
Credit: #nevertrumpIt asks who you're voting for – and Trump is not an option.
Credit: #NEVERTRUMPAfter creating a login, users can then browse potential matches.
Credit: #nevertrumpAny two people on the app can chat with each other to talk out their trade. The app encourages users to connect with each other via Facebook or LinkedIn to help build trust.
Credit: #NEVERTRUMPKumar said #NeverTrump has about 20,000 users total across both the app and web versions, 8,000 of which are active users who have engaged in chats with others.
"We don't track actual trades, because the app is really a platform for free speech, and we don't want to get into the business of whether or not the trades are really happening," Kumar told Mashable.
Credit: #NEVERTRUMPHowever, #NeverTrump is not the only vote-trading effort. As we recently explained, swapping votes is perfectly legal thanks to the First Amendment, and several other websites are working toward the same cause already exist.
What makes #NeverTrump stand out, however, is that it's available as an easy-to-use app in addition to a website. Being an app opens #NeverTrump up to a wider audience than similar services such as trumptraders.org.
The app works on an honor system – and some Trump supporters have already found ways to take advantage (or so they think) of the app. For example, Twitter user Josh Behrens promises Clinton supporters that if they vote for Stein, he will vote for Clinton – though he's really voting for Trump. However his tactic isn't too effective, as the people he's trolling are just voting for Stein in traditionally blue states, which would most likely not help the state skew red.
Tweet may have been deleted
Others have expressed their admiration for the app.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Some have also questioned its legality.
Tweet may have been deleted
As we explained, vote-trading is legal and protected under the 2007 California appeals court case Porter v. Bowen.
Though the app doesn't have a huge user base, some of the swing states like Florida and Nevada might be swayed with just a few votes – which means the #NeverTrump app could make a real difference on Election Day.
TopicsDonald TrumpElectionsHillary Clinton
(责任编辑:綜合)
Twitter grants everyone access to quality filter for tweet notifications
Apple files a patent for a vaporizer, yep, a vaporizer
Netflix teases a gadget that lets you browse with just your brain
There will be Uber at the Super Bowl — but just barely
Olympic security asks female Iranian fan to drop protest signDog elected for third term as mayor of Minnesota town
Hopefully he has a human chief of staff.
。Duke the Great Pyrenees is the only dog that's ever been el
...[详细]We thought he was kidding: Elon Musk is serious about digging a tunnel from his office
Being stuck in traffic is bad. You start to fantasize about all sorts of things that could stop the
...[详细]Iran born BBC journalist tweets odyssey of going through U.S. airports
A BBC journalist has tweeted his experience of travelling through Los Angeles airport after Donald T
...[详细]Forget Prince George, the Prince of Bhutan is the OG royal baby
Many people might immediately associate the term "royal baby" with the UK's Prince George, but we th
...[详细]Dressage horse dancing to 'Smooth' by Santana wins gold for chillest horse
Okay forget everyone else -- this horse named Lorenzo is our favorite Olympic athlete now.。Lorenzo,
...[详细]Sweden's deputy PM is trolling Trump so hard with this picture
The internet has exploded with memes mocking Donald Trump for signing bills and controversial execut
...[详细]Livestream follows 'GTA' characters around San Andreas
A Twitch stream is following。 Grand Theft Auto V 。NPCs around today as they walk around the streets o
...[详细]Magical fish basically has the power to conjure its own Patronus
LONDON -- There's a reason you never catch Dementors in water, and it's not because they don't like
...[详细]Two states took big steps this week to get rid of the tampon tax
This week was a big one for those advocating against a tampon tax. 。 First, on Thursday, California t
...[详细]'Overwatch' scourge Bastion is finally due for some changes
There's an unspoken rule in Overwatch: Bastion always gets "Play of the Game" honors.The trolliest a
...[详细]