New App Allows Virgin Islanders To Track Legislative Actions, Rate Elected Officials

ST. CROIX — An innovate, new application, created by young Virgin Islands entrepreneurs is now available; allowing Virgin Islands residents to track and rate legislative actions, as well as track and rate elected/potential representatives. Politracker, by Forward Thinker LLC., was launched on April, 11th 2018.

According to the Forward Thinker LLC. representative who spoke with the Consortium, Politracker’s purpose is to give citizens of the Virgin Islands the opportunity to hold their elected representatives accountable based on the legislation they write and/or propose. The app allows users to view the actions of each individual senator—such as whether they voted ‘non-vote’, absent, ‘yes’ or ‘no’, or whether they decided not to vote.

The representative also noted the app’s uniqueness, stating that it brings information to the fingertips of all Virgin Islanders.

“Anyone with a smartphone can now see each vote that the senators may vote and each bill without having to physically call and go into the legislature to obtain the information,” said the rep. Politracker brings a level of convenience that was once lacking in the territory—this is because while the same information is available to the public from the V.I. Legislature, it is only available in print form, where citizens have to request copies; i.e. the information is not available digitally anywhere else.

Forward Thinker LLC.’s representative added that the intention of the app is to get citizens, especially the younger community to become more involved and informed in the politics of the Virgin Islands. The company hopes that the app will be beneficial in helping to change the productivity that citizens get out of politicians.

One of the features of the app is a tab function titled ‘Elections 2018’, which will allow users to view and compare all of the electoral candidates’ of the 2018 V.I. elections—whether senatorial, gubernatorial, or congressional—plans for moving the territory forward. This, as well as other features within the app allows the candidates to list their platforms/ plans on an accessible, designated tool.

The app is free to download and use, generating its income from the fee charged to the candidates for posting their platforms/agenda. It offers a user friendly and responsive app available on Android and iOS operating systems. Links to downloading the app can also be accessed through www.politrackervi.com.