(This short will feature a bunch of miniatures hopefully using stop motion photography.)

(intro with a twitter bird floating around.)

Welcome to Twitter Vote Report, or TVR for short. We at TVR are here to help document the 2008 elections, provide a tool to report on election problems and when in need, send some help.

Twitter Vote Report is an all volunteer non-partisan internet project. On the tubes, it's called “crowed-sourced.” in short, we are a bunch of people who have been using the internet and thought of a really cool way for us to monitor this historic election.

You can find a complete list of the organizations that are participating at http://TwitterVoteReport.com where you will find downloadable flyers, volunteer kits and stencils for stickers & t-shirts.

In this historic election, we want to make sure everyone has their constitutional right to vote, and that's why we've made connecting to Twitter VoteReport super simple.

There are four ways to connect.

First, via the website Twitter.com.

Second, via SMS short code 66937. that spells out mozes. That's mozes with a “Z.”

Third, you can call 567.258.VOTE. That's 567.258.8683 and leave a short message.

Lastly you can download an iPhone app or an android app. Both are forthcoming, so check out our blog at twittervotereport.com for the most up to date info.

Now let me explain how Twitter Vote Report works.

First, you need a twitter account. Go to twitter.com and create yourself an account. Now let's watch a short video on how twitter works.

(insert a very edited version of “twitter in plain english here”)

For TVR to work we need you to use a special code. On twitter it's call a hashtag, and we need you to use “pound” votereport for us to see your messages.

(show twitter window with “#VoteReport”)

After “pound” VoteReport, tell us about about your voting experience.

The second most important hashtag indicates your zipcode. Let's say you are “scott the barber” and he lives in Dayton, Ohio. His zip code is 45431. for TVR to understand any of his tweets, we need to see a something like this. “#VoteReport everything is ok in #45431”

(show twitter window with “#VoteReport everything is ok in #45431”)

If you are like Scott the barber and enjoy voting early, send us your tweet with the hashtag “pound” early. If you have already voted, feel free to send us a tweet right now. Just like this “#VoteReport everything is #good in #45431 #early”

(show twitter window with “#VoteReport everything is #good in #45431 #early”)

Did you see the “good” tag? Good.

That's just one way to tell Twitter VoteReport how your elections on proceeding.

While most Americans will vote without a problem, it is important to know the following hashtags. We have a list of special tags that we need you to use. With volunteers in every state, we want to make sure everyone can be helped.

Let's go back to Scott, and now it is election day.

Scott is a proud American and lives in a patriotic community. Unlike other years, this morning every one of his neighbors has decided to cast their vote and now there is a two hour line.

Once Scott is done voting, he pulls out his phone and add his wait time to his tweet “#VoteReport everything is #good in #45431 #wait:120”

(show twitter window with “#VoteReport everything is #good in #45431 #wait:120”)

So if you encounter a wait time, send it to us using the hash-tag “pound-wait-colin-time in mins.”

Now, let's say Scott the Barber is having machine issues. For some reason, he can't get that darn old lever down and is now forced to use a provisional ballot. In this situation, Scott sends us the following tweet “#VoteReport #machine in #45431 is broken, using a provisional ballot.”

(show twitter window with “#VoteReport #machine in #45431 is broken, using a provisional ballot.”)

Now let's see what happens when Scott the Barber attempts to vote and does not show up on the election rolls.

(show twitter window with “#VoteReport #reg, apparently i'm not on the rolls in #45431. #wait:45”)

DOH, he's just spent 45 mins waiting in line but he used the right hash-tag - “pound”reg.

(wink)

Now, let's say Scott the Barber is trying to vote and can not. Maybe his signature doesn't match, maybe someone else has voted for him, or maybe some unscrupulous individual is challenging Scott's right to vote. Regardless of the situation, we have volunteers waiting to help. So what does Scott do?

If this an immediate problem, 866-OUR-VOTE. That's 866-687-8683.

He fires off a tweet with the hash-tag “pound” EP and then his state's two letter code. Since he is in ohio is code is “pound” E-P-O-H. If he was in New York, his code would be pound E-P-N-Y. But Scotts tweet should look like “#VoteReport #EPOH i need help in #45431. my vote is being blocked.”

(show twitter window with “#VoteReport #EPOH i need help in #45431. my vote is being blocked.”)

Once Scott's message enters our Database, our friends at Election Protection will ensure that Scott's vote is protected.

(more to come in the morning...)