Google puts real-time election results directly into search

Chord cutters will be able to live stream news from NBC, PBS and others on YouTube

If you're anything like me, then you're going to be glued to the television tomorrow noght, waiting for the election results to come in. It's going to be a stressful night, no matter what side of the aisle you're on.

What about the chord-cutters, though? That ever growing group of people who have given up on cable in favor of watching everything online. Where will they get their results? You can't live stream the news on Hulu.

Google and YouTube have got them covered, as it was announced on Monday that Google will be integrating election results into Google searches, and providing live streaming options on YouTube.

The search results will be available in 30 different languages, and it won't be only the national or state-wide results, but Congressional and Gubernatorial too. Users can even look up state-level referenda and ballot proposition results. That's information that you definitely aren't going to get by just watching the news. (I will be looking out for the results for cannabis reform throughout the country)

For those who still want to watch the news broadcasts, but don't have accress YouTube will be live streaming election coverage from a variety of news sources, including NBC, PBS, MTV, Bloomberg, Telemundo and The Young Turks. There will be also be live coverage from Complex News, during what it is calling a "special election event from YouTube Space NY."

I can already tell what my night will look like on Tuesday: I'll have MSNBC on in the background, as I continually refresh Google's more specific election results regarding the senate races around the country. I won't be able to sleep until the final results, which I hope come early. 

I might also have a bottle of booze next to me, just in case things start heading south. Take a shot every time Donald Trump wins a state! 

Google and YouTube’s get out the vote effort

In addition to keeping people informed, Google and YouTube have been among the numerous tech companies helping drive voter turnout this election season.

Over the summer, Google launched a new search feature that gave users more information about how to register, including requirements and deadlines, when they typed in "register to vote." Information also included how to vote, who is on the ballot, and how to find a local polling place.

It also provided more information about the National Conventions over the summer. When a user would search for it, including a summary of the event, information about the nominee, and a list of speakers, alongside related social media posts and a YouTube live stream video.

Google actually released an interesting stat about those improved search features on Monday: as a result, the number of people who searched for "how to vote" rose 233 percent over 2012, so the feature certainly seems to have done its job. 

In September, YouTube unveiled its own get out the vote campaign, called #voteIRL. The company partnered with its creator community, including Bethany Mota, Hannah Hart, Kingsley, and Hank Green, who encourage their viewers to register and vote. 

The site also put registration reminders on its homepage, watch page, and search results page on September 27, Voter Registration Day, along with voting reminder PSAs, starring President Obama, among others. 

Other companies that have made similar efforts to increase voter turnout include Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Tinder.

(Image source: blog.google)