Orkut launches community for Lok Sabha 2009 elections

Google-owned social networking site Orkut has launched an ‘official’ community, The Voice of Youth, at Orkut.co.in/LokSabha2009, where users can express their opinion and find out what others are thinking about during the current Lok Sabha 2009 elections.

The Voice of Youth community is currently running polls on a number of elections related questions from voting and politicians to issues of local and national relevance. According to Google India, the poll results will be available in real time and would be visible once a user has answered the question. The community will also have chat rooms dedicated to every state where people will be able to debate issues specific to that particular state.

“Social networks have become a mirror of the real world -- and this community will reflect what is important to all of us and will help highlight the voice of the nation,” Vihari Komaragiri, product manager, Google India, has said. “In this election, more than in any previous one, young people are going to make a difference -- either by voting in more numbers or by getting engaged in the democratic process. And internet is providing them a powerful platform to do just that.”