Mobile Applications in Electoral Communication

Abstract

By rapid growth of number of mobile devices users and the expansion of devices’ technical possibilities year after year mobile applications are becoming more and more widely used political communication tool, especially during electoral campaigns. Mobile applications as well as many other information and communication technology innovations for political purposes were first used in the U.S. but rapidly spread to other parts of the world including Lithuania. The article discusses the possibilities of mobile applications in political communication processes; as well practical examples of their exploitation in electoral campaigns are being analyzed. This paper defines the general characteristics of mobile applications and their basic properties, discusses mobile applications benefits in politics and elections. It also discusses in detail the examples of first use of mobile applications during election campaigns in English-speaking countries and Lithuania.