The General Services Administration’s 18F organization has collaborated with the Federal Election Commission to incorporate new tools to FEC’s legacy website designed to help users access and explore finance data related to political campaigns.Leah Bannon and Noah Manger wrote in a blog entry published Tuesday that 18F and FEC used a user-centered design approach and agile methods as well as launched an application programming interface in order to introduce new functions to the beta version of fec.gov.
Some of these tools include a calendar of FEC deadlines and election dates, additional datasets for expenditures and a collection of guides to help users create groups and register their candidacy.
Bannon and Manger noted that FEC and 18F adopted several tools and methods in order to collaborate and design the website’s beta version.
These include the use of a story mapping technique, digital sticky note platforms and video calls to organize ideas as well as management of GitHub issues through Kanban boards to monitor feedback and developments.
Manger and Bannon added that both agencies also plan to introduce new features to beta.fec.gov, such as interactive graphics and charts designed to help users understand campaign finance data as well as new functions that seek to facilitate access to FEC’s legal resources.
