Isn’t It Time for an Online Presidential Primary?

A session at SXSW Interactive 2012

The Presidential Primary system is broken. It’s a hodgepodge of partisan elections that form a strange serpentine journey through the calendar and each state’s public opinion -- always playing to the extremes of the respective parties to capture their “base.” It's also the only system we had to choose presidential candidates. Until now.

Isn’t it time we used the Internet to flatten the playing field? Shouldn’t each voter, from every state, have an equal voice in selecting presidential candidates?

We're creating the vehicle, but it’s up to our Delegates to drive it home. Any registered voter can become an Americans Elect Delegate. And as a Delegate, you'll help craft the rules, shape the debate, and ultimately choose the nominees. Isn’t it time for AmericansElect.org?

About the speakers

This person is speaking at this event.

Kahlil Byrd

CEO, Americans Elect

Kahlil Byrd has dedicated his career to bringing people together through media and political engagement.
After earning his master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2003, Kahlil co-founded and was named executive director of the African Public Broadcasting Foundation (APBF), which works to strengthen public service television throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
He was one of the earliest staffers to join Deval Patrick’s historic 2006 governor’s race in Massachusetts, becoming communications director and senior strategist during the primary, and joining the new governor’s administration after Patrick’s victory. Kahlil has since run or advised Democratic, Independent, and Republican campaigns all over the country. He also served with the Council on Foreign Relations as a Term Member and International Affairs Fellow.
As CEO of Americans Elect, Kahlil helps guide the organization’s development and growth, a $40 million budget, more than 50 company partners, and thousands of volunteers across the country who are dedicating themselves to the effort.

This person is speaking at this event.

Joshua Levine

Chief Technology Officer, Americans Elect

Joshua Levine is the CTO of Americans Elect. He dropped out of college to pursue a career in computing after being introduced to a programming language called APL. A few years later he co-authored a book about APL, published by Prentice-Hall. He spent 15 years at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank, before becoming CTO and head of operations and customer service at E*TRADE. In 2001, he moved E*TRADE to open-source technologies. Josh has received many industry awards, including InfoWorld’s “Top 25 Most Influential CTO’s,” CIO Magazine’s “CIO 100,” CIO Forum’s “Top 20 Financial IT Executives,” a Webby for the best banking and bill pay, and a Stevie for the best technology team. He was also a finalist for the 2009 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. In addition to his role with Americans Elect, he is a board member of DonorsChoose.org, connecting philanthropy and public education through technology, and of NPower, helping nonprofits with affordable IT services.