With Party Conventions in Full Swing, SC-Based Start-Up Social Network Aims To Change Politics As Usual

Polls show that many voters are tired of the polarizing political partisanship, negative campaign ads and government gridlock.  To compound the frustration is a perceived voter inability to learn more about elected officials or to find other voters to have a real discussion or debate with about policy.  Five Greenville natives decided to do something about these concerns and founded Solitical.com to do something about it.

Solitical is social political network that wants to engage users in the political process by increasing their access to political information and sharing their views directly with other voters and to their elected leaders. The site is non-partisan and does not push its own content, believing citizens and voters are the best possible messengers to convey what is important.

“The election process is still driven by the individual vote,” said Steven Whitworth, a co-founder and CEO.  “Although each of the founders have different political viewpoints, we have much in common regarding our hopes and needs for our families, and we don’t see these common views being promoted in today’s political environment. That’s why we’ve been so driven to get this platform up and running.”

Some of Solitical’s layout and features are staples for those who have used social networks in the past.  For example, Solitical allows you to find friends and contacts, upload pictures and video, send messages, and create groups or events.

There are a few important differences for Solitical users, though. For example, you do not have to be a registered member to access the site or its content. Visitors to the site have access to the broad elected officials database Solitical compiled that includes biographical and contact information for local, state, and federal officeholders from all 50 states.  They also have access to the site’s educational information and news, forums, polls, and petition content. Users are encouraged to create smaller groups for an even freer sharing of viewpoints.

Only when visitors decide to engage in a political discussion on Solitical will they need to register. The though, according to Solitical officials, is that registration makes discussion more productive. Jonathan Rath Hoffman, a co-founder and the company’s COO, contends, “Content from a registered member, versus from an anonymous visitor, generally will be more respectful and constructive.” He adds, “We felt anonymous content probably wouldn’t help the discussion in the long run, as anyone who has been on an anonymous message board can tell you.”

The site does offer a limited outlet for members to anonymously blow off steam on given topics, though.  In the “Boiler Room” area, the hope is that sometimes frank and forceful comments can create more dialogue on important issues.

Solitical also offers some innovative new features for users. The “Solitical Pulse” filters millions of tweets each day for politically relevant content tied to politicians and trending political topics.  It then displays those in terms of person, topic, geography, volume, and sentiment.

For members, Solitical implemented a “Debate It” feature that allows members to schedule live video debates with one another, with other members watching, commenting, and voting in real time.

The site’s local politician database is a core feature. The company believes this local level data is a game changing resource for visitors and members. Hoffman says, “The ability of a member to easily identify, track and communicate with their local elected officials is a big step forward for democracy. We are growing the ability of voters to directly manage their own elected officials in real time.”

The founders also believe Solitical could ultimately be a place for voters, without the resources of political parties or financial backers to launch and direct populist campaigns in the future. Whitworth noted, “Candidates are sometimes chosen in non-representative ways, and then voters have to choose from a limited field. Solitical can help level that playing field by bringing the voters together with each other and with their candidates to cultivate a base that could win an election.”

Whitworth points out that there is more to come.  “In the future there are incredible things we have planned as the site continues to grow.””

Given the focus on active local politics, it is no surprise that the start-up has its roots firmly in Greenville rather than California. Time will tell, but Solitical’s founders are betting that people are ready for a different kind of politics and are prepared to take the reins.

• Visit Solitical Online at solitical.com.