Google launches new features to help locate nearest voting locations

Details on in-person voting or returning mail-in ballots can be found under searches with "early voting locations" or “ballot drop boxes near me”.

Voters wait in line to enter a polling place and cast their ballots on the first day of the state's in-person early voting for the general elections in Durham, North Carolina, US October 15, 2020. (REUTERS)

Alphabet Inc's Google said on Friday it was introducing new features across its search engine, Maps and voice assistant to help voters in the United States find their nearest voting locations.

Details on in-person voting or returning mail-in ballots can be found under searches with "early voting locations" or "ballot drop boxes near me," Google said in a blog post, adding the data was pulled from a joint project between state election officials and non-partisan, non-profit civic group Democracy Works.

Google said its voice assistant would also share details on where to vote nearby, if prompted with the question, while Google Maps would provide directions and voting hours for the locations.

Google has also added some new features like “Hum to search” and announced improved search results for misspelled queries during its “Search On” event. Now, you can hum a song for 10-15 seconds and Google Search will pull up results that sound closest to it. 

The new features are going to roll out across iOS and Android over the next few weeks.