Stears Elections
In many emerging economies, elections are pivotal moments that shape governance, stability, and market direction. Yet, election data is often fragmented, delayed, or politicised, leaving decision-makers to navigate uncertainty. Inspired by the Associated Press election tool in the U.S., Stears Elections was created to bring real-time, credible election monitoring to Africa—an approach that can serve as a model for other emerging democracies facing similar challenges.
Client
Stears
Industry
Data, Media and AI
Scope
Year
2023
Unreliable election reporting undermines trust and hinders investment. In contexts where political transitions directly affect economic outcomes, the absence of accurate, timely, and transparent data makes it difficult for policymakers, investors, and citizens to make informed decisions.
Stears Elections is a real-time election tracking and prediction platform designed for Africa. It publishes live results, voter turnout, and demographics, while leveraging AI and machine learning to forecast possible outcomes. By combining speed with credibility, it offers emerging markets a blueprint for transparent, data-first election monitoring.
We started with a simple results feed, but quickly realised users needed more than raw numbers; they needed insights and foresight. Through iterations, we designed: 1. Interactive dashboards with maps, turnout trends, and candidate performance history in previous elections. 2. Predictive models visualised alongside live results to help users anticipate outcomes. 3. Mobile-first interfaces, integrated into the mobile app, knowing that much of the African audience primarily uses mobile devices. Each iteration focused on making data accessible, trustworthy, and engaging.
Stears Elections became a reference point for elections, profiled by CNN for its credibility and innovation. Investors and policymakers used it to make informed, timely decisions. Citizens found it to be a trusted source of election insights, helping reduce reliance on rumour or partisan reporting. The platform reshaped how election data was consumed in Africa.
1. Credibility: Neutrality was critical in a politically charged space. We used verified regulatory data, independent observers, and transparent methodology. In some remote locations, we commissioned election-monitoring agents for data collection 2. Scale: Election data is massive and fast-changing. We built scalable pipelines that updated dashboards in real time under heavy traffic from end users interested in data access 3. Bias Concerns: Predictions could be misinterpreted as partisan. We made AI predictions explainable, showing the data behind every model output.
Designing Stears Elections demonstrated how thoughtful product design can influence governance and stability at scale. Next, we plan to expand coverage across more African nations, refine predictive models, and deepen global partnerships to position Stears Elections as the gold standard for African election monitoring.
In emerging markets, politics and economics are inseparable. By making election data transparent and predictive, Stears Elections helps stabilize uncertainty, informs global and local investment, and strengthens democratic trust. It demonstrates how technology can give emerging economies the tools to match global standards of credibility and insight.
