Everyone said this election would be different.
While nobody suggested that the Internet would replace shoe-leather campaigning, leaflets and hustings, it has played an important part.
Perhaps most noticeably in the last few hours has been the speed at which information concerning election results has been passed around the country. I am currently at the count for Bristol West, where Lib Dem Stephen Williams, Conservative Nick Yarker, Labour candidate Paul Smith and comedian Mark Thomas (of Mark Thomas Comedy Product fame – sponsoring The People’s Manifesto), as well as dozens of officials and aides are constantly glancing down at iPhones and Blackberrys to receive the latest results.
Sky News have developed an excellent iPhone app that relays results in real time – although its popularity has caused it to stall or crash several times already.
This level of accessibility will certainly benefit voter turnout.