2 weeks Ago By Omair Pall
To help iPhone users stay informed during the 2024 US elections, Apple has introduced a new feature in Apple News, a real-time election update widget. Announced on Tuesday, the widget makes it easier to track election results, breaking news, and updates on candidates, all from your home screen. Available to iOS 17 and later users, the widget automatically updates as news breaks, keeping users informed about everything from national race predictions to voting trends in key battleground states.
It even allows you to customize the size and position of the widget, ensuring you can keep up with election news without disrupting your normal phone activities. if you have an iPhone open Apple News search “election” tap ‘Follow Live’ you’ll see live election results on the top of your phone + lock screen pic.twitter.
com/yLBTb3aWvK — Sam Sheffer (@samsheffer) November 6, 2024 Stay Informed with Ease This widget works in tandem with Apple’s *Live Activities* feature, which was originally introduced to provide live updates for events like music playback, sports scores, and phone calls. Now, as the 2024 US elections unfold, *Live Activities* is expanding to offer live updates on election results. To activate the feature, simply open the Apple News app, and look for the "Follow the 2024 election live" banner.
With just a tap, the live updates are switched on, and you'll begin receiving real-time notifications straight to your device. If you decide you no longer want updates, another tap on the banner will deactivate the feature. The updates aren’t just limited to iPhones and iPads—Apple Watch users can access them as well, making it easy to track election news on the go.
If you have a device with the Dynamic Island, you'll also get a more immersive and interactive experience as results come in. If yall download the news app on your iPhone and click the following button you can see the election on your phone’s banner instead of being stuck to a page or a screen. They give you updates as the election is called.
pic.twitter.com/TPmT53mXGJ — lex🤠 (@GoldenLexis) November 6, 2024 Why It Matters With the 2024 election expected to be a highly consequential event, it’s important to have a simple way to stay updated amid the constant flow of information.
The new widget helps users avoid sifting through fragmented news sources and instead offers a streamlined, easy-to-read way to follow key election developments. In a time when misinformation can spread quickly, this feature allows users to access verified, up-to-date information without the noise of sensationalized coverage. By providing factual, live updates, Apple’s Live Activities feature gives users a neutral, direct way to track election progress as it happens, without being overwhelmed by media hype or partisan commentary.
While it’s unclear how long Apple News will continue offering updates after Election Day, the feature will likely remain active until results are finalized. With some races potentially taking days to call, the 2024 election is a crucial test for how well Apple’s real-time update feature performs over time. For iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users, this new election tracking tool offers a practical way to stay informed on one of the year’s most important political events.
As the election progresses, it will be interesting to see how this feature shapes the way we engage with live, real-time political coverage in the future. SEE ALSO: Google Accelerates Android 16 Rollout; Early 2025 Release Aims To Align With Pixel 10 Launch.
