As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, staying informed in real-time has never been more important. Whether you’re following the race for the White House or watching results come in for local and state elections, Apple’s Live Activity feature on iPhone is one of the best ways to get up-to-date, real-time election results directly from your phone. In this article, we will explain how to use Apple’s Live Activity to track the 2024 election results and how this new feature enhances your experience on Election Day.
What is Apple’s Live Activity?
Apple introduced the Live Activity feature with iOS 16 to offer users the ability to track real-time events and updates directly from their lock screen, the Home screen, or through the dynamic island on newer iPhone models. Live Activities allow apps to push real-time information without requiring users to constantly open the app. Instead, you can see dynamic updates on your phone’s display as things happen in real-time—whether it’s tracking a sports game, following a flight, or monitoring live election results.
Live Activity integrates seamlessly with various third-party apps, allowing users to stay informed about ongoing events with minimal effort. For Election Day 2024, this feature is particularly useful for keeping track of results as they come in across states, counties, and districts. If you’re someone who prefers not to refresh webpages constantly or spend time in front of the TV, Live Activity provides a convenient and efficient way to stay updated on the go.
How to Use Apple’s Live Activity for Election Day Results
On Election Day, several apps will provide live election coverage that integrates with Apple’s Live Activity. These apps include major news outlets, social media platforms, and dedicated election result trackers. Setting up Live Activity on your iPhone to track the election results is simple and straightforward.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using Live Activity on iPhone
- Ensure Your iPhone is Updated
To use the Live Activity feature, ensure that your iPhone is running iOS 16 or later. If you haven’t updated your device recently, go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for the latest version of iOS. - Enable Notifications for Relevant Apps
To receive live updates, you need to allow notifications from news and election-tracking apps. You can adjust these settings by going to Settings > Notifications and selecting the app you’ll use to follow the election results.- Apple News – Apple’s own news app often provides up-to-the-minute coverage on major events like elections, complete with live updates displayed on your screen.
- CNN, NBC News, and The New York Times – These major news outlets have apps that integrate with Live Activity, offering real-time election results directly on your phone.
- AP Election Results – A dedicated app from the Associated Press that offers the latest election updates, including live voting counts and key race projections.
- FiveThirtyEight – For a data-driven perspective, this app gives comprehensive polling data and election forecasts.Track Results from the Lock Screen
Once you’ve installed the relevant app and enabled notifications, Election Day results will appear on your lock screen in real-time. Whether it’s state-by-state projections, the total electoral vote count, or live updates from battleground states, you’ll be able to monitor election results without unlocking your device or opening an app.
- Interact with Live Activity Updates
On the iPhone 14 Pro models and later, the Dynamic Island feature integrates Live Activities directly into the top of the screen, giving you a live status on the election results in a compact, always-visible format. If you have an iPhone 12 or later, you can see results displayed right on the lock screen or as widgets on your Home screen. - Keep Track of Important Races
In addition to tracking the presidential race, Live Activity allows you to follow Senate, House, gubernatorial, and local election results. Many apps provide options to customize which races you want to follow closely, ensuring you never miss a key update.
Why Use Live Activity for Election Day?
Apple’s Live Activity feature offers several benefits for users who want real-time updates without constantly checking different sources for information. Here are some of the key reasons to use this feature on Election Day:
1. Real-Time Updates Without the Hassle
Gone are the days of manually refreshing websites or switching between apps. With Live Activity, your iPhone’s lock screen or Dynamic Island shows updates automatically, so you can focus on other tasks while still keeping tabs on the election results. Whether you’re out running errands or watching a show, you won’t miss important updates.
2. Convenient for Multitasking
The real-time information provided by Live Activity allows users to multitask more effectively. You can continue working, socializing, or running errands while the election results update in the background. You don’t need to have a dedicated window open, constantly refreshing to see the latest numbers. The app’s updates will come to you in a non-intrusive way.
3. Stay Informed on the Go
Election results can change quickly, and it’s essential to stay updated as events unfold. Live Activity helps you keep track of critical data even when you’re on the move. If you’re commuting, exercising, or doing something else, you can keep your phone locked, but still be informed on the results in real-time.
4. Focused Election Coverage
Live Activity provides focused and targeted updates without the clutter of non-relevant information. Unlike traditional social media feeds or websites, where distractions are common, apps supporting Live Activity display only the information you need — specific election results and projections.
5. Customizable Alerts
Many election-tracking apps allow you to customize alerts, so you can choose to be notified about specific races, key states, or live updates related to the overall election outcome. This means you don’t have to follow every single detail if you’re only interested in particular areas.
Conclusion
Apple’s Live Activity is an incredibly convenient tool for tracking real-time events, and on Election Day 2024, it can be your go-to source for staying informed. With election results displayed on your iPhone’s lock screen or in the Dynamic Island, you can easily follow the latest updates on the presidential race, state elections, and more without interrupting your day. Whether you’re at home, at work, or on the move, Apple’s Live Activity feature ensures you won’t miss a moment of the action on Election Day.