LANSING – Gongwer News Service/Michigan Report’s 2018 Michigan Elections app puts our one-of-a-kind candidate database to work in an easy-to-access portable format.

Here’s how the app can help Gongwer subscribers.

Q: What’s unique about the app?

A: With the app, the wealth of information in Gongwer’s elections database is at users’ fingertips. As candidates continue to file or withdraw up until the April 24 filing deadline, users of Gongwer’s app can track new candidates for state and federal offices, and the app will alert users to updated content.

The app also puts to use the Gongwer staff’s research into state and federal elections. We’ll let you know what our staff’s sense is of the state of play in the race.

Its native format means ideal functionality for your device, whether you use iOS or Android. It

Q: Does the information in the app stay current?

A: Yes! We are constantly updating the information in the app, whether that is new candidates, endorsements the candidates are receiving, new biographical information the candidates submit, a change in the nature of a race that warrants revised analysis, and much more.

Q: Trying to keep up with all these new candidates for the House is a chore. How will this app help me sort them out?

A: Indeed, there could be more than 400 candidates for the House this year. Our app will have biographical information on every serious candidate – where they’ve worked, their education, previous elected office held and political activity. And then by using the analysis feature, we’ll give users a sense of who appear to be the serious player or players in each race.

Q: What else can I expect?

A: One of the most popular features is live election results on the nights of the August primary and November general election. Looking for the Twitter and Facebook pages of the candidates? Users can find them on each candidate’s page. Keep tabs on what organizations have endorsed the candidates. There’s links to the candidates’ campaign finance records. Overall, the 2018 Michigan Elections app provides information in one setting available nowhere else.

Users of the iPhone and iPad can download the iOS version from the App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/2018-michigan-elections/id1338473494?mt=8.

Users of Android devices can download the app from Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gongwer.mi2018.

The app is available for download for $4.99.