For the GOP presidential candidate the invitation was a subtle reassurance that he was futuristic and not too old to be president. But more important for electoral politics, Dole's announcement was a symbol of the Internet expanding role in the American electoral process. Dole's act was only one sign that 1996 was an important milestone for the Internet as an election information tool.

Election-related sites multiplied throughout the year, representing parties, interest groups, the media, and voter educational organizations. Political parties developed their own sites--at the national, state, and local levels. The two national major party sites offered users dynamic graphics, clips of speeches and/or advertisements, as well as the texts of press releases, convention speeches, and other news of party events. Their state affiliates also created separate Web sites. These sites informed voters of their party's candidates in the state, usually through links to home pages of candidates. But they also served internal purposes.

They were designed to unify and mobilize party supporters. The Louisiana Democratic Party site featured a chat group and offered assistance on how to obtain an absentee ballot. The Colorado Republican Party site told users, likely those who were already activists, about upcoming party activities. Even local party organizations provided their own online messages.

The Arlington County Republicans featured information on active candidates in the county for whom users could volunteer. Near the end of the campaign, the Grand Prairie Democrats' site listed polling places to encourage local Democrats to vote. National minor party sites flourished. The Reform Party offered a site where voters could learn about the party's principles, news, and activities. Other parties did similarly, such as the Natural Law Party, the Libertarian Party, and the U.S. Taxpayers Party. Some minor parties even sponsored state or local sites as well. The site for the Green Party of Brooklyn, for example, explained what the Green Party stood for and listed upcoming campaign-related events. Interest groups even created election-related Web pages.