• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, September 19, 2012

Nearly half (49%) of smartphone and tablet owners aged 18 to 34 are using apps more to follow the presidential election than four years ago, according to a new survey. Forty-one percent of device owners are getting more information about the election via apps, browsing blogs, and social media than in 2008.

What’s more, 60% said they would cast their vote via mobile app or text message if they could do so without concern about fraud. There’s not an app for that.

The study, commissioned by mobile news and entertainment app Stitcher and conducted by Harris Interactive, also found 38% of Democrats using smartphones or tablets get the majority of their political news from these devices compared to 25% of their Republican counterparts.

The findings were based on an August survey of 2,129 U.S. adults, among whom 1,024 were smartphone/tablet users. A separate study by mobile marketing firm Velti this summerg indicated President Obama was winning the “smartphone vote” by 49% to 31% over Mitt Romney.