Project Vote Smart Offers Voters Objective Information on Candidates

Less than 10% of voters feel that Congress is doing it’s job yet 92% of incumbents are re-elected! With that kind of score we can only blame ourselves for the dysfunctional and  paralyzed  government in Washington. We are too easily manipulated by attack ads, negative campaigning and flashy campaign brochures. Promises of reform, shrinking the bureaucracy, reducing taxes and the all time favorite “job creation” are quickly forgotten once elected.

When you cast your vote, do you really know the candidates stance on important issues such as abortion, the environment, immigration, education, the economy, gun laws? Or do you vote the party line?  Do you know their voting record? Do they support mostly liberal issues or conservative issues? Do they agree with you on these major issues? Where does their campaign money come from? Are they part of the problem or part of the solution?

It’s not easy to sift through all the smoke and mirrors of political rhetoric to find the truth about a candidate. However, help is available. Voters have an objective resource online to answer questions about the election and candidates: Project Vote Smart.

Vote Smart is a  non-partisan, non-profit, national volunteer educational organization that collects and analyzes data such as candidate speeches, voting records, printed statements, funding and even invites candidates to complete a “political courage test” detailing their views on the big issues. The website of Project Vote Smart contains lots of facts and research that will help you objectively determine who to support in the election. Founding Board Members included Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, John McCain, Michael Dukakis and others from both sides of the aisle. A national newspaper states  Vote Smart “may be the most useful voter information project in the country.” USA Today says it is “heaven for political junkies.” If you are a concerned voter and want the truth, it’s one of the best resources around.

When you go to votesmart.org you'll see the main search bar front-and-center, so you can find your elected officials and those wishing to replace them – fast – just by entering in your zip code or mailing address. “Or if you've heard about someone or something in the news and want to do some research, you can type in a representative's name, or even a keyword, and find out everything you wanted to know and more” (project votesmart web site).

All of the candidates have been or will be invited to complete Vote Smart’s “Political Courage Test.”  The test is  non-partisan and candidates receive a score based on completing the questions not on the answers they give. I.E. to what degree are they willing to take a stand on the issues? If your candidate has not completed it, ask them why. The next Manchester Review blog will address the Political Courage Test and challenge our candidates to get some courage and complete it.

If you check out Vote Smart, Manchester Review is interested in hearing from you. Comments and questions can be sent to manchesterreview@gmail.com.