Voting Time - How do you research minor ballot initiatives and candidates?

[BaldingStoic]

Hello Fellow Mustachians.  What sources do you use to research minor ballot initiatives and candidates?  I've got my ballot in front of me and am all set on my choices for the prominent positions ( Governor, Congressional reps, etc.) But when it comes to judicial candidates, School Board reps, and local propositions I don't have a good resource for information; Google isn't providing many solid sources.  I've checked out http://www.lwv.org and http://www.lwvsandiego.org (since I'm in San Diego).  Both are good high-level sources for info but not granular enough.  What sources and methods do you use?

[VirginiaBob]

Most on these boards just look for the "D" next to the candidates name - all the research they need.  Lol!

[seattlecyclone]

In Washington they mail out a handy pamphlet where each candidate gets a half page of text to make their case. I find that very useful. It's hard to verify if they actually mean what they say, but it's a start. I also use local newspaper endorsements as a guide; even if I often disagree with what the paper recommends it's useful to see their reasoning.

[BaldingStoic]

Most on these boards just look for the "D" next to the candidates name - all the research they need.  Lol!

Lol, Guilty as charged.  I'm a fiscal conservative...but I'm scared that if I vote for the "R" I might be electing a pollution spewing social conservative homophobe.  However, voting straight Democratic feels like a cop-out, need a more nuanced approach so I can elect capable moderates on both sides of the aisle. 

[Chranstronaut]

I've used E The People before for some quick summaries.  You have to find your local media outlet link on the homepage and then go to their website to actually use the tool.  It's reminiscent of the Washington State voter's guide, but they have it for other areas as well. 

http://ethepeople.org/

[Roots&Wings]

Bing's "My Ballot" has been helpful for me. 

I signed up for Bing search rewards last month based on a referral from this forum, and have been impressed by their "My Ballot" search feature for recent election coverage. Had information even about the obscure school board candidates that I could find nothing about on google!

[PeachFuzzInVA]

I just vote for whatever is going to have the government the least involved in our every day lives.

[NoraLenderbee]

I look at web sites for some organizations I support, or that synch with my values, and see who they endorsed (and why). For example, the local chapter of Planned Parenthood posted their endorsements for local and state races.

[clarkm04]

League of Women's Voters usually has good material.

I go to the candidates' websites or Facebook pages.

Look at the paper's endorsements and their analysis.

I definitely do more research than I need to.  I'm very liberal in a deeply conservative state, so many Republican candidates have a Tea Party platform, but I was hammered growing up by my parents of being an educated voter so I pretty much know exactly why I'm voting for or against a particular candidate or issue.

[MDM]

Hello Fellow Mustachians.  What sources do you use to research minor ballot initiatives and candidates?  I've got my ballot in front of me and am all set on my choices for the prominent positions ( Governor, Congressional reps, etc.) But when it comes to judicial candidates, School Board reps, and local propositions I don't have a good resource for information; Google isn't providing many solid sources.  I've checked out http://www.lwv.org and http://www.lwvsandiego.org (since I'm in San Diego).  Both are good high-level sources for info but not granular enough.  What sources and methods do you use?

When you mention www.lwv.org, did you click through to http://www.vote411.org/, then enter your address and click through to see all the competitive races on your ballot?  That's the best generic source I know of.  It does much better comparing candidate views vs. pro/con ballot initiatives.

[Sylly]

LAO summary and writeup for initiatives.

Candidate statements, websites, and Google for individual races.

For minor/local races, Googling the individuals' names or the name of the race will sometimes lead you to local newspaper articles.

[VirginiaBob]

League of Women's Voters usually has good material.

If that is your source, might as well go to post #2 and save yourself a lot of time. 

[Paul der Krake]

NC voters: http://ncvoterguide.org/
Brought to you by the local PBS station and the a local voter education group.

[surfhb]

Ahh....voting season.    Cheaper gas!   Yay!

[MDM]

League of Women's Voters usually has good material.

If that is your source, might as well go to post #2 and save yourself a lot of time.

Regardless of how LWV members themselves may tend to vote, http://www.vote411.org/ is sponsored by LWV but contains unedited responses directly from the candidates.  Depends on what one means by "source".

[highcountry]

For judges, I look up what year they were first appointed, and check who was governor that year.
 For school boards, city council stuff, etc. it really depends where you are. The town I lived in for the last ten years has a phenomenal local paper, so I got my info on everyone there. The town I live jn now is where I grew up, and my family was involved in politics. I recognize enough names that I can sort it out just from the endorsements.

[randymarsh]

League of Women's Voters usually has good material.

If that is your source, might as well go to post #2 and save yourself a lot of time.

Do you have anything constructive to add to this thread or are you going to grind your axe some more? I think we could all do without your snide comments in this thread.

[VirginiaBob]

League of Women's Voters usually has good material.

If that is your source, might as well go to post #2 and save yourself a lot of time.

Regardless of how LWV members themselves may tend to vote, http://www.vote411.org/ is sponsored by LWV but contains unedited responses directly from the candidates.  Depends on what one means by "source".

I checked out the link, and I stand corrected - not as biased as expected.  Still some bias in the questions asked to the candidates, but not too bad.

[VirginiaBob]

League of Women's Voters usually has good material.

If that is your source, might as well go to post #2 and save yourself a lot of time.

Do you have anything constructive to add to this thread or are you going to grind your axe some more? I think we could all do without your snide comments in this thread.

You have got to be kidding, right? If I didn't make my comments, we might not have learned about the valuable link that MDM posted. Way more valuable than anything you brought to the thread.