I just helped a friend research their local election, and it occurred to me some of this advice might be more broadly useful, for voters who aren't sure how to do that kind of research or who need to find ways to make it fast. So, let's do a thread. (1/14)
Your local board of elections or the secretary of state should be your first stop, to make sure your registration is as you expect. Google "Whatever County Board of Elections" to get started with that. (2/14)
There is always a web site -- it could be county-based, it could be state-based -- that will show your registration. This will also show your polling place and your voting record, and you will generally be able to download a sample ballot. (3/14)
Once you have the sample ballot, a good place to start researching what you don't know yet is your local League of Women Voters (@LWV ), who publishes excellent non-partisan guides to every election. Often, you can even contact them with questions. (4/14)
If you don't want to vote a straight party ticket -- and I have rarely wanted to vote one, myself -- google each candidate. They'll have web sites and social media and such, and those will be informative. (5/14)
If those are not obviously informative enough for you, think of 2 organizations with which you disagree, and 2 with which you agree, and check to see if any of those have endorsed the candidate you're researching. (6/14)
Looking at endorsements is, I feel, especially important to do when we're talking local races, and races for things like "judge" or "commissioner" etc.
Looking at them on social media is also very telling, in this day and age. (7/14)
Looking at them on social media is also very telling, in this day and age. (7/14)
When it comes to researching local issues and measures and such, again, I suggest starting back at the @LWV writeups. Even if those summaries aren't enough to make up your mind, they'll tell you what else to google to drill down to a decision. (8/14)
Researching local tax levies and bond measures and things like that: here too, I find it's often informative to see what candidates or presently elected officials favor or don't favor things. For instance, if a local extremist says we don't need fire engines replaced, why? (9/14)
Other things to research: where your polling place is, and what, if any, early or absentee voting options you may have. This can make all the difference when it comes to getting to the polls. (10/14)
Instead of trying to squeeze it in after work at your 9 to 5 and getting screwed by bad traffic or something, you might be able to placidly vote on a Saturday afternoon at your county board of elections, with no lines or delays. (11)/14
Some special elections may require you to be registered with a party affiliation in order to participate, or may have different ballots depending on stated party affiliation. This is good to know at least 2 months before an election, in case you want to change. (12/14)
I think that's the major stuff, but if you've been tentative about whether you know what you need to know in order to feel good about your vote, I hope this has been some help! Also, don't be afraid to reach out to the county party you belong to, and ask if they have guides. (13)
If you are young, or recently eligible to vote and haven't done it often, or ever, don't let it scare you! There are always organizations and groups who really want to see you vote and will work to make it happen. I mean, there are others who don't, but screw them. ;-) (14/14)
Oh yeah also, this thread is dedicated to my great-grandmother May Goldsmith, who was president of her women's suffrage league in 1914 and 1915. Thank you, May. It hasn't even been a hundred years yet for the most privileged of us, less for some, and we'll keep fighting & voting.
