Voting and researching a candidate.

[Darius11 12]

There is an election in RI and I am not very well informed on who stands for what.
Just thinking about this election has made me realize how difficult it is to make a well-informed decision in any election.

Off course this would not be an issue if I was a full time historian or politician, but for the average person it takes an impossible amount of time to research the voting record (not to hard), and understand what they voted on. Understanding bill and new laws is pretty confusing.

I believe we will also agree that most media out lets are bias and also not very well informed.

So what must one do to be an informed voter?

Is there a way to get accurate information that will not take months of reading?

How do you get passed all the BS?

How do we research a candidate and find what they really stand for?




As a new US citizen I intend on using my right to vote on every occasion possible, but I want to make an informed decision and would appreciate any help.



I ask that this thread be free of wise ass remarks on both sides so maybe we all can use the suggestion on here to become better more informed voters.

I thank you all in advance.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[juanesky 0]

I would adivice to check in here this page contains at least all the names. Did you register? If not you should call the board of canvassers near your area, here is the webpage

Make sure you know the location where you vote....

Edited to C.SP.

"According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon

[Darius11 12]

Hey Dude thank you.

Yes i am registerd.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[juanesky 0]

No problem, happy voting, and if you are not in the state the day of the elections, you need to register as an absentee through your local Board of Canavasses.

"According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon

[rehmwa 2]

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So what must one do to be an informed voter?

pull the little party level labeled democrat - it's really good vs evil at this point

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[SpeedRacer 1]

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So what must one do to be an informed voter?

pull the little party level labeled democrat - it's really good vs evil at this point

Not sure its that simple. I have usually leaned towards Democrat, but it just isn't that simple anymore. I disagree with some Democrats as much as Republicans now.

fuckin' Republicrats.

(I think at one point in the past there was a party called the Democrat-Republican party. Maybe that's happening again.)

Speed Racer
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[kelpdiver 2]

on a constant basis, when a significant bill is voted on, local newspapers tend to report on what the local legislators did. If not, it's worth encouraging any paper you subscribe to to do so. For Rhode Island it's easy - only 3 people to cover. Makes a good Sunday section.

Various interest groups have their report cards on voting behavior. Picks ones you like and see how they report on the incumbents. If there are hot issues there to you, then compare to the replacement candidate.

For me, sadly, I don't think I've ever been in a district where one party isn't guaranteed 70% of the vote (Orange County, then Bay Area), so it's been hard on the House side for me to care. Senate hasn't been much better with Boxer getting the benefit of total nutcases from the GOP challenging her.

[wmw999 2,461]

One place that you can go for side-by-side information is the League of Women Voters. They have an Election '06 pull down (that's the Rhode Island site I linked) that gives some interviews with the candidates, positions they wrote themselves, and the like.

It's by no means perfect, and if they're like the Texas ones, they try not to insert themselves into the answers. But if they come up with questions that seem to elicit answers that favor one side or the other, well, then I suppose they can appear to be biased.

Either way, they're a source of information.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[kelpdiver 2]

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It's by no means perfect, and if they're like the Texas ones, they try not to insert themselves into the answers. But if they come up with questions that seem to elicit answers that favor one side or the other, well, then I suppose they can appear to be biased.

A good mention, Wendy. I think they are likely the most impartial source of information available to the American voter. No one can remove bias entirely, but they actively try the best in that regard.