When you head off to the polls, you (usually) know which major candidate and party you’re planning to vote for. However, many people don’t think about preparing for the numerous other items on the ballot. Who should you be voting for in your local elections? What important propositions might be on the ballot this year? You could just vote straight down the party ticket, but that leaves room for some big mistakes or glaring empty checkboxes.
The last thing you (and the folks in line behind you) want is to be Googling the issues on your phone from the voting booth. Instead, it’s best to show up prepared, with a good understanding of who and what you stand behind. However, with so much misinformation out there and so little time, it’s not always easy to get the facts you really need. Here are five ways to educate yourself accurately about local elections, even if you have to do it the morning of.
1. Read a Voter Guide
A voter guide is a list or collection of bullet points that helps voters quickly understand all the potential candidates and ballot issues. Some list all the candidates, propositions, and questions, along with quick descriptions and background information. Others directly state who and what a voter should vote for, given their beliefs and values. Many voter guides, like this LA Voter Guide, come with printable checklists or pamphlets for quick access on election day.
Technically speaking, you can bring your phone into the voting booth with you, but in some states you’re not allowed to use it. You definitely can’t take pictures, but you may be able to check your voter guide on your phone as you cast your ballot. Another option is to print out or write down your choices and bring a piece of paper in with you. Just remember, a voter guide is not necessarily an unbiased resource, so choose one you’re sure aligns with your values.
2. State or Local Department of Elections
Your state or local election office, or board, department, or division of elections’ website is another place to find accurate information. These are especially important resources for those who need help with logistics, like understanding accessibility, voting hours, or polling place locations. For example, the New York State Board of elections website lists election dates, laws, poll sites, and options for voters with disabilities.
To find your local and state election offices, you can visit USA.gov/state-election-office to search the official directory. On this same site, you can also find additional information about local election laws and how to vote. Local and state government websites, and your local county office or city hall can also help you find more information. You can confirm most government websites are legit by checking for a .gov in the address.
3. Vote411.org
Nonpartisan grassroots group the League of Women Voters provides unbiased election information, searchable by location. You can plug in your zip code to learn about all the candidates and proposals on your ballot, and compare candidate responses to questions. The site provides links to important candidate information, like candidates’ social media and website links. It also shares information about their campaign finances and positions on key issues.
At the time of this writing, however, election day was about two weeks out, with early voting scheduled to start sooner. Even so, much of the pertinent candidate information for some cities was missing from the website. Other locations, however, did provide plenty of candidate information across categories. Depending on where you live, this site may or may not be the most complete or comprehensive resource.
4. Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia is another nonpartisan resource for comprehensive election information and coverage. It includes interactive tools, like a Sample Ballot Lookup where you can see all your local races and ballot measures. The information on local candidates here is especially detailed, compared to other sites — or at least easier to find. Within seconds, you can find out a candidate’s religion, profession, email address, and LinkedIn profile.
Ballotpedia also acts as a wiki or encyclopedia for all kinds of U.S. election and government information. It’s a fun place to take a deep dive and learn everything you ever wanted to know about how U.S. politics work. Whether it’s a state-by-state guide of police hiring and disciplinary practices, or an exhaustive guide to the electoral college, this site has everything. Just be sure to stay focused on the info you need, if you don’t have time to go down a deep rabbit hole.
5. FiveThirtyEight
FiveThirtyEight (538.com) is a place to go not for basic election information, but to understand public opinions, polling predictions, and election outcomes. It doesn’t go super local, but you can learn a ton about your governor and state house and senate candidates. The site also makes fascinating predictions, like how certain changes might shift election outcomes. Plus, it helps readers understand how other Americans are feeling about given politicians and policies.
Again, this is not the first site to visit if you’re just trying to figure out who’s on your ballot and whether you like them. It is, however, an amazing resource for curious nerds who love statistics and cute, informative infographics. On one page, you can take a quiz to see how well you know what other voters think about Donald Trump. On others, you can read about how hurricanes and local natural disasters could impact a candidate or incumbent’s chances of winning.
Always Check Your Sources
No matter where you go to get your local election information, always keep one eye on your URL. It’s all too easy to accidentally click an external link and wind up on a biased site or opinionated piece of advertising. Always back up anything you hear by checking with trustworthy sources. Think credible news outlets (AP, Reuters), government websites, and university publications. Avoid social media and beware of deep fakes and misleading edits.