SKOVOTEDEN Voter Resources and Fact Checkers
YOU GOT YOUR BALLOT…NOW WHAT?
Resources gathered by Ambassador Lydia Jennings
Here are a few resources I like to check for information before filling out my ballot:
1️⃣ BALLOTPEDIA.ORG:
An online encyclopedia of American Politics, which breaks down by State, County, Municipal Offices, & School Boards. Key place to start!
2️⃣ FACTCHECK.ORG:
A non partisan monitor of actions, interviews & press statements from major US political players across the spectrum, combining both scholarship & journalism on issues.
3️⃣ POLITIFACT:
Rates the accuracy of a politician’s claims using its “Truth-O-meter.” You can read articles on national news stories and search for fact checked stories by subject.
Tells you candidate biographies, issue positions, voting records, public statements, rating and their donor$.
5️⃣ ENDORSEMENTS:
Check out the endorsements of interest groups you care about, such as Planned Parenthood, local Labor Unions (like Arizona AFL-CIO), enviromental groups, tribal nations, etc. ProPublica’s Represent Project is an interactive site allows you to search for your local congressional representatives. Just type away your address and click on the profile of an elected official to learn things like what bills they’re sponsored, what statements they’ve recently released and how often they vote with or against party lines. You can also search for bills, statements or lobbying groups.
6️⃣ JUDGES:
The category I believe is the most overlooked is JUDGES! Judges make life altering decisions in our community about families, immigration cases, environmental permits, crime, juvenile & traffic courts.
In Arizona, we have 3 Arizona Supreme Court seats up for retainment (i.e. keep their job), and in Pima County, we have 16 on the ballot to be retained.
Check out Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (cebv.us/2020) for a comprehensive analysis of Judicial Performance Reviews, social media, news articles, financial statements and personal websites, with rationale behind their recommendations.
7️⃣ SCHOOLS:
Save Our Schools AZ has made a list of endorsements based on surveys with candidates who have publicly advocated for free public education (vs privatization). Check it out for your district!
I hope you find these resources helpful in making informed decisions on your ballot! Feel free to share, or add additional resources in the comments. But most importantly...
Please vote! Please vote early! And check that your friends and family are voting too!
Let’s flip AZ!
#SkoVoteDen
