Misinformation and disinformation are everywhere. Some people still think the 2020 election was not secure. (It was.) They believe noncitizens are voting in massive numbers. (They aren’t.) They think fraud is a major plague on our elections. (Wrong again.) Social media exacerbates the problem. AI and deepfakes infect our campaigns. People do not know where to look to find accurate information.
But facts do exist. It’s vital to ensure that voters understand the details about the candidates and their positions so that they can make informed choices when they go to the polls.
That’s where nonpartisan media and civic health organizations come in. They present fact-based reporting on the biggest issues in democracy—such as the Washington Monthly’s extensive coverage of how voting by mail and drop boxes is safe and efficient.
Civic health organizations also offer numerous guides that voters can and should trust, especially to learn what is on their ballot.
The Bolts Magazine “cheat sheet” is a great example. The chart identifies over 500 races nationwide, from the president to local referenda, impacting all aspects of policy and governance. Did you know, for instance, that 11 states will elect Governors this fall? Or that 14 states have important state supreme court elections? There are also statewide ballot initiatives covering issues such as abortion, legalizing marijuana, education policy, taxation, and more. On democracy itself, the Bolts guide shows that several states and localities will decide whether to adopt Ranked Choice Voting for their elections. The cheat sheet links trusted sources that offer facts about these issues.
But maybe you just want to know what is on your ballot. After all, most voters will choose not only the presidential electors for their state but also candidates for a slew of state and local positions. That’s where TurboVote comes in. TurboVote is a project of the nonpartisan organization Democracy Works, which aims to provide reliable and helpful voting information for all voters. Enter your address, and—Boom!—you’ll see every candidate race and initiative on the ballot this year. Clicking on a candidate brings up links to their website and social media pages. This resource is handy as voters research their local races, which often receive less coverage than the federal and statewide elections. There’s even a tool to set up an email or text reminder to vote and to send this information to a friend.
BallotReady is another valuable resource, especially for researching local elections. By inputting one’s address, voters will see all candidates on the ballot, including their background, education, and the key issues underlying their campaigns. There are links to reputable news sources that offer further details about their policy positions. The website also provides this same kind of detailed information on state and local ballot measures.
State and local news organizations can also make a difference. For example, in my home state of Kentucky, public radio stations created a comprehensive voter guide that offers information about each candidate, including a brief biography, their top priority, and key endorsements. Citizens can select the candidates they plan to vote for and bring their printed “cheat sheet” to the polls. The site notes that the public radio stations “believe in the value of local journalism providing accurate information to our readers and listeners.” Similarly, my hometown of Lexington has a nonprofit local civic health organization, CivicLex, that hosts Lex.vote. This website dives deeply into candidates for local office such as city council and school board. (Disclosure: I’m on the board of CivicLex.)
News organizations can also provide easy access to voter registration forms and links to online registration portals as the registration deadline nears. (Although the deadlines have passed in some states, it’s never too early to start planning for the next election.) Media entities can also offer easy access to absentee ballot request websites.
Voters should use these resources, but funding is also required to sustain them. Those who care about democracy should invest in local journalism by subscribing to local news organizations. We can and should trust nonpartisan media; it can serve as the lifeblood of democracy.
Voter education may not be the sexiest aspect of the election process, but it could be the most important. It is especially vital given our social media and AI-based world. Don’t necessarily trust information you see on social media or generated through AI. Do trust the voter guides from nonpartisan civic health entities, especially when they provide citations and links to their sources.
The Declaration of Independence states that a government enjoys its legitimacy from the consent of the governed. That consent should come from all of us based on truthful, verified information.
People often ask me what they can do to help support democracy in these perilous times. One simple answer is to point people—especially those who may not vote—to these voter guides and tell them to look up the races on their ballot. You just might convince them to cast an educated vote.
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