Dear Kristin,
I keep hearing that this year is an important election year. The word “midterms” is bounced around on TV and in the news constantly. I think there are also local elections happening in my state! With all this information out there, how do I find out who candidates are?
As George Washington told us, in our democracy the citizens are in charge, so we only have ourselves to blame if we are not completely free and happy. Keeping up with local, state and national elections is a good way to keep the blame game in check.
Once you start looking for information on your candidates, you’ll see that it is all around you.
For an easy to access online source, Ballotpedia strives to serve as a one-stop-shop for all of the information you might want around elections, including local politics, state politics, federal politics, sample ballots, and more.
Once you read about a candidate, you can tune in to talk shows to learn others’ opinions. Check out The Policy Circle Election Resource Guide on Assessing Candidates for more ways to make sure you have the facts in addition to all of the opinions out there.
Your local newspaper is another great way to stay engaged in what is happening in your community, including all local elections. It is also good to support local reporting by subscribing to the local paper.
“America’s local news-gathering operations are in trouble… You want to know what happened at the town council meeting this week? Or the zoning commission? Or just around the block? Good luck to you in too many communities now.” Listen here on WBUR On Point
For example, the Chillicothe Tribune in Chillicothe, Missouri provides detail on individual candidates, explains propositions, and even publishes the full ballot ahead of local elections. Most local papers do the same.
Many resources exist to get you the information you most need before voting. It’s up to you to seek them out. Be concerned citizens, study the information, go to the polls informed, and vote.
Just as our first president said in 1783, “At this auspicious period, the United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be [e]ntirely their own.”
With informed Policy Circle women at the polls, the future looks free and happy.
Stay tuned, our next installation will discuss how to be more engaged in the election process.
Do you have a question for Kristin? Send Kristin and email at kjackson@thepolicycircle.org to get your election questions answered.
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