When members of the League of Women Voters ask people if they know about VOTE411, they frequently get a blank stare. This online voter information and election resource is probably the league’s best kept secret; perhaps democracy’s best kept secret.
Created and maintained by the national League of Women Voters, VOTE411 launched in 2006 as an online Voters Guide; yet many citizens are unaware of it.
In the days of telephone landlines, people obtained telephone numbers by dialing 411. The number 411 then became slang for “information.” The LWV appropriated the term, attaching it to the word VOTE. Hence VOTE411 became the name for its online voter information resource.
Many citizens who want to be part of our democratic process just don’t know how. One of the reasons given for not voting is that people don’t know the process or enough about the candidates to make a choice, and they don’t have time to educate themselves. They need comprehensive, clear, non-partisan, reliable, unbiased information, and they need to avoid misinformation and disinformation; a daunting task. Thankfully, there is a “one-stop shop” for both new and seasoned voters, to obtain this information. That shop is www.VOTE411.org.
As we approach each election cycle, the VOTE411 platform is populated with all the information a voter needs to make informed decisions. In a user-friendly platform, the comprehensive online guide provides:
1. Voting information: Voters can (a) register to vote, (b) check or change their voter registration status, (c) find out how and where to vote, and (d) check deadlines for registering and for requesting and submitting mail-in ballots.
2. Candidate information: Voters can find information about each candidate, including positions, qualifications and campaign contact information.
3. Ballot information: Voters can access a sample ballot that shows specifically the races and candidates they will be voting for in their jurisdiction.
4. Issue information: Voters can learn about key ballot initiatives, referendums, voting rights and regulations and FAQs
5. Polling place information: Voters who prefer to vote in person are provided with their polling place location.
When you go to VOTE 411, you will have three choices: “Register to Vote,” “Check your Voter Registration,” and “What’s on your Ballot?”.
The question “What’s on your Ballot?” is critical. For some elections, such as this year’s municipal election, there can be hundreds of candidates. County officials, judges, borough and township officers, school board directors — an overload.
You can winnow this down to your voting district and school board region, by simply entering your home address. You will then see only candidates who will be on your ballot.
On the VOTE411 platform, you will see a list of races. By clicking on each race, you will see the responsibilities of the office holder, the term length, and the salary.
You can then click on the various candidates, and obtain information about their qualifications, education, occupation, campaign website and social media links.
In addition, every candidate is asked the same two or three questions, posed by the league of Women Voters, so voters can compare candidates’ views. Each candidate provides their own answers to these questions; the league does not edit the answers. While every candidate is contacted, some candidates choose not to respond. The league considers this to be a great disservice to citizens. Candidates who want our votes should be willing to let us know where they stand.
The goal of Vote411 is to promote voter participation and to empower voters with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. Volunteers spend countless hours contacting candidates and uploading information so that “we, the people” can vote with confidence. Check it out — www.Vote411.org. Spread the word.
Cathy Morano is a member of the League of Women Voters of Bucks County, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to providing voter education and services and advocating for issues. It envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate.
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