Helpful resources
Ballotpedia: A nonprofit, nonpartisan online political encyclopedia that is simple and clear. Use it to check candidate background, voting record, and election results.
BallotReady.org: input your address to view candidates and get info.
League of Women Voters: Nonpartisan group encouraging informed and active participation in government, working to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influencing public policy through education and advocacy.
Project Vote Smart: A nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that collects and distributes verified info about candidates for public office.
Vote411.org: Nonpartisan information about candidates' positions on issues; includes telephone numbers for assistance in Spanish, Arabic, and multiple Asian languages. Run by the League of Women voters.
Fact check
Center for Public Integrity: One of the oldest and largest nonprofit news organizations in the country. The Pulitzer Prize–winning newsroom is made up of reporters, editors, and data journalists who dig deep to deliver national and international investigative journalism of lasting significance.
FactCheck.org: Designed to help voters by “monitoring the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.” A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
PolitiFact: A fact-checking website founded by editors of Time Magazine in conjunction with Congressional Quarterly.
Campaign finance info
Federal Election Commission: Official U.S. government website tracking campaign finance and donations.
Illinois Sunshine: User-friendly online tool from the nonpartisan Illinois State Board of Elections.
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