|
About Project Vote Smart
About Project Vote Smart
So different in background, so opposed in interest, you would not find our kind elsewhere on the earth or
anywhere in human history. As a nation we have succeeded, not because we struggle with one another, but
because we somehow have learned to recognize that the single issue that will always call us to arms is
one that requires the defense of each other - a defense against the aggression that strikes at the heart
of the American experience and endangers our freedom and ability to self-govern.
On common ground at a unique research center high in the Montana Rockies, a struggling group of Americans, who you are unlikely to
know and will probably never meet, have begun a battle. A battle to protect all of us from the selfish interests that strip us of the
most crucial component in our struggle to self-govern -- access to abundant, accurate, and relevant information.
Here at Project Vote Smart, Americans young and old volunteer their time, take no money from special interest groups, and have committed themselves to an extraordinary effort that, if successful, will provide their fellow citizens with the tools for a reemergence of political power not known for half a century. Their idea is one you may have thought of yourself. It is a deceptively simple concept but enormously difficult to achieve and would not be possible without the collaboration of citizens willing to lay their partisan differences aside for this one crucial task.
Picture this: thousands of citizens (conservative and liberal alike) working together, spending endless hours researching the backgrounds and records of thousands of political candidates and elected officials to discover their voting records, campaign contributions, public statements, biographical data (including their work history) and evaluations of them generated by over 100 competing special interest groups. Every election these volunteers test each candidate's willingness to provide citizens with their positions on the issues they will most likely face if elected through the Political Courage Test.
This project is an historic undertaking. Citizens come together, not in selfish interest or to support one candidate over another, but to defend democracy. It is an extraordinary gathering of people committed to one purpose: to strengthen the most essential component of democracy -- access to information -- even as it suffers grave attacks from candidates and political parties, many who are now willing to manipulate information and deceive voters.
In essence, what Project Vote Smart's interns and volunteers have done is ensure that tolerance will no longer be the only option available to the millions of us who are tormented by the issueless rhetoric and often misleading attacks that define contemporary American politics.
Most of us at Project Vote Smart are not paid and those who are receive only minimal salaries to cover living expenses. We will not accept funding from corporations, PACs or any organization that support or oppose candidates or issues. This effort will be financed by you and other Americans or not at all. Although we could sure use your help, YOU DO NOT NEED TO HELP US IN ANY WAY. Our programs and services are free to all Americans.
All of us realize that the mudslinging tactics once associated only with the crudest kinds of local politics now characterize virtually all campaigns and have stripped us of the most crucial component in our struggle to self-govern: access to abundant, accurate and relevant information about those who govern us and those who wish to replace those who do.
HELP US IF YOU CAN
An Extraordinary Organization Has Some Extraordinary Rules
No one can join the Project's board without a political opposite. People as diverse as former Presidents Carter and Ford, former Senators McGovern and Goldwater, former Governor Dukakis, former Congresswoman Ferraro and current Senator McCain have served on the Project's board, supporting the efforts of the Project's students and volunteers, and ensuring balance and strict impartiality in PVS programs and services.
The Project refuses financial assistance from all organizations and special interest groups that lobby or support or oppose any candidate or issue.
The Project operates much like the Peace Corps -- of the over 5000 people who have come to help by working at the Project, ninety percent received no pay and those who did received only minimal salaries to cover basic living expenses.
Unlike other organizations, the Project strictly protects its members and supporters. We never sell or provide names, addresses, or other contact information of any supporter or contributor to anyone, at any time, for any reason.
GIVE US A HAND
The Voter's Self-Defense System
Every candidate and elected official from President to local government can be easily and instantly accessed through the:
• Vote Smart's Website: www.vote-smart.org
or
 Voter's Research Hotline: 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762)
Voting Records -- Compare what your representatives said during the campaign with how they actually voted on the record.
Biographical & Contact Information -- From their previous professions, education, families, organizational membership to their latest e-mail address, we gather it all.
Issue Positions (Political Courage Test) -- We test thousands of candidates for President, Congress, Governor and State Legislature with our Political Courage Test. The test accurately measures a candidate's willingness to provide voters with their positions on the issues they will most likely face if elected to represent you.
Interest Group Ratings -- Over 150 competing special interest groups, from conservative to liberal, evaluate your representatives. Look at what they say.
Public Statements -- The Project constantly collects speeches and public comments of the president, governors, and congressional representatives. Just type in a word, say; 'immigration' and all public utterances containing the word 'immigration' will appear. Compare what they said while campaigning in California a few years ago to what they are saying now in New Hampshire.
Campaign Finances -- How much money did your representatives raise and from whom? Just follow the money and then follow the votes.
JOIN US
Want More? How About
Judicial Branch -- Nominated, appointed, and elected judges and justices, we collect everything that is available on all of them.
CongressTrack -- Need to know the status of key legislation, a copy of it, or what the key components are? We can help.
Publications -- Free to all citizens -- order your Voter's Self-Defense Manual, an 80-page report on your congressional delegation. The Reporter's Source Book is available to all working journalists and Project members. A video, which describes what the Project does, how we do it, and how you can use it, is also available.
Voter Registration -- We have voter registration forms, absentee ballots, and election schedules for each state.
Polling Places -- We have contact information for your local election office, which can direct you to your voting location.
Ballot Measures -- Descriptions of ballot measures for every state, including complete text, sponsors, and election results.
State Resources -- Including state government contacts, leadership, media sources, political parties, think tanks, maps, and demographics.
Other Political Resources -- Including US Government 101, national media, think tanks, political parties, polling sources, and political trivia.
Intern or Volunteer -- The Project's research center is located in an extraordinary beautiful wilderness as a way of saying 'thank you' to those willing to come and help us do this difficult but crucial research.
HELP US IF YOU CAN
Management Structure
Project members are able to earmark their contributions to specific Project programs they wish their money to be spent on. The staff is prohibited from spending their money on programs they have not earmarked their funds for.
Once each year the staff is able to suggest changes, additions and/or deletions to the basic Project programs. Those suggested changes are then reviewed by the board who can make only tentative decisions. Those tentative decisions are then given to all board
members not in attendance. The entire board then has six weeks to voice any concerns or objections. After six weeks, if there are no
concerns, or all those stated have been remedied, the changes are adopted.
Project Vote Smart Founding Board
2008 990 Form
2007 990 Form
2006 990 Form
2005 990 Form
2004 990 Form
|
Print
Share