Information For Candidates

If you are a candidate for an office that Project Vote Smart covers (Presidential, Congressional, Gubernatorial, State Legislative), this page provides instructions on how to send information about yourself for inclusion in our database. If you have any questions that are not covered here, please contact Project Vote Smart's Political Courage Test Department.

Please note that Project Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or program in any partisan activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

Complete the Biographical and Political Courage Test Forms Online

Download 2009 Biographical and Political Courage Test Forms

Frequently Asked Candidate Questions:

How can I be included as a candidate on Project Vote Smart's website?
When will you update my biographical information?
What about my picture?
When will I receive my Political Courage Test?
What if my information needs to be updated or changed?
What if I want to change an answer on my Political Courage Test?
What if I have filled out the Political Courage Test forms previously? Can my information be reused?
My Political Courage Test answers are being misused. What can I do?
How do I submit position papers to supplement my Political Courage Test?
Where can I download a copy of the Political Courage Test?

How can I be included as a candidate on Project Vote Smart's website?

Project Vote Smart updates candidate information following state filing deadlines. After a state's filing deadline, all candidates running for an office we cover are entered into our database and posted on the website.

When will you update my biographical information?

After the state primaries, candidates that qualify for the General Election ballot are sent a biographical form. We will update the biographical information soon after the biographical forms are received.

What about my picture?

Please send us a recent photo and we will get it up on our website as soon as possible. Photos are accepted in hard copy (do not fax them please), email, or provide us your web address and we will download a picture.

When will the Political Courage Test be conducted in my state?

After each state's primary, candidates that qualify for the general election will be mailed the Political Courage Test. Candidates have a specific amount of time to return the Political Courage Test. After the Political Courage Test deadline passes, the information will be released to the public.

What if my information needs to be updated or changed?

If your information needs to be updated, please contact the Political Courage Test Department.

What if I want to change an answer on my Political Courage Test?

If you would like to change any answers on the Political Courage Test, please mail, fax, or email (with electronic signature) the corrections along with your signature to Project Vote Smart. We will change the information as quickly as possible. Your signature is required to make any changes to your answers.

What if I have filled out the Political Courage Test forms previously? Can the information be reused?

The Political Courage Test measures candidates' willingness to provide issue information to voters. Because this test happens every election cycle and because the issues facing elected officials change from year to year, Project Vote Smart cannot transfer the information from a previous election to the current one.

My answers are being misused. What can I do?

Project Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any partisan activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches. If you feel your answers are being used in such a fashion please contact the Political Courage Test Department immediately.

How do I submit my position papers to supplement my responses?

In 2002, Project Vote Smart started offering candidates who completed the Political Courage Test a chance to post additional issue position papers to be included on our web site. While the Political Courage Test can be submitted by mail or fax, the position papers must be sent to PVS electronically (disk, email, or direct us to your web site). Those papers will be posted along with the Political Courage Test shortly after your state's deadline. Please submit any position papers to positions@votesmart.org.

Where can I download a copy of the Political Courage Test?

Although the Political Courage Test can be filled out online, we do provide a PDF version that can be downloaded. If you would like to download the Political Courage Test, please go to the Political Courage Test Forms Page. Download a bio form and a Political Courage Test form for the office that you are seeking. Please be certain that the Political Courage Test you are downloading is correct, as each state's form varies according to key issues.