Site Help/FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. I want to know who my elected officials are, how can I find this information on your web site?
   
   You can find your elected officials and candidates several different ways on the Project Vote Smart web site. If you know the last name of the official you are looking for, type the name in the Enter a Last name box. You can also type in your 9-Digit zip code and find a list of officials, who represent you, from the President to your State Representatives.

2. Why do I need my 9-digit zip code, what if I don't know my 9-digit zip code?
   
   In order to determine and create a personalized list of officials who represent you, we need the 9-digit zip code. In most states there are multiple legislative districts per 5-digit zip code, so the full 9-digit zip code is needed to determine exactly which district you are in. Directly below where it asks you to enter your 9-digit zip code you will see a box where you can find out your 9-digit zip code by entering your mailing address, city, state and zip code. Once you submit this information you will be taken directly to a list of your elected officials.

3. Where can I find contact information for my elected Officials?
   
   On the Biographical Section of every elected official you can find contact information including email, web site, mailing address, phone and fax. You can find the Biographical information by going to the current elected officials section of the web site.

4. I want to become a member of Project Vote Smart?
   
   To become a member of Project Vote Smart, just go to our "donate now" section, fill out the requested information along with your credit card # on our secure server site. If you would prefer, you can print this form and mail a check or your credit card #. You can also call the membership department at 406-859-8683 and they will take your information over the phone.

5. What is the Political Courage Test?
   
   The Political Courage Test is a non-partisan, broad-based issue questionnaire sent to candidates for public office. It is a unique research tool designed to measure one thing: the willingness of a candidate to articulate his or her specific issue inclinations in an easily accessible and straightforward manner for the sole benefit of the voting public. Its purpose is to give the voter instant, factual information on how a candidate stands on issues that are of proven importance to citizens and that are likely to be voted on in the next legislative session.

6. How can I find out if my elected official took the Political Courage Test?
   
   To find out if your elected officials took the Political Courage Test, "Click on the Elected Officials button at the top of the page and then choose which office you want. On this page you can search by name, party, state, or zip code. Once you find the official you are looking for, just click on the name to enter their page. Once on the Official's page you have selected, click on the option: Issue Positions, this is located on the right hand side of the screen below the Official's picture.

7. Do you have Campaign Finance Information?
   
   Yes, we have information on both the Federal and State level. We compile this info on the federal level from Open Secrets and on the state level from the National Institute on Money in State Politics, in order to bring you the most up to date information available. You can access this information once you are on the Official's page you have selected, click on the option: Campaign Finance, this is located on the right hand side of the screen below the Official's picture.

8. Do you cover all votes that have taken place in Congress?
   
   Project Vote Smart maintains a collection of Key Votes; this is not a complete listing of votes taken in Congress. Our Key Votes typically include the initial passage of legislation and the final conference report votes. There is also a section on the PVS web site called Week at a Glance, where on a daily bases, we update any action taken on legislation in the United States Congress.

9. How do you decide which votes are key?
   
   The Project uses a wide variety of criteria to select key votes:
   
   

   1. The votes should be helpful in portraying how a legislator stands on a particular issue.
   
   2. The vote passed or defeated by a very close margin.
   
   3. The votes has received media attention.
   
   4. The votes should be clear and easy to understand. Each key vote breakdown includes the actual yeas and nays, the official title, official summary, text and synopsis written by PVS when available.

   Key votes that are selected by PVS staff go through an approval process before web site posting, with political scientists of opposing viewpoints reviewing both the selection and the content. This is to ensure clarity, relevance, nonpartisan and accuracy.

10. Do you have State Voting Records?
    
    Yes, we do collect State Voting Records. The State Key Vote Program follows the same criteria used for selecting congressional votes. Launched at the beginning of 2006, this new, valuable branch of the Key Vote Program is expanding everyday to include new features such as an expanded bill history, status and governor actions.