HOW TO VOTE (CALIFORNIA BASED)
KeLP's Very Basic How to Vote Guide is not for no- or low-information voters, but for those truly interested in the issues. It is not Who to vote for, but How to actually decide your vote. I wrote it because too many voters seem to think they must vote every line of the ballot.
Most basic rule: all information from candidates, their campaigns, their supporters, and initiative/proposition groups (pro or con) are suspect and of little value. This means TV ads, flyers, web ads, everything they produce. Treat it as false until/unless you check it out thoroughly, meaning checking both sides.
Also, media fact-checkers are notoriously biased. They can point toward real inconsistencies, but you need to fact-check the fact-checkers.
PEOPLE
Higher offices get a lot of attention, so usually the voter has an opinion, or can easily gather information from the media. Know the bias of the media outlets you choose and factor that into your decision making.
More obscure offices often have statements in the Voters Guide from the candidates, which can be useful. My general rule is if they won't bother to put a basic bio/position statement in the guides, they are not serious about winning the office.
Local offices may have no information on the candidates at all in the guides.
Judgeships are particularly hard, for the rulings of judges are basically ignored unless the case sparked intense media coverage.
So you must rely on what little you know of the candidates, good or bad, to decide. If you truly know nothing about any, not unusual, it is best not to vote that office at all. Don't guess. Let your fellow voters, who may have sources of information about the candidates you do not have, make the decision.
In most contests, there are only 2 candidates that really have a chance of being elected. There are times when both of them are unacceptable. If your most important issue is legislation or appointments that might be passed or should be blocked, and this particular race can make a difference in the outcome, you should hold your nose and vote for the candidate that is closest to your views.
Otherwise, either do not vote for that race or, better, if there are other candidates on the ballot, vote for another with full knowledge he can't win, but it will send a message. Candidates do look at their margin of victory and consider where the votes went.
INITIATIVES/PROPOSITIONS
Your first stop on these is the Voter Guide. I've found the Analysis is almost always unbiased and gives you an in-English explanation of the law.
Next read the Pro and Con arguments, paying particular attention to how the argument aligns with the analysis, and also to points made that the opposite side ignores in its rebuttal. It is usually obvious who has the better position.
If still undecided, you can read the text of the law itself. Often I go to the text to confirm what one of the Pro/Con writers said that I need to be sure is so.
If still undecided, you have 2 choices. If you really can't decide if the law is good or bad, leave it un-voted for your fellow citizens to decide.
But there are times that it is unclear or confusing. In that case, vote No. It is better to keep the status quo than to add a poorly written law to the books. If you are confused, it is not you, it is them.
LASTLY
No matter how diligent you are with your vote, it will most likely be canceled by a no- or low-information voter. Still, some contests are decided by a single vote, and it may be yours in your precinct that puts your view on top, and even moves the statewide contest your way. So it is not a useless act, it just often seems that way. Vote.
KeLP's Very Basic How to Vote Guide is not for no- or low-information voters, but for those truly interested in the issues. It is not Who to vote for, but How to actually decide your vote. I wrote it because too many voters seem to think they must vote every line of the ballot.
Most basic rule: all information from candidates, their campaigns, their supporters, and initiative/proposition groups (pro or con) are suspect and of little value. This means TV ads, flyers, web ads, everything they produce. Treat it as false until/unless you check it out thoroughly, meaning checking both sides.
Also, media fact-checkers are notoriously biased. They can point toward real inconsistencies, but you need to fact-check the fact-checkers.
PEOPLE
Higher offices get a lot of attention, so usually the voter has an opinion, or can easily gather information from the media. Know the bias of the media outlets you choose and factor that into your decision making.
More obscure offices often have statements in the Voters Guide from the candidates, which can be useful. My general rule is if they won't bother to put a basic bio/position statement in the guides, they are not serious about winning the office.
Local offices may have no information on the candidates at all in the guides.
Judgeships are particularly hard, for the rulings of judges are basically ignored unless the case sparked intense media coverage.
So you must rely on what little you know of the candidates, good or bad, to decide. If you truly know nothing about any, not unusual, it is best not to vote that office at all. Don't guess. Let your fellow voters, who may have sources of information about the candidates you do not have, make the decision.
In most contests, there are only 2 candidates that really have a chance of being elected. There are times when both of them are unacceptable. If your most important issue is legislation or appointments that might be passed or should be blocked, and this particular race can make a difference in the outcome, you should hold your nose and vote for the candidate that is closest to your views.
Otherwise, either do not vote for that race or, better, if there are other candidates on the ballot, vote for another with full knowledge he can't win, but it will send a message. Candidates do look at their margin of victory and consider where the votes went.
INITIATIVES/PROPOSITIONS
Your first stop on these is the Voter Guide. I've found the Analysis is almost always unbiased and gives you an in-English explanation of the law.
Next read the Pro and Con arguments, paying particular attention to how the argument aligns with the analysis, and also to points made that the opposite side ignores in its rebuttal. It is usually obvious who has the better position.
If still undecided, you can read the text of the law itself. Often I go to the text to confirm what one of the Pro/Con writers said that I need to be sure is so.
If still undecided, you have 2 choices. If you really can't decide if the law is good or bad, leave it un-voted for your fellow citizens to decide.
But there are times that it is unclear or confusing. In that case, vote No. It is better to keep the status quo than to add a poorly written law to the books. If you are confused, it is not you, it is them.
LASTLY
No matter how diligent you are with your vote, it will most likely be canceled by a no- or low-information voter. Still, some contests are decided by a single vote, and it may be yours in your precinct that puts your view on top, and even moves the statewide contest your way. So it is not a useless act, it just often seems that way. Vote.