Mercifully, Election Day 2020 is only a dozen days away.
(Ugh, thatsso long.)
This means youll be voting members into the House of Representatives and the Senate.
One of the simplest tools to figure out which candidates match your interests isVote Smarts Vote Easy quiz.
Here, youll answer a series of questions about your views on topics ranging from abortion to social security.
While Vote Smart is easy, you might want to do a little more research beyond a quiz.
Its a great tool, but its only useful for candidates up for reelection.
Ballotpedia doesnt dig deep, but its a solid rundown.
Your best bet is to do a Google search for [your congressional district] debates.
Finding the right people is just part of the battle.
In several states, youll also be voting on tons of different ballot measures, amendments, and questions.
The best place for an overview of all your state ballot measures in one place isBallotpedia.
Just jot down in your address and zip code, and it displays your sample ballot.
Many states also have races for Secretary of State, Attorney General, and other local offices.
Feel free to leave any section blank.
Your mileage will vary here, but its worth a look regardless.
Typically, these measures deal with local issues like affordable housing, park funding, or transportation infrastructure.
Youll need to saddle up and dig into local newspapers and community blogs for this one.
you might also contact your local election authority for more information.
Once you do, theyll typically have more information about the candidates and initiatives.
If the initiative is controversial, youll also find op-eds in newspapers and on local blogs.
Aside from the initiatives, you might also see board member elections on your ballot.
These are usually for a variety of local positions, ranging from water departments to school school districts.
If it doesnt, a quick Google search should bring up all the information you need.
This is probably the most confusing part.
In many states, you’re free to vote to remove a judge in whats calledRetention elections.
These happen in 21 states, including Arizona, California, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
This means that youre voting to remove a judge from office.
If you see only one judge listed on your ballot, its likely a retention election.
Several states, includingOhioandUtah, provide breakdowns of each judges performance over their career.
This is a good place to start your research.
If youre voting between two people, that means youre voting for who willbecomea judge.
Your best bet here is to search Google for both candidates names.
you might also often find more information from your statesBar Association.
With that, youll have a brain full of ideas and opinions.
