Top matches then progressed to a second evaluation withProve It, which tests candidates Excel, Word, and other computer-related skills. Here are eight great websites for fact-filled and (arguably) bias-free election coverage. One way to find out is by entering your address into sample ballot generators like those at Vote411 or Ballotpedia, for example. This effort will be financed by you and other Americans or not at all.. For example, you can find outhow lawmakers votedon key Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) legislation. This encourages others in the organization to keep equality top of mind.

Please explain why you do or do not think it is important to reduce the role of money in American elections. Learn more about your elected officials, state government, and how to vote in your state. If we dont see male kindergarten teachers or female engineers, we dont naturally associatemen andwomen with those jobs, and we apply different standards when hiring, promoting, and evaluating job performance. (3) Give a work sample test. Voter guides and sample ballots will show who the candidates are and any state or local measures up for a vote. VoteSmart.org is serious about staying unbiased.

This election research guide will help ensure that you and members of your community are leaving no power on the table. (2) Rework job descriptions. This frees you from having to memorize your choices for candidates and ballot initiatives. FivethirtyEight.com (named for the number of electors in the Electoral College) is the brainchild of statistician Nate Silver who has remained the sites editor-in-chief through a number of changes of ownership. Thats why she favors structured interviews. Experiment with the wording of your job listings by removing adjectives associated with a particular gender.

It may be helpful to check both ballot generator tools to see which has more details on your state or local races.

Case Study #2: Use software to simplify and standardize the vetting process A few years ago, Jill Koob, the vice president of sales solutions at Employer Flexible, the Houston-based human resources and recruitment company, needed to hire an operations analyst for the HR technology group.

Think tank working to ensure a fair court system and legislative process, Partnership of more than 50 organizations working to keep courts fair and impartial, Real-time discussion of developments in the U.S. Supreme Court, The eHarmony of democracy, ISideWith.com matches you to candidates based on your views; more than 10 million people have found their "candidate match", Free campaign tool for tweeting at Congress, brought to you by HeadCount, Learn the status of legal battles around voting access, Stay up-to-date on laws that affect your ability to exercise your right to vote, Candidates positions on the issues, presented side-by-side for easy comparison, Access polls on the top issues of our time, Ben Cohen's humorous effort to stamp money out of politics, Hub for finding info on politicians' campaign contribution histories and voting records, Think tank working to counter the power of special interests by empowering voters and small donors, Works to protect and expand the right to vote, Advocates for tougher voting laws and exposing voter fraud, A relatively young civic rights organization focusing on voting rights, with an emphasis on people of color, Detailed info on polling place access, hours, time off to vote, and more, from the League of Women Voters, Daily, nationwide polls that politicians actually see help you check out how real people feel about major issues across the country, in real-time, Wildly popular political website that breaks down polls, news, blogs and election results, Taking a data nerd approach to politics and news, 538 may be the most influential and interesting content site on the Web, Committed to solving the world's problems through the power of knowledge, Pew is a force behind many intitiatives to better inform voters, Look up information about all contests and candidates on your ballot, Some of the best infographics and data visualizations on the Web, News reporting and analysis for and by the millennial generation, A daily look at where technology and politics intersect, Learn the rules and consequences of registering to vote as a student, Find out where you can--and can't--use your student ID as voter ID provided by the Fair Elections Legal Network, Legal updates and a handy map for figuring out your voter ID needs, Find out what, if any, ID you'll need on election day, Advocates for the rights of prisoners, with a focus on voting rights, Info on how voting processes and counting work by state in order to make sure that every vote gets counted, Founded by the "Hip-Hop Reverend" Lennox Yearwood, they run the "Respect My Vote" campaign, Assists service organization with voter registration drives, Their "Subway Canvass" is the inspiration behind National Voter Registration Day. Although it is a government agency, the FEC is an independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law.. If I am honest with my team, then hopefully they can look inside themselves to see what biases they might have.. Besides the names on your ballot, you may be able to write in names of other candidates. One of their goals is to expose disproportionate or undue influence on public policy. Use this site to search how money plays a part in campaigns, super PACs, and lobbying. For that particular job, Dawn and her team ended up hiring a minority woman candidate. Asking candidates to solve work-related problems or partake in a skill test yields important insights. Check the rules with your local election office before you go. www.aarp.org/volunteer. Learn how to make informed choices by using voter guides and sample ballots to research candidates. Some polling places do restrict cell phone use, so bring paper copies instead of using your phone. If a candidate is already in office and is running for reelection, speaking with fellow members of your community can give you a strong sense of how the incumbents policies have affected peoples lives. Christy hit it out of the park, she says. Do you think it is important to reduce the role money plays in American elections? By giving likability a score, youre making it more controllable., Set diversity goals Diversity goals are worthwhile, says Bohnet. You need to look at what each person brings to the table. Again, software programs that blind the process for you are useful, says Gino. Case Study #1: Work to understand biases and set diversity goals Dawn Smith, the chief legal officer at VMware, the Palo Altobased maker of virtualization software, says that one of the ways she tackles unconscious biases in the workplace is by talking about them openly and candidly with her team. Write-In Candidates for Federal and State Elections. And how important is it to you? If you do care about it, Bohnet recommends rating candidates as you would on their other skills during the interview. You can also find their Media Bias Ratings to help you to easily identify different perspectives so you can get the full picture and think for yourself. Search by issue, or check out their dictionary which discusses how people of different political persuasions define a certain term or issue. The providers terms, conditions and policies apply. Neglect to set diversity goals. Rather than striving for neutral election coverage, AllSides.com endeavors to expose people to information and ideas from all sides of the political spectrum so they can better understand the world and each other. Visit this site to view news stories organized in three categories: news from the left, news from the center, and news from the right. I always want to see a diverse slate of candidates that includes at least two members of underrepresented groups, she says.

Sample ballots simply show you the electionsand candidates and any ballot measures that will be on your real ballot.

Anothersuggestedthat employers hire people that they like the most on a personal level. But this bias toward natural chemistry or common interests is another one to watch out for. Are your voters guide questions as unbiased as you think? These sources can tell you about candidates public appearances, their recent statements to prospective voters and the media, and how theyre viewed by other members of the community. Her first order of business was to write the job description. HeadCount provides voter registration assistance on a strictly nonpartisan basis to any U.S. citizen age 18 or over without regard to political affiliation, race, religion, or age. Many people are streaming into our country illegally, taking jobs from American citizens.

You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. Sometimes I hear feedback like, She isnt a good cultural fit an important but squishier measure of a candidates worth, Dawn says. Resistbot turns your text messages into daily letters to Congress in the simplest and easiest way possible.

Control for your personal feelings about a particular candidate by giving likability a numerical score. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. We have thousands of articles and guides to help you get the most out of technology.

Factcheck.org,which is run by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, keeps track of candidates statements and claims. Evaluating work sample tests from multiple applicants also helps calibrate your judgment to see how Candidate A compares to Candidate B. Gino concurs.

Ideally interviewers dont know the specifics about how well each candidate did in terms of the CV review and work sample, she adds. Christy got the job and has since been promoted. The shorter the question, the better.

Online Tech Tips is part of the AK Internet Consulting publishing family. In the meantime, please feel free Go to trusted sources to find out more about the candidates during the upcoming election season.

PolitFact is transparent about its funding and methodology, carefully explaining how they choose which claims they fact-check and how they determine ratings. Factcheck.org is the third nonprofit on our list. This is a great site to go to for unbiased analysis of political opinion polls. These goals are sometimes controversial for companies because they can undermine the people who are hired in those categories or lead to a backlash from the traditionally advantaged groups. Data can help you get buy-in.

Similarly, use the sample ballot generator and click through candidates and issues. Your state may mail you a sample ballot or let you download one from its election site. Awareness training is the first step to unraveling unconscious bias, because it allows employees to recognize that everyone possesses them and to identify their own. The idea is to create an organizational conversation about biases and help spark ideas on steps the organization as a whole can take to minimize them., Rework your job descriptions Job listings play an important role in recruiting talent and often provide the first impression of a companys culture. Even better, FiveThirtyEight provides their raw data and code on some topics and encourages readers to create their own stories and visualizations. What changes to the gun laws in our state would you support or oppose? You can even submit a question via their Ask FactCheck feature. Lock Learn by doing., Go blind for the rsum review Next, you need to level the playing field by ensuring you are focused on your candidates specific qualifications and talents, not surface demographic characteristics, says Bohnet.

You can use social media to see how the candidates and their campaigns are interacting with the public on a day-to-day basis. We specified that candidates needed to have been practicing law for a certain number of years, have served a certain amount of time in government, and have a law degree from a top school, she says. Do you support a pathway to citizenship for these individuals? Use a software program that blinds that information and ensures a level playing field. Experiment with the wording of job listings by removing adjectives closely associated with a particular gender. HeadCount does not endorse, support or coordinate with any political party or candidates for elected office, or take positions on any ballot initiatives.

Copyright 2007-2022 Online Tech Tips.com, LLC All Rights Reserved.

again. Start by reworking your job descriptions. And yet, she says, be careful when you broach the idea with colleagues.

An official website of the United States government. Though the upcoming congressional races often receive the most attention, the many state and local elections taking place across the country which will decide who serves as judges, mayors, sheriffs, school board members, and more will also have far-reaching effects on the lives of millions of people for many years to come. One way to find out is by entering your address into sample ballot generators like those at, You can inform yourself through your local newspapers, radio, and television news. Software programs that highlight stereotypically gendered words can help counteract this effect, says Bohnet. Similar to PolitiFact, FactCheck.org monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases.. Official websites use .gov Will Elections be Free and Fair? Did you enjoy this tip?

You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. In light of the high gun related deaths in our state and the fact that nearly 75% of residents support common sense gun laws, would you support changing the laws to limit the availability of semi- automatic assault weapons and expanding background checks? Unless we identify them and talk about them, they are not going to change., Dawn also requires her employees to complete bias awareness training. I didnt think about it, but I am sure that subconsciously I thought we might see a predominantly male applicant pool, she says. These tools will also generate a list of candidates and issues that will be on your ballot when you vote. As soon as Christy finished, Jill knew she was the right one for the job.

Every candidate and referendum, explained. On the other hand, structured interviews, whereby each candidate is asked the same set of defined questions, standardize the interview process and minimize bias by allowing employers to focus on the factors that have a direct impact on performance. Bohnet suggests using an interview scorecard that grades candidates responses to each question on a predetermined scale. You can view their latest election coverage, explore the Truth-o-Meters latest fact checks ranging from true to pants on fire, view scorecards on specific issues like immigration or taxes, and find scorecards on specific people. Welcome to Online Tech Tips A blog that provide readers with daily computer tutorials, technology news, software reviews, and personal computing tips. You can also manage your communication preferences by updating your account at anytime. receive communications related to AARP volunteering.

The U.S. Department of Education plays a critical role in providing funding for quality public education and ensuring that children, no matter their socio-economic status or school district, receive an equal education. Your neighbors may offer new perspectives on a candidate or issue that you might have not previously considered.

Bohnet describes likability as perhaps the most challenging question of the hiring process. Ask yourself, Does it matter whether you like the person you hire? They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it. This How-To guide was created to help Leagues develop unbiased questions for their voters guides in the future. But there are steps you can take to recognize and reduce these biases. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly Second:If one of the candidates is an incumbent in the House of Representatives or Senate, go toCongress.govand research their voting records, find out what issues they concentrate on, and how to contact them. Will Voting be Safe? Our state, municipal, and county-level elected officials make a wide range of decisions that shape our communities. However, upon closer inspection, LWVEF was able to find many questions tha twere either biased or leading in many Leaguev oters guides. Why or why not. Voter is Tinder for politics. Working-class men got the fewest callbacks.

She was assertive and direct she had zero problems standing her ground..

Our articles have been read over 275 million times since we launched in 2007. Which prescription drugs cost Medicare the most? You can get a sense of a candidates background and position on various issues by looking at their campaigns website.

A skill test forces employers to critique the quality of a candidates work versus unconsciously judging them based on appearance, gender, age, and even personality, she says.

Dawn does not do structured interviews; she prefers a more conversational style. But she is a stickler when it comes to asking for structured feedback from her colleagues on what they perceive as the candidates strengths and weaknesses. These are hallmarks of unbiased reporting. Ask to speak to the candidate or her or his representative and get your questions answered about the issues that matter to you. They make the issue front and center in organizations. What are ways that you would propose reforming the criminal justice system in our state? This is why Jill relies on software to do much of the initial vetting in her hiring decisions. Do You Have to Vote for the Party You're Registered With?

app from PolitiFact, the Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking site. You can also subscribe to their wide variety of newsletters like Ballotpedias Daily Brew, a short email sent every morning with a summary of the days main political stories. BallotReady.org offers voter guides by home address nationwide. I would sometimes ask clarifying questions to go deeper, but it was always the same questions, she says. Where should you start? Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections. Like PolitiFact, Ballotpedia is a nonprofit with a mission to educate and a commitment to neutrality. It is vitally important that Leagues do not use biased questions in their voters guides. by Dena Bunis, AARP Bulletin, April 30, 2018. You can bring your notes, a voter's guide, or a sample ballot into the voting booth. Still, it is possible to find reasonably unbiased, nonpartisan election coverage if you know where to look. They also used to be HeadCount's landlord (rent = free), No one registers more voters on college campuses than the PIRGs, A run down of laws that can strengthen or challenge your right to vote, Registration Deadlines And Election Dates.

A growing body of research suggests that diversity in the workforce results in significant business advantages, says Gino. Founding document of the U.S., in which the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments guarantee the right to vote, Vast digital archive from the largest library in the world, that also serves as the research arm of Congress, Checks up on the truthfulness of politicians' statements, and calls them out on lies, Learn more about the voting process and elections in general, Details on election law, races and ballot measures, campaign finance, and how-tos on citizen legislative action are all here, Info about voting, working at the polls on election day, dates and deadlines, and more, Brings nationwide voting information to the Web, "The Netflix of Voting" sends notifications about elections and can get you registered to vote, Info on your representatives, including biographies, voting records, issue positions, and campaign contributions. One study foundthat impressions made in the first 10 seconds of an interview could impact the interviews outcome, Gino notes. You can inform yourself through your local newspapers, radio, and television news. With the operations analyst candidates, she asked each of the three finalists the same 10 questions. If you like, you can also register for My VoteSmart, choose which candidates you want to track, and receive a daily email with any new data that VoteSmart learns about that person.

When surveyed afte rthe 2016 General Election, most Leagues responded that they did notr eceive any negative feedback on their voters guide questions from either candidates or voters. Be sure to track how well youre doing onthem. Money matters. Voter assistance services for U.S. citizens living overseas, Absentee ballot requests and early voting info for all U.S. citizens, Voting assistance for armed service members, their families, and American citizens living overseas, One-stop resource to request an absentee ballot and learn all the ins and outs of early and absentee voting. Unconscious biases are so deep inside of us, she says. Local news, including your citys public access cable TV channel, may also have information about candidate forums hosted by nonpartisan groups, such as the. Tests that mimic the kinds of tasks the candidate will be doing in the job are the best indicators of future performance. Give a work sample test Work sample tests that mimic the kinds of tasks the candidate will be doing in the job are the best indicators of future job performance, according to Bohnet. The next step involved interviews, which Jill always approaches cautiously. USAGov is the Official Guide to Government Information and Services, Government Agencies and Elected Officials, Congressional, State, and Local Elections, Find My State or Local Election Office Website, Inauguration of the President of the United States, Indian Tribes and Resources for Native Americans, Commonly Requested U.S. Laws and Regulations, How Laws Are Made and How to Research Them, Personal Legal Issues, Documents, and Family History, Presidents, Vice Presidents, and First Ladies, Car Complaints and Motor Vehicle Services, Advance Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payments - Stimulus Checks, COVID-19 Health Information, Vaccines, and Testing, COVID-19 Small Business Loans and Assistance, Financial Assistance for Food, Housing, and Bills, Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19, Passports and Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Financial Assistance and Support Services, Disaster Financial Assistance for Workers and Small Business Owners, Disaster Financial Assistance with Food, Housing, and Bills, Financial Assistance Within Designated Natural Disaster Areas. Many states require that write-in candidates file paperwork before the election. The last entry on our list, AllSides.com, believes that unbiased news does not exist.. Copyright 2022 NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. Before you begin evaluating candidates or issues, youll need to know the races and ballot measures on which youll be voting. You can have a great rapport with someone in an interview, but that doesnt mean they can do the job, she explains.

You can save your choices online and print or email your personalized ballot to bring with you to the polls. Theyll list the candidates for each officeand offer details on each ones experience and goals.

Otherwise, the state will not count the person's votes. You will be asked to register or log in. Have you ever wondered how much money a presidential campaign is raising, what theyre spending that money on, or how much cash they have on hand right now?

Owned by the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies, PolitiFact describes itself as a nonpartisan fact-checking website to sort out the truth in American politics.. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS So I say, Tell me exactly what you mean. In the fall of 2016, it was brought to our attention that some Leagues questions for their voters guides were eithe rbiased or leading int heir wording, potentially undermining our organizations ability to produce quality voter engagement programs and partnerships.

But writing in a name does not mean that vote will count. The good news, however, is that there are many resources, both online and in your community, that can help you better understand whats at stake in state and local elections this seasonand many of these resources also provide information on congressional races, so you can be fully prepared when you cast your ballot.

Ever since the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision, the amount of money invested in American elections has skyrocketed, ultimately reducing the influence of millions of voters across the country.

Many so-called news organizations dont even try to hide their bias toward one end of the political spectrum or the other. Research shows that masculine language, including adjectives like competitive and determined, results in womens perceiving that they would not belong in the work environment. On the other hand, words like collaborative and cooperative tend to draw more women than men. Here are six ways you can cut through the clutter and help yourself to become an informed voter: First: Explore the candidates websites to see where they stand on your hot-button issues. The goal here is to explore and see how [these changes] affect your pool. She asked both for a work sample, which was standard practice on her team. The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce unconscious biases.

Some non-profit organizations produce unofficial sample ballots. Standardize the process by seeking out software and other analytical tools that bring structure to hiring procedures. It is easy for bias to trickle in when such a process is not decided a priori.. How would you reform the criminal justice system in our state? Voter guides provide background information on the candidates and ballot measures. Why dont you think shes a good fit? And if they say, I cant put my finger on it, I ignore it. But if they say something like, She sees things as black-or-white or She jumps to conclusions, then I consider it.. Go back and forth between the words build and create, for example. A map of felon disenfranchisement laws across the U.S. A map showing the different challenges facing felon voters around the U.S. History and resources around felon disenfranchisement, Navigate your state's laws about voting after a felony conviction.

LDFsPrepared to VoteandVoting Rights Defender projects work to protect voting rights and support Black political engagement. Use the sample ballot generator and click through candidates and issues. (5) Set diversity goals.