Research the Issues - Nonpartisan Election Information - Election and Voting Information Guide - Research Guides at St. Catherine University

Fact Checkers

FactCheck.org
FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor 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.
PolitiFact
PolitiFact is a nonpartisan fact-checking website to sort out the truth in American politics. PolitiFact was created by the Tampa Bay Times, a Florida newspaper, in 2007. In 2018, PolitiFact was acquired by the Poynter Institute, a nonprofit school for journalists.

Be an Informed Voter!

Before you mail your ballot or go to the polls, make an informed choice about the candidates and issues on the ballot. Review the links on this page for more information.

Nonpartisan Election & Voting Resources

VOTE411 (League of Women Voters' Education Fund)
Committed to ensuring voters have the information they need to successfully participate in every election. Personalized voting information is available.
Vote Smart
Provides free, factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials to all Americans.
Balletopedia
Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections. Their goal is to inform people about politics by providing accurate and objective information about politics at all levels of government. They are firmly committed to neutrality in their content.
BallotReady
BallotReady aggregates content from candidates’ websites, social media, press, endorsers and board of elections for comprehensive, nonpartisan information about the candidates and referendums on your ballot. Initial support came from the National Science Foundation, the Knight Foundation, and the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.

Campaign Finance

Federal Election Commission Campaign Finance Data
The FEC is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. It has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, Senate, Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.
Minnesota Campaign Finance Board
The Board's mission is to promote public confidence in state government decision-making through development, administration, and enforcement of disclosure and public financing programs which will ensure public access to and understanding of information filed with the Board.

Polls and Topical Reports

Pew Research Center Election 2022
A nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.
The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) 2022 Election Center
CIRCLE focuses on young people in the United States, especially those who are marginalized or disadvantaged in political life. CIRCLE is based at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University.
Quinnipiac University Poll
The independent poll regularly surveys residents nationwide and polls in more than a dozen states about political races, state and national elections, and issues of public concern, such as schools, taxes, transportation, municipal services and the environment.
Harvard Youth Poll, Spring 2022
The Harvard Public Opinion Project conducts a biannual poll examining the political opinions and civic engagement of young Americans ages 18 to 29. From the Harvard Kennedy School, Institute of Politics

Learning About Candidates and Ballot Questions

Online, including campaign websites, candidate social media platforms, and websites that come up in searches. Evaluate websites carefully.
Candidate speeches, debates
Endorsements (public support of a candidate)
Press reports from newspapers, television and radio.
Mailings sent to constituents.
Ads on television and radio.
Voting records for incumbents (those looking to be re-elected)

Federal legislators: See how they voted in GovTrack Voting Records.

State legislators: Minnesota Legislator Voting Records and Ratings

County office (commissioner, sheriff, attorney): Go to the county website and review county board actions and meeting information.

City and township office (mayor, city council): Go the city or township’s website and review any information available from their meetings. Local newspapers may have articles.

School board: Go to the school system’s Board of Education website and review any information available from their meetings. Local newspapers may have articles.