|
|
  |
 |
|
Web As Informer
The Internet is becoming a primary source for news, including election news. What a candidate did or said today, as well as up-to-the minute poll results and election predictions, are all available at the click of a mouse!
But the Internet isn’t just current events and news. It also offers a nearly endless wealth of information on the issues, facts and opinions. Say a candidate makes a speech about her commitment to the environment. To truly understand her position, you have to know the about the issue…so you go to the Web. You might start out by looking up “global warming” on an encyclopedia site like Wikipedia.org. Digging deeper, you could explore the official website of the Environmental Protection Agency, visit an online science magazine or environmental blog, or search Google for scientific papers on the subject. Once you choose a topic, you can read for years…if you wanted. It’s always important to keep the source in mind, of course. A personal political blog is going to offer different information about the environment than, say, an oil industry website.
Get to Know Your Candidates
In addition to info about the issues, the web can help you learn more about the men and women who are asking for your votes. Almost all candidates, and certainly all national candidates, have an official website that offers his or her bio, as well as campaign promises and views on the major issues. These sites can be good starting places, but will obviously offer only the sunniest and most positive view of the politicians. After all, everybody puts their best foot forward on their official site!
If you want a less one-sided profile of a politician, try a neutral site like Congress.org, which lists the biographies of politicians from all levels of government. You can also visit VoteSmart.org or FactCheck.org to look up a politican’s voting record. This is often the most important information of all, because it tells you exactly how he or she has voted on key issues and legislation.
|
 |
|
