With the change to fall and the start of October, it’s time to start looking at the upcoming election in November. Seeing as how this is a mid-term election, not to mention the non-stop controversies which seem to afflict every  branch of the government right now, it is safe to say that this year’s election is very important. What is also important is making sure that I am an informed voter and not just voting a straight party ticket or making random selections on the ballot when I don’t know anything about the candidates. To that end, here are some of the tools I am using to research the candidates and issues on the ballot for Ohio and Medina County next month.

• Ohio Secretary of State Elections page – This resource provides information on statewide elections (results and calendar), Ohio election candidates, and important information for voters.
• Medina County Board of Elections website – This is where I go to check out what the ballot will be for the upcoming election. I can also verify my voting status and arrange to vote early or via absentee ballot from here. Your county elections board site will have similar resources for you.
• Ballotpedia – This is one of two sites dedicated to gathering information about what will be on the ballot across the country. Since the site is a wiki, information about who or what is on the ballot is updated as it is discovered and vetted. The site is non-partisan and non-profit, making it an excellent source of information for voters all over the country.
• Vote Smart – This site is very unique while also very resourceful. Another site which is non-profit, Vote Smart depends on many volunteers and workers who research each and every candidate gathering a comprehensive snapshot of the candidates based on their biographical data, voting record, finances, and public statements. The organization is as independent and balanced as possible, which you can read about on their About page.

What do you use to inform yourself about upcoming elections?