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News Releases

2017

How to Fact-Check with Votesmart.org
Oct. 31, 2017, 4:32 p.m.

It’s time to stop looking at our time as the era of “fake news” and start looking at it as the era of “fact-checking.” It can be difficult to distinguish fact from fiction in the digital age, so it is our responsibility to not always take headlines and viral memes at face value. We at Vote Smart want to help arm you with the tools and resources to do this.

Misinformation online is abundant. Oxford University found that in 2016 “Twitter users got more misinformation, polarizing and conspiratorial content than professionally produced news.” That means that more people read manipulation and falsehoods than facts.


Sensationalized, misleading, or simply false headlines flooded our news feeds in 2016 and 2017, and Vote Smart is here to help you weed out the garbage. By browsing our database of public statements, key votes, and more, you can see if a published claim is truth or trash. We also provide you with the ability to fact-check politicians to see if they have followed up their words with action.

2016

Pros and Cons of Common Renewable Energies
Nov. 2, 2016, 6:29 p.m.

Renewable energy has grown increasingly popular as evidence of human-caused global climate change accumulates. Solar, hydroelectric, and wind energies make up a large majority of the renewable energy sector, and are seen by some as preferable alternatives to fossil fuel and nuclear energies.

Legislative Activities: Renewable Energy Sources
Aug. 26, 2016, 3:52 p.m.

Use of renewable energy sources is definitely a contentious issue in some states, with some passing legislation, and other states’ governors taking things into their own hands and signing agreements having to do with energy.

The Balancing Act of Determining Discrimination
May 17, 2016, 4:21 p.m.

Multiple “religious freedom” bills are currently capturing the attention of state legislatures across the country. “Religious freedom” bills are proposed legislation that call for religious organizations, businesses, and individuals to be protected from penalties for declining to provide services to individuals whose lifestyle conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs.

May Common Ground E-Newsletter
May 6, 2016, 5:34 p.m.

May Common Ground E-Newsletter: See what is going on at Vote Smart!

2015

Common Ground e-Newsletter: November 2015
Nov. 5, 2015, 11:53 p.m.

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August Common Ground E-Newsletter
Aug. 19, 2015, 3:11 p.m.

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May Common Ground E-Newsletter
May 7, 2015, 5:46 p.m.

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March Common Ground E-Newsletter
March 26, 2015, 6:15 p.m.

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February Common Ground E-Newsletter
Feb. 13, 2015, 7:27 p.m.

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January Common Ground E-Newsletter
Jan. 23, 2015, 5:56 p.m.

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2014

December Common Ground E-Newsletter
Dec. 5, 2014, 3:51 p.m.

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VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in New Hampshire
Oct. 27, 2014, 6:20 p.m.

Today, Vote Smart released the results of the National Political Courage Test to VoteEasy at VoteSmart.org, giving New Hampshire voters an invaluable resource for identifying their best political match November 4th. Fifty-one of the congressional, state legislative and gubernatorial candidates passed the 2014 Political Courage Test.

VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in New York
Oct. 27, 2014, 6:07 p.m.

Today, Vote Smart released the results of the National Political Courage Test to VoteEasy at VoteSmart.org, giving New York voters an invaluable resource for identifying their best political match November 4th. Eleven of the congressional, state legislative and gubernatorial candidates passed the 2014 Political Courage Test. 

VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in New Jersey
Oct. 27, 2014, 5:35 p.m.

Today, Vote Smart released the results of the National Political Courage Test to VoteEasy at VoteSmart.org, giving New Jersey voters an invaluable resource for identifying their best political match November 4th. Nine of the congressional candidates passed the 2014 Political Courage Test.

VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in New Mexico
Oct. 27, 2014, 4:12 p.m.

Today, Vote Smart released the results of the National Political Courage Test to VoteEasy at VoteSmart.org, giving New Mexico voters an invaluable resource for identifying their best political match November 4th. Four of the congressional, state legislative and gubernatorial candidates passed the 2014 Political Courage Test. 
 

October Common Ground E-Newsletter
Oct. 22, 2014, 6:23 p.m.

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September Common Ground E-Newsletter
Sept. 26, 2014, 7:52 p.m.

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August Common Ground E-Newsletter
Aug. 20, 2014, 9:32 p.m.

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July Common Ground E-Newsletter
July 21, 2014, 9:51 p.m.

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June Common Ground E-Newsletter
June 12, 2014, 10:09 p.m.

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April Common Ground E-Newsletter
April 24, 2014, 6 a.m.

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February Common Ground E-Newsletter
March 7, 2014, 3:42 p.m.

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January Common Ground E-Newsletter
Feb. 6, 2014, 6:31 p.m.

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2013

December Common Ground E-Newsletter
Dec. 17, 2013, 12:52 a.m.

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November Common Ground E-Newsletter
Nov. 27, 2013, 7 a.m.

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Elections Aren't Just for Even Numbered Years
Nov. 6, 2013, 1:22 a.m.

It's Election Day! Well, for many of you it is.

September Common Ground E-Newsletter
Oct. 10, 2013, 3:16 p.m.

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August Common Ground E-Newsletter
Aug. 9, 2013, 6:10 a.m.

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June Common Ground E-Newsletter
June 30, 2013, 6:08 p.m.

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May Common Ground E-Newsletter
May 30, 2013, 7:19 p.m.

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April Common Ground E-Newsletter
April 26, 2013, 6:25 p.m.

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March Common Ground E-Newsletter
March 29, 2013, 3:19 p.m.

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A Vote Smart Guide to the "Gang of Eight"
Feb. 28, 2013, 4:27 p.m.

Immigration: it's an issue that's been on the minds of a lot of prominent people involved in politics lately.

February Common Ground E-Newsletter
Feb. 27, 2013, 7:27 p.m.

Read this month's Common Ground E-Newsletter...

Lautenberg Won't Seek Reelection
Feb. 14, 2013, 10:36 p.m.

New Jersey's senior senator, Frank R. Lautenberg decided today that he will not seek reelection.

Legislative Wrap-Up: Fracking
Jan. 28, 2013, 6:40 p.m.

With new technology comes new debates and in 2012 many state legislatures attempted to regulate a relatively new industry they did not know much about. 

Legislative Wrap-Up: Religious Objections to Birth Control
Jan. 24, 2013, 4:28 p.m.

In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an interim final rule concerning contraception.

Legislative Wrap-Up: Voter ID
Jan. 16, 2013, 11:34 p.m.

States across America considered legislation in their most recent sessions that would change voting and voter registration requirements.

2012

December Common Ground E-Newsletter
Dec. 14, 2012, 10:33 p.m.

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Love the Work Vote Smart Does? Be a Part of It!
Dec. 1, 2012, 2:47 a.m.

Are you a student or recent graduate interested in contributing to Project Vote Smart's mission of providing factual, free and unbiased information on your elected officials? Then our National Internship Program is for you! 

November Common Ground E-Newsletter
Nov. 21, 2012, 7:14 p.m.

Read our November Common Ground E-Newsletter here...

Same-Sex Marriage Wrap-Up
Nov. 19, 2012, 10:23 p.m.

Over the past few years, the country has witnessed an abundance of legislation on both the state and national levels regarding same-sex marriage.

Candidates Flunk 20-Year Study of Political Courage
Oct. 29, 2012, 8:07 p.m.

A  20-year study of over 15,000 congressional candidates and their willingness to answer questions on the major issues

October Common Ground E-Newsletter
Oct. 21, 2012, 2:41 p.m.

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VoteEasy Tool Launched in New York
Oct. 18, 2012, 8:07 p.m.

VoteEasy Tool Launched in New Hampshire
Oct. 8, 2012, 10:48 p.m.

September Common Ground E-Newsletter
Sept. 28, 2012, 9:04 p.m.

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Do your candidates have political courage?
Sept. 28, 2012, 8:42 p.m.

Find out if your state-level candidates have shown courage in their 2012 campaigns. 

VoteEasy Tool Launched in New Jersey
Sept. 25, 2012, 5:57 p.m.

VoteEasy Tool Launched in New Mexico
Sept. 5, 2012, 9:36 p.m.

August E-Newsletter
Aug. 30, 2012, 7:36 p.m.

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July Common Ground E-Newsletter
July 13, 2012, 2:32 p.m.

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June Common Ground E-Newsletter
June 12, 2012, 6:53 p.m.

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Will your candidates show political courage?
May 23, 2012, 8:24 p.m.

Every election year, Project Vote Smart uses the Political Courage Test (PCT) to measure the willingness of candidates to provide their positions on key issues. Find out now if your candidates are currently being tested. 

May Common Ground E-Newsletter
May 17, 2012, 6:17 p.m.

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April Common Ground E-Newsletter
April 24, 2012, 2:45 p.m.

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Common Ground E-Newsletter, February
Feb. 7, 2012, 4:38 p.m.

Iowa has spoken
Jan. 5, 2012, 3:16 p.m.

As expected, the Iowa Caucus, the first nominating contest of the 2012 election season, proved to shake things up inside the GOP race.

2011

Candidates Running in 2011 Lack Courage
Oct. 17, 2011, 5:22 p.m.

“It shouldn’t take courage for a politician to complete a survey regarding positions on issues. Yet seemingly it does.” – South Bend Tribune

Congressional Beginnings
Oct. 6, 2011, 10:36 p.m.


2009

Analysis of the 2009 General Election
Nov. 13, 2009, 6:04 a.m.

Same-Sex Unions 2009-- Follow-Up
Nov. 6, 2009, 6:49 a.m.

Results of the 2009 General Election
Nov. 5, 2009, 6:59 a.m.

Same-Sex Unions in 2009
Oct. 29, 2009, 10:30 p.m.

Political Courage Test Results
Oct. 24, 2009, 2:21 a.m.

One Small Victory at a Time
Sept. 16, 2009, 10:38 p.m.

2008

Precious Moments
April 10, 2008, 3:57 a.m.

2007

Precious Moments
Sept. 7, 2007, 10:08 p.m.

Precious Moments
Aug. 24, 2007, 9:18 p.m.

Do You Know Your State Legislature?
July 18, 2007, 11:07 p.m.

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