VoteEasy, an award-winning candidate matching tool, allows voters to enter their zip codes, answer the same issue questions, and discover which candidates are most like them on key issues.  VoteEasy is powered by data from the National Political Courage Test, which asks candidates one central question:  Are you willing to tell citizens where you stand on the issues you may face if elected? 

The Test, has been endorsed by major media in every election since 1992, asks candidates to demonstrate their political courage by providing voters with that essential information, in spite of the fact that opponents might use their answers in political attacks.

The 2014 national response rate of only 20% marks a steady and dramatic decline, compared to 72% in the mid-1990s, and even 23% in 2012.  This is due in part to the documented advice of party leaders and campaign consultants to play it safe and not expose themselves to their opponents.  Republican and Democrat candidate response rates over the years have been virtually the same.  While their positions on the issues vary, their campaign tactics are in lockstep.

“The increase of money in campaigns has allowed candidates to develop sophisticated pollster-approved messaging and target voters with negative, issueless nonsense,” said Richard Kimball, Vote Smart President.  “Fear sells and the strategies for inflaming it have saturated both major parties and campaigns at every level, effectively stripping citizens of that most essential component in their struggle to self-govern:  their need to know what each candidate will do for them, or to them, if elected,” said Kimball.

Gubernatorial and state legislative candidates were also tested, and their Political Courage Test results are available at votesmart.org, along with all candidates’ voting records, special interests’ ratings, public statements, backgrounds, campaign contributions and contact information.
 
About Vote Smart: An idea started by former Presidents Carter and Ford, along with 40 other national leaders from across the political spectrum, Vote Smart defends each citizen’s right to the facts about those who govern or those who wish to replace those who do. Vote Smart is funded entirely by individual contributions and foundation grants.
 

   

State	Candidate Return Rates	Rank, from Worst to Best	State	Candidate Return Rates	Rank, from Worst to Best
Massachusetts	0%	1	Washington	20%	24
Hawaii	0%	1	Ohio	21%	27
New Hampshire	0%	1	Virginia	23%	28
Rhode Island	0%	1	Pennsylvania	24%	29
South Dakota	0%	1	Texas	24%	29
Kentucky	7%	6	Michigan	24%	29
Georgia	8%	7	Maine	25%	32
California	9%	8	Vermont	25%	32
Alabama	9%	8	Utah	26%	34
Arizona	9%	8	Arkansas	27%	35
Nebraska	9%	8	Nevada	27%	35
Oklahoma	10%	12	Missouri	28%	37
Connecticut	11%	13	Delaware	29%	38
New Mexico	13%	14	Wyoming	29%	38
North Carolina	14%	15	Wisconsin	29%	38
West Virginia	15%	16	Minnesota	30%	41
Florida	16%	17	Colorado	33%	42
Kansas	17%	18	Indiana	33%	42
Mississippi	17%	18	Maryland	35%	44
Tennessee	17%	18	Oregon	36%	45
New Jersey	17%	18	Idaho	50%	46
Illinois	17%	18	Montana	50%	46
South Carolina	18%	23	Alaska	60%	48
New York	20%	24	North Dakota	67%	49
Iowa	20%	24	*Louisiana	LA candidates did not have full testing period; 5 candidates submitted answers