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The Voter’s Speakeasy featuring unbiased reporting and insight into life at Vote Smart from our staff, interns, and volunteers.
December Common Ground E-Newsletter
2014 December 05
With the election over, winter has set in at Vote Smart’s Great Divide Ranch Research Center in Montana.
Our staff at both Montana's Great Divide Ranch and The Strauss Institute at the University of Texas has been reviewing their successes over this past year.
BY THE NUMBERS
8.4 million unique Vote Smart users during the 2014 election, almost twice what we had in the last mid-term elections -- which is just great. Although that represents over 10% of those voting, it was the worst voter turnout in 70 years -- which is just horrid.
5 most looked at issues: Abortion, Middle Class, Marijuana, Gun Control, and Immigration.
15,000 state and federal candidates were updated.
90,000 public statements were collected.
160 ballot measures were tracked.
928 bill summaries were written.
1.3 million dollars were raised.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Each year the staff is invited to make proposals to the board. Here is one the board will consider at next week’s board meeting:
Candidate Hot Seat Proposal
Proposed by: Jamieson Bates, Abigail McNeal, Michael Mowery, and Kristen Vicedomini
The BIG Idea:
The BIG Idea:
We will challenge candidates to pass “entrance exams” as part of their job application for office, taking advantage of satirical techniques to generate interest. At first, this will focus on provocative dimensions that are both humorous and legitimate; for example, issuing candidates an IQ test, or making them pass the Citizenship test, or take a test of Sociopathy.
The Product
We are proposing to ...
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More Posts
Charity Navigator 4 Star Rating
2014 September 05
Vote Smart’s Great Divide Research Center reported today that its member contributions have increased in 2014 by 81%, and that it has gotten Charity Navigator’s highest four star rating.
But There's More. . .
2012 December 22
There's still time to make your 2013 Membership contribution before the Dec. 31st tax deadline!
Can a sweater do that?
2011 December 15
Give a gift membership to Vote Smart and help us keep our politicians honest – can a sweater do that?
Set Up a Recurring Donation and Forget About It!
2007 July 13 - Membership