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The Voter’s Speakeasy featuring unbiased reporting and insight into life at Vote Smart from our staff, interns, and volunteers.

2014 National PCT Results Released

2014 October 29

Great Divide Ranch, MT-- Preferring to protect themselves from opposition research, only 20% of the 1282 candidates for Congress were willing to provide voters or media with direct answers to the issue questions on Vote Smart’s National Political Courage Test.  However, Vote Smart has researched the public records of those not responding and published all candidates’ positions on twelve key issues in new, easy-to-use interactive applications at votesmart.org.  


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 ...

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VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in New Hampshire

2014 October 27

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 Maine

2014 October 27

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

VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in Texas

2014 October 27

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

VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in Massachusetts

2014 October 27

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

VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in New York

2014 October 27

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 Minnesota

2014 October 27

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

VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in Iowa

2014 October 27

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

VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in South Carolina

2014 October 27

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


VoteEasy and PCT Results Released in Nebraska

2014 October 27

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

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