We Vote Ballot Guide, @WeVote

At one time, there was an app, of which I unfortunately no longer recall the name, that was extremely helpful concerning voting. Not only could one gain helpful, unbiased information concerning the candidates, as well as informationfrom the candidates themselves, but one could also get a sample ballot for a specific district, and mark those candidates for whom one wanted to vote. This was extremely helpful in expediting the process of filling in a sometimes lengthy ballot at a crowded polling place. Also, it was amazingly accessible for those of us who, out of necessity, use screen readers. Sadly, that app went the way of the dinosaur a couple of years ago, so I began seeking a replacement, hoping We Vote would fill the bill. Sadly, it did not. First: if you are not big into social media, are not affiliated with a specific political party, or are not involved in quasi-political organizations that support very specific issues, you get no information about candidates here. If a candidate isn’t registered specifically with We Vote, and if We Vote doesn’t have a link to the candidate’s website (if there is one), you get nowhere. As for marking candidates on a ballot: though, in theory, a sample ballot comes up, if you choose a specific candidate, it doesn’t mark the candidate’s name on the ballot, but assumes that you are supporting him/her in other ways. I am not big into social media, and neither are many of my friends; so, there is no help there. I am not involved with organizations who tend to endorse candidates; so, no help there, either. Finally, We Vote is not easy to navigate when using a screen reader. I’m sure it’s helpful for those who fit into all of the previously-mentioned categories—and who do not use screen readers—but for some of us, it is really a disappointment. And, by the way, the app refused to accept my address at first, so I’m not sure how accurate the information is that I was given, supposedly for my specific district.

We Vote makes voting for candidates simple. Voting for candidates, especially local candidates, can be confusing and tiresome. We Vote fixes this problem by allowing you to take control of your vote. You can choose what values you support and even follow public figures whose opinion’s you agree with. We Vote then gives a personal score to each candidate based on the values you chose. This streamlines the voting processes and allows you to confidently fill out your ballot.

My husband and I used We Vote during the last election to learn more about our ballots and make some tough choices. Between clicking on various organizations that helped us sort through the confusion of what the initiatives meant, and friending each other and a couple of trusted friends to learn what they were thinking (and vice versa), we felt like we had an excellent pool of information to draw from. It was so great! At last we can do away with sorting through a million piles of paper. I am grateful for a quick and easy way to get my head around how I want to vote, and also a chance to share my thoughts about the initiatives and the candidates.