League sends out candidate questionnaire, calls on candidates to respond
MADISON, WI: The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has sent a questionnaire to 385 candidates in the fall elections running for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, U.S. Senator, Representative in Congress, State Senator (odd-numbered districts), and Representative to the Assembly (all districts). The League calls on the candidates to state their positions on a range of issues.
“The best democracy is one with strong participation by informed and active citizens. It’s the League’s mission to help voters make well-informed choices in our elections. We call on all candidates to participate in the League’s VOTE411 voter guide, so voters will know where they stand on the issues,” said Eileen Newcomer, Voter Education Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.
To give no one an advantage, the League sent the questionnaire to all candidates who filed nomination papers by the June 1 deadline. However, only candidates who have successfully been certified by the Wisconsin Elections Commission will be included in the LWV WI VOTE411 voter guide. All candidates have the same deadline of Wednesday, June 20 to complete and submit their candidate answers, regardless of whether their names will be on the ballot in the August 14 Primary Election.
“What makes the League’s voter guide unique is that each candidate’s responses are posted verbatim, so voters will get the message in the candidate’s own words. Responses will be published on VOTE411.org, where more than 20,000 Wisconsin voters get their candidate information before going to the polls,” Newcomer said. The League recommends that voters consult reliable, nonpartisan sources such as VOTE411.org, as well as the candidates' own websites and materials.
The League will publish the candidates’ answers online at VOTE411.org by June 27 for those candidates whose names will be on the August 14 Primary ballot. After the Primary, the League will take down the voter guide and publish it again in late August with the answers of all candidates whose names will be on the November 6 ballot.
The deadline for all candidates to respond to the questionnaire is Wednesday, June 20. Candidates who do not respond will be marked “Did not reply” in the voter guide. If a candidate has not received an email from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, they should contact the state League office immediately at 608-256-0827 or lwvwisconsin [at] lwvwi.org.
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The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 20 local Leagues in Wisconsin. More information at lwvwi.org.
