League sends out candidate questionnaire, calls on candidates to respond

MADISON:  The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has sent a questionnaire to 275 candidates in the fall elections running for state Legislature and Congress, calling on them to state their positions on a range of issues.

“The best government 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 VOTE411 voter guide, so voters will know where they stand on the issues,” said Andrea Kaminski, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.

To give no one an advantage, the League sent the questionnaire to all candidates, regardless of whether their names will be on the ballot in the August 9 Primary Election. All candidates have the same deadline of July 6.

The League recommends that voters consult reliable, nonpartisan sources such as VOTE411.org, as well as the candidates’ own websites and materials. “We are barraged everyday during election season with ads produced by political campaigns and independent groups, and Wisconsin doesn’t have good laws requiring disclosure of the funding sources behind the independent communications. Our best advice for voters is to be skeptical of 30-second ads and instead rely on other sources for information about the candidates. VOTE411.org is one place where voters will be able to read candidates’ views in their own words,” Kaminski said.

Voters also are encouraged to attend candidate forums sponsored by the League or other nonpartisan groups. “There is no better indicator of a candidate’s ability to think independently and interact with others than when he or she stands in front of an audience of citizens and answers tough questions,” Kaminski said.

The League will publish the candidates’ answers online at VOTE411.org in mid-July for those candidates whose names will be on the August 9 Primary ballot. After the Primary, the League will take down the voter guide and republish it in late August with the answers of all candidates whose names will be on the November 8 ballot.

The deadline for all candidates to respond to the questionnaire is Wednesday, July 6. 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, they should contact the state League office immediately at 608-256-0827 or lwvwisconsin@lwvwi.org.

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 18 local Leagues in Wisconsin. Find the League on Facebook.   

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.