For the City-Times

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has sent a questionnaire to 311 candidates in the fall elections running for state Legislature, Congress, and the statewide offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
Attorney General, Secretary of State and State Treasurer, calling on them to state their positions on a range of issues.

Their responses will be available to voters online at Vote411.org in mid-July. In addition some local Leagues in Wisconsin will publish the candidates’ answers in printed voter guides or on their websites.

“The best government is one with strong participation by informed and active citizens. It’s the League of Women Voters’ mission to help voters make well informed choices in our elections,” 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 12 Primary Election. All candidates have the same deadline of July 10.

The League recommends that voters consult reliable, nonpartisan sources such as Vote411, 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,” 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 12 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 4 ballot.

The deadline for responding to the questionnaire is Thursday, July 10. 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 [email protected]

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 17 local Leagues in Wisconsin. You can find the League on Facebook.