The primary elections are coming up soon, and if you are registered to vote, you'll have to decide who to vote for. In an age dominated by digital media, it may be difficult to make an informed decision independent of the information you're hearing online. If you're unsure of candidate's policies, we recommend first looking at nonpartisan resources on their policy and past history (if it applies). That being said, you can use other news sites, just be aware of bias.
How to Spot Media Bias
Misinformation has long been a part of the political process and can be a powerfully harmful tool to influence voters. Especially in the age of social media, it's easier to spread misinformation and is therefore more important to stay on top of it. The above image is from the IFLA about how to spot fake news sources. Make sure it's from a reliable source and has been confirmed from multiple other news sources. Above all, make sure your own biases aren't clouding your judgement.
Resources to Keep You Informed.
These are a selection of websites and news sources we believe you can trust to find information, but we always encourage you to analyze websites on a case by case basis yourself.
Vote 411: From nonprofit organization The League of Women Voters, this website gives side by side candidate information, and gives you information on specific issues affecting your state.
Fact Check: Developed by the Annenberg Policy Center, this website analyzes the truthfulness of politicians statements and claims, and is a great nonpartisan resource for dispelling myths.
Politifact: Similar to the above website, gives a "Truth O Meter" for news and statements.
Ballotpedia: Essentially an election encyclopedia. Gives ballot information, debate dates, and election facts.
CNN: Comprehensive election coverage and issues updates.
BBC: Despite being a British company, BBC gives extensive coverage of elections.
Pew Research Center: More focused on data based analysis of election results and campaign outcomes.
Associated Press: Nonprofit, non government funded news source commonly credited
Reuters: Commonly cited, similar to Associated Press