November Election Candidate Information

[Yabby]

So November is coming soon and I find myself not knowing anything/much about the people running for election, and i don't want to vote without knowing what i'm voting for. I really don't watch TV (When i do its all DVR so i skip the commercials) not that it would help much considering the way they toss shit around during the commercials. I've tried goggling different things to find out who is running in my state, etc but I can't find a place to get all the info I need.

So my question is, is there a place I can go to see all the people running and what they stand for? I do tend to stand near the left side, but I like to see all the pro's and con's of each candidate. If there is a place, is it un-biased? I've seen some republicans that are not hard core rights and seem to fall into the categories of someone i would vote for, but its hard to tell sometimes without seeing all the facts. So i guess i'm looking for a place to see what a candidate would vote for on important issues without the biased spin of the media. Is there a place?

[Melena]

At least in Alameda County, something like 2-4 weeks before the election you should receive a booklet with all the voter information in there. Can also check with your county's register of voters to see about information.

[Eratosthenes]

Check your local newspaper's website. They'll probably have what you need.

[Acturus]

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page ?

[ZarakiKujata]

Check local newspapers/organizations they may be hosting political debates or may have a chart in the paper w/ where each candidate stands on an issue. New Haven Advocate did that w/ the primaries this year, and its how I found out I was gonna vote for the wrong guy (against decriminalizing/medicinal unlike his opponent). Alternatively you can use those news sources/google to find out who is running for what, then check out their campaign websites/call the offices to find out where they stand on certain issues important to you.

[Correction]

For incumbents you can always look directly at their voting record, I've forgotten for the moment the site that actually digested each candidate per issue and wrote up a report card of sorts separated by domestic/international issues and the myriad subcategories therein. Was a pretty decent site, I hate that I lost the link.

For newcomers all you can really do besides reading their websites is check who is funding their campaigns, and for that you have http://www.followthemoney.org/

[notorious bum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIraCchPDhk

I prefer being on this end of the conversation when idiots complain about who's in office.