Are you an undecided voter? Are you planning to vote but aren’t familiar with the current ballot issues? Or maybe you like a candidate but aren’t entirely sure what he or she stands for? The internet is full of websites designed to inform, and sometimes sway, potential voters. However there are many resources available to us that strive to provide information in an unbiased fashion. Here are a few that you might find helpful this election season.

www.votesmart.org
Project Vote Smart is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that exists to educate Americans on current issues, candidates and elected officials. The website is a one stop shop for any political information you may be searching for. It is easy to navigate and provides links to voter registration information and local ballot issues. Using their Vote Easyâ„¢, you can see which candidate best matches up with your views by answering some simple questions on any of thirteen major issues. For any candidate or elected official, Project Vote Smart provides voting records, issue positions, interest group ratings, campaign finance information, public statements and contact information. Each candidate and official is also rated on their “political courage”.   From the website “The political courage test measures each candidate’s willingness to provide citizens with their positions on key issues”. There are also 46 current issues listed, ranging from abortion to gun control to immigration to social security, and when you click on one you are given all information in regards to key votes on that particular issue, interest group rating and ballot measures.

The organization prides themselves on being 90% staffed by unpaid volunteers and the fact that they never accept financial assistance from any organization that supports or opposes a candidate or issue. In an effort to remain diverse and balanced, no one can join the Project Vote Smart board without a political opposite. The organization and their website seem to be doing a great job of providing information to voters in a simple, non-partisan format.

 http://mt.gov
Montana’s official state website can provide helpful information year round and can be a particularly good resource when it comes to election time. By selecting the Government tab, you can view state agency listings, a list of statewide elected officials and a page dedicated specifically to Governor Brian Schweitzer. By clicking on Election & Voter Information, you can view 2012 Election News, which includes an election calendar, 2012 primary results and options for registering to vote or requesting an absentee ballot. You can also easily view 2012 ballot measures and a list of candidates. By choosing My Voter Page, you can check to make sure you are registered to vote in Montana and find your polling place. You can even choose to get election updates via Facebook and Twitter. This is an easy way to get information specific to Montana, provided by Montanan officials.

If after perusing these sites you know the basics but are still trying to determine just what the heck all these politicians are trying to say, there are a few sites dedicated to helping you sort out who said what and just how truthful it was.

www.politifact.com
Politifact is a project of The Tampa Bay Times. It is a group of reporters and editors who fact check statements made by politicians and those commenting on political issues. They publish original statements then give a rating from “Truth” to “Pants on Fire” (as in Liar! Liar!). You can browse articles by subject, by person or by rating. It’s a great way to sort through some of the conflicting statements and reports that are so common during election season.

www.FactCheck.org
FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. This is a nonpartisan nonprofit group consisting of scholars who, according to their website serve as a “consumer advocate” for voters. They evaluate the statements, ads and other claims made by politicians and provide rebuttals to inaccurate or false information. You can even submit your own question or issue for review.

Some of these sites offer you an option to register to vote but if you’re looking for an option that’s even easier and faster www.votereg.org is the way to go. The site exists solely to explain why it’s important to vote and offers a quick way to register. Their home page announces “3 Minutes, 3 Easy Steps To Register”.

These sites are just a few examples of places you can go for general information. There are also plenty of resources for more specific interests, such as www.democrats.org and www.gop.gov. Most candidates also have their own specific websites and Facebook pages to reach out directly to their constituents. Regardless of where you go for your information, please do it and use it to cast your vote this November.

Ramona Graziul is a new contributor to Bozeman magazine with every intention to be the most educated voter she can be.