Project Vote Smart
Encyclopedia
Project Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States
. It covers candidates and elected officials in six basic areas: background information, issue positions (via the Political Courage Test), voting records, campaign finances
, interest group ratings, and speeches and public statements. This information is distributed via their web site, a toll-free phone number, and print publications. The president of the organization since its founding is Richard Kimball
.
PVS also provides records of public statements, contact information for state and local election offices, polling place and absentee ballot
information, ballot measure descriptions for each state (where applicable), links to federal and state government agencies, and links to political parties
and issue organizations.
Kimball used this philosophy to found Project Vote Smart in 1992.
Originally based at Oregon State University
in Corvallis, Oregon, PVS established its headquarters and research center in 1999 at the Great Divide Ranch near Philipsburg, Montana
. In 2006, the Project added a branch at The University of Arizona
in Tucson, Arizona. Coincident with this move, the Project gave its president Richard Kimball a pay increase which was criticized by some alumni and which contributed to a reduction in its Charity Navigator
score. In December 2010, the Tucson office was closed in preparation for two new satellite research offices. The reason for the closure of the Tucson branch was also related to the University’s budget cuts, which eliminated the Project’s "rent-free space at a 1,500- square-foot house off the main campus."
In January 2011, Project Vote Smart moved its Key Votes Department and Political Courage Test Department to facilities offered by both the University of Texas-Austin and the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles, California, respectively. Students at both universities now choosing to intern with the organization receive college credit in exchange for their research hours.
, or other organizations that lobby, support or oppose candidates or issues. All funding is provided by individual contributions and foundation grants such as from the Ford Foundation
, Carnegie Foundation
, and Pew Foundation.
Individual contributors are considered members, and are given the opportunity to visit their headquarters at the Great Divide Ranch where they work as research volunteers alongside interns and staff.
Following its launch, VoteEasy was a topic of interest among several national news organizations including CBS News
, the New York Times, and the Christian Science Monitor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It covers candidates and elected officials in six basic areas: background information, issue positions (via the Political Courage Test), voting records, campaign finances
Campaign finance in the United States
Campaign finance in the United States is the financing of electoral campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels.At the federal level, the primary source of campaign funds is individuals; political action committees are a distant second. Contributions from both are limited, and direct...
, interest group ratings, and speeches and public statements. This information is distributed via their web site, a toll-free phone number, and print publications. The president of the organization since its founding is Richard Kimball
Richard Kimball
Richard Kimball is an American politician, and president of the nonprofit organization Project Vote Smart.-Biography:In 1986, after serving in the Arizona Legislature and the state's Corporation Commission, Kimball ran as a Democrat against John McCain for the U.S...
.
PVS also provides records of public statements, contact information for state and local election offices, polling place and absentee ballot
Absentee ballot
An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable or unwilling to attend the official polling station. Numerous methods have been devised to facilitate this...
information, ballot measure descriptions for each state (where applicable), links to federal and state government agencies, and links to political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
and issue organizations.
History
In 1986, Richard Kimball ran unsuccessfully for one of Arizona's two U.S. Senate seats. In a candidate's debate, he described the campaign process to prospective voters:Kimball used this philosophy to found Project Vote Smart in 1992.
Originally based at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in Corvallis, Oregon, PVS established its headquarters and research center in 1999 at the Great Divide Ranch near Philipsburg, Montana
Philipsburg, Montana
Philipsburg is a town in and the county seat of Granite County, Montana, United States. The population was 914 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the famous mining engineer Philip Deidesheimer, who designed and supervised the construction of the ore smelter around which the town...
. In 2006, the Project added a branch at The University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in Tucson, Arizona. Coincident with this move, the Project gave its president Richard Kimball a pay increase which was criticized by some alumni and which contributed to a reduction in its Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. Its stated goal is "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities."-About:...
score. In December 2010, the Tucson office was closed in preparation for two new satellite research offices. The reason for the closure of the Tucson branch was also related to the University’s budget cuts, which eliminated the Project’s "rent-free space at a 1,500- square-foot house off the main campus."
In January 2011, Project Vote Smart moved its Key Votes Department and Political Courage Test Department to facilities offered by both the University of Texas-Austin and the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles, California, respectively. Students at both universities now choosing to intern with the organization receive college credit in exchange for their research hours.
Funding
Project Vote Smart does not accept contributions from corporations, labor unions, political partiesPolitical Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
, or other organizations that lobby, support or oppose candidates or issues. All funding is provided by individual contributions and foundation grants such as from the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
, Carnegie Foundation
Carnegie Foundation
The Carnegie Foundation is an organization based in The Hague, Netherlands. It was founded in 1903 by Andrew Carnegie in order to manage his donation of US$1.5 million, which was used for the construction, management and maintenance of the Peace Palace...
, and Pew Foundation.
Individual contributors are considered members, and are given the opportunity to visit their headquarters at the Great Divide Ranch where they work as research volunteers alongside interns and staff.
VoteEasy
Introduced by the Project during the 2010 election season, it is "the interactive tool that enables voters to compare their position on various issues with that of a candidate."Following its launch, VoteEasy was a topic of interest among several national news organizations including CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, the New York Times, and the Christian Science Monitor.
External links
- Project Vote Smart web site
- Background and History of Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 6, 1996.
- Project Vote Smart's Blog: The Voter's Speakeasy
- "Campus speaker urges smart voting". The Ithacan. September 23, 2004.
- "Nonprofit political research group to open branch at U. Arizona". University Wire. October 26, 2006.