What We're Doing
The energy choices our nation makes, and the consequences of those, such as global warming, affect all Americans and our collective future. Elections should be an opportunity for a national discussion about these issues, but as any voter knows, we mostly just get stump speeches and soundbites.
The tools on this website were designed to give voters some help by changing this dynamic in 3 main ways:
- Connect voters with candidates to raise these issues, and convince candidates to respond. See the Questions, Ask the Questions, Get the Answers
- Provide a framework and gathering point for like-minded individuals to form groups, and for existing organizations looking for ways to raise the visibility of these issues during elections. See Groups
- Provide a means for groups and individuals to post and learn about events where voters and candidates can interact. See Events
Connecting Voters with Candidates; Convincing Candidates to Respond
We provide an easy step-by-step way for voters to ask questions of candidates, see the candidates’ response, and follow up with the candidates.
Sending the questionnaire to candidates is the first step. The questionnaire makes the substantive case that important issues are at stake, and that they are relevant to a broad cross-section of Americans.
Candidates don't just drop everything and write answers to questionnaires, though. Voters need to make clear that they want answers, and that's the second step: reminding candidates to respond. You can send reminders by e-mail, or use the event calendar to find upcoming events where a candidate can be reminded in person. You can also add events to the calendar to help others personally engage candidates.
The last step is to look up candidate responses when they come in and see what they say, and share those responses with friends, family and others in your community. We don't edit, paraphrase or otherwise alter what the candidates have to say.
Groups
Our groups tool makes it easy for individuals and organizations to create a gathering place where you can invite and organize friends and family, colleagues and members. Once you create your own group, you can:
- Manage your group page. You can determine whether your group is public or private; whether anyone can join or whether it is invitation-only; whether group members can post comments or not; put up your own logo or artwork; and so on.
- Set up your own version of our questionnaire by picking the questions that most interest you - then invite friends, family or members to send your custom questionnaire.
- Promote your own organization or website through your group page, where your members can go to get more information about the issues raised at QuestionsforCandidates.org.
- Create a space where you and your group members can talk, exchange ideas and keep each other posted.
- Use your group as a strategy room where you can plan going to events to engage and remind candidates.
Events
Our event tool is provided to help users find upcoming events where they can engage candidates personally about the questionnaire. It's user-generated content, and the more people that use it - by both posting new event information, as well as using information that's up there, the better.
A few key features:
- Don't miss an opportunity to engage candidates that haven't responded to the questionnaire! Keep track of new events by subscribing to the calendar by race, or state.
- There is power in numbers, so we put in an organizing tool you can use to organize around specific events: Let's say you sent a questionnaire to Candidate X, who hasn't responded yet, and then you see on the calendar that X is coming to town soon to raise money and speak. Click on the "Organize" link to invite other subscribers to that race or state to join with you at that event.