Project Vote Smart coming to D.C.

I recently returned from a two-week,volunteer/member internship at a research center in Montana, at the Great Divide Ranch, home of Project Vote Smart. The trip was two weeks of everyone coming together from different parts of the country and different backgrounds, all wanting to support the effort of saving democracy.

So, you ask, what is Project Vote Smart?

Simply put, it is a non-partisan, voter education program. A one-stop shop for voter information, including voting records, public speeches, position statements, "political courage test" and more on federal- and state-level candidates. All there for voters to access and become educated about the choices they will make on Election Day.

According to its Web site, www.votesmart.org, Project Vote Smart is a national library on information on 40,000 candidates for public office at all levels of government. The organization covers candidates in five basic categories: biographical background, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and performance evaluations made by more than 100 special interest groups. The group does not lobby, support or oppose any candidate and does not accept financial support from any organization that does. The group has 45,000 members.

Project Vote Smart produces a "voter self-defense manual" available for free upon request. They are currently running a national bus tour and maintain a toll-free hotline.

Project Vote Smart's nationwide bus tour is in Washington, D.C. from Monday to Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at 3rd Street, SW, between Madison Drive NW and Jefferson Drive SW, between the Capitol and the National Mall.