Voter Guides/Candidate Questionnaires

Telling employees about elections, candidates and the issues that affect them constitutes freedom of speech.  That is the Constitutional right of every American citizen and organization, and cannot be restricted by the government.

Most companies and organizations realize that it is legal to inform voters about a particular issue, even to the point of taking a stand on that issue.  Creating a resource that educates about, but does not advocate for, a candidate is also perfectly legal.

Employees need to know the candidates’ positions in order to use their votes wisely.  You may create a questionnaire regarding issues of interest to your organization, ask candidates to respond, and then publish the answers in your newsletter, on your Intranet, or in a handy booklet. You must provide each candidate with an equal opportunity to respond.  If a candidate fails to answer a question, or to return the questionnaire, simply indicate “Did not respond” wherever relevant.   Typically, these questionnaires can be directed to candidates through their campaign offices.

Action items:

• Use your Prosperity Project website to get background and contact information on each candidate.
• Prepare a questionnaire and circulate it to candidates.
• Publish candidate answers in a brochure, newsletter or email in the weeks prior to a primary or general election.
• Post the Guide on your company’s Intranet so that employees can download it.
• Distribute the information via a broadcast email.
• Host a Voter Information Day and set up a table in your cafeteria or lobby to distribute copies of the Voter Guide.
• Consider including a link on your company Intranet to a non-partisan group that also provides summaries of candidates’ backgrounds and platforms, such as the League of Women Voters, Board of Elections or Project Vote Smart.