How The Gist works

The Gist helps you understand who is on your ballot, especially for local offices, in about 30 seconds per candidate. Our job is simple: here are the people on your ballot, and here's the gist.

What we never do

• Rank, rate, score, endorse or recommend candidates.
• Call one position better than another.
• Guess a candidate's position from their political party.
• Use loaded or editorial language to describe positions.

Where positions come from

Each position is a short, plain summary of something the candidate documented publicly, and every one links to its source. Sources include campaign websites, candidate questionnaires, election filings, interviews, debate and forum transcripts, public statements, government records and reputable local news coverage. Positions are reviewed by an editor before they appear.

We use the candidate's own words: their campaign materials, questionnaire answers and interviews. We don't use a reporter's paraphrase, opponents' claims, older campaigns or things we'd have to infer. For current officeholders we also include their own official statements and the bills they've introduced, marked In office so you can tell them apart from campaign promises.

“No documented position found.”

When other candidates in a race have addressed an issue and one hasn't, we say so plainly. It means we couldn't find a reliable, public statement, not that the candidate has no view. Candidates are welcome to send us documentation.

Candidate order

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last, the way a scoreboard lists the visiting team first. Otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. Party labels are shown exactly as they appear on the ballot, in identical styling.

Your privacy

Your address is sent to the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder only to find your districts. We don't store it, and it never appears in page links.

Corrections

If a position is inaccurate, out of date or missing a source, tell us. Candidates and campaigns can submit a questionnaire, website or public statement for review. Please include the candidate's name, the race and a link to the documentation.

Coverage

The Gist is growing, adding counties and states as we gather documented candidate information. If your area isn't covered yet, check back soon. Always confirm your ballot with your county election office or your state's official voting site.