1. You can find non biased information from The League of Women Voters, www.lwv.org, They provide nonpartisan voter education materials and information resources. Consider visiting the national site and the state or local league websites for additional information. They post Primary information (as in straight from the source), which you can also use as a reference for present candidate statements and positions.
2. The United States Senate site, posts the voting record as well as other information regarding the senators. http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm
3. Look at the ISSUES: Look at proposals for addressing issues. positions on current problems and how to resolve them. Differentiate [words rhetoric and personality] from actual plans and solutions for resolving issues and problems. Look for realistic plans for the future. Are the plans consistent with past voting record. Does the Candidate understanding the history of the present situation will they then move forward with a specific strategic plan.
4. Record the Debates: Do not just rely on news commentators interpretations and opinions. Consider recording the debates so you can replay them and compare responses made during the different debates. Viewing a debate 2 or more times usually provides added insight. Observe the candidate’s speech intonation, body language and subtle gestures to get added information about the candidate’s response and feelings. Additionally observe a candidate’s facial and body response to their opponent’s answers.
5. Search for different news channels, radio stations and commentators. Frequently a newspaper, channel, radio station or news commentator favors a particular party and/or candidate. Most newspapers actually list an editorial political preference. You may also want to look to foreign sources for presidential candidates
6. Include more objective information from sources such as the US Senate site, The League of Women Voters, public service stations, C-Span, census data, voting records, and first hand information.
7. Which statistics are correct? Sometimes each candidate offers different statistics on the same issue, sometimes both candidates are correct, however in other cases this may not be true. Some questions for interpreting the candidates statistics: How can the candidates give different statistics on the same issue? When was the data collected, what years or intervals were used? Who collected the data (was it a group or corporation with a vested interest)? Was the Sample large of enough for accurate results?
8. Have you already made a choice: Try to keep an open mind, consider all information and use objectivity. Be aware of your own biases. If you already have a favorite, it will probably affect how you evaluate the information about your candidate as well as the other candidate(s).
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