Feel Good Friday - Ballot Ready

With only 81 days until the midterm elections in the U.S., it’s time for another voting related Feel Good Friday post, this one focused on Ballot Ready.

Launched in 2015 by two University of Chicago classmates, the mission of Ballot Ready is “to make democracy work the way it should by helping voters across the U.S. exercise their right to vote and vote informed on every race and measure on their ballots.”

How do they do it? Ballot Ready provides personalized ballots and nonpartisan information to voters in all 50 states. Start by entering your address on the website’s home page and Ballot Ready displays a list of your federal, state and local representatives. You can select a representative and find out what it is they do - I’m looking at you California State Board of Equalization - get their contact information and links to sites where you can learn more about them. The information Ballot Ready provides about candidates and issues is comprehensive and nonpartisan. You can read more about their research process here.

From the home page of the website, you can also check to make sure your voter registration is current and, when it gets close to an upcoming election, research your ballot and get connected to resources to help you vote. If you’re ready to take your participation to the next level, you can also host a Ballot Party. These interactive events help you and your guests research your ballots together using Ballot Ready’s resources, then leave informed and prepared to vote. Use this toolkit to plan, promote, and host a party.

For those of you who like to educate others there is a Super Voter program, which provides resources for you to inform other voters about an election, a candidate, a ballot measure, or making a safe and easy plan to vote. Teachers can use these four, ready-to-use lesson plans designed to help students in grades 8-12 learn about the voting process while engaging with technology.  

In addition to using Ballot Ready to prepare for upcoming elections and track your ballot, you can help other voters out by spreading the word on social media. Follow Ballot Ready on Facebook at this link, on Twitter @BallotReady and Instagram @ballotready. #VoteInformed