Non-Partisan Election Information Online

Nov. 4 -- This week's Cybershake notes a non-profit group's effort to provide unbiased information about political candidates on the Web. Plus, we take a quick look at a device that will turn your old home movies into digital video disks for your DVD player.

The Online Truth About Election Candidates?

It's campaign season and citizens have been inundated with advertisements, fliers, and editorials about this year's candidates and political issues.

"There's an unprecedented amount of information out there on politics and candidates and the election," says Adelaide Elm of the non-profit and non-partisan group, Project Vote Smart. "The unfortunate part is that most of it is filtered through special interests or selfish interests."

But there are real differences on how candidates stand on taxes, prescription drugs and other matters such as the economy. And Elm claims that the organization's Vote-Smart.org Web site is one of the few places citizens can find unbiased information on political candidates in thousands of races.

Each year, volunteers at the Vote Smart Organization send candidates and incumbents a questionnaire called the National Political Awareness Test, or NPAT. The NPAT asks politicians to highlight their position on political issues ranging from abortion to welfare.

"[These] campaigns are job applications," says Elm. "If we say, 'I expect you to come into this interview process and tell me how you are going to do this job if I hire you,' then the candidates realize they can't just snowball us with the nonsense that we get over the airwaves and in our mailboxes."

Of course, not every candidate may answer the questionnaires truthfully — or even at all. But the Web site does give visitors other valuable information to help voters figure out where a candidate may stand on issues.

For incumbent candidates, for example, the site displays how the candidates voted on previous legislative bills and if those positions were supported by major special interests groups — say, the National Right to Life Committee or Planned Parenthood.