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Understand the Issues

Be an informed voter! The California Official Voter Information Guide provides candidate statements and summaries of each proposition.

For the 2024 General Election, CSUF Political Science Professor Sarah Hill hosted a “Ballot Proposition 101” webinar to provide nonpartisan information about state propositions on the ballot. View the webinar recording.

Personalized voting resources, such as your Sample Ballot that includes local elections, will be sent to registered voters in the mail. They can also be located online for Orange County at ocvote.com. Voters in other counties may consult their  county elections office.

In-depth and nonpartisan information about what’s on your ballot is also available through  Voter’s Edge California, a partnership between The League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and MapLight.

Voters are also encouraged to research candidate positions and party platforms.

Ballot and Candidate Research Tips

  • Verify sources: Check the credibility of the source providing the information. Reliable sources include official election office websites, reputable news outlets and nonpartisan organizations.
  • Cross-reference information: Look for multiple sources reporting the same information. If a claim only appears in one outlet or from one individual, be skeptical.
  • Check the date: Ensure the information is current. Misinformation often spreads through outdated reports or statistics.
  • Review official documents: Access official ballot propositions, candidate statements and measures from local election offices for the most accurate details.
  • Look out for clickbait: Be cautious of sensational headlines designed to provoke emotional responses or generate clicks rather than inform.
  • Understand the context: Consider the broader context of the information. Misinformation may distort facts by omitting critical details.
  • Examine the language: Watch for loaded language or overly emotional appeals that may indicate bias. Neutral language is more likely to be factual.
  • Fact-check claims: Use nonpartisan fact-checking websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org or PolitiFact to verify specific claims.
  • Beware of social media: Recognize that social media platforms are common sources of misinformation. Always verify claims before sharing or acting on them.
  • Engage with multiple perspectives: Read from a diverse range of political perspectives to avoid echo chambers and broaden understanding.
  • Educate yourself: Familiarize yourself with common misinformation tactics, such as false equivalencies, misleading statistics and out-of-context quotes.
  • Ask questions: If uncertain, ask trusted friends, family or local election officials for clarification on confusing topics.
  • Report misinformation: If you encounter false information, report it on the platform where you found it to help reduce its spread.

By following these guidelines, you can better navigate the complex landscape of election-related information and make informed decisions.