Choosing who to vote for is a personal decision that depends on your values, priorities, and how you assess each candidate’s positions and track record. Here are practical steps to help you decide in Virginia: What to consider
- Core issues: Identify your top priorities (e.g., education funding, public safety, transportation, healthcare, jobs, abortion rights, climate and energy policy, gun safety, voting access).
- Candidate records: Look at each candidate’s past votes, leadership roles, and demonstrated priorities. Consider consistency, results, and whether their stated positions align with your views.
- Policy proposals: Compare specific plans (how they would fund initiatives, timelines, and potential trade-offs) rather than broad slogans.
- Integrity and judgment: Evaluate transparency, responsiveness to constituents, and the ability to work across parties to get things done.
- Local impact: For Virginia, consider how statewide policies affect your community in areas like schools, infrastructure, and economic development.
Where to find reliable, nonpartisan information
- Official candidate lists and bios from the state elections office so you can verify who is on the ballot and their affiliations.
- Nonpartisan voter guides that summarize candidates’ positions on key issues and provide voting records where applicable.
- Reputable local and national outlets that profile candidates and analyze policy proposals, while noting any potential biases.
- Voter education organizations that provide explainer resources on the election process, voting windows, and how to verify information.
How to compare efficiently
- Create a comparison table with rows for your top issues and columns for each major candidate. Include a brief summary of their stance, proposed policy, funding implications, and potential impacts on you.
- Note any endorsements you trust and weigh how those endorsements align with your values.
- Check for red flags such as inconsistent statements, sudden shifts in positions, or lack of detail in policy proposals.
Practical next steps
- Confirm who is on the ballot in your specific Virginia locality for the race you’re voting in (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and any local races).
- Read a balanced voter guide that covers the major statewide offices (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general) and any local races you care about.
- Watch or read concise candidate profiles and issue summaries to compare positions side-by-side.
- If you’re unsure, consider what outcomes you want to avoid (e.g., policy directions that you believe would harm your community) and which candidate best aligns with preventing those outcomes.
If you’d like, share your top priorities (e.g., education funding, taxes, healthcare, transportation, criminal justice, abortion rights), and I can help craft a focused, side-by-side comparison template and fill it with summarized positions from openly available, reputable sources.
