By RYAN WICKER
MapLight, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that tracks money in politics, announced the launch today of Voter’s Edge New York, an online voter information guide for elections across the state. The launch includes a partnership with NYC Votes, the nonpartisan voter engagement campaign of the New York City Campaign Finance Board and its Voter Assistance Advisory Committee.
Voter’s Edge New York provides unbiased, in-depth information on candidates and ballot measures down to the local level and campaign funding information for federal candidates. During a 2014 pilot program, Voter’s Edge received more than one million visitors. Separate Voter’s Edge guides are also available to voters in California and Illinois.
To use the tool, voters simply type in their home address and a personalized page is returned with all the contests that will appear on the user’s ballot, supplemented with endorsements, funding sources, editorials, news articles, summary information, biographies and more. Voters can mark their choices and print their ballot to bring to the polls or share with family and friends via social media if desired.
“Voter’s Edge New York is a one-stop shop for voters looking for comprehensive and unbiased information for every race on their ballot,” said Daniel G. Newman, Co-Founder and President of MapLight. “We are thrilled to partner with NYC Votes to provide voters with knowledge to make informed decisions and increase civic engagement in the 2016 elections.”
Voters in New York will have multiple opportunities to use Voter’s Edge, with three separate primary elections before the general election in November. The presidential primary is on April 19, federal primary elections will be held June 28, and state and local primary elections are on September 13.
During the 2014 midterm elections, less than one third of New York’s eligible population voted, the lowest voter turnout rate in the state in more than 70 years.
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