Frequently asked questions
Why are local politics important?
In the U.S. we elect more than 500,000 local officials who control over $2 trillion in local government spending. Though local elections have the power to bring tangible change to communities, nationwide only 27 percent of eligible voters vote in the typical municipal election (Source: Bloomberg). Increasing local voter turnout will make elections more representative and inclusive of all residents and make local government more responsive to the needs of their citizens.
How does candivote's questionnaire work?
Voters can take an in-depth questionnaire that compares their political values and ideals to that of their local politicians. Candivote's score-based algorithm uses the similarity of answers from the questionnaire to pair the voters with similar-minded politicians to support. Once matched with a candidate, Candivote becomes a hub to support a voter's top candidate, with options to donate, volunteer, and even send a message to their preferred politician.
is candivote free to use?
All Candivote services are entirely free to use for users, including the questionnaire, candidate matching, and the candidate engagement platform. As opposed to charging for our features, Candivote takes minor commission fees on donations to political candidates, ensuring that anybody can use Candivote services without regard to cost or income. We encourage user donations in a bid to support our platform and to boycott corporate politics (see the following question).
What's the effect of Corporate politics?
“Donor and corporate interests often diverge significantly from those of working families on economic policies such as the minimum wage and paid sick leave, people of color are disproportionately harmed because a larger percentage are poor or working class … The dominance of big money in our politics makes it far harder for people of color to exert political power and effectively advocate for their interests as both wealth and power are consolidated by a small, very white, share of the population ..."
-Independent study conducted by Demos
SUBMIT A QUESTION
Take our quiz
The best way to take advantage of our platform is to take our political questionnaire to match you with one of your local candidates.
Once our questionnaire is officially released after collecting candidate responses, you will be notified over email and will be able to take the quiz immediately.
The best way to get involved is to understand how your local government works. By conducting research, your vote becomes more informed and the candidates you vote for will represent your values and beliefs..
When ready, Candivote's questionnaire will use an in-depth algorithm to match you with the local candidates that best represent what you care about as a voter. This match is calculated by comparing your answers directly with answers from candidates themselves!
Use our engagement platform to interact with your matched candidate, with options to volunteer, message, and donate. Large companies and organizations often have too much pull on local politics due to donations, and our platform fights against this by allowing voters like you the ability to donate to your candidate's campaign.