In less than a week, voters will be heading to the polls and making choices that will impact the future direction of their community, state and nation.
Don’t let bad information mess with that process.
Most of the candidates who are out door knocking deserve credit for working hard, reaching out to the public and talking about their campaigns in a fair and open manner.
There are a few, however, who aren’t as forthright. They’ll try to bend the truth to their favor, saying disparaging things about their opponent or presenting information that’s misleading, doesn’t present the full picture or is an out-and-out lie.
Voters should not fall for these distortions. They should not blindly accept campaign spiels as gospel without checking the facts themselves. This can be hard to do. Some voters, disenfranchised with the whole political system, are looking for “facts” to latch onto and are willing to accept negative information that’s presented about someone they don’t know or about a topic they know little about.
But there are some ways voters can navigate through those muddy waters of deception.
First off, be wary of candidates who spend more time lambasting their opponent than presenting their own solutions to problems.
Secondly, don’t be afraid to challenge their statements. Ask questions. Ask them where they’re getting their information. Be wary of those who say that’s just what they’ve “heard” or that “everybody knows” what they’re talking about.
Next, search out a contrasting view. If someone makes a disparaging remark about a candidate, go to that candidate and ask him or her for their side of the story. Or ask a neutral source. If someone makes a claim about a local government’s budget that seems fishy, contact the person in charge of the books.
In short, don’t shirk your duty to be an informed voter by relying on hearsay, gossip or unsupported claims. Search for the other side and support candidates who are more eager to explain their ideas for building a better future instead of tearing down their opponent.
FORUM NEWS SERVICE
