How to Adult: Candidate Research

Time to research who you plan to vote for

Registering for the ability to vote is one of the most important things someone can do to flex their rights and power to determine what happens in the government.

Once you’ve been registered then all you need to do is head to your designated polling location on election day. There are other ways to prepare for the upcoming election that aren’t as vital as voter registration but are still as just integral to getting the most out of your future.

It’s dangerous to vote blindly even if you loosely affiliate with the party or person that you plan on voting for. It doesn’t hurt to do a bit of research on the candidates in your area alongside those that’ll be representing and looking after Texas as a whole. 

Some candidates have websites that state their intentions and may potentially have links to the organizations that they affiliate with. Others may not have such readily available resources so some more legwork will need to be done like getting some perspective from people you know or by finding a flier. 

Fliers will often be sent out to advocate for a specific candidate and those may provide valuable information and a way to contact their team. Like receiving a flier in the mail, you may also find yourself receiving emails from different candidate teams so that’ll also provide you with information.

Closer to election season sees campaign posters littering the roadside which will normally give you the name of a candidate and what they’re running for. If you’re unsure about the position mentioned, it’d be a good idea to investigate that as well in order to have a more informed vote.

It may be a lot of work and time for something as easy to do as filling in a blank circle but it’s a decision that carries some heavy weight with it. Knowing who you’re voting for, what they believe in and what position they plan on holding is going to affect not just you but other people in your community.

You don’t need to learn everything there is to know about a candidate, but even having a rough idea will let you get the most out of your right to decide.