Letter to the Editor of the Fremont Argus
August 1, 2004

 It is indeed sad that so many candidates for public office did not take the opportunity to respond to the Project Vote Smart survey. We agree that candidates should be proud of what they believe in and speak up for it, and we are pleased that Project Vote Smart provides an opportunity to do so.

Voters in California can also get informed by visiting the League of Women Voters election website www.smartvoter.org. This site allows the candidate to include as much information as he/she wants. It includes background, priorities, a special League question, (white) position papers and endorsements. There is no deadline. Candidates can change or add items until 24 hours before the election but they are encouraged to get information in as early as possible.

Smart Voter is a better website for the voter to visit because they bring up their ballot in its entirety by putting in their address. This includes local city council, school board, special districts and judges. They can also find links to information articles (not editorials and opinion) in newspapers. In the Tri-Cities area it will include candidate forums and rebroadcast times of League forums on the community access channel.

The Smart Voter website will also include the initiatives with the League pro/cons and the Easy Reader Voter Guide.

We encourage all eligible voters to register before the Oct. 18 deadline, get informed by reading newspapers and visiting the Smart Voter website and by voting on Nov. 2nd.

Miriam Keller, League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City
255 Segovia Place
Fremont, Ca
510-683-9377