A thriving democracy demands transparency for the way campaigns are funded so that we the voters can properly evaluate candidates with an understanding of the sources of their campaign money. That’s why MapLight backed a bill that’s just become law in California to increase transparency in local elections. The law requires local governments to post all campaign finance reports online.

Prior to the new law, voters looking for campaign finance information in some counties were required to track down paper records in-person at a government office. The new law means we can now access information about which interests are supporting candidates from the comfort of our own internet connections. That’s real transparency that increases our access to a valuable tool to make informed decisions. We’re proud to have testified in the California Senate in support of the new law, and we’ll continue to fight for greater transparency in California and across the country.

With the election just weeks away, our comprehensive, nonpartisan voter guide, Voter's Edge California, is another great tool to help you evaluate candidates and ballot measures as you prepare to vote. The guide provides information from the top of the ballot down to local races, allowing you to easily explore candidates' priorities, endorsements and top donors, as well as ballot measure explanations and campaign funding. To use the guide, simply enter your home address and Voter's Edge California shows a personalized page with all the contests that will appear on your ballot. Voter’s Edge users can also find information about registering to vote, checking their registration status, and vote-by-mail procedures in California.

This is a critical time for American democracy, and we’ll continue to provide you information you can trust to help guide your decisions.  

Best,
Dan

Daniel G. Newman
MapLight President & Co-Founder