On Nov. 8, millions of adults eligible to vote in Wisconsin will head to their local polling station – to vote for the President, sure, but also to vote for senators, congressmen and -women, house representatives, and other county and local positions and referenda. To see a list of all the positions and measures to vote on, visit https://myvote.wi.gov/ – tambien disponible en español.

You’ve probably already been bombarded with information on how to register, and what’s necessary to bring with you to your polling station (http://www.bringitwisconsin.com/do-i-have-right-photo-id), and where to vote. However, this column will focus on the social responsibility of voting and life-long skills needed to make informed decisions at the ballot box.

To make informed decisions, it is critical that all citizens learn how to access information about various issues, judge the reliability of information and their sources, and learn about point-of-view and bias.

In the era of viral reposting of information on social media, it is as critical as ever to verify the accuracy of the information you see scrolling down your screens. Too time consuming or difficult, you may say? Consider your civic responsibility and what it means to live in a democracy, as well as the linked relationship between citizenship, social responsibility, civic engagement, and community involvement.

Still on the fence about checking the statistics or headlines your friend or family member just posted online? Just ask yourself a few basic questions.

Does the article or image have a clearly defined author? No? Be wary! You have no reason to trust the information presented as accurate.

It does list a source of the information? Great! Ask yourself if that source is considered “authoritative” – are they respected? Are they qualified to write on the topic? Do they have any obvious bias on a particular candidate or issue? Would you be comfortable citing this source in a research paper for a class?

Lastly, ask yourself where the content of the information came from – can you tell? Is it supported by evidence? Can you verify the information in another reputable source?

Want some help researching an issue or candidate? Feel free to stop by a Madison College Library or any public library to ask a librarian for help. OR, check out some of the following recommended websites:

• Vote411.org – League of Women Voters where you can find a sample ballot, candidates’ answers to specific questions, and links to the candidates’ websites. Type in your address to see the races on your local ballot, and print out that “ballot” indicating your preferences as a reminder at the polls on Election Day.
• Congress.gov – If the candidate is running for federal office as a representative or senator, find their voting record here.
• WisconsinVOTE.org – Co-sponsored by Wisconsin Public Television and Wisconsin Public Radio, it includes biographical information on individual candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress races as well as state legislative races, news and political blogs.