The non-partisan Project Vote-Smart web site (www.vote-smart.org) provides a one stop source for information about candidates running in next week’s elections.

Of particular interest to PAWS members is the site’s listings of performance evaluations of incumbents by special interest groups. The site lists the ratings each elected officials has received from various special interest groups nationwide. Among the groups that the site provides scores for are the League of Conservation Voters, the Fund for Animals, the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Rifle Association.

The site provides these scores for both national and state races. Unfortunately most challengers have no voting record for special interest groups to report on, so the information for challengers is limited. The site does, however, list the addresses, phone numbers, and web sites of each candidate, allowing interested voters to contact candidates directly to find out their stand on an animal-related issue.