Jump to content

Ballotpedia: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
best reflection of sources
Line 18: Line 18:
}}
}}


'''Ballotpedia''' is a nonpartisan<ref>{{cite news|last1=Heinlein|first1=Gary|title=Peters tries to paint moderate image|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/10/09/democrat-gary-peters-aim-center/17010731/|accessdate=2 December 2014|publisher=Detroit News|date=October 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sanders|first1=Rebekah|title=Arizona's District 7 hopefuls discuss voter turnout|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2014/07/01/arizona-district-7-hopefuls-voter-turnout/11917913/|accessdate=2 December 2014|publisher=Arizona Republic|date=July 1, 2014}}</ref> political website.<ref>{{cite news|last=Seib|first=Gerald|title=How to Understand House Republicans|url=http://stream.wsj.com/story/the-fiscal-cliff/SS-2-87944/SS-2-335261/|accessdate=21 October 2013|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=2013-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Vlahos|first1=Kelley|title=Weed, booze and bears: Ballot questions compete with candidates for voters' attention|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/10/27/weed-booze-and-bears-ballot-questions-compete-with-candidates-for-voters/|accessdate=8 December 2014|publisher=Fox News|date=October 27, 2014}}</ref> Published in a [[wiki]]-style encyclopedic format, all content is fact-checked by an editorial team.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Reid|last2=Chokshi|first2=Niraj|title=Ballot initiatives become pricey playgrounds of parties and corporations|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/27/ballot-initiatives-become-pricey-playgrounds-for-corporations-and-political-parties/|accessdate=31 August 2014|work=GovBeat|publisher=The Washington Post|date=August 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name=trib>{{cite news|last1=Darnay|first1=Keith|title=Find election info at the last minute|url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/columnists/keith-darnay/find-election-info-at-the-last-minute/article_6f0ff570-611a-11e4-aa64-a788adccc647.html|accessdate=2 December 2014|publisher=Bismarck Tribune|date=November 3, 2014}}</ref> Ballotpedia covers [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]], state executive officials, [[State legislature (United States)|state legislatures]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chokshi|first1=Niraj|title=Tuesday is the last day of the state legislative primary season|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/09/09/tuesday-is-the-last-day-of-the-state-legislative-primary-season/|accessdate=8 December 2014|publisher=Washington Post|date=September 9, 2014}}</ref> [[recall election]]s,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wisniewski|first1=Mary|last2=Hendee|first2=David|title=Omaha mayoral recall vote part of angry voter trend|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/25/us-omaha-recall-idUSTRE70O03520110125|accessdate=8 December 2014|publisher=Reuters|date=January 24, 2011}}</ref> state and local [[ballot measure]]s,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dewan|first1=Shaila|title=Higher Minimum Wage Passes in 4 States; Florida Defeats Marijuana Measure|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/us/politics/higher-minimum-wages-prove-popular-in-fla-marijuana-is-less-so.html?_r=1|accessdate=8 December 2014|publisher=New York Times|date=November 5, 2014}}</ref> [[Board of education|school board]] elections,<ref>{{cite news|last=Morones|first=Alyssa|title=Ballotpedia Launches 'Wikipedia' for School Board Elections|url=http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2013/08/ballotpedia_launches_new_schoo.html|accessdate=21 October 2013|newspaper=Education Week|date=2013-08-22}}</ref> and federal and state courts and judges. Ballotpedia is sponsored by the [[Lucy Burns Institute]], a nonprofit organization based in [[Middleton, Wisconsin]]. As of 2014, Ballotpedia employed 34 writers and researchers;<ref name=trib/> the website said it had an editorial staff of over 50 in 2016.<ref name=About/>
'''Ballotpedia''' is a nonpartisan online political encyclopedia.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Heinlein|first1=Gary|title=Peters tries to paint moderate image|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/10/09/democrat-gary-peters-aim-center/17010731/|accessdate=2 December 2014|publisher=Detroit News|date=October 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sanders|first1=Rebekah|title=Arizona's District 7 hopefuls discuss voter turnout|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2014/07/01/arizona-district-7-hopefuls-voter-turnout/11917913/|accessdate=2 December 2014|publisher=Arizona Republic|date=July 1, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Seib|first=Gerald|title=How to Understand House Republicans|url=http://stream.wsj.com/story/the-fiscal-cliff/SS-2-87944/SS-2-335261/|accessdate=21 October 2013|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=2013-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Vlahos|first1=Kelley|title=Weed, booze and bears: Ballot questions compete with candidates for voters' attention|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/10/27/weed-booze-and-bears-ballot-questions-compete-with-candidates-for-voters/|accessdate=8 December 2014|publisher=Fox News|date=October 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Reid|last2=Chokshi|first2=Niraj|title=Ballot initiatives become pricey playgrounds of parties and corporations|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/27/ballot-initiatives-become-pricey-playgrounds-for-corporations-and-political-parties/|accessdate=31 August 2014|work=GovBeat|publisher=The Washington Post|date=August 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name=trib>{{cite news|last1=Darnay|first1=Keith|title=Find election info at the last minute|url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/columnists/keith-darnay/find-election-info-at-the-last-minute/article_6f0ff570-611a-11e4-aa64-a788adccc647.html|accessdate=2 December 2014|publisher=Bismarck Tribune|date=November 3, 2014}}</ref> Founded in 2007, it covers [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]], state executive officials, [[State legislature (United States)|state legislatures]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chokshi|first1=Niraj|title=Tuesday is the last day of the state legislative primary season|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/09/09/tuesday-is-the-last-day-of-the-state-legislative-primary-season/|accessdate=8 December 2014|publisher=Washington Post|date=September 9, 2014}}</ref> [[recall election]]s,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wisniewski|first1=Mary|last2=Hendee|first2=David|title=Omaha mayoral recall vote part of angry voter trend|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/25/us-omaha-recall-idUSTRE70O03520110125|accessdate=8 December 2014|publisher=Reuters|date=January 24, 2011}}</ref> state and local [[ballot measure]]s,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dewan|first1=Shaila|title=Higher Minimum Wage Passes in 4 States; Florida Defeats Marijuana Measure|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/us/politics/higher-minimum-wages-prove-popular-in-fla-marijuana-is-less-so.html?_r=1|accessdate=8 December 2014|publisher=New York Times|date=November 5, 2014}}</ref> [[Board of education|school board]] elections,<ref>{{cite news|last=Morones|first=Alyssa|title=Ballotpedia Launches 'Wikipedia' for School Board Elections|url=http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2013/08/ballotpedia_launches_new_schoo.html|accessdate=21 October 2013|newspaper=Education Week|date=2013-08-22}}</ref> and federal and state courts and judges. Ballotpedia is sponsored by the [[Lucy Burns Institute]], a nonprofit organization based in [[Middleton, Wisconsin]]. As of 2014, Ballotpedia employed 34 writers and researchers;<ref name=trib/> the website said it had an editorial staff of over 50 in 2016.<ref name=About/>


==Purpose==
==Purpose==

Revision as of 06:39, 24 February 2016

Ballotpedia
Type of site
Wiki
Available inEnglish
HeadquartersUnited States
OwnerLucy Burns Institute
URLballotpedia.org
CommercialNo

Ballotpedia is a nonpartisan online political encyclopedia.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Founded in 2007, it covers U.S. Congress, state executive officials, state legislatures,[8] recall elections,[9] state and local ballot measures,[10] school board elections,[11] and federal and state courts and judges. Ballotpedia is sponsored by the Lucy Burns Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Middleton, Wisconsin. As of 2014, Ballotpedia employed 34 writers and researchers;[7] the website said it had an editorial staff of over 50 in 2016.[12]

Purpose

Ballotpedia's stated purpose is "to connect people to politics by providing accurate and objective information about politics at the local, state, and federal level."[12] The website "provides information on initiative supporters and opponents, financial reports, litigation news, status updates, poll numbers, and more."[13] It is a "community-contributed web site, modeled after Wikipedia" and "contains volumes of information about initiatives, referenda, and recalls."[14]

In 2008, InfoWorld called Ballotpedia one of the "Top 20 Election Day Web sites and online tools."[15]

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, "Ballotpedia is a nonprofit wiki encyclopedia that uses nonpartisan collaboration to gather political info for sharing."[16]

History

Ballotpedia was founded by the Citizens in Charge Foundation in 2007.[17] Ballotpedia was sponsored by the Sam Adams Alliance in 2008, along with Judgepedia and Sunshine Review. In 2009, their sponsorship was transferred to the nonprofit Lucy Burns Institute, based in Middleton, Wisconsin.[17][18]

On July 9, 2013, Sunshine Review was acquired by the Lucy Burns Institute and merged into Ballotpedia.[19] Judgepedia was merged into Ballotpedia in March 2015.

Judgepedia

Judgepedia was an online wiki-style encyclopedia covering the American legal system,[20][21] In 2015, all content from Judgepedia was merged into Ballotpedia.[22][23] It included a database of information on state and federal courts and judges.[24][25][26]

According to its original website, the goal of Judgepedia was "to help readers discover and learn useful information about the court systems and judiciary in the United States."[27]

Judgepedia was sponsored by the Sam Adams Alliance in 2007, along with Ballotpedia and Sunshine Review.[28] In 2009 their sponsorship was transferred to the Lucy Burns Institute, which merged Judgepedia into Ballotpedia in March 2015.[27]

Judgepedia had a weekly publication titled Federal Courts, Empty Benches which tracked the vacancy rate for Article III federal judicial posts.[29]

Judgepedia's work was cited in the Washington Post,[30][31] the Wall Street Journal,[32] and the New York Times.[33] The Orange County Register noted Judgepedia's coverage of Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court.[34] Judgepedia's profile of Elena Kagan was included in the Harvard Law School Library's guide to Kagan's Supreme Court nomination and the Law Library of Congress's guide to Kagan.[35][36]

Reports

Ballotpedia's work has been mentioned in the Washington Post,[37] the Wall Street Journal,[38] and Politico.[39]

In 2015, Harvard University visiting scholar Carl Klarner conducted a study for Ballotpedia which found that state legislative elections have become less competitive over time, with 2014's elections being the least competitive elections in the past 40 years.[40]

References

  1. ^ "Ballotpedia.org Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  2. ^ Heinlein, Gary (October 9, 2014). "Peters tries to paint moderate image". Detroit News. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  3. ^ Sanders, Rebekah (July 1, 2014). "Arizona's District 7 hopefuls discuss voter turnout". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  4. ^ Seib, Gerald (2013-09-24). "How to Understand House Republicans". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  5. ^ Vlahos, Kelley (October 27, 2014). "Weed, booze and bears: Ballot questions compete with candidates for voters' attention". Fox News. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  6. ^ Wilson, Reid; Chokshi, Niraj (August 27, 2014). "Ballot initiatives become pricey playgrounds of parties and corporations". GovBeat. The Washington Post. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  7. ^ a b Darnay, Keith (November 3, 2014). "Find election info at the last minute". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  8. ^ Chokshi, Niraj (September 9, 2014). "Tuesday is the last day of the state legislative primary season". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  9. ^ Wisniewski, Mary; Hendee, David (January 24, 2011). "Omaha mayoral recall vote part of angry voter trend". Reuters. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  10. ^ Dewan, Shaila (November 5, 2014). "Higher Minimum Wage Passes in 4 States; Florida Defeats Marijuana Measure". New York Times. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  11. ^ Morones, Alyssa (2013-08-22). "Ballotpedia Launches 'Wikipedia' for School Board Elections". Education Week. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Ballotpedia:About". Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  13. ^ Davis, Gene (August 6, 2008). "Denver's got issues: Ballot issues & you can learn more at Ballotpedia.com". Denver Daily News. Denver. Retrieved April 27, 2011. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ Lawrence, David G. (2009). California: The Politics of Diversity. Stamford, Connecticut: Cengage Learning. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-495-57097-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Raphael, JR (November 3, 2008). "Top 20 Election Day Web sites and online tools: The best resources -- everything from widgets to mobile alerts -- to take you through the election's end". InfoWorld. Retrieved April 27, 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ McGraw, Carol (2013-10-14). "Amendment 66 deemed a big issue nationally". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  17. ^ a b Roberts, Joni; Drost, Carol; Hoover, Steven. "Ballotpedia Internet Review". Association of College & Research Libraries. American Library Association. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  18. ^ Spillman, Benjamin (2013-07-29). "Cost to appeal Las Vegas Planning Commission decision called prohibitive". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  19. ^ "Sunshine Review".
  20. ^ "Nonprofit Group Offers Free Judicial Profiles Online at Judgepedia.com". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  21. ^ Ambrogi, Robert (October 2010). "Crowdsourcing the Law: Trends and Other Innovations". Oregon State Bar Bulletin. Oregon State Bar. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  22. ^ Pallay, Geoff. "Ballotpedia to absorb Judgepedia". Ballotpedia. Ballotpedia. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  23. ^ Mahtesian, Charles (2012-10-16). "The best races you've never heard of". Politico. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  24. ^ Peoples, Lee (2010-11-06). "The Lawyer's Guide to Using and Citing Wikipedia" (PDF). Oklahoma Bar Journal. 81: 2438. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  25. ^ Davey, Chris; Salaz, Karen (November–December 2010). "Survey Looks at New Media and the Court". Journal of the American Judicature Society. 94 (3).
  26. ^ Meckler, Mark (2012). Tea Party Patriots: The Second American Revolution. Macmillan. p. 167. ISBN 0805094377.
  27. ^ a b "Judgepedia:About". Judgepedia. Lucy Burns Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  28. ^ Phillips, Kate (2008-07-19). "The Sam Adams Project". New York Times. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  29. ^ "Pennsylvania and Wisconsin Have Federal Courts with Highest Vacancy Rates; across Country, 9.9% of Federal Judicial Posts Are Vacant". Telecommunications Weekly. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  30. ^ Volokh, Eugene (2014-04-25). "Judge sues accuser for libel, demands to see accuser's evidence". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  31. ^ Markon, Jerry (2011-01-18). "Slain federal judge John Roll was at the center of Arizona's immigration debate". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  32. ^ Koppel, Nathan (2010-06-22). "New Orleans Judge Blocks Offshore Drilling Ban". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  33. ^ Shear, Michael (January 8, 2011). "Representative Giffords Shot". New York Times. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  34. ^ Seiler, John (2010-10-22). "John Seiler: Appellate judges aplenty on ballot". Orange County Register. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  35. ^ "Guide to the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court of the United States". Harvard Law School Library. Harvard Law School. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  36. ^ "Elena Kagan". Law Library of Congress. Library of Congress. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  37. ^ Simon, Jeff (February 3, 2014). "Lost your bid to be an 'American Idol'? Try Congress. It's easier". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  38. ^ Moore, Stephen (November 5, 2013). "Ten Election Day Ballot Measures". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  39. ^ Mahtesian, Charles (August 8, 2012). "A rough night for incumbents". Politico. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  40. ^ Wilson, Reid (May 7, 2015). "Study: State elections becoming less competitive". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 May 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ballotpedia&oldid=706603807"