Ballot Report was created to help voters better understand the people, offices, and issues appearing on their ballots.
Too often, local elections receive limited coverage, even though decisions made by mayors, city councils, school boards, county officials, and other local leaders can have a direct effect on everyday life. Candidate information may be scattered across campaign websites, social media pages, government filings, news articles, public records, and community forums. Ballot Report aims to bring that information together in one accessible place.
Why Ballot Report Exists
Voting is about more than recognizing a name or choosing a political party. It requires understanding what candidates believe, how they have served, what priorities they would bring to office, and how their decisions may affect the community.
Ballot Report was founded by a Minnesota resident who has participated personally in local elections and understands how difficult it can be for voters to find meaningful information about candidates. The site began with a focus on Brooklyn Center municipal elections, with the possibility of covering additional communities and levels of government in the future.
The goal is to help voters move beyond campaign slogans and make informed decisions based on their values, priorities, and understanding of the candidates.
What You Will Find Here
Ballot Report may include:
- Information about upcoming elections, offices, and voting procedures
- Profiles of candidates appearing on the ballot
- Candidate statements, websites, and publicly available biographical information
- Interviews and responses to questions submitted to candidates
- Campaign materials, government filings, public records, and related documents
- Articles and commentary about candidates, public policy, and community issues
- Links to original sources so readers can review the information for themselves
Not every candidate will provide the same amount of information, and some candidates may choose not to respond to questions or interview requests. Ballot Report will make reasonable efforts to distinguish between information supplied by a candidate, information obtained from public sources, and the opinions or analysis of the site.
Perspective and Editorial Independence
Ballot Report is independently operated and is not an official government website, election office, news organization, political party, or candidate campaign.
The site is informed by a Christian worldview and by the belief that truth, human dignity, personal responsibility, justice, wise stewardship, and concern for one’s neighbors should matter in public life. Readers are not expected to agree with every conclusion presented here. The purpose is not to remove values from political discussion, but to be transparent that values inevitably shape how candidates, policies, and public decisions are evaluated.
Ballot Report may support, oppose, praise, or criticize candidates and public officials. Commentary reflects the independent judgment of the site and should not be interpreted as communication on behalf of any candidate, campaign, employer, church, organization, or other institution.
Candidates are not permitted to approve, direct, or control Ballot Report’s coverage. Interviews or communications with candidates do not constitute an endorsement, partnership, or coordination with their campaigns.
A Commitment to Fairness and Accuracy
Having a point of view does not eliminate the responsibility to be accurate or fair.
Ballot Report seeks to:
- Represent candidates’ positions honestly
- Clearly distinguish factual reporting from opinion and commentary
- Use original and authoritative sources whenever practical
- Provide links or documentation supporting significant claims
- Offer candidates a reasonable opportunity to answer questions or clarify their positions
- Correct material factual errors when they are identified
Fairness does not always mean giving every argument equal weight. It means presenting relevant facts accurately, avoiding deliberate misrepresentation, and allowing readers to understand the basis for the conclusions offered.
Corrections and Candidate Responses
Ballot Report welcomes documented corrections regarding factual information published on the site. Candidates may also request that additional official information, statements, or source materials be considered for inclusion in their profiles.
A correction request should identify the specific statement believed to be inaccurate and provide reliable documentation supporting the requested change. Editorial disagreements or requests to remove accurate but unfavorable information may not result in changes.
When appropriate, corrections will be noted transparently.
Your Ballot. Your Values. Your Decision.
Ballot Report does not vote for you.
Its purpose is to provide information, ask meaningful questions, examine public records, and offer a clearly identified perspective. The final responsibility belongs to each voter.
Learn about the candidates. Examine their records. Consider the consequences of their policies. Vote according to an informed conscience.