Where Are Their Hearts?
How to Use iVoterGuide Campaign Finance Information
Jesus said a person’s treasure is where their heart is (Luke 12:34). Wouldn’t you like to know where your candidate’s heart is—what they believe in so much that they are willing to put their money behind it?
Wouldn’t you also like to know who has given money to that candidate, possibly influencing their decisions?
iVoterGuide’s research of candidates’ selected contributions can provide this valuable information! Our goal is not to give you numerical values of how much money a candidate has raised or spent, but to glean information on whom the candidate has a financial relationship with. I hope you take advantage of this section of your voter guide to inform your vote.
How do I find selected contributions on my candidates?
- Go to iVoterGuide.
- Enter your voting address (street name, city, state, and zip code) as it is listed on your voter registration card.
- Click “View My Voter Guide.”
If your voter guide has been released, you will see a list of candidates and their evaluations, organized by level of office (federal, statewide, state legislative, school board, local). Please check back often as we add more information about each candidate.
Look for a candidate on your voter guide with a check mark next to "contributions." This indicates we have contribution information for that candidate. Click the words “View Candidate Profile” underneath their photo. It will then display all the information we have gathered about them. Scroll down to “Selected Contributions.” It will look something like this:
What kinds of contributions might I find?
What if you don’t recognize the names of the people and organizations who have given to or received money from the candidate? We make sure to note whether contributions are to or from people or entities who are Conservative or Liberal. We don’t just research the candidate; we also research the people with whom they are connected.
This way, you can quickly see who may be influencing your candidate and whom they support. It’s a glimpse of their values based on what they do with their pocketbook.
Contributions are further separated into two categories:
- Donations FROM the candidate to other candidates, officeholders, and organizations. Put another way, what organizations or candidates has this candidate chosen to support? This is a strong indicator of what values or positions the candidate supports.
- Donations TO the candidate from other individuals, candidates, officeholders, and organizations—they provide visibility on who influences or is aligned with the candidate’s agenda.
You may wonder, “Where do we get this information?” Our researchers rely on original sources for this data. Our team has downloaded the complete campaign finance databases from publicly accessible sources such as the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the state agencies that manage campaign finance reporting. Many research hours go toward equipping you to make an informed decision!
Now that you are armed with this information, go tell others!
With knowledge of a candidate’s political contributions, you are better informed than most of your fellow voters. You can see if your candidates “put their money where their mouth is.” Share what you have learned, and don’t forget to tell your friends to check out iVoterGuide before they vote!
