Ballotpedia

Type of business| Nonprofit

Type of site

| Wiki
Available in| English
Headquarters| United States
Owner| Lucy Burns Institute
Website| ballotpedia.org
Alexa rank|  2,849 (November 2016[update])[1]
Commercial| No
Launched| May 30, 2007; 18 years ago (2007-05-30)[2]
Current status| Active

Ballotpedia is a nonpartisan online political encyclopedia.[3][4][5][6][7] Founded in 2007, it covers American federal, state, and local politics, elections, and public policy.[8][9][10][11] 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]

## Contents

* 1 Mission
* 2 History
* 2.1 Judgepedia
* 3 Reception and studies
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Mission

Ballotpedia's stated goal is "to inform people about politics by providing accurate and objective information about politics at all levels of government."[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, sponsorship of Judgepedia 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]

## Reception and studies

Ballotpedia has been mentioned in The Washington Post ' politics blog, "The Fix";[30] in The Wall Street Journal ;[31] and in Politico.[32]

Judgepedia has also been cited in The Washington Post[33] and its Volokh Conspiracy blog,[34] in The Wall Street Journal 's Law Blog,[35] and in The New York Times ' "The Caucus" politics blog.[36] The Orange County Register noted Judgepedia's coverage of Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court.[37] 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.[38][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]

Ballotpedia has helped spotlight the unnecessarily complex language used in various U.S. ballot measures. In 2017, with a sample of 27 issues from nine states, the group determined that, on average, ballot descriptions required a graduate-level education to understand the complex wording of issues, with the average American adult only reading at a 7th to 8th grade reading level. A Georgia State University analysis of 1200 ballot measures over a decade showed that voters were more likely to skip complex issues altogether.[41] Further, some ballot language confuses potential voters with the use of double negatives. A few states require plain-language explanations of ballot wording.[42]

## References

1. ↑ "Ballotpedia.org Site Info". Alexa Internet. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
2. ↑ "BallotPedia.org WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". WHOIS. http://whois.domaintools.com/ballotpedia.org. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
3. ↑ Heinlein, Gary (October 9, 2014). "Peters tries to paint moderate image". Detroit News. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/10/09/democrat-gary-peters-aim-center/17010731/. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
4. ↑ Sanders, Rebekah (July 1, 2014). "Arizona's District 7 hopefuls discuss voter turnout". Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2014/07/01/arizona-district-7-hopefuls-voter-turnout/11917913/. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
5. ↑ Seib, Gerald (2013-09-24). "How to Understand House Republicans". Wall Street Journal. http://stream.wsj.com/story/the-fiscal-cliff/SS-2-87944/SS-2-335261/. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
6. ↑ Wilson, Reid; Chokshi, Niraj (August 27, 2014). "Ballot initiatives become pricey playgrounds of parties and corporations". GovBeat (The Washington Post). https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/27/ballot-initiatives-become-pricey-playgrounds-for-corporations-and-political-parties/. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Darnay, Keith (November 3, 2014). "Find election info at the last minute". Bismarck Tribune. http://bismarcktribune.com/news/columnists/keith-darnay/find-election-info-at-the-last-minute/article_6f0ff570-611a-11e4-aa64-a788adccc647.html. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
8. ↑ Chokshi, Niraj (September 9, 2014). "Tuesday is the last day of the state legislative primary season". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/09/09/tuesday-is-the-last-day-of-the-state-legislative-primary-season/. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
9. ↑ Wisniewski, Mary; Hendee, David (January 24, 2011). "Omaha mayoral recall vote part of angry voter trend". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/25/us-omaha-recall-idUSTRE70O03520110125. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
10. ↑ Dewan, Shaila (November 5, 2014). "Higher Minimum Wage Passes in 4 States; Florida Defeats Marijuana Measure". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/us/politics/higher-minimum-wages-prove-popular-in-fla-marijuana-is-less-so.html?_r=1. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
11. ↑ Morones, Alyssa (2013-08-22). "Ballotpedia Launches 'Wikipedia' for School Board Elections". Education Week. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2013/08/ballotpedia_launches_new_schoo.html. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Ballotpedia:About". https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia:About. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
13. ↑ Davis, Gene (August 6, 2008). "Denver's got issues: Ballot issues & you can learn more at Ballotpedia.com". Denver Daily News (Denver). http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=1442. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
14. ↑ Lawrence, David G. (2009). California: The Politics of Diversity. Stamford, Connecticut: Cengage Learning. pp. 83. ISBN 978-0-495-57097-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=d0uJECy-_owC&pg=PA83.
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. http://www.infoworld.com/t/applications/top-20-election-day-web-sites-and-online-tools-708. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
16. ↑ McGraw, Carol (2013-10-14). "Amendment 66 deemed a big issue nationally". Colorado Springs Gazette. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131022010711/http://blogs.gazette.com/education/2013/10/14/amendment-66-deemed-a-big-issue-nationally/. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Roberts, Joni; Drost, Carol; Hoover, Steven. "Ballotpedia Internet Review". American Library Association. http://crln.acrl.org/content/74/10/540.short?rss=1. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
18. ↑ Spillman, Benjamin (2013-07-29). "Cost to appeal Las Vegas Planning Commission decision called prohibitive". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/cost-appeal-las-vegas-planning-commission-decision-called-prohibitive. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
19. ↑ "Sunshine Review". http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Portal:Sunshine_Review.
20. ↑ "Nonprofit Group Offers Free Judicial Profiles Online at Judgepedia.com". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. 2009-12-21. http://www.metnews.com/articles/2009/judg122109.htm. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
21. ↑ Ambrogi, Robert (October 2010). "Crowdsourcing the Law: Trends and Other Innovations". Oregon State Bar Bulletin (Oregon State Bar). http://www.osbar.org/publications/bulletin/10oct/legalonline.html. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
22. ↑ Pallay, Geoff. "Ballotpedia to absorb Judgepedia". Ballotpedia. http://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_to_absorb_Judgepedia. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
23. ↑ Mahtesian, Charles (2012-10-16). "The best races you've never heard of". Politico. http://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/10/the-best-races-youve-never-heard-of-138646.html. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
24. ↑ Peoples, Lee (2010-11-06). "The Lawyer's Guide to Using and Citing Wikipedia". Oklahoma Bar Journal 81: 2438. http://jimcalloway.typepad.com/files/lawyers-guide-to-using-and-citing-wikipedia.peoples.oklabarj.pdf. 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. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Judgepedia:About". Lucy Burns Institute. http://judgepedia.org/Judgepedia:About. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
28. ↑ Phillips, Kate (2008-07-19). "The Sam Adams Project". The New York Times. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/the-sam-adams-project/. 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. http://judicialnominations.org/pennsylvania-and-wisconsin-have-federal-courts-with-highest-vacancy-rates-across-country-9-9-of-federal-judicial-posts-are-vacant. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
30. ↑ Simon, Jeff (February 3, 2014). "Lost your bid to be an 'American Idol'? Try Congress. It's easier.". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/02/03/lost-your-bid-to-be-an-american-idol-try-congress-its-easier/. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
31. ↑ Moore, Stephen (November 5, 2013). "Ten Election Day Ballot Measures". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304391204579179863023688006. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
32. ↑ Mahtesian, Charles (August 8, 2012). "A rough night for incumbents". Politico. http://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/08/a-rough-night-for-incumbents-131498.html. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
33. ↑ Markon, Jerry (2011-01-18). "Slain federal judge John Roll was at the center of Arizona's immigration debate". Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/01/slain-federal-judge-john-roll.html. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
34. ↑ Volokh, Eugene (2014-04-25). "Judge sues accuser for libel, demands to see accuser's evidence". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/04/25/judge-sues-accuser-for-libel-demands-to-see-accusers-evidence/. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
35. ↑ Koppel, Nathan (2010-06-22). "New Orleans Judge Blocks Offshore Drilling Ban". Wall Street Journal. https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/06/22/new-orleans-judge-blocks-offshore-drilling-ban/. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
36. ↑ Shear, Michael (January 8, 2011). "Representative Giffords Shot". The New York Times. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/live-blog-representative-giffords-shot/. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
37. ↑ Seiler, John (2010-10-22). "John Seiler: Appellate judges aplenty on ballot". Orange County Register. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/court-272397-justices-justice.html. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
38. ↑ "Guide to the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court of the United States". Harvard Law School. http://guides.library.harvard.edu/content.php?pid=113979&sid=986083. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
39. ↑ "Elena Kagan". Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/law/find/kagan.php. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
40. ↑ Wilson, Reid (May 7, 2015). "Study: State elections becoming less competitive". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/05/07/study-state-elections-becoming-less-competitive/. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
41. ↑ Wogan, J.B. (2017-11-06). "Unless You Went to Grad School, You Probably Won't Understand What's on Your Ballot" (in en). http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-rhode-island-ballot-measures-language.html.
42. ↑ Collins, Steve (2017-11-16). "Study: Maine ballot questions too confusing even for college graduates - Lewiston Sun Journal" (in en-US). Lewiston Sun Journal. http://www.sunjournal.com/study-finds-complex-maine-ballot-questions-a-puzzle-even-for-college-graduates/.

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