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National nonpartisan organization stops by Fredericksburg to spread the word of voter education Date published: 10/14/2008
BY ELLEN BILTZ Sharing knowledge with voters is the mission of one nonprofit organization whose tour bus made a stop in front of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Fredericksburg last night. Project Vote Smart, a nonpartisan group that was started by presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, has been around nationally for 16 years. But Tony Boehm, who helps to navigate the large purple, red and blue bus, said the mission has reached only 10 percent of Americans and he hopes the stops across the country will increase interest. "The goal is to give free, factual info to voters," Boehm said last night as passersby stopped to collect information or watch a 10-minute video about Vote Smart. Boehm encouraged those who stopped to check the group's Web site for information about what candidates have voted for, talked about and supported. "We want them to be educated voters," he said. Michael Sharkey, who lives near the library on Caroline Street, said he saw the bus and was intrigued. "I like organizations that make it their mission to inform the voters," Sharkey said, saying he recognized a danger in voters who choose a candidate based on attack ads and speeches only. Boehm said Vote Smart hopes to encourage voters to pay attention to more than just candidates' rhetoric. Votesmart.org allows voters to go online and look at voting history, candidate contributions and other election-related information. Linda Muller of Stafford said she liked that she could track how her representatives voted on issues. "I've pretty much made up my mind," Muller said about the upcoming November election. "But it's good to see votes and get more facts about the candidates." History on candidates collected by Vote Smart applies not only to national races, but state and local ones as well. The group has recruited thousands of volunteers over the years even though one needn't be a member to use the Web site or other resources. Diana Egozcue, who lives in Fredericksburg said she tries to spread the word of Vote Smart locally. "I joined in 1991 [at the state level] because I thought democracy was going away," she said. "But seeing the way this works and seeing the guys come out with the bus, well, these guys give you hope for the future." Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
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