The best sites to research politicians.
A full biography, issue positions, a sample ballot, or a place to act once you already know who they are.
Compare
How ratings workSwipe sideways for every site.
| What to compare | Ballotpedia | Vote Smart | Vote411 | Power Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Overall information | Issue positions | Sample ballots | Direct engagement |
| Best if | You need a real biography and office history | You want issue positions and interest-group scores | You want to know what is on your ballot | You already know who they are and want to act |
| Biography and office history | Full encyclopedia | Thinner file | Ballot only | Short profile |
| Issue positions | Some | Votes, tests, group scores | Where leagues collect them | On-site ratings |
| Sample ballot from your address | Some | No | Yes | No |
| Contact or donate from the page | No | No | No | Yes |
| Available year-round | Yes | Bio file | Election season | Directory, not an encyclopedia |
| Rating for this job |
- 1
Best forOverall information
Best if
You need a real biography and office history
Ballotpedia
Why to use. Use it when you want incumbents, offices, candidates, election results, ballot measures, or redistricting.
Skip if. the next step is a call, a gift, or a live race board.
Weakness. Not built for contacting them or donating.
- 2
Best forIssue positions
Best if
You want issue positions and interest-group scores
Vote Smart
Why to use. Use it when you want votes, issue positions, interest-group scores, and some notes on campaign money.
Skip if. the question is who filed, or what the office is.
Weakness. Thinner encyclopedia than Ballotpedia. Thinner donor graph than OpenSecrets.
- 3
Best forSample ballots
Best if
You want to know what is on your ballot
Vote411
Why to use. The League of Women Voters tool. Enter an address and get a sample ballot.
Skip if. it is not election season, or the question is career history.
Weakness. Not a year-round file.
- 4
Best forDirect engagement
Best if
You already know who they are and want to rate, contact, or donate
Power Players
Why to use. Ratings, several ways to make contact, donations, and race pages.
Skip if. you still need a brief, a ballot, or an issue test.
Weakness. Not an encyclopedia. Rated 3 for this job on purpose.
Verdict
Ballotpedia wins the file. Vote Smart wins issue tests. Vote411 wins the sample ballot. Power Players ranks for acting on the landscape, not for depth.
Last updated September 23, 2026