We Hear Candidates' Complaints. We Ask the Public to Share our Findings and Promote Fair Campaigns
The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee expects our political candidates to conduct their races openly and fairly, to focus on issues and qualifications, to refrain from dishonest and defamatory attacks, and to avoid the use of campaign materials that distort the facts. The public deserves to have factual information in order to make informed decides about candidates.
What citizens can do
- "Like" @FairCampaignPractices on Facebook, follow @faircampaigns on twitter, and share our findings.
- If a campaign claim seems untrue or misleading, contact the candidate to find out the source of the allegation. If the statement is untrue, voice your disapproval.
- Spread the word. Tell your friends and post what you discovered on social media, making sure not to publicize the falsehoods. Do not restate the falsehood in a headline or tweet (see below).
- Consider running for office and contact us for help in determining whether or not a practice is fair.
- Then make sure to vote.
Tips on Posting about Misleading and Defamatory Campaign Claims
We must fight falsehoods with facts. But the more often a falsehood is repeated, the more believable it becomes. So how do we get the truth out without further defaming the victim?
In a Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society article entitled, “How to Refute a Lie,” Judith Donath recommends that we
- State the truth in the headline (or tweet), instead of repeating the falsehood.
- Use vivid graphics that depict reality.
- If the key point is that someone is lying — say that. Then state the truth. Don’t restate the lie in the headline.
So, for example, if a candidate’s literature claims that none of the opponent’s bills have ever passed in the legislature, our tweet or headline should read “6 of Legislator Abc’s Bills Signed into Law This Year,” not, “Claim that None of Legislator Abc's Bills Passed is False.”
Resources
How to determine if campaign literature and social media claims are correct, ways to check that the information we read is being provided by reliable sources, voting information, and other useful sites and resources
Please note that the inclusion of a resource does not indicate that the FCPC endorses all the opinions of the organization or author. This also applies to all other references on this site and our social media posts.
"Critical thinking is a key skill in media and information literacy, and the mission of libraries is to educate and advocate its importance," according to the International Association of Library Associations and Institutions. They encourage us all to share this infographic.
Voting Help
FOr your personal voters' guide. To find out who is on your ballot and the location of your polling place.
American Press Institute
The American Press Institute is an educational non-advocacy 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Jane Elizabeth leader of their Accountability Journalism program, writes "The Week in Fact Checking" and you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter
Register to Vote
Contact the Westchester County Board of Elections to register to vote, find your polling place, run for office, become an election inspector or obtain an absentee ballot.
League of Women Voters of Westchester
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. The League does not support or oppose any candidate or political party. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.
