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About The Political Courage Test

Mice or Men?

The Courage Test

Measures each candidate’s willingness to provide citizens with their positions on key issues. Most candidates, fearing their opponents might use their positions in attack ads, refuse or only respond to a few questions that their consultants stamp as safe. Each candidate is repeatedly confronted with these issue questions by Vote Smart, national media and political leaders of both major parties.

Political Courage Test Results

Current Officials in Your State
Current Candidates in Your State

Mouse Excuses

Vote Smart Fights Back

We’re researching candidates’ public records, statements, and evaluations, so candidates can no longer hide on 12 major issues. All candidates are invited to clarify their answers at anytime. Vote Smart makes it easy to see how well you match up to candidates on the Courage Test with VoteEasy.

How are Courage Test issue questions selected?

The Political Courage Test is a collaborative effort between Project Vote Smart and over 200 political scientists, journalists, and leaders from across the political spectrum. The issues included on the Test are the top concerns of the American people and are likely to come up in the next legislative session. They are determined by a rigorous examination of national and local polls, the majority, minority and third party platforms, State of the Union and Response speeches, State of the State and Response speeches, and legislative agendas. Every effort is made to ensure that the test is as unbiased as possible. View The 2010 Political Courage Test forms.

Use Policy

Project Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any partisan activity, including advertising.

For more information, contact Project Vote Smart at 1-888-868-3762 or email politicalcourage@votesmart.org.

About Us | Contact Us | Project Vote Smart • One Common Ground, Philipsburg, MT 59858 • Hotline: 888-Vote-Smart (888-868-3762)