Project Vote Smart pitches tent in NLV

NORTH LAS VEGAS -- Election years are typically accompanied by circus environments and this year, a big top tent will be pitched for the occasion.

North Las Vegas is one of five locations nationwide chosen by Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan group that provides residents information about candidates and their platforms.

The exhibit, dubbed the Road to Democracy tour, will be held today and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in a 20-foot-by-40-foot tent outside the North Las Vegas Library.

"North Las Vegas is one of our sponsoring libraries and we thought it would be an excellent place to test run the tent," Project Vote Smart spokesman Ed Joyce said. "We're excited about doing it there."

Joyce said Project Vote Smart allows people to learn about candidates, their backgrounds and issues without the information being presented in a subjective manner.

Computers will be available for voters to look up a candidate's voting record, campaign finances, biographical information and special interest group performance evaluation. It provides information on more than 13,000 elected officials.

"Voter's Self-Defense" manuals also will be distributed.

Joyce said it's difficult to determine how Project Vote Smart's presence has impacted voter turnout in the past.

"It's too early to tell as far as correlation," Joyce said. "I just hope we're providing information and making voters aware of where candidates stand and where they can find more information."

Project Vote Smart was started in 1988 as a research project to see whether voters would use information to defend themselves against manipulative campaign tactics.

It is funded by its membership, which does not include any special interest groups or politicians, and philanthropic foundation grants.

The North Las Vegas Library is located at 2300 Civic Center Drive.

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