An excellent questionnaire is only effective if candidates respond and voters see the results. A clear process for distributing your questionnaire, following up respectfully, and publishing the responses in a fair and accessible format is just as important as the questions themselves.
Step 1: Distribution
Your goal is to make it as easy as possible for campaigns to receive and complete your questionnaire.
Identify the Right Contact: Don't just send your questionnaire to a generic
info@address if you can avoid it. Use your Candidate Tracking Sheet to find the best contact, which could be a dedicated campaign manager or the candidate themselves. A personal email is always better.Create a Professional Outreach Email: Your initial email should be clear, concise, and professional. It should include:
- A brief introduction to your organization.
- The purpose of the questionnaire.
- A clear deadline for responses (give them at least 1-2 weeks).
- The questionnaire itself, preferably as an attached, editable document (like a
.docx) or a link to a Google Form for their convenience. - A clear statement that you will be publishing the responses verbatim on your website.
Send to All Candidates Simultaneously: To ensure fairness, send the questionnaire to all candidates for a given office at the same time.
Step 2: Follow-Up
Campaigns are incredibly busy. A lack of response is often due to a crowded inbox, not a lack of interest. Polite, persistent follow-up is key.
- Mid-Point Reminder: A few days before the deadline, send a brief, friendly reminder email to any candidates who have not yet responded.
- Deadline Day Reminder: Send a final reminder on the day of the deadline.
- Consider a Short Extension: If a major candidate hasn't responded, it may be worth offering a brief, 24- or 48-hour extension to everyone to maximize participation. Fairness is paramount, so any extension must be offered to all candidates. For many local elections, you should assume you will have to offer an extension, so build the extra time into your planning.
Step 3: Publication
Once the deadline has passed, it's time to share the results with the public. Your goal is to present the information in a way that is nonpartisan, easy to read, and accessible.
Create a Central Hub: The best practice is to create a single, dedicated page on your website for the questionnaire responses. This makes it easy to share.
Publish Responses Verbatim: Do not edit, correct, or editorialize the candidates' responses in any way. Post exactly what they sent you, even if it includes typos. This is crucial for maintaining your nonpartisanship.
Use a Clear and Consistent Format: Present each candidate's response to a given question directly below that question. This makes it easy for voters to compare the answers side-by-side.
Include Non-Responders: If a candidate did not respond to your questionnaire, it is important to note that. A simple, neutral statement like "[Candidate Name] did not submit a response." is sufficient.
Promote, Promote, Promote: Once the responses are live, get the word out! Share the link with your members, post it on social media, and send it to the local press. The more voters you can inform, the greater your impact.
Support Materials
Press Release Template: Questionnaire Launch
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Press Release Template: Questionnaire Launch
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Press Release Template: Questionnaire Launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Your Organization's Name] Seeks Candidate Positions on Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues
[City, State] – [Date] – [Your Organization's Name] announced today that it has sent a candidate questionnaire to all candidates running for [Name of Office, e.g., City Council] in the upcoming [Date of Election] election. The questionnaire focuses on critical issues related to street safety, active transportation, and creating a more walkable and bikeable [Your City].
"Our goal is to provide voters with clear, unfiltered information about where the candidates stand on making our streets safer for everyone," said [Your Name], [Your Title]. "We believe that investing in walking and biking is essential for the health, equity, and sustainability of our community."
All candidates have been invited to respond, and their unedited answers will be published on [Your Website] on [Date of Publication]. [Your Organization's Name] is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office.
About [Your Organization's Name]: [A brief, one-paragraph description of your organization's mission and work.]
Contact: [Your Name] [Your Title] [Email Address] [Phone Number]
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Press Release Template: Responses Published
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Long section
Press Release Template: Responses Published
Expanded details for this section
Press Release Template: Responses Published
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Your Organization's Name] Publishes Candidate Responses on Bicycling and Walking
[City, State] – [Date] – [Your Organization's Name] today published the responses from candidates for [Name of Office] to its 2025 Voter Guide Questionnaire. The guide, available now at [Link to your questionnaire page], provides voters with direct insight into the candidates' positions on key transportation and street safety issues.
"We are pleased to provide this resource to help voters make informed decisions," said [Your Name], [Your Title]. "The responses cover a range of important topics, from funding for bike lanes to policies for improving pedestrian safety."
The questionnaire was sent to all candidates running for [Name of Office]. The published guide includes the full, unedited responses from each candidate who participated.
[Your Organization's Name] encourages all residents to read the candidate responses before they vote in the [Date of Election] election.
About [Your Organization's Name]: [A brief, one-paragraph description of your organization's mission and work.]
Contact: [Your Name] [Your Title] [Email Address] [Phone Number]
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