National Political Awareness Test
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The National Political Awareness Test (NPAT) is an American initiative intended to make American politics more transparent.
It is part of the voter education organization Project Vote Smart's candidate information program. With a view towards elections, the NPAT seeks to obtain answers from election candidates, describing their respective stances on a variety of popular issues in American politics. This information is then made available to voters in a selection-driven, standardized format.
According to the Project Vote Smart website, "It asks candidates one central question: 'Are you willing to tell citizens your positions on the issues you will most likely face on their behalf?'"
However, the response to the National Political Awareness Test has dropped, from 72% in 1996 to 48% today, because politicians from both parties are afraid that challengers will use their responses out of context in attack ads, according to The Wall Street Journal. Rep. Anne Gannon, Democratic leader pro tempore of the Florida House of Representatives, stated: "We tell our candidates not to do it. It sets them up for a hit piece." In response, Project Vote Smart has tried to shame [some say bully] politicians into it, and lets them leave up to 30% of answer blank. [1]
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Notes
- ^ [1] Politicians Grow Wary Of Survey as Internet Spreads Attack Ads, By Peter Grant, October 25, 2006 (subscription)
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