Students looking for ways to spend a semester or their summervacation just got another option.
Project Vote Smart has approved funds for up to five Universityof Memphis internships that will allow students to spend 10 weeksat its political research center in Philipsburg, Mont.
Project Vote Smart began in 1992 and collects information --like issue positions -- on U.S. Congressional representatives,state legislature representatives and the President, said LisaColigan, internship coordinator.
"Our goal is to provide the public with factual informationabout elected officials," Coligan said.
She said the organization needs individuals to help collectinformation about candidates. They chose The U of M becauseorganization officials were looking for an area where theytypically do not receive interns. The internships are available fornon-partisan students in all majors and classifications andcomputer skills are a plus.
"We are trying to change the face of democracy," said JameyPeterson, ambassador director for Project Vote Smart. "A lot ofpeople don't vote."
Peterson said ambassadors are members of Project Vote Smart whowant to feel like they are impacting an issue.
They give short, entertaining speeches and presentations togroups like schools, churches and civic organizations about ways toempower voters by providing them with information.
"We want to help out in the community instead of just donatingmoney," Peterson said.
The organization provides online information, a publication anda toll free voter information line with information on wherecandidates stand on issues.
Peterson said they do this so citizens don't have to spendvaluable time looking for information. She said it is becomingincreasingly hard for voters to know where candidates stand onissues because many of them don't directly state theirpositions.
Project Vote Smart also gives the National Political AwarenessTest (NPAT) every two years to thousands of state and federalcandidates. The test is designed to systematically measurecandidates' willingness to provide citizens with crucialinformation about their intentions on issues. Peterson added thatparty members and candidate advisors have been telling candidatesnot to fill out the NPAT, which also hurts voters trying to makeinformed decisions.
"People need to get motivated to go out to vote, and not justvote, but vote smart," Peterson said.
Information on Project Vote Smart can be found on their Web sitewww.vote-smart.org or at their hotline, 1-888-VOTE-SMART(1-888-868-3762). For information on the internships, students cancall 1-888-868-3762 or check out their Web site.
