CEHN’s Voter Guide outlines eight core issue areas critical to protecting children’s environmental health. This companion toolkit provides practical, step-by-step guidance to help you evaluate candidates’ records, policy positions, and commitments.
This toolkit is nonpartisan. It is designed to help voters make informed decisions grounded in science, transparency, and environmental and public health protections.
Use the following nonpartisan resources to learn who is running for each office. For each candidate you’d like to assess, make notes on a candidate evaluation worksheet (Google Doc version or print from the toolkit PDF).
As you review your candidates’ records, policy positions, and commitments, evaluate them based on the considerations outlined in the Voter Guide for Children’s Environmental Health.
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Voting history reveals how candidates act, not just what they say.
Many policies relevant to children’s environmental health are implemented under foundational federal environmental and public health laws, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act (just to name a few).
These laws, key funding, and public health regulations and guidance are administered by federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Food and Drug Administration.
When reviewing voting records, consider whether candidates have supported maintaining the authority and capacity of these agencies and whether they have voted to protect or weaken the implementation of foundational protections.
Use these sources to research federal candidate voting records:
Search using keywords from the Voter Guide, like PFAS, Clean Air, Clean Water, EPA, Climate, or Chemical Safety
What to look for:
Start with your state legislature website and either visit the candidate’s page or search the site using keywords from the Voter Guide, like PFAS, Clean Air, Clean Water, EPA, Climate, or Chemical Safety.
Check minutes from the meetings local candidates are a part of, like:
These can often be found on town, city, or county websites or social media. You can also call your local government office to ask where to find these public records.
Deciding to sponsor or cosponsor bills signals policy priorities.
On Congress.gov
Ask:
Campaign websites and official statements are a good way to see where your candidates stand on important issues.
Use these sources to research public statements and policy platforms:
You can also search the web with queries like “[Candidate’s name] climate change.”
What to look for:
Distinguish between general rhetoric and specific policy commitments.
Campaign funding can provide insight into relationships with industry or advocacy groups.
Research using:
Review:
Ask: Does campaign funding align with voting behavior?
Prioritize:
Be cautious of:
You’ve collected and synthesized a lot of information! Use an online sample ballot tool, the PDF toolkit template, or scrap paper to write a sample ballot you can take with you when you vote. Voters are allowed to take sample ballot guides and campaign material with them into a voting booth.
Provide feedback on the Voter Guide and Companion Toolkit in this two-minute survey.
Confirm your voting eligibility, register to vote, check your voting deadlines and requirements, and make a plan to vote for kids.