Q: How do Constituent Polling representatives differ from traditional politicians?

A:Traditional politicians want their constituents to accept the decisions their representatives make for them, as described in our 18th century US Constitution. They do not want their constituents directly involved in making decisions for laws or government policies for them to follow. Many spend little or no time communicating with their constituents after elections.

Unlike traditional political Party politicians, Constituent Polling representatives want their constituents to be actively involved in the decisions they make for them every day they are in office. These representatives want a lot of contact with their constituents to determine how they should vote on laws, based on what the democratic majority of their communities want. Otherwise, how could they address the interests and needs of their communities, if they don’t communicate regularly with their constituents?

Q: How does the platform of Constituent Polling lawmakers differ from traditional political Party lawmakers?

A: The platforms of traditional political Party lawmakers present ideas that appeal to the ideological values popular with their voters. They make little or no effort to write any specific law that supports any promises they make, as this typically invites challenging rhetoric from their opponents. Moreover, when they do write laws, they can be hundreds of pages long, and cover a multitude of unrelated issues. Therefore, they rarely pass legislation that supports their promises that are supposed to benefit their constituents in any meaningful way.

On the other hand, the platform for Constituent Polling lawmakers focuses solely on shifting the balance of the political power of decision making from them to their constituents. They want their role to be that of educators that explain the pros and cons of legislation relating to their community’s interests and needs. Their ideological positions are not imposed on their constituents. Instead, the ideological preferences of their constituents that are liberal or conservative in their values are expressed in the results of how they vote in constituent polling. These lawmakers are non-partisan.

Constituent Polling lawmakers seek to have agreement with what our citizens want and what our representatives provide to us through laws. For far too long, our voting citizens have lost trust and confidence in how our traditional political Parties have functioned. This has been due to many of our politicians listening and responding more to the interests of their corporate donors, instead of the needs of their constituent’s communities.

Q: If I were concerned about certain economic, health or safety issues that are not addressed by our traditional political Parties, how would a Constituent Polling representative respond differently?

Every political issue is based on laws and policy decisions. Constituent Polling representatives respond to issues of law and policies according to their constituent’s polling results. Each of us votes for the decisions we want them to make, and the majority of voters determine the outcomes for how our representatives respond to them. Whether we consider our ideas as liberal or conservative, our voices are heard and responded to by them through Constituent Polling.

In contrast, traditional Party politicians spend their time debating and compromising with other politicians in the same or another political Party. This produces laws and policies that are watered down, or completely useless in defining what their constituents actually want from them. In many cases, it can result in not passing beneficial laws, but instead passing ones that can end up being against the interests of their own constituents.

Q: Who can become a Constituent Polling candidate?

A: In short, anyone who qualifies for the office they seek. All lawmaker offices have few requirements, except for age, residency, citizenship, and criminal status. There are no qualifications for experience in any occupation, or any civil service exams to determine competency to perform their job duties. How many hours lawmakers work, or what they do are independent and personal decisions for them to make. This highlights the problem we have, when they also make personal decisions for us to follow.

Those interested in running for office as executive or legislative lawmakers that accept the Constituent Polling pledge must post it on their campaign website to receive support from voters. Their website link will be posted here, so voters can support their candidacy on social media, and with individual donations as described in their platform.

When Constituent Polling candidates are elected, it will virtually eliminate traditional political Party donors, like voting district foreigners and corporations, from influencing their legislative decisions. None of them will have any influence on their decisions, unless they are like any other voter living in their voting district. That is, those who live in a representative’s voting district can have one vote in any poll, whether they are a CEO of an international corporation, or an 18 year old that works at a fast food restaurant. 

Q. Should candidates run as Democrats, Republicans or other Party candidates?

A. Yes, or even as write-in candidates as well. It all depends on how they can get on a primary or election ballot. The significant difference between Constituent Polling candidates and those in our traditional political Parties is that they vote on legislation independent of party politics that lead to compromises influenced by corporate and wealthy donors.

Our two private traditional political Parties decide how to get on a ballot, and make it very difficult for other political Party or independent candidate to compete in their voting districts. They and their corporate and wealthy donors also control who is allowed to debate on their mainstream media broadcasting programs. This makes for a difficult decision for candidates to make, depending on their knowledge of election laws in their districts.

If Constituent Polling candidates decide to run as Democrats or Republicans that dominate winning elections in their voting district, they can simply pay a few dollars for membership in those Parties. Then when they engage in debates, they can introduce constituent polling for how they plan to represent their constituents.

It is recommended that Constituent Polling candidates start running in their most local elections. It gives them the best chance to win, especially against incumbents, and to build their reputation to take on higher levels of office. Local elections require less ground to cover in door knocking to get the attention of voters. There are more opportunities for debates as well, to challenge traditional opponents that refuse to give up their personal political power. Results can often be achieved with less money involved.

Unfortunately, today’s activists and community organizers are stuck following the traditional idea that accepts electing Party politicians to make all of their political decisions for them. Constituent Polling presents them with a way to have real political power after elections, instead of constantly fighting with those that don’t want them to have it. Their regular communications with their organization’s members and citizens make them ideal candidates to run against the politicians they are often at odds with. Yet few of them consider running against unopposed incumbents.

In sum, Constituent Polling offers us a choice in elections that was not possible until recent years. Constituent Polling represents each citizen living in our voting districts equally, regardless of their ideology, or economic status.