Follow the seat through time
An office record is a useful anchor because people change while the institution continues. A current roster identifies a holder at a stated time; an election record identifies candidates for a particular contest. A vacant seat is still an office. Comparing these records helps avoid the common mistake of treating a candidate biography as proof that the person currently has governmental authority.
Keep identities and campaigns distinct
Names are not unique identifiers. A person can run more than once, seek different offices or appear with different punctuation in separate sources. Electionpedia retains the source identifiers and election context that allow a reader to check a match. A campaign committee is also a separate record: its receipts and spending should not be read as the candidate’s personal wealth.
Read statements as statements
A questionnaire answer, campaign website or public quotation establishes what a source said in a particular context. It does not automatically establish what an officeholder later did. When comparing candidates, keep published statements, recorded votes, campaign finances and biographical records in their own categories. The date and original publication can be as important as the words themselves.
Use the right level of government
A federal legislator, a governor and a county official have different institutional roles. Begin with the office and the jurisdiction, then use the source-linked biography and related records to learn about the person. A party label or an appointing authority should not be substituted for a documented policy position. Missing evidence does not establish agreement, opposition or misconduct.
Continue with the sources
These publications explain the institutions and record systems discussed in this guide. Individual entries link their own specific documents and dates.