Behind the Ballot: A Hands-On Guide to Candidate Research
- Elizabeth Clemons
- Aug 17, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 23, 2025
Tip Sheet
This tip sheet is connected to workshop 1 of our fall candidate backgrounding series. It is best used in conjunction with the workshop recording, available here.
Research Foundations
Some tips for building transparency into your daily coverage
Identifying Information: name and contact information
Suggested searches:
Local election boards for official filings
These sites vary depending on the state and county. Use these filings to start collecting basic candidate background information, but always make sure to verify it with other sources.
Washoe County, Nevada can have robust candidate filings, and Pennsylvania has one site to see the entire list of candidates, including all levels and districts.
LexisNexis and other proprietary databases, if you have access.
411.com (reverse searches to match numbers to names or addresses)
Primary Residence and Address History
Suggested searches:
County tax assessors
Recorder of deeds
Real estate websites, i.e. Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com
Candidate's stances on key issues
Suggested searches:
Candidate’s campaign website
Local election boards for official filings
Candidate questionnaires
Associated people
Marital status
Suggested searches:
Family and friends
Suggested searches:
Educational Backgrounding
Suggested searches:
Social media sources (below)
FamilySearch Catalog: Yearbook
Findmypast (particularly helpful for archives from the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada)
Internet Archive (i.e. Wayback Machine on University site)
Search for thesis or dissertation
Check the Attended University’s Library Catalog. It should be indexed even if not available in full-text.
Google Search and Google Books Search
Search newspaper archives (especially local) by candidate name (and name variations). Sign up for public and state library cards to access remote sources.
Facebook Search Tool from IntelTechniques, see education tab.
Search video and audio archives
American Archive of Public Broadcasting radio and tv of PBS broadcasts - terms of use
C-Span Video Library archives every C-SPAN program aired since 1987 with transcripts, includes some radio transcripts - copyright and licensing
TV News Archive search and view news clips back to 2009
Listennotes podcast archive search engine
LinkedIn Alumni Tool search school’s page for alums by date and more
Professional Backgrounding
Suggested searches:
OpenCorporates: Make an account. It’s free!
Business & Government Search Tool IntelTechniques
Documents Search Tool from IntelTechniques
ProPublica: Tracking PPP
National Association of Secretaries of State find corp registry database by state
Online Databases of Contracts with US State Governments Society for Institutional & Organizational Economics
Licensing Sources in State Agency Databases - Links to State Licensing Databases you can search by name or business.LinkedIn (set all of your visibility settings to private)Here is LinkedIn’s advanced filter search.
Search Google, Google books for resumes and bios details
Search newspaper archives (especially local) by candidate name (and name variations)- Sign up for public and state library cards to access remote sources.
Google Patents Search worldwide
Trademark Search USPTO
United States Court of International Trade: adjudicates civil actions coming out of US customs and international trade laws
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces: reviews decisions from the intermediate Appellate Courts of the services (listed below)
Fold3 - Historical military records
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: provides judicial oversight and review of final decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals
Board of Veterans’ Appeals: determines whether US military veterans are entitled to claimed veterans’ benefits and services)
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals: hears and decides contract disputes between government contractors and Executive agencies under the provisions of the Contract Disputes Act
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals: hears claims from contract disputes between government contractors and the Department of Defense or NASA
Postal Service Board of Contract Appeals: hears and decides any appeal from a decision of a contracting officer of the USPS or the Postal Regulatory Commission
Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition: established by the FAA to hear and decide award protests and contract disputes subject to the Acquisition Management System between government contractors and the FAA
United States Merit Systems Protection Board: quasi-judicial, working to ensure protection for federal employees against abuses by agency management
Social Media
Suggested searches:
Socials
Alt Socials
Fundraising & Financials
Forums & Blogging
Software Providers
Reverse Image Searching
Imageboards & Videos
8chan (8kun)
Online Ads
Facebook & Instagram: Meta Ad Library
Google & YouTube: Google Transparency Report
Snapchat: Snap Political Ads Library
X (previously Twitter): Political Ads Disclosure
Messaging
Tracking Socials & Websites
🚨 These Tip Sheets are incredible resources, best used in conjunction with their hands-on workshop session component. Watch the recording here.
Questions or comments about Sunlight's workshops and resources? Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@sunlightresearch.net.