The checklist is practical and reproducible. It assumes you will link each factual claim to the original PDF or state page and record retrieval dates so that any reader can verify the underlying documents.
What this voter-guide checklist is and why primary sources matter
This checklist explains how to build an FL-25 voter guide that relies only on primary sources. It is designed for editors, reporters, and civic volunteers who need a reproducible workflow and clear citation practice for Florida 25th district candidate research.
Primary sources here means the original filings and documents that establish candidacy, committee registration, finance disclosures, and official ballot text. That includes Federal Election Commission filings, state candidate qualification pages, county sample ballots, and direct campaign statements. To find the federal registration status and finance reports, start with the FEC candidate guidance and database FEC candidate guide.
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Before you publish a FL-25 voter guide, check these core primary sources to avoid errors and last-minute changes.
Secondary aggregators can help you locate documents fast, but they should not replace original PDFs and state pages. Use aggregators only to index or to point you to the primary document, then link the primary file for readers and auditors.
At-a-glance checklist: the minimum primary sources to pull before publishing
Before you post a candidate entry for FL-25, fetch three document sets: the latest FEC report for the candidate or committee, the Florida Division of Elections candidate qualification list, and the sample ballot(s) from counties overlapping the district. Pull each as a PDF and record the retrieval date.
When a district crosses county lines, check every affected county site for sample ballots and local candidate filings. For FL-25, start with the Miami-Dade and Broward county election pages to find precinct-level placement and any county notices Miami-Dade County Elections candidate pages.
Do a final sweep for late-filed amendments and new committee registrations within 24 hours of publication. The FEC and state pages sometimes post changes close to deadlines, and those can materially affect a candidate profile or finance statements.
Where to find and read FEC records for a congressional candidate
Locate a candidate or committee page on the FEC site (for example, the candidate overview CARBONARA, MICHAEL – Candidate overview) and confirm registration status, committee ID, and the list of disclosure reports available on that page. The FEC candidate guidance explains the site structure and the registration fields to check first FEC candidate guide.
Work in a clear reading order: first note the committee ID and official name, then open the most recent disclosure reports. Prioritize quarterly and year-end reports, and then any amendments or special filings that list significant receipts or disbursements.
Confirm at least one primary document: a state qualification listing on the Florida Division of Elections or an active FEC committee landing page, then back both with county sample ballots if available.
When you open a disclosure PDF, extract three fields immediately: the report type and date, the total receipts and disbursements listed on the summary page, and any amendment notice on the cover page. Save the PDF and record the retrieval date in your change log.
Numbered steps for citation: 1) Capture the committee ID and candidate name from the candidate/committee landing page. 2) Download the relevant disclosure PDFs in reverse chronological order (for example, FEC FORM 2). 3) Note the report date and, if present, the amendment text or cover page. 4) Save the PDF with a reproducible file name and link directly to the PDF in your guide when possible.
Checking Florida Division of Elections records for candidate qualification and ballot status
Use the Florida Division of Elections candidate qualification pages to confirm that a person is filed for the 25th Congressional District and to capture the official office designation and filing date. The state candidate pages list qualification status and relevant office/district fields Florida Division of Elections candidate list.
On the state site, look for the candidate name as it appears on official filings, the office sought exactly as labeled, and the qualification or filing date. Those fields are essential for labeling a profile as ‘qualified’ or ‘filed’ and for tracing any later changes.
Compare the state listing to the FEC committee registration. A candidate can have a committee before the state qualification is posted; conversely, a state filing without a linked federal committee may indicate a recently declared run that awaits committee registration.
Using county supervisor of elections sites to confirm local ballot placement and sample ballots
Counties publish sample ballots, precinct lookup tools, and local candidate filing confirmations that determine how a candidate will appear to voters in a given precinct. For FL-25, primary counties to check include Miami-Dade and Broward, each of which maintains candidate and sample ballot pages Broward County candidate information.
Use the sample ballot PDFs to confirm ballot language, office labeling, and the candidate’s precinct placement. Download the PDF for each precinct relevant to your audience area, save it with a consistent file name, and note the retrieval date.
County pages also list local deadlines, withdrawal notices, and any county-specific filing forms. If the district crosses counties, check every county that contains district precincts to capture variations in how the name or office is presented to voters.
How to use Ballotpedia and similar neutral indexes responsibly
Ballotpedia and similar neutral indexes provide a useful timeline and quick index of filings and dates, but they are aggregators. Use them to locate a date or event, then retrieve the original filing or disclosure from the state or FEC site before publishing Ballotpedia candidate profile.
Best practice: when Ballotpedia points to a filing or finance disclosure, follow its link or citation trail to the primary PDF. Do not cite an aggregator as the sole source for a factual claim about registration, financial totals, or qualification status.
Workflow and citation best practices for publishing a primary-source voter guide
Adopt a reproducible order for checks: pull the latest FEC report, then the state candidate list, then county sample ballots. Save each item as a dated PDF and record the retrieval time in an update log linked to the published guide. Federal guidance on voter education and outreach recommends transparent sourcing and clear citation practices for public materials EAC voter education guidance.
Use a consistent citation template for each entry: site name, document title, retrieval date, and a direct PDF link when available. Publish a short ‘last checked’ date on each candidate entry so readers know when the primary documents were verified. Visit the site homepage for editorial context and links to contact information.
file naming and citation template for voter guide PDFs
include timezone in retrieval date
File naming example to keep in your workflow: ‘FL25_CommitteeID_CandidateName_ReportDate.pdf’. Store copies in an audit folder and keep a simple change log that records each update and who verified it.
Verification checklist for candidate biographical and platform entries
For biography, prefer direct campaign materials and official filings. Use the campaign site or candidate-authored statements for personal background claims, and corroborate office-seeking statements with the Florida Division of Elections list Florida Division of Elections candidate list. Where appropriate, reference the campaign launch materials such as the campaign launch press release or the candidate’s own site campaign page.
For policy positions or platform priorities, cite the original campaign statement, press release, or an authored opinion piece and record the URL and date. When descriptive language comes from campaign materials, use attribution phrasing such as ‘according to the campaign’ or ‘the campaign states’ to keep claims grounded in source material.
Avoid presenting slogans or promotional phrases as factual outcomes. If a candidate uses a slogan, put it in quotes and attribute it to the campaign site or to the original statement where it appears.
How to track and report campaign finance changes and amendments
Track finance data by monitoring the quarterly and pre- or post-election reports listed on the FEC committee page. The FEC guidance identifies which report types commonly contain new data and how amendments are indicated on the filing page FEC candidate guide.
When an amended report appears, link directly to the amendment PDF and note the amendment date in your entry. Present figures exactly as shown on the summary page and include the report date rather than rounding unless the source rounds the numbers itself.
To avoid misinterpretation, add an editor’s note when figures change significantly between publications, and keep the prior figure plus its original retrieval date in your change log for auditability.
Formatting and accessibility best practices for voter-education materials
Follow federal clear-citation recommendations and make primary documents easy for readers to access. Use descriptive headers, short paragraphs, and clear labels for each source. The EAC guidance on voter education outlines accessibility and citation best practices that apply to public-facing voter guides EAC voter education guidance.
Practical tips: include alt text for images, provide direct links to PDFs, mark the document type and retrieval date near each citation, and keep a machine-readable list of sources for auditors who may need to re-check files.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: relying on a secondary aggregator without linking the primary document. Remedy: always link to the original PDF or state page and save a local copy with a retrieval date; state sites provide official candidate qualification listings that should be the source for qualification status Florida Division of Elections candidate list.
Mistake: publishing finance figures without the report date or amendment note. Remedy: include the report date and a direct disclosure PDF link so readers can verify the number in context; the FEC site lists amendment notices on the filing cover page FEC candidate guide.
Mistake: forgetting county-level variations in sample ballots. Remedy: check every county overlapping FL-25 and save the sample ballot PDF for each relevant precinct. County election pages typically post precinct-level sample ballots and local filing notices Miami-Dade County Elections candidate pages.
Practical scenarios: step-by-step examples for common editorial cases
Scenario A: New candidate files late. Steps: 1) Search for a new committee registration on the FEC site and capture the committee ID. 2) Check the state candidate list to confirm qualification. 3) Download any available disclosure PDFs and save with the ‘FL25_CommitteeID’ file name. 4) Add an editor’s note to the entry indicating the new filing date and retrieval time.
When you find a late FEC committee registration, cite the committee landing page and a primary disclosure PDF. Keep the previous version of the profile archived and show the update in the change log so auditors can trace the timeline of edits. See the site candidate profile here.
Scenario B: Amended finance disclosure before publication. Steps: 1) Identify the amended filing on the FEC page. 2) Download the amendment PDF and compare the summary figures to the prior report. 3) Record both the prior and amended figures with retrieval dates. 4) Publish updated figures with a short editor’s note and link to both PDFs.
Decision criteria: when to include or exclude a candidate entry
Minimum evidence to publish a candidate profile: the candidate appears on the Florida Division of Elections state qualification list or has an active FEC committee that is linked to the district filing. Using one of these as a threshold keeps inclusion rules clear and auditable Florida Division of Elections candidate list.
If a candidate has filed but later withdrew or failed to qualify, mark the entry clearly with the state or county notice and the relevant retrieval date. Use neutral labels such as ‘withdrawn’ or ‘did not qualify’ and link to the primary documentation for the status change.
Final checklist and reproducibility notes
Before publishing, confirm you have these items saved with retrieval dates: FEC committee or candidate landing page and the latest disclosure PDF, the Florida Division of Elections candidate page showing qualification, and each county sample ballot PDF relevant to the district. Record each retrieval date in your editorial change log for auditability FEC candidate guide.
Store a brief change log with timestamps, the verifier’s name or initials, and a short note on what changed. Publish a ‘last checked’ date on the guide and an editorial contact so readers can request clarifications or point to new filings.
Primary sources are original documents such as FEC disclosure PDFs, state candidate qualification pages, county sample ballots, and direct campaign statements.
Check the core sources within 24 hours of publication and note the retrieval date; re-check before major deadlines or if you learn of new filings.
Ballotpedia can be used to locate filings and dates, but you must retrieve and cite the original primary documents for any factual claim.
If you plan to publish a voter guide, make the 'last checked' date prominent and invite readers to report new filings so the guide can remain current.
