Collection:
Check the link on the Google tracking sheet of the last collected rating or endorsement. Hopefully, it will direct you to the newest scorecard or show you where to look.Search terms
Ratings: Scorecard, legislative/congressional scorecard, legislative/congressional report card, capwiz, ratings, rankings,
Endorsements: Endorsement(s), Endorse, endorses, recommended candidates
Endorsement as press releases:
Go to press releases or blog. Get as many links as possible visible on the screen. Ctrl+f “endorse” or other search term.
Entry:
After saving scorecard don't forget to recheck the “Use their ratings” box if you intend on using the SIGs ratings. It unchecks itself.When you save, the page will appear blank. Scroll up and the scorecards will be there.
Don't forget to select the appropriate session. 2013-2014 would be the full session. 2013 would be first and 2014 would be second. If you are unsure, check unknown. States can be a little tricky. For help determining what a session for state legislature is go to http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/2016-state-legislative-session-calendar.aspx
To add candidates that are out of office you can search by “office held” or “office seeking” then by year and/or state to get a comprehensive list of all officials and candidates during a session.
Endorsements: ctrl+f is useful, make sure the person is the right Mike Rogers
For adding candidates in endorsements the drop-down box is a bit of a mess. To better find the correct office and it's placement in the box open a new admin tab, click offices on the left side of the screen and from there you can ctrl+f the office you are looking for.
You will also need be specific on the title of office the candidate is running for, you can do this by searching the candidate, clicking on their id, selecting elections at the top of the screen and then election name .
Ratings:
What do I do when checking over SIG's to release internally or live?Since we only deal with publicly available ratings, if a group does not have publicly available ratings or scorecards available, but the SIG has already been entered into admin, re-check the group and make sure it is released internally.
If an organization has a PAC, do I create a new SIG_id or can I include the PAC information (rating and endorsement) within the "parent organization"?
We do not create a new SIG_id for a PAC that belongs to a parent organization. For example, the Gun Owners of America PAC may endorse and rate officials. That PAC rating/endorse information would be put into the main organization's SIG_id.
The national organization I am working on has a state specific branch, what do I do?
If the state specific branch rates/endorses statewide, state legislative, gubernatorial candidates and officials, then we would create a new SIG_id for that state specific branch. If the state specific branch simply rates congressional and presidential candidates and officials, then the ratings/endorsements will be added under the national organization, not a separate state branch (but only add those officials if the national organization has not done so). So, if the national organization already endorsed "president x" then there is no need to re-endorse president x.
If a official has two scores (one in the house, one in the senate), which do I take?
You take both scores. The most recent office being held will go on the main scorecard you are entering. You will have to create a new scorecard for the older rating. For example, say Ed Markey, who is currently a Senator (MA), receives a Senate score of 58% and receives a House score of 75%, you would enter 58% in the full scorecard you are working on and then create a new scorecard named Positions (House Only) with Markey's score as 75%. Don't forget to delete empty ratings.
