Purpose
These rules support a non-partisan platform dedicated to providing accurate, neutral information about candidates, elected and appointed officials, existing laws and ordinances, and legislation. The portal exists to inform, not to advocate. Users and contributors are expected to uphold neutrality, accuracy, and respectful engagement so the resource remains useful to people of all political views. You must be at least 18 years of age to use this website.
1. Neutrality and Non-Advocacy
- Do not use the platform to campaign for or against any candidate, party, ballot measure, or political cause.
- Do not post endorsements, solicitations for donations or votes, attack ads, or partisan talking points presented as facts.
- Comparisons of candidates must remain factual and balanced. Users may not rewrite or distort platform-provided comparisons to favor one side.
- Official information (contact details, voting records, bill summaries) must be presented without editorializing. Personal opinions belong elsewhere.
2. Accuracy and Sourcing
- Content contributed or discussed must be based on verifiable public records, official government sources, or reliable primary materials.
- When citing legislation, statutes, ordinances, or official actions, link to or clearly reference the original source whenever possible.
- Do not post unverified claims, rumors, or selectively edited material that changes the meaning of a candidate’s position, a vote, or a bill.
- Corrections and updates to official information are welcome when supported by evidence. Clearly label proposed corrections.
3. Respectful Conduct
- Treat other users, officials, candidates, and their supporters with basic civility.
- Personal attacks, harassment, doxxing, threats, or targeted abuse are prohibited.
- Disagreement is allowed; insults based on identity, appearance, or private life are not.
- Do not spam, flood threads, or repeatedly post the same message.
4. User-Generated Content and Comments
- Comments and discussions must stay relevant to the page topic (a specific race, official, bill, or statute).
- Users may share additional factual information or ask clarifying questions. They may not turn comment sections into campaign rallies or conspiracy forums.
- Do not impersonate candidates, officials, or government agencies.
- Commercial advertising, fundraising links, and promotional material are not permitted.
5. Privacy and Contact Information
- Contact information displayed on the portal is limited to official public channels (government email addresses, office phones, official websites, public social media accounts).
- Do not post or solicit private personal contact information, home addresses, or non-public details about officials, candidates, their families, or other users.
- Users may not use the platform to organize harassment or unwanted contact directed at any individual.
6. Prohibited Content and Activities
The following are not allowed:
- Misinformation or deliberately misleading material about candidates, votes, laws, or election processes.
- Content that violates applicable law (including defamation, threats, or election-related criminal statutes).
- Coordinated inauthentic behavior, bots, or multiple accounts used to amplify a message.
- Scraping, bulk downloading, or commercial reuse of the portal’s data without permission.
- Attempts to circumvent moderation or re-post content that has been removed.
7. Moderation and Enforcement
- Moderators may remove content, lock threads, or issue warnings when these rules are violated.
- Repeated or severe violations may result in temporary suspension or permanent removal of an account.
- Decisions will be applied as consistently as possible. Users may request a review of a moderation action by providing a clear explanation and supporting information.
- The platform may adjust summaries, comparisons, or official data when errors are identified or when official sources update records.
8. Transparency Commitments
- The portal describes the sources it uses on its How we research page.
- Users will be notified of significant corrections to information provided herein, or policy changes that affect content.
9. Reporting and Feedback
- Report suspected violations using admin@stg-fortbendranchersball-staging.kinsta.cloud.
- Suggestions for improving accuracy, coverage, or usability are welcome and may be submitted through the feedback channels.
- These rules may be updated as the portal evolves. Material changes will be announced.
Final Note
The value of this portal depends on users treating it as a shared public resource rather than a partisan battlefield. By following these rules, you help keep the information reliable and accessible for everyone.