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Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get started?

Getting started on iSelect2008 is as easy as one click! You just have to vote on the questions presented to you in the ‘Vote’ page.

How do I vote?

iSelect2008 helps you vote on specific issues, positions, and proposals rather than candidates.

For each question presented in the ‘Cast Your Vote’ box, you should cast your vote as follows:
- AGREE: you agree with the statement proposed in the box;
- DISAGREE: you disagree with the statement proposed in the box;
- NO OPINION: you don’t have an opinion about the statement or have no interest in this issue.

When appropriate, iSelect2008 provides additional background information underneath the vote box. You can review this information by clicking on the INFO button to the left hand side or by scrolling down the page.

Once you’ve clicked on an answer, iSelect2008 compares your vote with the position of all candidates and friends. Candidates and friends who agree with you get a boost, while those who disagree get the boot!

iSelect2008 then proceeds to select the next question to clarify your policy preferences and discriminate the top candidates and friends as much as possible. The multiple selection factors include your choice of issues, your prior answers, candidates’ and friends’ answers, as well as the answers of all users.

How does iSelect2008 order candidates or friends?

iSelect2008 gives you instant feedback on each of your votes. With each vote you cast, iSelect2008 calculates your relative position to all candidates and friends. The top candidate or friend is the person with whom you agree the most, on a relative basis. Candidates and friends are ordered in descending order from left to right. Their relative position with one another is also highlighted by the podium on which their picture rests. With each new question, Select 2008 aims to further discriminate among candidates and friends and cement your preferences and priorities.

How many votes should I complete?

iSelect2008 should identify your top candidates in approximately twenty votes.

For an accurate and detailed picture of your priorities, iSelect2008 will require thirty to fifty questions.

To make the analysis and comparison with your friends interesting, fifty questions represents a good sample.

iSelect2008 offers over 1,500 questions, so feel free to enjoy them.

What are the ‘Vote Parameters’?

The ‘Vote Parameters’ section allows you to choose from several options, including
- comparing your votes against candidates’ positions or your friends’ votes,
- selecting which candidate or friend you would like to watch,
- seeing candidates’ and friends’ position before or only after you vote,
- hiding or showing user comments on a particular question.

How do I choose between voting with candidates and voting with friends?

iSelect2008 enables to instantly compare your votes against those of up to six candidates or friends. The Parameters box enables you to choose between Candidates and Friends. As default, iSelect2008 presents the leading democratic and republican presidential candidates.

How do I add or remove a candidate?

iSelect2008 proposes the candidates to the democratic and republican nomination. Democrats’ name is highlighted in blue and those of republicans appear in red.

To add or remove a candidate, click on the Candidate button in front of the Add/Remove function in the Parameters to the right. The vote box can contain six candidates at the most.

Before you can add a new candidate, you will have to remove one or several of the ones currently shown in the vote box. Then, proceed to select the candidates you would like to see in the vote box. Remember that the vote box can only show six candidates at a time.

How do I add or remove a friend?

iSelect2008 enables to compare your votes against those of your friends, while you vote. To use this feature, you will have to first register and second invite friends (see FAQs on these topics below).

To add or remove a friend, click on the Friends button in front of the Add/Remove function in the Parameters to the right. The vote box can contain six friends at the most.

Before you can add a new friend, you will have to remove one or several of the ones currently shown in the vote box. Then, proceed to select the friends you would like to see in the vote box. Remember that the vote box can only show six friends at a time.

How do I select specific issues on which to vote?

iSelect2008 enables you to select the issues on which to vote. Simply click on the Select button in the Parameters to the right. A list of all the various issues available will appear. Proceed to select your preferred issues and validate your choice.

How do I add comments to a question?

iSelect2008 lets you add your comments to any question. However, we only allow comments from registered users.
We also reserve the right to edit and remove comments to maintain a civil discussion among users. In particular, we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for the following types of comments:
- inflammatory, heinous, and racist comments;
- erotic and pornographic comments;
- erroneous and rumor-mongering comments; and
- spam.

How do I change a vote on a previous question?

To change your vote to a question, please go to the Results page. The bottom section of the page lists all your votes, with the most recent question at the top. Please click on the Re-Vote button next to the record of your current opinion.

The iSelect2008 team is also adding a “Back” button to allow you to go back to your previous answer, if you realize that you have just misunderstood your question.

How do I save one’s answers?

iSelect2008 enables you to save all your votes by simply registering to the service. If you haven’t yet registered, clicking on the ‘save your votes’ button will save your votes and lead you to the registration page. If you have already registered and already logged in, then your votes are automatically saved at all times. If you have already registered and have not already logged in, logging in will also save your votes.

Saving your votes will enable you to avoid going through the same questions again, the next time you log on to iSelect2008. Saving your votes will also enable you to compare your opinions against those of your friends.

Where do I find my Results and how do I read them?

Once you have answered enough questions (twenty at the least; thirty to fifty preferably), you can review your results by clicking either in the ‘see your results’ button in the vote box, or the ‘Results’ tab in the top menu. Both will take you to the same page.

The top section of the Results page enables you to compare your aggregate position against that of up to three candidates or friends. You can select the candidates or friends on the left hand side. The default candidates or friends are the ones currently leading. The right hand side chart presents your results against those of the selected candidates or friends in a “radar” format. This format compares the two positions on the multiple issues, with each issue representing one particular dimension.

The votes section at the bottom of the page lists your votes against those of the selected candidates or friend, with the latest vote at the top. The Re-Vote link allows you to change your position on a particular question.

How do I read the What’s Hot section?

The What’s Hot section at the top of the page gives you a real time snapshot of user support for or against candidates’ positions. You can visualize this snapshot for all topics or select specific issues to review.

How do I read the Top 50 Questions?

The Top 50 Questions are the most controversial questions at the moment with the iSelect2008 community, based on the amount of votes, and how close the community is split on the question.

How do I register?

To register to iSelect2008, please follow either ones of the following links:
- ‘Register’ link at the top right-hand corner of any pages;
- ‘save your results’ buttons on the ‘Vote’ page.

On the Register page, please enter your user name, name, e-mail, and password. You can also add some demographic information about yourself. This information improves the quality of your iSelect2008 experience, by improving question selection. You can choose to share this information with your friends or keep it private to yourself. By default, this information will remain private.

All you personal information, including registration information and demographic information is used on the website and by the iSelect2008 services in accordance with iSelect2008’s Privacy Policy.

Please maintain your password confidential and secure at all times, to prevent unauthorized access to your iSelect2008 account.

How do I update my personal information?

You can update your personal information at any time, for instance to update your e-mail or your password. Simply log into your account and click on the link that bears your name at the top right-hand side corner of any page. This link will take you to the page where you can administer your personal account information.

How do I upload my personal picture?

iSelect2008 enables you to upload your personal picture. This picture will make your experience of iSelect2008 more enjoyable. It will also improve your friends’ experience when they want to compare their votes to yours.

If you don’t upload a personal picture, the default illustration will appear in place of your picture.

To upload a personal photo, simply log into your account and click on the link that bears your name at the top right-hand side corner of any page. This administration page will allow you to upload your personal photo.

The size of your picture file should NOT be greater than 2Mb. The file format for your picture should be JPG, GIF, or PNG. Using larger picture files or wrong picture format will prompt an error message.

In accordance with the Terms of Services, please make sure that you own the rights to the picture you upload. By uploading the picture, you certify that you own the rights to the picture and grant a limited license to iSelect2008 for use on the Website.

How do I invite my friends?

To invite your friends, please log into your account. On the top right-hand side corner, please follow the ‘FRIENDS’ link. This link will take you to the Friends administration page.

The ‘Invite Friends’ box allows you to invite your friends by simply adding their email addresses.

You can add a personal message to the email invitation by following the link below the entry box for email addresses.

iSelect2008 will generate an email invitation to your friends. If a friend of yours is already registered with the email address that you use in your invite, the connection will be immediately created. On the other hand, you will have to wait until she accepts your invitation to view and compare with her votes.

How do I share my results with my friends?

Once you have invited your friends, they will be able to see your most up-to-date results upon log in. Unless you have kept your results private from them, this function does not require further action.

You can always update your privacy settings with respect to any of your friends, by accessing their profile and updating the privacy setting – share my results.

How can I keep my results private from my friends?

You can select to keep your results private when you invite your friends. By default, you will be sharing your results with your friends.

You can always update your privacy settings with respect to any of your friends, by accessing their profile and updating the privacy setting – share my results.

Where are my invitations and how do I respond to them?

Your friends’ invitations are located in the FRIENDS administration page. You can access this page, once you have logged in, by following the link at the top right-hand side corner.

Your friends invitations are located to the right hand side in the ‘Open Invitations’ section. You can choose to ‘Accept’, ‘Ignore’, or ‘Block’ each invitations.

What happens to my personal information?

iSelect2008 collects non-personal and personal information from its registered and unregistered users. You can review iSelect2008’s Privacy Policy for a detailed overview of iSelect2008’s usage of collected data.

Where does iSelect2008's content come from?

The iSelect2008 team researched in details candidates’ positions and proposals. iSelect2008 uses multiple information sources, including:
- Proposals and positions stated on their website;
- Speeches, press releases and press interviews;
- Campaign debates;
- News reports (cross-referenced as much as possible);
- House of Representatives and Senate vote rolls.

The iSelect2008 team tracks the candidates and campaigns on a daily basis, to present content that is always up-to-date. The team uses a rigorous methodology to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and quality of its information gathering and analysis processes.

iSelect2008 aims to simplify the electoral selection process not influence our users one way or the other. The team puts a great deal of efforts into making sure that the questions are formulated in a straightforward, non-biased and non-partisan fashion.

iSelect2008 sources are being published on del.icio.us/Select2008

Up-to-date as of December 17, 2007
     
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