About the Creator
Niam Nagabhushana
Founder and Editor of Across the Ballot
Who I Am
Niam is a student with a strong interest in government, constitutional law, history, journalism, civic engagement, and how local government shapes daily life in a township like Hillsborough.
- Government
- Constitutional law
- History
- Journalism
- Civic engagement
- Local government
Niam is also a baseball player, and the values that carry over from the field — teamwork, leadership, and community involvement — shape how this project is run.
Why I Created Across the Ballot
I created Across the Ballot because I believe local elections have a direct impact on our community, yet many residents do not always have an easy way to compare candidates and understand the issues. My goal is to make election information accessible, organized, and easy to understand.
My Mission
My mission is to provide clear, accurate, and unbiased information about local elections so voters can make informed decisions based on facts rather than headlines or campaign advertisements.
My Values
Accuracy
Present factual information and identify sources.
Fairness
Give candidates equal opportunities to participate.
Transparency
Clearly identify where information comes from.
Respect
Discuss candidates and political disagreements respectfully.
Civic Engagement
Encourage residents to learn about and participate in local government.
Nonpartisanship
Do not endorse or recommend candidates.
Commitment to Fair Coverage
These rules govern how every candidate is covered on this website.
- Every candidate is invited to participate.
- Every participating candidate receives the same interview questions.
- Candidate responses are presented without changing their meaning.
- Information comes from public records, official sources, campaign materials, and direct candidate communication.
- Campaign-provided claims are clearly identified as campaign-provided information.
- Corrections will be made if errors are discovered.
- Candidates who initially do not respond may provide responses later.
- No candidate receives preferential visual treatment.
- The website does not rank or score candidates.
About Across the Ballot
Founded
2026
Type
Independent student-run civic education project
Focus
- Local elections
- Civic education
- Government transparency
- Candidate information
- Local issues
- Voter education
Independence
Across the Ballot is not affiliated with any candidate, campaign, political party, or government agency, and it does not endorse, rank, score, or recommend candidates.
Why Local Elections Matter
Local government decisions can affect everyday life in ways residents may not immediately connect to a township vote. This section is educational and does not advocate for any policy position.
- Property taxes
- Roads
- Parks
- Public safety
- Township budget
- Recreation
- Community planning
- Development
- Infrastructure
- Local services