Campaign codes of conduct are sets of guiding principles and rules of engagement that candidates would abide by during the campaign. Unlike some previous efforts to foster clean elections, these codes are drafted by the candidates themselves, or by a non-partisan panel of citizens using candidate input, facilitated by the Project. This poll suggests that they firmly reject the notion that candidates have to behave unethically to get elected, and they hold high aspirations for a different kind of campaign culture. They believe hypocrisy is a cardinal sin in politics, and they think candidates can and should do better. The poll shows that voters make very clear distinctions between appropriate and inappropriate matters for campaign debate.
Voters are clear about what's in and what's out of bounds.
They don't need our Project to be the ethics police. Voters also have a very clear idea about what should be embraced in a campaign code of conduct. The public understands and welcomes a contest of ideas where positions are vigorously debated. But they begin to turn off and tune out when debate becomes mudslinging. Despite their frustration, the poll shows that voters are not ready to walk away from the political process, and that they believe candidates want to do the right thing.