How To Collect Candidate Profiles Using Google Forms
While emailing candidate questions seems quick, collating the responses is tedious. Campaign staff may wish to change a response(s). Required questions may be skipped. Answers may not be succinct. Dealing with these situations creates unnecessary work for civic organization volunteers creating local voter guides.Who will benefit from this tutorial: This tutorial is for anyone looking to simplify how answers are collected to a series of questions from multiple people using freely and widely accessible tools. Tools required:
- Email account
- Google account (Can be tied to gmail email account)
Alternative Tools: There are a number of online services and website plugins available for creating survey forms. Some options are free; others are not. These other options may be even more robust than the one described into this how to guide.
How to Create a Google Form
In Google Drive, go to New > More > Google Forms > Blank Form

The first part of the cascading menus are shown. Continue to click through to Google Forms > Blank Form.

Select the type of question to be asked by clicking on the right.


Add Description

Add Data Validation Tips
- Check form permissions
- Can customize look of form
To make it even easier for the candidate, pre-fill data that you already have.How to do pre-filled Google Form:

- Click three dots in upper right hand corner of the page to access drop-down menu. Then select ""
- On next screen, follow onscreen instructions to answer questions and press "Submit." Then, copy the pre-filled link that will be shown at the top of the page with the candidate or candidate's representative.
Tips:
- If there are fields that are important, make sure to mark them as required.
- Concerned that answers may be too long? Add data validation
- Collaborators can be added to the questionnaire. Add them by clicking the three vertical dots in the upper right hand corner.
- Turn on email notifications to receive updates when form responses are received.

Once the data is collected, can choose to share it in different ways:
- Use Google's "Publish to the Web" option.
- Download the answers as a .csv file. Copy and paste into a flyer or webpage.
- Share the document with someone who can add the content to a webpage or post on the organization's site.