(Those of you in or near San Jose, California, go to my other post at sanjose.metblogs.com. I have more links for you there.)

If you live in the United States, I don’t have to remind you that we’re in the climax of election season and we should be getting our October Surprises any time now. But I do want to point you in the direction of quality unbiased information about what you’re going to vote for on Nov. 4. So please, for the love of God, don’t rely on relentless attack ads, cable TV pundits or political operatives who appear to do nothing but parrot talking points. Make your own decisions, and let these sites help inform:

Smart Voter
Enter your address and see everything that will be on the ballot in your neighborhood — every person running for your district, every measure that applies to your area. If you did not already get your voters’ guide in the mail, this is the perfect place to start.

Project Vote Smart
Look up your candidates and current office-holders by zip code, then easily find their voting record, public statements, speeches and videos. This site excels with the lesser-known local and state representatives. An invaluable resource.

Politifact
If you’re tired of trying to figure out which national candidate to believe, this is a great site to see quickly who just lied about what.

Factcheck
Another great fact-checking resource From the Annenberg Public Policy Center. This goes more in-depth than Politifact.

Open Secrets
Follow the money: see who is donating to candidates and elected officials.

Glassbooth
Still not sure who you’re voting for in the presidential race? This site will quiz you on your core values and match you with a candidate.