Candidates for public office typically receive stacks of questionnaires from newspaper, unions, the League of Women Voters and other organizations asking for positions on issues.

We sympathize with candidates who say they just don't have time for all.

Nonetheless, we urge those candidates: Make the time.

Their answers provide the information voters need to make the important decisions required on Election Day.

Project Vote Smart, a national nonpartisan project aimed at educating voters and improving turnout, is one organization well worth the time of candidates and voters.

Project Vote Smart has asked Wisconsin's candidates for federal and state office to fill out a political courage test by stating their positions on a variety of issues important to voters.

The deadline for completing the political courage test is Wednesday. Regrettably, less than 20 percent of Wisconsin candidates for Congress and state Assembly have answered Vote Smart's questions.

Let's hope the laggards are embarrassed into filling out the test today.

To see the answers, check www.votesmart.org.