As the beginning of 2016 hurries quickly by, it is more and more important to be educated on the political climate currently unfolding before the 2016 presidential elections. Though it is easy to take the information readily available through the news or media as absolute fact on candidates, there are more surefire ways to educate yourself about each candidate in the race. Republican, Democrat, or somewhere in between? There are sites that determine that, too. Not sure who (besides Donald, who seems to be in everyone's mind) is actually running, and want to get caught up during those ever-heated political conversations your friends like to have? There are plenty of ways to get all the information, in relatively painless ways, too!

1. I Side With - If you want to make an educated decision on the way you vote next November and have enough time to fill out a questionnaire based on political ideology, this is a great way to know where your beliefs stand in comparison to the candidates currently in the race.

2. On the Issues - Once you've determined where you stand on the issues facing America today, or if you already feel comfortable with your knowledge on political stances, On the Issues is a great place to head to understand how candidates feel about important American issues. Quotes they have said in the past as well as information on how they may have voted on issues like gun control or abortion are profiled to give voters an educated view of their potential next president.

3. Presidential Candidates Inside Gov - Another great resource for comparing the candidates, there is a robust comparison tool on important American politics on this site. If you are worried about one specific issue, this is a great place to see how all of the candidates stack up.

4. Politics 1 - This is a bit of a compilation website where any individual who has even expressed slight interest in running for president has been listed. As we move closer to the political primaries and first-in-the-nation states, this may be less useful, but it is still a good idea to keep a running tally of all of the people trying to take the most important office in the country.

5. CNN Nightcap - A nightly email can be sent to you about information regarding the American political sphere. This is one of the easiest ways to stay up to date with any political happenings and is an awesome quick read right before bed.

6. 4 President - This website compiles television ads and candidate information that has gone out to the public. Although it may not give the complete run through of prior quotes or votes in public office, it is a great resource to figure out what people are putting out there for their campaigns.