Quantcast

Register to Vote

In This Guide

Most Popular

  1. On This Day: The Great Anticipation Becomes the Great Disappointment

  2. Becoming Maurice Sendak: A Children’s Author Grows Up

  3. Harnessing Open Source Intelligence: Social Media and the CIA

  4. On This Day: White Boston Man Kills Pregnant Wife, Blames Imaginary Black Man

  5. Study Highlights the High Costs of the Death Penalty

  6. On This Day: Terry Fox’s “Marathon of Hope” Comes to an End

  7. Is Marathon Running Dangerous?

  8. Many US Schools Consider Four-Day School Week

  9. 5 Animals We Need to Survive

  10. On This Day: Witold Pilecki Allows Himself to Be Captured by the Nazis

null

Presidential Elections: The Electoral Process at Work

Living in a democracy is great: it creates a platform for opportunity and equality unlike any other political system. But the system is only as strong as those who make it, and the American electoral process depends on committed voters and civic-minded individuals to keep it running fairly. In 2008, Americans are once again faced with the central component in preserving the democratic system—voting for president. This guide will refresh your memory on the history of the electoral process, show you how to register to vote, and suggest some resources for would-be volunteers.

History of the U.S. Electoral Process

The United States developed an electoral process based on democratic ideals. Studying the history ... read more »

The Electoral College

As was demonstrated in the 2000 election, there’s more that goes into winning the Presidency ... read more »

American Political Parties

Although there are two major American political parties, many others exist on the fringes of the ... read more »

Register to Vote

Voting is the most important thing you can do to foster and maintain democracy. This section of the guide helps get you to the polls, registered and ready. Find out where the nearest polling station is, how to cast an absentee ballot, or register to vote for the first time. If you’re interested in contributing to American politics on a deeper level, you’ll also find sites that provide volunteer opportunities.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • Don’t wait until the last minute to register to vote. The process often takes longer than you expect, and you never know what logistical details will come up—especially if you are trying to register so that you can cast an absentee ballot.
  • If you need additional assistance, or are unsure of where your closest polling station is located, visit your state’s homepage for more information. Find a homepage by replacing the XX’s in this address with the two-letter abbreviation of your state: http://www.XX.gov. For example, for New York, enter http://www.NY.gov.

Dulcinea's Picks

For voter registration …
C-SPAN uses an intuitive and interactive map of the United States to help you register to vote. Download and print your state form, fill it out, and send it to the voting office of your state.
go to site »
For absentee voting information …
The Federal Voting Assistance Program ’s Absentee Voting Assistance provides voting forms and information to uniformed services members and overseas citizens.
go to site »
Back to Top

Volunteer in Presidential Elections

Presidential campaigns, from the primaries to the final election in November, are always looking ... read more »

Most Recent Guides

The 1960s United States
1950s United States and the Cold War
The Great Depression and the New Deal