Articles Index

About PACs - Political Action Committees
Love them or hate them, PACs have become an important and influential part of U.S. politics. What kind of PACs are there and what rules must they follow

Had Clinical Chemistry Existed in 1776, We Might Not be Voting
Getting all excited about the presidential elections? Well, consider this: new research suggests that the U.S. may never have rebelled against Mother England in 1776 if King George III could have been treated for a blood-related mental disorder.

The Electoral College System
Every fourth November, after almost two years of campaign hype and money, over 90 million Americans vote for the presidential candidates. Then, in the middle of December, the president and vice president of the United States are really elected by the votes of only 538 citizens -- the "electors" of the Electoral College.

Would You Rather Vote on Saturday?
The argument has often been made that since more Americans have the "day off" on Saturday than on Tuesdays, holding presidential elections on Saturday would allow and encourage more people to vote. Is that right, or would holding elections on Saturdays simply create a different set of excuses for not voting?

Obama and McCain on Campaign Finance Reform
Where do the presumed candidates in the 2008 presidential election, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois) and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), stand on campaign finance reform? Predictably, in much the same place.

Bad Ballots Cause Bad Elections
Several things can be done -- accidentally or intentionally -- in designing ballots to actually influence the outcome of elections, disenfranchise certain groups of voters or both.

Election Day: Why We Vote When We Vote
Find out why all federal elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Meeting with Your Members of Congress
While more difficult than sending them a letter, visiting your Members of Congress, or their staff, face-to-face is the most effective way to actually influence them. Individuals and groups can arrange personal meetings with Senators and Representatives either in their Washington offices, or in their local offices at various times during the year. Where ever you arrange to meet with your elected officials, there are some important tips you need to know.

Campaign Contribution Laws for Individuals
Are you thinking about contributing money to the campaign of a presidential candidate? If you do, you will be far from alone. If you do contribute to a candidate, you should know that the Federal Campaign Finance Law places legal limits on how much and what you can give. Find out what those limits are right here...

Election Day Guide
You've registered to vote, studied the candidates and issues, and finally decided how you want to vote. So here it is, election day, and you still have some questions about the basic act of exercising your right to vote. What happens at the polls? What if you make a mistake? How will your vote be counted, and why do so many people fail to vote? Get the answers to these and more election day questions.

If You Make a Mistake While Voting
With all the different types of voting machines now in use across the United States, voters often make mistakes while voting. What happens if you change your mind while voting, or you accidentally vote for the wrong candidate?

Survey Answers, Why Don't More Americans Vote?
Why do so many qualified Americans choose not to vote? Let's ask them. The California Voter Foundation (CVF) has released the results of a statewide survey on the attitudes of infrequent voters and citizens eligible to vote but not registered. The first-of-its-kind survey sheds new light on the incentives and barriers to voting, along with the sources of information that influence people when they do vote.

Counting the Votes on Election Day
After the last voter has left the polling place, how do they count all those votes and how do they make sure the votes are counted accurately and fairly?

People Who Can Help You on Election Day
When voters walk into a busy polling place on election day, they see a vast array of people, most of them rushing around, doing lots of different things. Who are these people and what is their function in the election?

Election Day Guide Questions and Answers
Clearly, the main thing to do on election day is vote. Unfortunately, voting can often be a confusing process. Here is a brief guide designed to answer some common election day questions. Where do you vote? When do you vote? What should you bring to the polls? What are your rights as a voter?

Registering to Vote
In most places, you must register before you can vote. What is voter registration, how do you register to vote, and why is it important that you keep your voter registration current? Learn more about voter registration.

About the Mid-term Congressional Elections
Congressional elections are held every two years. Coming halfway through a president's four year term in office, the congressional elections are also called "mid-term" elections. Learn more about the mid-term congressional elections.

Few Voters Changed Minds During 2004 Campaign: Survey
Do political campaigns change minds? Rarely, according to the National Annenberg Election survey, which showed that very few American voters changed their minds during the 2004 presidential campaign.

Feinstein Will Move to Abolish Electoral College
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) has announced that she will introduce legislation to abolish the Electoral College system and provide for direct popular election of the President and Vice President when the Senate convenes for the 109th Congress in January.

Turnout of Under-25 Voters Rose Sharply in 2004
Data released by the Pew Charitable Trust shows that the turnout rate of 18-24 year old voters in the 2004 presidential election rose by 5.8 percent, as 1.8 million more people in this age group voted than in 2000.

Bush Chooses Gonzales to Replace Ashcroft
President Bush today announced his nomination of White House legal counsel Alberto Gonzales to replace John Ashcroft as Attorney General in his second-term Cabinet. If confirmed by the Senate, Gonzales would become the first Hispanic to serve as Attorney General.

What If the Presidential Election Is a Tie?
People ask lots of questions about the U.S. Constitution, most of them starting with, "What if...?" Here's a good one: "What if... the Electoral College vote is a tie?" What if the 538 Electors sit down after the election and vote to a 269 to 269 tie? 

Eight States Could Decide 2004 Election
Even as the daily polls waffle from Bush to Kerry and back, it appears the 2004 presidential election will come down to the winning, or losing, of a mere 99 electoral votes in only eight states.

Profile of Young Voters in 2004
With the 2004 presidential elections just weeks away, there are unprecedented efforts to turn out young voters and indications that they are paying closer attention to the campaigns than they have in years. But who are these young voters? What’s different this election year? What do they care about? Whom are they supporting? What are the trends related to young voters?

How Kids Saw the Debate: Weekly Reader
Millions of viewers watched last night's Presidential debate. Among those paying particularly close attention to the first Bush vs. Kerry showdown were five teen reporters who were selected by Weekly Reader, the renowned 102-year-old student publication.

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