LibGuides: Elections: Background Information

Election Resources

Election Terms and Definitions
Familiarize yourself with common election terms from USA.gov.
CQ Researcher
Browse reports by issue tracker to find in-depth, historical research reports on elections, the electoral college, polling, political parties, and more! Note: You will have to enter your MultiPass credentials off-campus for this resource.
U.S. Voting and Election Resources
From the National Archives and Records Administration
Voter Resources and Helpful Links
From the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Ballotpedia
Get the facts on upcoming and past elections, politicians, and more from this non-partisan encyclopedia.

Primaries, Caucuses, Conventions - oh my! Use the resources below to learn more about the road to the White House during a Presidential election.

Presidential Election Process
Find requirements and an overview of the timeline of a Presidential Election from USA.gov.
Presidential Debates
Find transcripts from Presidential debates as far back as 1960 from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
What is the Electoral College?
Learn more about the electoral college - who you're really voting for in a Presidential election - from the National Archives and Records Administration.
Elections...the American Way
Learn more about the process, the right to vote, and issues in past Presidential elections from the Library of Congress.
Presidential Elections, 1789-1920
Get primary source materials on Presidential elections from 1789-1920.
The History of the Vice Presidency
Find out more about how elections for Vice Presidency have changed over the years from the U.S. Senate.