US Elections

Elections - Teacher Resources  (Y,M,O,T)
These lessons, printables, and activities on the U.S. electoral process from Teacher Vision provide great teaching ideas for fall, especially during an election year. Explore election requirements for the federal government with your students. You'll also find great ways for students to get involved in local politics, like holding classroom debates or writing letters to representatives. Units on civil rights and women's history will benefit from resources on the American suffrage movement.

Let's Vote! Talking to Children About Voting  (Y,M,T)
A parent's guide to talking about the presidential election from PBS Parents that includes videos, crafts, articles, printables, games, and more.

Presidential Elections Data: 1789 to present  (Y,M,O,T)
From The American Presidency Project, this collection offers maps showing election outcomes by state starting with the election of 1789.

Project Vote Smart  (Y,M,O,T)
“Vote Smart's mission is to provide free, factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials to ALL Americans.” It’s site has a massive database and tons of tools to make informed decisions about candidates, including biographies, voting records, positions, ratings, speeches, funding sources, a side-by-side comparison tool for different candidates, and much more.

Glossary of Election Terms  (Y,M,O,T)
An extensive, searchable dictionary of election terms from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Available in English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalong, and Vietnamese.

State Government Resource  (Y,M,O,T)
From USA.gov. Visit the government website for each state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and associated states.

The Electoral College  (Y,M,O,T)
In the U.S., the President and Vice President are elected by the Electoral College – not by the popular vote. Learn all about the Electoral College, how electors are appointed, the history of the Electoral College, and its voting record from the National Archives.

Politics in the Animal Kingdom (Video)  (Y,M,O)
A series of animated videos from YouTuber CGP Grey that explains the First Past the Post voting system in the US and different types of voting systems from around the world.

Kids Voting USA  (Y,M,O,T)
Kids Voting USA has a collection of K-12 classroom activities, printable activity books, and more for kids to learn about voting and civic engagement.

Elections for Kids  (Y,M,T)
Elections for Kids is an educational website sponsored by Gallopade International, a publishing company for K-8 educational products and digital curriculum. The site has fun facts, informational articles, graphics, lesson plans, and more to learn about the election process.

Vote 411: Election Information You Need  (Y,M,O,T)
Vote 411 is a project by The League of Women Voters, “a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy.” You can “register to vote, find your polling place, look up your ballot, and more” on the website.

Washington's Inaugural Address  (M,O)
From the National Archives, this page includes links to both a transcription and digital images of the original speech.

USElections.com  (O)
You'll find information on your federal, state and local representatives, voter information and registration procedures, FEC records, campaign finance updates, and more.

Elections: A Primary Source Based Presentation  (T)
Elections have been a constant feature of civic life in the United States, and yet they have changed and evolved ever since the first presidential election. This presentation by the Library of Congress explores the past and present of American parties, issues, and the right to vote.

U.S. Election Statistics: A Resource Guide  (O,T)
A guide to online and print resources that contain U.S. election statistics for both federal and state elections. This resource guide compiles a list of online and print resources that contain U.S. election statistics for both federal and state elections. All of the print publications listed in this guide can be consulted on-site at the Library of Congress. In addition, most of the online resources listed are freely available on the Internet. A few of the online databases are available by subscription only, and are so designated.

Politico Election News Coverage, Forecasts, and Results  (M,O)
Politico has some of the most comprehensive election coverage available online. You can find predictions and results of presidential, primary, and midterm elections, states races, and ballot initiatives.

FiveThirtyEight  (Y,M,O)
FiveThirtyEight is a data journalism site that uses statistical modeling to make election predictions. The site, which takes its name from the number of electors in the United States electoral college, was originally a personal blog created by analyst Nate Silver. It was later acquired by the New York Times and then ESPN/ABC News. The site is still led by Nate Silver. The site is home to a number of digital projects for elections and politics, including predictions, polling, redistricting maps, and more.

Open to Debate  (M,O)
Open to Debate (formerly Intelligence Squared U.S.) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is to address the polarization of U.S. politics and “restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse.” It produces a debate podcast in which listeners are polled before and after the debate to see how their opinions changed after listening to the discourse.

FOX News Election Coverage  (Y,M,O,T)
Election and political news coverage from FOX News, a conservative news site.

MSNBC Politics  (Y,M,O,T)
Election news and analysis from NBC News, a liberal news site.

The Green Papers: Elections  (M,O,T)
The Green Papers is a nonpartisan blog by Mr. Berg-Andersson that is dedicated to disseminating information on off-year elections. You can find a vast archive of information on Congressional sessions, governors, the apportionment of Representatives and Electors via Census Data, National Conventions, the Supreme Court, and much more on the site.

Commission on Presidential Debates  (M,O,T)
This nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization has sponsored and produced all the presidential debates since it began in 1987.

FiscalNote  (M,O,T)
FiscalNote was founded with the principle of bringing people closer to their governments. They have created a tool to help you quickly identify and contact elected officials including, members of Congress currently representing you. Regardless of your political affiliation, you have the power to make your voice heard by contacting your representatives and advocating for the issues that matter most to you.

The Brookings Institution - Elections  (M,O,T)
An independent research and policy institute. Web site contains briefing papers, analyses, and other resources related to many current political issues.

Electoral Maps  (M,O,T)
Visual aids for mapping electoral votes.

PolitiFact  (Y,M,O)
“PolitiFact is a nonpartisan fact-checking website to sort out the truth in American politics. PolitiFact was created by the Tampa Bay Times, a Florida newspaper, in 2007. In 2018, PolitiFact was acquired by the Poynter Institute, a nonprofit school for journalists.”

Fact Check.org  (M,O,T)
FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center located at the University of Pennsylvania. The site claims to be nonpartisan and nonprofit. The goal of the website is to monitor factual accuracy in U.S. politics.

Federal Election Commission  (O,T)
Provides information about campaign finances.

Open Secrets  (M,O)
Another great site that exposes who is contributing how much to whom; a link titled who paid for this election will give children a better understanding of why politicians make promises to certain groups; search the database by politician or by donor.

Register to Vote - The National Voter Registration Act  (O,T)
The National Mail Voter Registration Form can be used to register to vote, to update your registration information due to a change of name, make a change of address or to register with a political party.

Directory of US Political Parties  (Y,M,O,T)
Politics1 has an extensive directory of of US political parties – from the prominent to the obscure. Included are links to the party websites and a brief history for each.

Democratic National Committee  (Y,M,O,T)
Political Party Site

Republican National Committee  (Y,M,O,T)
Political Party Site

The Green Party of the United States  (Y,M,O,T)
Political Party Site

Libertarian Party  (Y,M,O,T)
Political Party Site

The Socialist Party  (Y,M,O,T)
Political Party Site

The Living Room Candidate  (Y,M,O,T)
Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952 - present.

Heritage Foundation  (O,T)
A research and educational institute focus on conservative principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and strong national defense.

Kids Voting Arizona  (M)
Kids Voting Arizona is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-driven voter education program. The site has a large collection of voting and civics resources for kids, including lessons, activities, games, and more.

C-SPAN in the Classroom  (Y,M,O,T)
Includes teacher resources and links in topics like Campaign Events, Campaign Topics, and assorted likes to election related government sites.

VA State Board of Elections: Election Information   (O)
Includes "Where Do I Vote?," election results, candidates lists and ballot issues, more.

Congress and the Voting Rights Act of 1965  (M,O)
This collection of primary sources from the Library of Congress that includes letters, statements, and photos related to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Voting Rights Act (1965)  (M,O)
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned discriminatory voting laws. The full text can be found on the National Archives.

Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote  (M,O)
"In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote highlights the relentless struggle of diverse activists throughout U.S. history to secure voting rights for all American women." Virtual exhibition from the National Archives Museum

Susan B. Anthony Resources  (Y,M,O)
Susan B. Anthony was a prominent leader in the Women’s Suffrage movement. Surfing the Net with Kids has a collection of resources for learning about Anthony’s life and work.

Not for Ourselves Alone: The story of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton  (Y,M)
Two women. One allegiance. Together they fought for women everywhere, and their strong willpower and sheer determination still ripples through contemporary society. Recount the trials, tribulations and triumphs of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony as they strive to give birth to the women's movement.

Susan B. Anthony House  (Y,M,O,T)
“The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House in Rochester, New York, was the home of the legendary American civil rights leader, and the site of her famous arrest for voting in 1872. This home was the headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association when she was its president. This is also where she died in 1906 at age 86, following her “Failure is Impossible” speech in Baltimore.” If you can’t visit the museum in person, the museum also offers a large number of online resources for women’s suffrage and Susan B. Anthony.