Voting and the November 2nd election [2004]

This section includes handy online tools and support for the upcoming election. Radical Reference neither advocates nor discourages voting, our aim is simply to put information into our users' hands. Please contact Radlib for comments or suggestions.

Most of the mainstream thought today assumes that voting and democracy are the great participatory tools for citizens to be involved in their governments. For another perspective, see "Choose and Lose", infoshop.org's evaluation of voting and elections.

Election Day Hotline Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

For our more direct-action minded readers, check out November 3, 2004: Day of direct action in Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Houston

1) General election information: Want good election background and information? There are three good places to start:

  • Project Vote Smart. Plug in your zip code and get a list of candidates, their biographical information as well as their voting records, issue positions, campaign finances and interest group ratings.
  • Worldwide elections site from UC San Diego.
  • Elections 2004 from the University of Michigan Library.

2) State by state election laws: Find elections information for all states, as well as ballot propositions, elections laws etc.

3) Swing states. There are 11 "swing" states, worth 135 electoral votes. According to Electoral-vote.com, they are: Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire and Ohio (which Bush won in 2000) as well as Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin (which Gore won in 2000). Do you want more information on swing states? Check here:

4) Live voting tallies. I check Electoral Vote every day and assume that the site will be keeping a live tally. In addition, the New York Times campaign section has a nice interactive mapping feature

5) Information on ballot measures at the state (and local?) level. See the NASS site above for a good starting point.

6) election observers. Besides being observers, the organizations below have much good information on their sites about free and fair elections.