The electoral system and voting cover how Americans register, cast ballots, and have their votes counted to fill public offices. States run most elections, while federal law sets some ground rules. The topic includes primaries and general elections, ballot access, voting methods, and the ways votes turn into winners.
People usually bring questions about how to register, how primaries and caucuses work, and how ranked-choice and plurality voting differ. Others ask how ballots are counted, what turnout figures really show, and how the Electoral College and other systems decide who wins.
An independent team explaining how government works
Moving to a new home requires updating your voter registration to protect your right to vote. Your registration ties directly to your address, determining which candidates…
Every ten years, in years ending with zero, the United States undertakes one of democracy's most important tasks. The Decennial Census counts every person living in…
American governance operates through two fundamental yet interconnected approaches: direct citizen involvement in decision-making, known as public participation, and the system where citizens elect officials to…
Every election night, the headlines trumpet voter turnout figures: "Record turnout!" or "Disappointing participation." But here's the thing about those numbers—they can tell completely different stories…
Before you ever step into a voting booth, a complex web of rules has already determined who appears on your ballot. These regulations—ballot access…
The way votes are cast and counted shapes everything about how democracy works. Different electoral systems can produce vastly different outcomes, influence how candidates…
When you walk into a voting booth, the structure of your ballot has already been decided for you. Some candidates appear with party labels…
Presidential candidates don't just appear on the ballot. They earn their spot through a complex state-by-state process that most Americans find confusing. Some states…
Primary elections determine which candidates appear on general election ballots, making them one of the most consequential yet least understood aspects of American democracy.…
Electoral systems are the fundamental rules that determine how votes cast by citizens translate into political representation and governmental power. These systems profoundly shape…
Americans vote twice to choose their leaders, but most don't understand why. The primary election and the general election serve completely different purposes, follow…
