Tools
Election-Related Web Sites
For in-depth exploration and analysis of issues, candidates, parties, elections, and the media that cover their stories, this section provides links to sites offering a variety of perspectives.
Information and Analysis
International Perspective
Campaign Finance
Elections
Voting
Candidate Comparisons
Issues
General
Religion and Politics
Polling
Third Parties
Voting Systems
Additional Resources
For Journalists
For Students
For Teachers
Information & Analysis
All-American
Presidential Forums on PBS
Web site for a television broadcast for the 2008 presidential election that "marks
the first time that a panel comprised of journalists of color is represented
in primetime." The site features pages for campaign issues such as criminal
justice, affordable neighborhoods, immigration, and environmental justice.
It also includes videos, user questions and views, candidate profiles, and
other election material.
From the Tavis Smiley Show.
AltWeeklies.com: 2008 Presidential Campaign
Compilation of news stories and commentary concerning the 2008 U.S. presidential
election, from more than 100 alternative U.S. and Canadian newsweeklies.
Entries include headline, brief story summary, author, publication, and option
to email the stories. Also includes links to the full stories.
From the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.
Campaign ’08
News and background about the 2008 presidential elections, covering candidates
and campaigns, primary elections, fundraising and finances, and more. Site
also features a blog ("Top of the Ticket"), candidate biographies,
editorials, opinion polls, and a Southern California campaign donations database.
From the Los Angeles Times.
Campaign 2008
This group's coverage of the 2008 presidential elections features election
backgrounders, candidate interviews, analysis briefs, issue trackers, news,
a campaign blog, transcripts from speeches and debates, and election "must-reads," all
with an emphasis on U.S. foreign policy.
From the Council on Foreign Relations.
Campaign 2008: Patchwork Nation
Series of features about 2008 U.S. presidential election issues important in
11 locations across the U.S. that represent distinct types of voter communities.
They are Moneyed 'Burbs, Minority Central, Evangelical Epicenters, Tractor
Country, Campus and Careers, Immigration Nation, Industrial Metropolis, Boom
Towns, Service Worker Centers, Emptying Nests, and Military Bastions." The
site includes a blog, message boards, candidate information, and related
material.
From the Christian Science Monitor.
Campaign Timeline (2008)
Timeline and related material about presidential debates, primaries, and caucuses
for the 2008 presidential election. Also includes news stories and a list
of presidential candidates with links to Web sites.
From Congressional Quarterly (CQ).
The Campaign Trail Podcast
This is a weekly discussion about the 2008 presidential race and developments
in Washington, hosted by The New Yorker's executive editor, featuring the
magazine's Washington correspondent and other contributors. Topics include
specific candidates, primaries and caucuses, and other topics related to
the election. Listen to the podcasts online, or download for an MP3 player.
From the New Yorker.
CNNPolitics.com
Includes information on the major presidential candidates, and access to political
podcasts. Their Election Center 2008 section has primary and caucus numbers.
There is also a Poll of Polls section and a delegate counter calculator.
Comedy Central: Indecision 2008
A humorous take on the U.S. presidential campaign of 2008, from The Daily Show,
a popular mock news show on cable television hosted by comedian Jon Stewart: “We’re
to the news what malt liquor is to reality.”
From Comedy Central.
Congress Votes Database
This database features "every vote in the United States Congress since
the 102nd Congress (1991)." Browse votes by member, or by topics such
as party, state, region, "boomer status," gender, missed votes, astrological
sign; and for specific types of votes, such as impeachments, nominations, and
treaties. Offers an RSS feed of recent Congressional votes.
From the Washington Post.
C-Span.org: Federal Elected Officials
Contains contact information for elected officials, including the president,
members of Congress, governors, state legislators, local officials, and more.
Site also includes phone numbers, fax, email addresses, committee and subcommittee
assignments, and PAC campaign contributions received.
DocuTicker: Archive for Election 2008
Annotated links to government and policy documents concerning the 2008 U.S.
presidential election. From DocuTicker, a resource edited by librarians Gary
Price and Shirl Kennedy, offering a hand-picked selection of resources, reports
and publications from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks and other public
interest organizations.
e-Democracy: United States Political News, Information, and Links
A guide to broadcast and print news on elections, nonprofit and government
sources, information for voters, discussion and news groups, and more general "global
government, media, and political starting points" on the Internet. Site
aims "to increase citizen participation in elections and public discourse
through the use of information and communication technologies."
From Minnesota E-Democracy
Election 2008 Resources: Political Information Online, Networked, and in the
Social World
This article highlights a number of sites that may be of use to librarians
and library users who are looking to get information not just about the 2008
presidential candidates but also about the political process in our increasingly
online, networked, and social world. Annotated listings compiled for C&RL
News, a publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL),
American Library Association.
Election 2008: Vote-by-Issue Quiz
This quiz helps you learn about the 2008 presidential candidates through their
platforms, not their personalities. The site features some of the issues
that have gained traction during this campaign season. It also includes an
Election Issues section with candidates’ statements about health care,
immigration, energy, Iraq, abortion, and other issues.
From the WBUR and the Online NewsHour.
Election Center: 2008 Primaries and Caucuses
Follow the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates as they run for
the White House. The site features delegate estimates from primaries and
caucuses, a map showing primary and caucus dates, background about states
to watch in upcoming elections, material about debates, data on campaign
contributions and spending, and a quick overview of candidate positions on
issues such as abortion, taxes, health care, and Iraq.
From CNN.
Elections: How to be an Informed Voter
Collection of links to Web sites with “nonpartisan resources” for
national elections and election in California. Includes links to sites about
campaign finance and election reform with past election results.
From Sonoma State University Library
Election Law
Blog by Richard L. Hasen, a law professor and William M. Raines Fellow at Loyola
Law School. Discusses the law of politics and the politics of law: election
law, campaign finance, legislation, voting rights, initiatives, redistricting.
Brimming with valuable links and references to resources related to election
law.
Election Statistics
Since 1920, the Clerk of the House has collected and published the official
vote counts for federal elections from the official sources among the various
states and territories. These documents, out of print for many years, have
been collected and scanned in a format to make them once again available
to researchers and students.
From the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives.
Guide to Law Online: Election Law
Collection of links to sites about the federal election process. Includes links
to the Constitution, executive, judicial, and legislative information; legal
guides on topics such as the Electoral College and election reform; and related
exhibits and materials.
From the Law Library of Congress.
The Green Papers
Dedicated to the dissemination of facts, figures, tidbits and commentary on
the election campaigns leading to Election Day 2008. Third Party news is
listed, as well as delegate counts for the major candidates, and information
about the Electoral College. Also contains information on senatorial and
gubernatorial races.
Meet the Press: Meet the Candidates
Video and transcripts from this interview series with candidates in the 2008
presidential elections , including Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee,
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and others.
From Meet the Press.
NPR: Election 2008
News coverage of the 2008 presidential election, with profiles of Republican
and Democratic candidates and a primary and caucus calendar. Stories cover
campaigns in specific states, issues and debates, campaign spending, voting,
and related topics. The site features a series on candidates' first campaigns
for political office.
From National Public Radio (NPR).
The Onion: War for the White House
This satirical publication's coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election
features "news" stories, humorous candidate profiles and candidate
statements on key issues, videos, and a creative description of the election
process. Not intended for readers under 18 years of age.
From the Onion
P2008: Race for the White House
Dedicated to educating citizens about the political process and their role
in making it work, this nonpartisan, nonprofit effort provides coverage of
the 2008 Presidential elections , including candidates and their campaigns,
media coverage, political parties, interest groups, and voting. It features
background and analysis for the pre-campaign and pre-primary periods, primaries
in specific states, conventions, debates, and other topics related to the
elections.
From Democracy in Action.
Pew Research Center
Topics: Publications on Election ’08
Compilation of backgrounders, analysis, and other publications related to the
2008 U.S. presidential election. Some of the topics include debates, political
endorsements, presidential primaries, religion, specific candidates, news
coverage, and candidate Web sites.
From the Pew Research Center.
PolitiFact.com
Created to help voters separate fact from falsehood in the 2008 presidential
campaign. Journalists and researchers from the St. Petersburg Times and CQ
(Congressional Quarterly) will fact-check the accuracy of speeches, TV ads,
interviews and other campaign communications. Browse the site’s “Truth-O-Meter” by
candidate, subject, political party, and other factors. Includes related
articles and in-depth features.
Presidential Election of 2008
Extensive archive of news stories and op-ed columns on the 2008 Presidential
elections . Also features candidate profiles, where the candidates stand
on issues, campaign finance database, graphics, and photos. Keyword searching
allows for quick access to archived material on specific people and topics
associated with the stories.
From The New York Times.
The Presidential Field: Full Coverage of the 2008 Candidates
Profiles of candidates for the 2008 presidential elections. Includes personal
data, education, experience, books, and links to Web sites and news articles
about the candidates.
From the Washington Post.
Politics – 2008
Primary Results
Provides primary results for all Democratic and Republican candidates on a
state-by-state basis along with a running delegate count. Results are based
on NBC News projections and unofficial returns.
Reuters: Election 2008
Compilation of news stories and features from the Reuters news agency concerning
the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Site includes news about specific candidates,
graphics, video clips, poll results, and a blog.
Politics1.com
Founded in 1997, Politics1 is published as a nonpartisan public service by
sole proprietor Ron Gunzburger “to promote fully informed decision-making
by the American electorate.” Gunzburger also created the HillZoo Web
site for Capitol Hill Congressional staffers in 2000. This information/blog
site deals with the Presidency, the 2008 presidential race, state/federal
candidates, and political parties. Includes a calendar of elections and major
political events and links to view from abroad, campaign products and services,
campaign buttons as well as news links.
Rhetorica
Analysis and commentary about the rhetoric, propaganda, and spin of journalism
and politics, including analysis of presidential speeches and election campaigns.
Includes background information on rhetoric, and explains critical terms
and techniques by a rhetoric scholar and former journalist.
Salon.com: 2008 Election
Collection of articles and opinion pieces related to the 2008 U.S. presidential
election. Many of the articles are about specific candidates; other topics
include voters and voting, bloggers and the election, debates, primaries
and caucuses, and campaign issues. Note: Users may need to watch a brief
commercial before viewing the Web site.
From Salon.
U.S. Census Bureau: 2008 Elections
Collection of pre-primary and pre-caucus snapshots of specific states for the
2008 presidential election. The site provides selected population characteristics
(such as median age, household income and persons below poverty) and the
percentage of voting age citizens from each state who voted in the 2004 general
election. Also includes links to related resources.
From the U.S. Census Bureau.
USA Elections in Brief
Provides a brief introduction to the federal election process, including discussions
of primary and general elections, the role of political parties, presidential
nominations, congressional elections, polls and pundits, financing campaigns,
and U.S. elections procedures.
From the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs
University of Michigan Documents Center: Elections 2008
Extensive, annotated listing of Web sites related to the 2008 U.S. national
election. Covers presidential and congressional candidates, debates, campaign
finance, media coverage, advertising, policy issues, elections and voting,
and much more. Also includes relevant Library of Congress subject headings
and keyword searching suggestions for databases and online search engines.
From University of Michigan Library.
Vote411.org – League of Women Voters
Education Fund
A "one-stop-shop" for election related information sponsored by the
League of Women Voters Education Fund. It provides nonpartisan information
to the public with both general and state-specific information on absentee
balloting, ballot measures, early voting options, election dates, factual data
on the candidates, how to watch the debates with a critical eye, ID requirements,
polling place location, registration deadlines, voter qualifications, voter
registrations forms and voting machines. Their polling place locator enables
you to type in your address and retrieve your precinct polling location.
Vote 2008
PBS Online NewsHour’s coverage of the 2008 presidential elections features
in-depth interviews with candidates (video, audio, and transcripts), a blog
with campaign updates, news and analysis, and candidate profiles. It also includes
a primary and caucus calendar, lesson plans, and links to other PBS programs
covering the election. The site also provides podcasts and specific newsfeeds
(RSS) for states and candidates.
International Perspective
Election Guide
Provides information on national elections around the world, political parties
and candidates, referenda provisions, current news on election laws and political
developments, and election results and voter turnout. Search by election type
(presidential, parliamentary, legislative, referendum), county, or year. Site
also features a sortable calendar of elections.
From the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES).
U.S. Elections 2008
Coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election from The Guardian, a U.K. newspaper,
with news stories, opinion pieces, material on candidates, and background
about U.S. elections. Site also includes links to archived features on past
U.S. elections, a special report on the United States, and related blogs
and Web sites.
From Guardian Unlimited.
Financial Times in Depth: U.S. Elections 2008
News and analysis about the 2008 U.S. presidential election, along with interactive
features, candidate profiles and interviews and other material about the
election, by a British publication that features world business, financial,
and political news.
From the Financial Times.
U.S. Department of State: 2008 Elections
This page compiles U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Center materials
related to the 2008 presidential elections. The site includes announcements
and text of briefings on topics such as “Arab Americans and the Middle
East Policy in the 2008 U.S. elections” and “campaign finances
and the 2008 presidential election.” Also includes numerous links to
government and other Web sites related to the election.
From the U.S. Department of State.
U.S. Votes 2008
Provides news coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, from a Canadian
perspective. It provides video clips, news stories and editorials, background
material, candidate and spouse profiles, and related information.
From the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Vote USA 2008
News coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, from a British perspective.
The site provides news stories, background about presidential elections,
candidate profiles, presidential primary and caucus dates, and analysis of
issues that will shape the presidential race, such as the Iraq war, national
security, immigration, and health care reform.
From the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Campaign Finance
Campaign Finance
Pacronyms
The U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) provides this alphabetically arranged "list
of acronyms, abbreviations, initials, and common names of federal political
action committees (PACs). Entries include "the PACRONYM, full committee
name, city and state of its address, FEC I.D. number, and the name of its sponsoring,
connected, or affiliated organization.
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
This is the official source about campaign financing for U.S. President, Senate,
and House of Representatives elections. The database allows searching of
financial disclosure reports, candidates, individual contributions, and committees.
Includes information about contribution limits, the Electoral College, and
how citizens can participate in federal elections. Some information is available
in Spanish.
Fund Race
Follow the money contributed to the U.S. presidential campaign. Browse a map
of contributions by area, or use the location search to find those who live
near you that have made presidential campaign contributions. You can also
search for friends or celebrities by name. All calculations are based on
records filed with the FEC of contributions by all individuals.
Produced by Eyebeam, an artists' nonprofit.
Opensecrets.org: 2008 Presidential Election
Data on campaign contributions for the 2008 presidential election, compiled
by a nonpartisan, nonprofit research group that tracks money in politics,
and its effect on elections and public policy. Candidate profiles include
total funds raised and spent, cash on hand, debts, and a breakdown of sources
of the funds, such as individual contributions. Also includes week-by-week
comparisons, a donor lookup, contributions by industry, and other data.
From the Center for Responsive Politics.
Silent Partners: How Political Nonprofits Work the System
News and information about contributions by political 527 organizations related
to state and federal elections from 2000 to the present, compiled by an investigative
research organization. These “527” organizations can raise unlimited
contributions and can spend millions on advertising so long as they do not
specifically call for the election or defeat of a federal candidate. The
site features lists of major committees and individual donors, a searchable
database with information about nearly 500 committees, and more.
From Center for Public Integrity.
Wall Street Journal: Campaign 2008
News coverage of the 2008 presidential elections, with an emphasis on fundraising
and other financial aspects of the campaigns. It features news stories, analysis,
video clips, political polls, trends, a campaign contribution database, interactive
graphic comparing fundraising of candidates, candidate scorecard, and more.
From the Wall Street Journal.
Return to the main infoVote 2008 page
Last Updated: July 25, 2008