How Do I Vote? Everything You Need to Know by State
Table of Contents
State-by-state Information
How Do Primaries Work?
Variants of Traditional Election Systems
Other Voter Resources
Independent Movements in Your State
GENERAL ELECTION DATE: November 4, 2014
How do I vote? The following voter guide is tailored to provide vital information for the 2014 elections. All 435 seats in the House of Representative and 33 seats in the U.S. Senate are up for election. However, voting in each state has different rules and regulations for how representatives are elected. Check with your state to find out the following:
Your state's primary election date
Your state's primary electoral system, and whether or not you can participate in the voting process
How to register to vote. And, how do I vote?
Important deadlines this election cycle
Campaign finance laws and records in your state
Voter statistics in your state
Your Secretary of State website is also linked whether you can look for additional information on elections and election laws.
Click YOUR State for Important Electoral Information
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 3, 2014 (Primary Runoff: July 15, 2014)
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (Preference required at the polls for primary)
Register to Vote: http://www.sos.alabama.gov/elections/VoterRegistrationInfo.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 10 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 19, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Democratic, and Third Parties - Open Partisan / Republican - Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/vi_vr_how.php
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 26, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Semi-Closed
*Register to Vote: http://www.azsos.gov/election/VoterRegistration.htm#How
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
- Download the Nonpartisan App for iPhone or Android
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 20, 2014 (Primary Runoff: June 10, 2014)
Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration, but preference required at polls for primary)
Register to Vote: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/voterRegistration.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 3, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Top-Two Nonpartisan
*Register to Vote: http://registertovote.ca.gov/
Deadline to Register: No later than 15 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
Secretary of State website *Online Voter Registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 24, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed (Nonaffiliated voters can change party up until Election Day)
*Register to Vote: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter-classic/secuRegVoterIntro.do
Deadline to Register: Available through Election Day (8 days prior to election for Online / 29 days prior to election to change party affiliation)
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 12, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?q=489908
Deadline to Register: Available until noon (12pm) on day before primary; 7 days before a general election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: September 9, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
*Register to Vote: http://electionsncc.delaware.gov/votreg.shtml
Deadline to Register: Available until the 4th Saturday before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: July 14, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
*Register to Vote: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/voter-reg.shtml
Deadline to Register: No later than 29 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 20, 2014 (Primary Runoff: July 22, 2014)
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration, but preference required at polls for primary)
Register to Vote: http://sos.georgia.gov/
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 9, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration, but party ballot must be selected at primary)
Register to Vote: http://hawaii.gov/elections/voters/registration.htm
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 20, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Democratic Party - Semi-Closed, nonaffiliated voter can register (D) at polls, but must stay with the party through next election / Republican - Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.idahovotes.gov/vinfo.htm
Deadline to Register: No later than 25 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: March 18, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Semi-Closed (No party affiliation at registration, but required at polls for primaries)
Register to Vote: http://www.elections.il.gov/votinginformation/register.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 28 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 6, 2014
Electoral System: Modified - Voter must have voted for a majority of nominees from a party in the preceding election to vote in its primary
*Register to Vote: http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2403.htm
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 3, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed (Voters can change party affiliation through election day)
*Register to Vote: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterregistration.html
Deadline to Register: No later than the 2nd Saturday before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 5, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Democratic Party - Semi-Closed / Republican Party - Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.kssos.org/elections/elections_registration.html
Deadline to Register: No later than 21 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 20, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
Register to Vote: http://elect.ky.gov/registertovote/pages/default.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election (Deadline to change party affiliation to participate in next party primary is December 31)
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: November 4, 2014 (General Runoff: December 6, 2014)
Primary Electoral System: Nonpartisan Top-Two Open
*Register to Vote: http://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/OnlineVoterRegistration.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 10, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/votreg.htm
Deadline to Register: No later than 21 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 24, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed (Party can have an Open system, but must notify state 6 months prior to primary)
*Register to Vote: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voter_registration/
Deadline to Register: No later than 21 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: September 9, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Semi-Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm
Deadline to Register: No later than 20 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 5, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration)
Register to Vote: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633_8716_8726_47669---,00.html
Deadline to Register: No later than 28 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 12, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan
*Register to Vote: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=1766
Deadline to Register: No later than 28 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 3, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan, must support all nominees of party at primary (No party affiliation at registration)
Register to Vote: http://www.sos.ms.gov/elections_voter_info_center.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics (Must be accessed through individual counties)
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 5, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration)
Register to Vote: http://sos.mo.gov/elections/s_default.asp?id=voter
Deadline to Register: No later than 28 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 3, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration)
Register to Vote: http://sos.mt.gov/ELECTIONS/Vote/index.asp
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics / Voter Turnout
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 13, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Semi-Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/voter_info.html
Deadline to Register: No later than 3rd Friday before an election (2nd Friday if registering at County Clerk/Election Commission)
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 10, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
*Register to Vote: http://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=703
Deadline to Register: No later than 21 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: September 9, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed (Parties may conduct Semi-Closed)
Register to Vote: http://sos.nh.gov/VoterRegFAQ.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 10 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 3, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voting-information.html
Deadline to Register: No later than 21 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 3, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed (Parties may conduct Semi-Closed)
Register to Vote: http://www.dmv.org/nm-new-mexico/voter-registration.php#Where-to-Register
Deadline to Register: No later than 28 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 24, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html
Deadline to Register: No later than 25 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 6, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Semi-Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.ncsbe.gov/contente22b.html?id=1&s=1
Deadline to Register: No later than 25 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 10, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan
Register to Vote: http://www.nd.gov/sos/electvote/voting/voter-qualifi.html
Deadline to Register: NO VOTER REGISTRATION
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 6, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/Voters.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 24, 2014 (Primary Runoff: August 26, 2014)
Primary Electoral System: Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Registration/
Deadline to Register: No later than 24 days before an election (Party affiliation cannot be changed between April 1 and August 31)
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 20, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed (Republican primary open to unaffiliated voter for elections that are NOT legislative)
*Register to Vote: http://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/voteinor.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 21 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 20, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.votespa.com/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1174117&parentname=ObjMgr&parentid=1&mode=2
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: September 9, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Semi-closed (Unaffiliated voters join a party when participating in its primary)
Register to Vote: http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/registration.php
Deadline to Register: No deadline has been set
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 10, 2014 (Primary Runoff: June 24, 2014)
Primary Electoral System: Democratic Party - Semi-Closed / Republican Party - Closed
*Register to Vote: http://www.scvotes.org/south_carolina_voter_registration_information
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 3, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Democratic Party - Semi-Closed / Republican Party - Closed
Register to Vote: http://sdsos.gov/content/viewcontent.aspx?cat=elections&pg=/elections/registrationvoting.shtm
Deadline to Register: No later than 15 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 7, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration)
Register to Vote: http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/registration.htm
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: March 4, 2014 (Primary Runoff: May 27, 2014)
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan - Voter held to affiliation at primary, though ONE election cycle (No party affiliation at registration)
Register to Vote: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml
Deadline to Register: No later than 30 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 24, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Democratic Party - Semi-Closed / Republican Party - Closed
Register to Vote: https://secure.utah.gov/voterreg/index.html;jsessionid=3251c438f93d13754fa16f1ee8a2
Deadline to Register: No later than 15 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 26, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration)
Register to Vote: http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/registertovote.html
Deadline to Register: No later than the Wednesday preceding an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: June 10, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration)
*Register to Vote: http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/BecomeARegisteredVoter.html
Deadline to Register: No later than 22 days before an election (13 days for special elections)
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
Primary Election Date: August 5, 2014
Electoral System: Nonpartisan Top-Two
*Register to Vote: http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/myvote/olvr.html
Deadline to Register: No later than 28 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
*Online voter registration available
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: May 13, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Semi-Closed
Register to Vote: http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/voterinformation/Pages/Voter_Registration_FAQ.aspx
Deadline to Register: No later than 21 days before an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 12, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Open Partisan (No party affiliation at registration)
Register to Vote: http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/voters/registration-voting
Deadline to Register: No later than the Friday preceding an election
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
PRIMARY ELECTION DATE: August 19, 2014
Primary Electoral System: Closed (Voters can change party affiliation on Election Day)
Register to Vote: http://soswy.state.wy.us/elections/registeringtovote.aspx
Deadline to Register: No registration deadline
Campaign Finance Laws and Records
Voter Registration Statistics
The purpose of a primary is the most important, yet often overlooked factor in the construct of a primary election. The purpose of a primary election is defined by one of two fundamental characteristics: (1) Partisan, or (2) Non-partisan. “When we interpret the meaning of statutes, our fundamental task is to ascertain the aim and goal of the lawmakers so as to effectuate the purpose of the statute.” (McAllister v. California Coastal Com. (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 912, 928, 87 Cal.Rptr.3d 365.) The following illustrates the difference between California’s old partisan primary and new “Top-Two” non-partisan primary systems.
(1) Partisan
Partisan primaries come in many forms, depending on the access and ballot options (discussed below) a voter is afforded. A partisan primary election is best conceived as individual elections conducted at the same time for each qualified political party. Partisan primaries are practiced in 47 of 50 states. However, regardless of these peculiarities, partisan primaries always serve the same private purpose: The purpose of a partisan primary is for members of political parties to nominate candidates for the general election and elect party officers. see e.g. California Democratic Party, 530 U.S. at 572-73. Because partisan elections are conducted for a private purpose, a party’s private right of association always attaches. Unsurprisingly, our cases vigorously affirm the special place the First Amendment reserves for, and the special protection it accords, the process by which a political party “select a standard bearer who best represents the party’s ideologies and preferences.” Eu, supra, at 224, 109 S.Ct. 1013 California Democratic Party v. Jones, 530 U.S. 567, 575, 120 S. Ct. 2402, 2408, 147 L. Ed. 2d 502 (2000) It is a state-granted right and must be balanced with an individual voter’s fundamental right to vote. The rights of party members may to some extent offset the importance of claimed conflicting rights asserted by persons challenging some aspect of the candidate selection process. Nader v. Schaffer, 417 F. Supp. 837, 845 (D. Conn. 1976) aff’d, 429 U.S. 989, 97 S. Ct. 516, 50 L. Ed. 2d 602 (1976).
(2) Non-partisan
Non-partisan primaries serve a public purpose. Non-partisan primaries have a singular form with respect to the access and options an individual voter is afforded. A non-partisan primary is conducted as one election, where all voters and candidates participate in a single primary election using a single ballot. While non-partisan primaries can vary in form based on other particularities (such as “Top-Two” or “Top-Four”), for purposes of the legal considerations in this case, our inquiry will be limited to the general purpose. The purpose of a primary election under California law, for example, “is to provide the machinery for the selection of candidates to be voted for in the ensuing general election.” Field v. Bowen, CA Sup. Ct. decided Sept. 20, 2013 citing Cummings v. Stanley, 177 Cal. App. 4th 493, 510, 99 Cal. Rptr. 3d 284, 297 (2009) Non-partisan primaries do not need to be qualified by the defining characteristics of access and options, because the access to all nonpartisan primaries is open and the ballots are necessarily a blanketstyle. In other words, voters must have the option to vote for any candidate, regardless of office or partisan considerations. Therefore, nonpartisan primaries are always Open, Blanket, and conducted for a nonpartisan public purpose: The [Washington nonpartisan primary] law never refers to the candidates as nominees of any party, nor does it treat them as such. To the contrary, the election regulations specifically provide that the primary “does not serve to determine the nominees of a political party but serves to winnow the number of candidates to a final list of two for the general election.” Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party, 552 U.S. 442, 453, 128 S. Ct. 1184, 1192, 170 L. Ed. 2d 151 (2008).
The term closed refers to the inability of a voter to participate in the nomination of party candidates unless they are registered members of that party. The closed primary has been challenged in a few states based on the theory that a voter’s fundamental right to vote under the 14th amendment should not be conditioned on that voter giving up their 1st amendment right not to affiliate with a political party. “Given the state’s interest in protecting the associational rights of party members and in preserving the integrity of the electoral process, the state may legitimately allow political parties to close their primaries to nonmembers.” Ziskis v. Symington, 47 F.3d 1004 (9th Cir. 1995) Courts have held that closed primaries are Constitutional, despite the fact that a voter’s participation in the primary is conditional. The fatal flaw in each case is the remedy requested: to open the primaries. This wouldn’t be such a fatal flaw if the Courts (and the Plaintiffs) didn’t assume that the primary system had to be a partisan one. The comparative merits of various forms of primary election systems have been widely debated in this presidential election year. In particular, the “open” and “crossover” primaries, which permit independents and/or members of other parties to participate in a given party’s primary, have been the subject of controversy. Nader v. Schaffer, 417 F. Supp. 837, 849 (D. Conn. 1976)aff’d, 429 U.S. 989, 97 S. Ct. 516, 50 L. Ed. 2d 602 (1976) Note, in the opinion above, the court compares the “merits of various forms of primary election systems,” without considering the merits of a nonpartisan system. All references refer to systems designed for the purpose of selecting party nominees. The rights of party members may to some extent offset the importance of claimed conflicting rights asserted by persons challenging some aspect of the candidate selection process. 525 F.2d at 588; see also Cousins v. Wigoda, supra, 419 U.S. at 487, 95 S.Ct. 541. More importantly, party members are entitled to affirmative protection of their associational rights, see Note, 27 Rutgers L.Rev. 298 (1974). Nader v. Schaffer, 417 F. Supp. 837, 845 (D. Conn. 1976) aff’d, 429 U.S. 989, 97 S. Ct. 516, 50 L. Ed. 2d 602 (1976) Because open partisan primaries are themselves unconstitutional (see supra), a challenge to closed primaries would have a greater likelihood if the remedy requested was an open nonpartisan primary. In evaluating the State’s interests, the Supreme Court noted that the First Amendment infringement could be avoided by “resorting to a nonpartisan blanket primary… (dicta in Democratic Party v. Jones).
Semi-closed refers to a partisan primary system in which a political party has the option, but not obligation, to allow or disallow non-members to participate. In California, for example, the election for all offices are conducted as nonpartisan “top-two” primaries, except for the office of President, which is held as a semi-closed primary. Semi-closed primaries have withstood Constitutional muster, despite the fact that an individual voter’s rights are conditioned on a party allowing him or her to participate. The First Amendment reserves a special place, and accords a special protection, for that process, Eu, supra, at 224, 109 S.Ct. 1013, because the moment of choosing the party’s nominee is the crucial juncture at which the appeal to common principles may be translated into concerted action, and hence to political power, Tashjian, supra, at 216, 107 S.Ct. 544. California Democratic Party v. Jones, 530 U.S. 567, 568, 120 S. Ct. 2402, 2404, 147 L. Ed. 2d 502 (2000)
The term open refers to the ability of a voter to choose a ballot of his or her choice. An “open partisan primary” can, itself, have a number of variations. However, for purposes of Constitutional analysis, we should consider the term “open,” to refer to any primary where a political party cannot prevent non-members from voting for their candidates. The Courts have held that open partisan primaries violate a political party’s first amendment right of association. In sum, forces petitioners to adulterate their candidate-selection process—the “basic function of a political party,” ibid.—by opening it up to persons wholly unaffiliated with the party. Such forced association has the likely outcome—indeed, in this case the intended outcome— of changing the parties’ message. We can think of no heavier burden on a political party’s associational freedom. California Democratic Party v. Jones, 530 U.S. 567, 581-82, 120 S. Ct. 2402, 2412, 147 L. Ed. 2d 502 (2000).
All nonpartisan primaries are necessarily open, see supra. While partisan open primaries have met ill fate in the Courtroom, open nonpartisan primaries have withstood Constitutional scrutiny. This is because nonpartisan schemes avoid the parties’ 1st Amendment concerns. The Supreme Court stated that under such a system, ‘a State may ensure more choice, greater participation, increased privacy and sense of fairness – all without severely burdening a political party’s First Amendment right of association.” (dicta in Democratic Party v. Jones).
for their work on advancing Top-Two Primaries. [toggle title=" for their work on advancing Top-Four Primaries. [toggle title=" for their work on advancing Instant Run-off Voting. [toggle title=" for their work on Approval Voting http://youtu.be/db6Syys2fmE [toggle title=" for their work on advancing Unified Primaries.
Currently, three states have nonpartisan top-two primary elections (California, Washington, Louisiana). All voters receive the same ballot for the primary regardless of party affiliation and can vote for whoever the voter wishes. The top-two vote-earning candidates move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. It is possible for two members of the same party to face each other in the general election. But by allowing all voters to participate in the selection process from primary to general, candidates are hoped to be more accountable to the electorate and less accountable to a partisan base. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCL9CKB7ns8 In Louisiana, a candidate who receives 50%+1 in the primary election immediately wins the race and will not have to run in the general. READ: "Nonpartisan Primaries and Redistricting Are Reshaping California Policy" by Cadee Condit Gray Check out Independent Voter ProjectTop-Four Primaries" id="b2"] A top-four nonpartisan primary operates the same as a top-two nonpartisan primary, but of course the four candidates with the most votes move on to the general election. IVN contributor Steve Krabbe explained why this could be a better system: Independents and third-parties will gain more popularity in time because the two major parties will become more polarized through the closed primary and lose the voters outside of that idealism. But, the two major parties benefit by not having to alienate their base before entering the open top-two primary, where they will still retain the votes of unregistered party loyalists. Voters end up with more choices that represent more of the political spectrum. This will be reinforced if all of the candidates are allowed to participate in debates before the top-two primary. READ: "Making Nonpartisan Primaries Better: Modifying the Top-Two Selection Process" by Steve Krabbe READ: "A Top-Four Primary is Better for California, FairVote Says" by Lucas Eaves Check out FairVoteInstant Runoff Voting" id="b60"] Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is aimed at encouraging candidates to reach out to a broader constituency and can work in both partisan and nonpartisan elections. In this voting system, voters are allowed to rank candidates in order of preference. They are not required to rank all the candidates and their rankings will not harm their most preferred candidate at any stage. A series of automatic runoffs occur using voter preference. Here is how IRV works: [I]f a majority is achieved on the first count, the election is over and the majority candidate wins outright. However, if that is not the case, the candidate who receives the fewest first choice rankings is eliminated. Then, all ballots are re-tabulated, with each ballot counting for one vote for the highest-ranked candidate who has not been eliminated. Therefore, voters who had the last place candidate now have their votes count toward their second choice. The weakest candidates are eliminated successively, with each new tabulation including their next choice that is listed. Once the field is reduced to two, the candidate with the majority will win the election. - FairVote READ: Top Two Open Primary vs. Instant Run-Off: which is the best way forward for nonpartisan elections? by Greg Lucas Check out FairVoteApproval Voting" id="b61"] Approval Voting is simple: Just pick as many candidates as you like. There’s no ranking or anything complicated. Then the candidate with the most votes wins. Approval Voting is identical to Plurality except that when you choose more than one candidate, your ballot is still valid. Plurality, on the other hand, throws your ballot away. READ: Approval Voting Breaks Duverger’s Law: Gives Voters More Options by Aaron Hamlin Check out Center for Election SciencesUnified Primary" id="b3"] Entrepreneur Mark Frohnmayer is spearheading an initiative in Oregon to completely reform the electoral system in the state. The system combines a nonpartisan top-two primary system — similar to the elections in California — with approval voting. Frohnmayer calls this new nonpartisan election, “The Unified Primary.” The 'Unified Primary' uses a top-two system and adds a unique twist. If passed, Oregon voters will not only have equal access to a single ballot, they will be able to vote for as many candidates as they want. It is a process called “approval voting.” Approval voting, unlike the current voting system, allows voters to select one or more candidates running in the same election. In a primary election, this essentially guarantees that the two candidates who move on to the general election truly have the most support among the electorate and eliminates the concept of the “spoiler candidate.” READ: "The Unified Primary: A New Way to Conduct Nonpartisan Elections" by Shawn Griffiths Check out Fair and Unified Elections
Vote USA: Custom sample ballots using voter's address with side-by-side comparisons of candidates' pictures, bios, social links and positions and views on the issues.
Ballotpedia: A nonprofit, nonpartisan collaborative encyclopedia designed to connect people to politics and elections at the local, state and federal level. A full encyclopedia of elections and ballot measures. Competitive elections analysis is also available on Ballotpedia.
U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk: The Clerk of the House collects and publishes the official vote counts for federal elections from the various states and territories.
U.S. Senate, Virtual Election Reference Desk: A clearinghouse of voting information on the Web and guides to resources in libraries and archives, including the Bibliography of Resources on Elections and Political Parties.
Federal Election Commission: The Federal Election Commission (FEC) administers and enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) – the statute that governs the financing of federal elections.
U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC): The EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 and is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements.
American National Election Studies: The American National Election Studies (ANES) produces data on voting, public opinion, and political participation to serve the research needs of social scientists, teachers, students, policy makers and journalists.
Congressional Quarterly Electronic Library: Provides data, analysis, explanations, and historical material on U.S. voting and elections as well as information on voters, demographics, political parties and campaigns.
The George Washington University, Gelman Library Election Statistics Reference Guide: This guide lists recommended sources of statistical information on U.S. elections.
Maps and Cartograms of Election Results (University of Michigan): This site provides a series of maps to display election results.
Project Vote Smart: A non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States.
Unicon Research Corporation: Unicon produces a set of extraction software that provides access to over 40 years of data from the Current Population Survey – including the Voting and Registration Supplements – along with documentation and original survey questionnaires.
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