Election day is soon for Americans. Every election and every race are important. The midterm elections are especially important as they effect which party controls Congress. Each elected official matters. One of the best things that we as citizens can do to make a difference is to vote.
Lutheran Peace Fellowship wants to encourage people to exercise their responsibility and constitutional right to vote. During the 2020 election cycle we shared a list of websites that provided useful information to help voters make an informed decision and to have their ballot accepted. This year we are updating the list to only contain websites that are still active.
As in 2020 we are listing the sites in alphabetical order so as to avoid emphasizing one over the others.
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How To Vote
Head Count.org: Voter information by state on how and where to vote, early and mail in voting, finding a polling place, and checking registration as well as a frequently asked questions page. They also have a page on how to talk to your friends about voting.
I Will Vote: This site allows you to look up your polling place/ballot drop, check if you’re registered to vote, register, sign up to vote by mail, and learn more about voting regulations in your state.
Polling Place Locator: Vote.org’s list of links to each state’s official elections website. This is especially useful if you want to confirm the information provided by any of the other sites in this category. Or if you feel safer using an official government site.
Rock The Vote: Among its other programs and resources, Rock The Vote has a comprehensive guide to how to vote in each state.
Vote.org: Basically everything you could ever want about voting and how to vote. How to register to vote, how to request a mail ballot, a way to sign up for voting reminders, how to sign up to be a poll worker, information on voting rights… You name it and vote.org probably has it.
When We All Vote: This project co-chaired by Michelle Obama and a number of celebrities including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Megan Rapinoe, aims to increase the number of voters in America. Their voting information includes deadlines, rights, and voting by mail.
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Specific Voting Categories
Campus Vote Project: A website of voting information aimed specifically at college students figuring out how to vote from their college.
Federal Voting Assistance Program: The official government website for voting while abroad. Including information for both military members serving abroad, and civilians who will be outside the country while voting.
Restore Your Vote: This site contains information by state for people with felony convictions on whether or not they are eligible to vote or have their right to vote restored.
Vote From Abroad: A website in English and Spanish covering how to vote as a US citizen living in another country. Featuring a way to get a ballot via email or a federal write-in absentee ballot, information by state, a help desk, and very good frequently asked questions page.
Vote Riders: This website contains information about voter ID laws in each state and how to contact Vote Riders for help with getting the ID you need to vote in your state.
Voting Accessibility: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s page about accessibility in voting for both disabilities and languages other than English. They also have a page specifically for “resources for voters with disabilities” and “language access.”
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What’s On Your Ballot
Ballotpedia: This site contains information about how to vote as well as about the government, policy, and politics. But its best feature is the Sample Ballot Lookup. The sample ballot lists the candidates in each race as well as the measures that will appear on your ballot. Each candidate or measure listed links to a page with comprehensive information to help you make an informed choice.
Ballot Ready: Along with information on how to check registration, request a ballot, and vote, Ballot Ready contains a mock ballot with information about the measures and candidates you will be voting for. The sections about the candidates include their statements on various issues and a list of some of their endorsements. The sections on ballot measures give an overview of the measure and arguments for or against.
Vote 411: Run by The League of Women Voters, this site contains a comprehensive overview of how to vote state by state, links to register and check registration status, information on candidates and measures that will be on your ballot, and a first time voter checklist.
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Bonus
I Voted By Mail: Four printable “I voted by mail” stickers created by Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. If you vote by mail and miss getting a sticker, this site has you covered.
–Written by Alexandra Winder, October 27, 2022