Elections

Overviews

• The Electoral Process          
  Presented in question/answer format, this section addresses the nomination and election of the President, Senators, and Representatives, qualifications for voting, the administration of elections, and the funding of campaigns.
  
  
• Elections Guide 2004
  This journal provides a broad look at the elections—the influential forces at work, the positions of the two major parties, and voting procedures in the United States.
  
  
• U.S. Federal Election Commission          
  Explanation of the role and activities of the U.S. Federal Election Commission.
  
  
• Congressional Authority to Standardize National Election Procedures         
  Report on the constitutional authority and limitations relevant to attempts by Congress to standardize election procedures.
  
  
• Elections: A Framework for Evaluating Reform Proposals         
  This section explains the variability in election administration, discusses the challenges to effective electoral reform, and presents criteria for assessing reform.
  
  
• Elections Reform: Overview and Issues
  This report discusses the issues surrounding elections reform.
  
  
• Presidential Elections in the United States: A Primer          
  This report describes the four stages of the presidential election process.
  
  

Electoral College

• The American Electoral College          
  Explains the process of the Electoral College in its entirety.
  
  
• The Electoral College: How It Works in Contemporary Presidential Elections         
  This CRS report details workings of the Electoral College.
  
  
• A Procedural Guide to the Electoral College          
  A fundamental breakdown of the history and current operations of the Electoral College.
  
  

Campaign Finance

• Campaign Finance: An Overview     
  This CRS report provides a general summary of campaign finance and the issues surrounding it, including legislation from the 108th and 109th Congresses.
  
  
• Campaign Finance      
  This CRS report provides a general summary of campaign finance and the issues surrounding it, including legislation from the 108th and 109th Congresses.
  
  
• Campaign Finance Reform: Regulating Political Communications on the Internet     
  This CRS report reviews the issues involved with defining "election activity" on the Internet and what can be regulated.
  
  

Election Procedures and Technologies

• Frequently Asked Questions About Voter Registration and Voting           
  Questions and answers about voting, including polling place hours, registration deadlines, and the selection of the November election day.
  
  
• The Administrative Structure of State Election Offices         
  A general reference guide outlining the unique systems used to administer elections in the 50 States and the District of Columbia.
  
  
• Frequently Asked Questions About Voting System Standards        
  Brief explanations of the need for functional criteria, along with technical requirements for hardware, software, and documentation.
  
  
• Voting Systems Performance and Test Standards: An Overview         
  Overview of a Voting Systems Standards report, which seeks to ensure the accuracy, reliability and dependability of certified election equipment.
  
  
• Internet Voting: Issues and Legislation             
  This is a CRS report on voting via the Internet.
  
  
• The Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine (DRE) Controversy: FAQs and Misperceptions
  Report on voting systems in the U.S. and the controversy surrounding electronic voting machines.