November 8 Is (Finally) Here: An Abridged Election Day Resource Guide
Where do you vote? What's on the ballot? And what to do if your access is denied?
After a national election season that many called "interminable" and where the trending phrase to describe the contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump became "dumpster fire," the citizens of the United States (at least those who haven't already done so) are finally heading to the polls on Tuesday.
With focus on overall turnout (and apparently the weather) as well as heightened attention on the outcomes in key battleground states, the nation should know by day's end who the next president will be, which major party will control the House and Senate, and how scores of state and local ballot measures fared from coast to coast.
As those who have yet to vote head out, a number of tools are available to help people find their polling place or answer their election day quandaries.
In addition to a "polling place locator" created by the Democratic Party (here), which allows voters to type in their address to find the location and times for their local site, the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWV) has a similar online tool (here) called "Voter411.org." The site also provides phone numbers to multilingual hotlines to call if you have any trouble voting. And, yes, the National Rifle Association (NRA) also has a polling location map for its supporters (here).
Google has also created an easy map-style locator (here) for voters, which offers exact directions to your polling station. In addition, the search engine giant has also teamed up with the Pew Charitable Trusts to create the Voting Info Project, which has both a website (here) and an app that can be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet. According to the website, the system is designed to make sure "voters have the official information they need to answer basic questions like 'Where is my polling place?' 'What's on my ballot?' and 'How do I navigate the voting process?'"
For anyone concerned that their voting rights (or the rights of others) are being violated on election day, the ACLU has posted this "Know Your Rights" resource (here), which includes both downloadable fact sheets and numbers to call if you have questions or want to report an incident.
If voters are looking for breakdowns of ballot questions in their specific states there is likely no better resource than Ballotpedia, which has detailed and searchable information on referendums in every state as well as information on state legislative races. For state ballot fights that caught the attention of Common Dreams this year, check out our special coverage page here.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
After a national election season that many called "interminable" and where the trending phrase to describe the contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump became "dumpster fire," the citizens of the United States (at least those who haven't already done so) are finally heading to the polls on Tuesday.
With focus on overall turnout (and apparently the weather) as well as heightened attention on the outcomes in key battleground states, the nation should know by day's end who the next president will be, which major party will control the House and Senate, and how scores of state and local ballot measures fared from coast to coast.
As those who have yet to vote head out, a number of tools are available to help people find their polling place or answer their election day quandaries.
In addition to a "polling place locator" created by the Democratic Party (here), which allows voters to type in their address to find the location and times for their local site, the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWV) has a similar online tool (here) called "Voter411.org." The site also provides phone numbers to multilingual hotlines to call if you have any trouble voting. And, yes, the National Rifle Association (NRA) also has a polling location map for its supporters (here).
Google has also created an easy map-style locator (here) for voters, which offers exact directions to your polling station. In addition, the search engine giant has also teamed up with the Pew Charitable Trusts to create the Voting Info Project, which has both a website (here) and an app that can be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet. According to the website, the system is designed to make sure "voters have the official information they need to answer basic questions like 'Where is my polling place?' 'What's on my ballot?' and 'How do I navigate the voting process?'"
For anyone concerned that their voting rights (or the rights of others) are being violated on election day, the ACLU has posted this "Know Your Rights" resource (here), which includes both downloadable fact sheets and numbers to call if you have questions or want to report an incident.
If voters are looking for breakdowns of ballot questions in their specific states there is likely no better resource than Ballotpedia, which has detailed and searchable information on referendums in every state as well as information on state legislative races. For state ballot fights that caught the attention of Common Dreams this year, check out our special coverage page here.
After a national election season that many called "interminable" and where the trending phrase to describe the contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump became "dumpster fire," the citizens of the United States (at least those who haven't already done so) are finally heading to the polls on Tuesday.
With focus on overall turnout (and apparently the weather) as well as heightened attention on the outcomes in key battleground states, the nation should know by day's end who the next president will be, which major party will control the House and Senate, and how scores of state and local ballot measures fared from coast to coast.
As those who have yet to vote head out, a number of tools are available to help people find their polling place or answer their election day quandaries.
In addition to a "polling place locator" created by the Democratic Party (here), which allows voters to type in their address to find the location and times for their local site, the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWV) has a similar online tool (here) called "Voter411.org." The site also provides phone numbers to multilingual hotlines to call if you have any trouble voting. And, yes, the National Rifle Association (NRA) also has a polling location map for its supporters (here).
Google has also created an easy map-style locator (here) for voters, which offers exact directions to your polling station. In addition, the search engine giant has also teamed up with the Pew Charitable Trusts to create the Voting Info Project, which has both a website (here) and an app that can be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet. According to the website, the system is designed to make sure "voters have the official information they need to answer basic questions like 'Where is my polling place?' 'What's on my ballot?' and 'How do I navigate the voting process?'"
For anyone concerned that their voting rights (or the rights of others) are being violated on election day, the ACLU has posted this "Know Your Rights" resource (here), which includes both downloadable fact sheets and numbers to call if you have questions or want to report an incident.
If voters are looking for breakdowns of ballot questions in their specific states there is likely no better resource than Ballotpedia, which has detailed and searchable information on referendums in every state as well as information on state legislative races. For state ballot fights that caught the attention of Common Dreams this year, check out our special coverage page here.