9 Facts About How Vice Presidential Debates Started in 1976—and the Moments That Stood Out
Discover how vice presidential debates began in 1976, why federal regulations delayed them, and the defining moments that shaped modern campaigns.
Elections & Voting
At Today on Politics, our editorial team created the Elections & Voting section to demystify how Americans choose their leaders—from local precinct check-in tables to the certification of federal results on Capitol Hill.
27 stories
Elections & Voting stories
6 Facts About How Counties Recruit, Train and Pay Poll Workers
Learn how counties recruit, train, and pay poll workers, maintain bipartisan teams at check-in tables, and enforce rules for partisan poll watchers.
6 Facts About Voter Registration, and Why North Dakota Is the One State Without It
Discover why 49 states mandate advance voter registration while North Dakota relies on strict polling place ID and automated state databases.
6 Ways Ballot Initiatives and Referendums Let Voters Bypass State Legislatures
Learn how 26 states let voters bypass state legislatures using initiatives and referendums, from signature thresholds to constitutional amendment rules.
7 Facts About How One Tennessee Vote Ratified the 19th Amendment in August 1920
Discover 7 facts about how Harry T. Burn and the Tennessee legislature broke a deadlocked vote to ratify the 19th Amendment in…
6 Hurdles a Third-Party or Independent Candidate Must Clear to Get on State Ballots
Discover the six how-it-works rules governing how third-party and independent candidates get on state ballots, from signature quotas to filing deadlines.
10 Facts About How Presidential Running Mates Are Vetted and Formally Nominated
Discover how presidential running mates are vetted and nominated, from constitutional rules and convention floor fights to modern background checks.
7 Ways the 26th Amendment Lowered the Voting Age to 18 in Record Time
Discover how the 26th Amendment lowered the U.S. voting age to 18 in just 100 days following a Supreme Court crisis and…
9 Ways the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act Changed Voting Rights—and Why State Barriers Remained
Learn how the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act granted federal rights while states blocked Native voting until landmark 1940s and 1950s legal battles.
Open, Closed or ‘Top-Two’: 6 Ways State Primary Systems Differ
Learn the legal rules behind open, closed, and top-two state primaries. Discover how registration deadlines, statutes, and court rulings shape your ballot.