Civics 101: Information on Elections and Voting: Making the Right Choices

Project VoteSmart is a non-partisan organization that provides information about candidates for office and serving lawmakers. Enter the name of a politician to get information about his/her record and positions. Clickable tabs provide a brief biography, voting record on key issues, position on key issues, and ratings on issues from advocacy organizations (example: how a candidate is ranked by Planned Parenthood on abortion issues). Transcripts of recent speeches are available, and informtion about campaign funding sources is provided.

For personalized assistance in making voting choices, click on the Vote Easy button, and follow the instructions to match yourself with a candidate whose views are closest to your own.

Project VoteSmart also tracks legislative actions on key issues, and lists sponsors of the bill under consideration. Individual votes are not recorded, however.

SelectSmart is another multiple choice tool for discovering which candidates match your view

Vote411 is a personalized election guide from the League of Women Voters. Not as comprehensive as Project Votesmart.

This site provides extensive, current information on the activites of Congress on a daily basis.

The Commission on Presidential Debates organizes the debates, and provides information about them, as well as videos and transcripts of the debates , following the initial broadcast.

From the New York Times.