Voting
Laws and legal information about voting
Related Topics
Voter Registration
The tortured process of finally deciding the 2004 Presidential election underscored for many the importance of voter registration. The right to vote is guaranteed to virtually all Americans aged 18 and over, yet voter turnout is traditionally extremely low. Several states, however, are working to improve voter turnout by making it easier to register to vote. Read more
Election Day Voting Issues
Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain's campaign filed a lawsuit in in Virginia late Monday, which sought to force the state Board of Elections to count absentee military ballots received after the November 4 deadline. In an argument to the U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia, McCain's campaign claimed that military ballots were not mailed on time to troops serving overseas. Accordingly, the campaign argued that any ballots postmarked by the November 4 deadline and received by November 14, many of which are expected to favor McCain, should be counted in the election. Read more
Early Voting and Absentee Voting
Early voting is designed to allow voters to cast their ballots at a convenient time and location. Approximately half of all U.S. states make provisions for early voting. Early votes are most often cast at an election official's office. However, some states offer voting at malls, schools or other satellite locations. The votes are generally cast on ballots that are identical to Election Day ballots. Each state is free to set its own policies for early voting. In general, any eligible voter may take advantage of early voting. The voting period varies between states but is generally a 10 to 12 day period immediately prior to Election Day. Read more