Elections & Voting

The number of people who vote in the United States is one of the lowest among advanced democracies. According to studies by the U.S. Census Bureau, only 51 percent of the voting age population voted in the presidential elections in 2000 and just 33 percent voted in the elections for seats in the House of Representatives in 1998. Most alarmingly, only 29 percent of eighteen- to twenty-year olds voted in 2000 and only 14 percent participated in 1998.

Do YOU vote?

Below are links providing information on voter registration, elections, and other issues related to political participation in the United States.

Northampton County Department of Voter Registration and Elections Website. Voting machine instructions, voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, and polling place locations in Northampton County.

PA Votes! Voting in Pennsylvania. Website of the PA Department of State. Online voter registration forms and information.

Commission on Presidential Debates. Information on Election 2000 presidential debates, election issues, candidate platforms, and online voter education. Also includes debate dates.

Project Vote Smart – 2004 Presidential Candidate information (biographical information, issue positions, voting records, etc.). Great resource for congressional and state legislative races.

New Millennium Young Voters Project: Young Voters Project - A comprehensive website for young voters. Sponsored by the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) . Housed in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan, this site from the National Elections Studies research group provides information regarding political participation in the U.S.