VOTING

Each country has its own quirky election rules.

15 Facts About Elections Around the World

Voters in the U.S. may head to the polls on Tuesdays, but the rest of the world prefers to save its votes for Sunday.

Why Are Elections Held on Tuesdays?

There are a few reasons—including a little something to do with the horse and buggy. Find out more about the history of Election Day.

If the Polls Close While You’re Still in Line to Vote, Don’t Leave

What do you do if you’re stuck at the back of the line when your polling place closes? You stay right where you are.

The Integrity of Fat Bear Week Has Been Marred By Ballot Stuffing

Even Fat Bear Week isn’t immune to scandal.

Strom Thurmond approached the Senate as though it were an endurance contest.

The Longest Filibuster in History Lasted More Than 24 Hours

In 1957, South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond made a marathon argument against integration.

Ida B. Wells Is Mattel’s Latest ‘Inspiring Women’ Barbie Doll

Who was Ida B. Wells? A journalist, suffragist, civil rights leader, and now the latest doll in Barbie’s ‘Inspiring Women’ series.

Pete Souza/The White House, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Can Presidents Pardon Themselves?

It’s a question that has been debated since the writing of the Constitution: Can Presidents pardon themselves?

How the ‘I Voted’ Sticker Came to Be

The idea of flaunting civic pride got more popular in the mid-20th century, when local governments handed out the stickers to encourage voter participation.

A portrait of Horace Greeley engraved by Adam B. Walter.

When Horace Greeley Lost the 1872 Presidential Election—Then Promptly Died

Horace Greeley’s sudden death sent the Electoral College—which had yet to vote—into a state of confusion.

Election Day Used to Be Celebrated With Election Cake—a Boozy, Sugar-Filled Treat That Bakeries Across America Are Reviving

Before women could vote, they contributed to Election Day celebrations the old-fashioned way: by baking fruitcakes.

How to Vote in Person on Election Day if You Requested a Mail-in Ballot

You can still vote in person after requesting a mail-in ballot, but you need to follow your state's protocol to make sure your vote counts.

Astronaut Kate Rubins casts her ballot from space.

How Do Astronauts Vote From Space?

Kate Rubins cast her ballot from the International Space Station with the help of a county clerk and a nifty technology known as the PDF.

How to Vote in Person Safely During the Coronavirus Pandemic

How safe is voting in person at your local polling place this Election Day? About as safe as running an errand to the grocery store.

13 Burning Mail-In Ballot Questions, Answered

From important deadlines to common mistakes, here's what you need to know to make sure your vote gets counted in 2020.

Samuel L. Jackson Wants to Teach You to Swear in 15 Different Languages

If 2500 people use the voter registration tools on Samuel L. Jackson's HeadCount page, the actor will teach you how to swear in 15 different languages.

Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: What’s the Difference?

States are changing their vote-by-mail rules for this year’s general election. Here's what you need to know.

Voting by mail isn't the type of task you can procrastinate.

How—and When—to Vote by Mail in Each State

Many states are letting residents vote by mail in this November’s presidential election—here’s how to do it.

An 1864 illustration by William Waud of Union soldiers voting in Pennsylvania.

The Civil War Beginnings of America’s Absentee Ballots

Abraham Lincoln was up for reelection in 1864, and Republicans thought soldiers’ absentee ballots could help.

Uphold democracy and maybe make a few hundred dollars, too.

There's a Shortage of Poll Workers in 2020. Here's How You Can Become One

Election Day 2020 is less than two months away, and you can help things run smoothly (and probably get paid for it).

Old Navy is encouraging employees to lend a hand on Election Day.

Old Navy Will Pay Its Employees to Work the Polls in November

Old Navy is motivating its more than 50,000 employees to come out in force for Election Day on November 3.

Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, and Martin Sheen in The West Wing.

The West Wing Cast Is Filming a Reunion Special to Promote Voter Participation This Fall

It’s a stage adaptation of an episode from season three, and Aaron Sorkin is on board to write new material for it.

Sadly, Congress voted 'No' on using Thomas Edison's voting machine.

Thomas Edison’s First Patented Invention—a Voting Machine for Congress—Was a Total Flop

“If there is any invention on earth that we don't want down here, that is it,” a Congressman said about Edison’s voting machine.

An 1888 issue of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper depicts women's suffrage in the Wyoming territory.

Why Wyoming Women Were Granted Voting Rights 50 Years Before the 19th Amendment

More than 50 years before the 19th Amendment, legislators in the Wyoming Territory passed a bill granting women voting rights.

George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress // No Known Restrictions on Publication

Susan B. Anthony’s Childhood Home in Upstate New York Is Getting a $700,000 Renovation

The trailblazing suffragette first learned about civil inequality during several formative years in Battenville, New York.