The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
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October 2004

Spotlight On…   Election 2004

How and When

Election day is Tuesday, November 2nd. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. To locate your neighborhood polling station and to see what will be on your ballot, visit the Hamilton County Board of Elections Voter Location page. If you haven’t registered yet, the Board of Elections site is also a good starting point for information about voter registration procedures.

Voter registration forms are available year-round at all of our branches and the Main Library. These forms may be completed at the Library or mailed directly to the Board of Elections. In addition, the National Mail Voter Registration Form can be used to register to vote from anywhere in the United States. The deadline for new voter registration is October 4th.

Registered voters who are unable to vote on Election Day may request an absentee ballot. Applications for absentee ballots are available at all Library agencies two to three months before an election or can be downloaded from the Hamilton County Board of Elections, the Butler County Board of Elections, or the Warren County Board of Elections websites. Your written request for an absentee ballot must be received by the Board of Elections by noon on October 30th. If you are uncertain which Ohio district you live in, the Ohio General Assembly will help you find your district.

If you have never voted before, read the Tips for New Voters for basic information and helpful suggestions. Use the tutorial on Project Vote Smart to brush up on your knowledge of politics, campaign finance, elections, Congress, and the Constitution.

National Elections

Can’t decide which presidential candidate to vote for? Need more information on the candidates? Use the quiz on Presidential Match to find out which candidate best fits your views. The local League of Women Voters also offers a helpful guide to all of the candidates. On the Project Vote Smart site, you can search by candidate name or party affiliation.

National Election News, Polls, and Opinions

As always, there is an enormous variety of resources to turn to for the latest news about the national election scene.

The New York Times offers current and archived stories, background information about the candidates and issues, and interactive graphics. The National Journal provides nonpartisan reporting. FindLaw keeps a list of current media stories and pending court decisions that may have an effect on election results. CNN and Time have teamed up for America Votes 2004. By the People: Election 2004, from PBS, offers in-depth analysis and feature stories; resources for kids, parents, and teachers; and tips to help the “savy voter” make informed political decisions. You can follow the election from an international perspective with resources from the Canadian Broadcasting Association or BBC News. PollingReport.com is a good resource to consult if you’re interested in tracking the results of the latest public opinion polls.

Blogs, once a “techie phenomenon” are now creditable sources of news and commentary and are playing an important role in the upcoming election. If you haven’t done so yet, this is a great time to explore the world of blogs. Here are a few to get you started:

The sheer volume of election-related information in the media can be bewildering. PBS offers helpful tips for dissecting an ad, distinguishing between an informative poll and a misleading one, viewing news critically and interpreting a debate.

The Issues

National Public Radio explores “hot button campaign issues” that voters will be considering when they head to the polls in November. The Council on Foreign Relations summarizes each candidate’s position on a variety of issues including the environment, foreign aid, immigration, and national security. Balanced overviews of a wide range of issues are available on The Public Agenda Foundation website. A number of resources in our collection of databases, such as Opposing Viewpoints, and MasterFile Premier, are excellent resources to consult for information on issues in the news this election year.

State and Local Elections

The League of Women Voters of Ohio offers a directory of all elections and issues throughout Ohio. The Ohio Secretary of State provides links to various election-related publications, including Campaign Finance Handbook, Historical Election Statisitcs, Voter Information Guide, and more.

You can also check the local League of Women Voters site for online information on local contests and issues, including Issue 3 which would repeal Article XII, Issue 4, which would phase out property taxes in Cincinnati, renewal of the Cincinnati School District levy, as well as upcoming bonds and levies for local municipalities. The website also has information about Butler and Warren County issues and candidates.

Local websites for the Democratic, Republican, and Charterite parties offer endorsements and additional local links.

The Cincinnati Area League of Women Voters also publishes A Directory of Public Officials listing the current officials contact information as well as other important government and education phone numbers.

To help voters with the election of judges—to many a confusing and obscure area of the ballot—The League of Women Voters offers a quick overview of the judicial positions in Ohio with advice on how to find out about the qualifications of particular candidates.

Stay on top of breaking news about local elections at Cincinnati.com.

Campaign Finance, Electoral Process, Trivia, and More

The Federal Election Commision is an excellent resource for those interested in learning more about campaign finance, rules and regulations pertaining to the electoral process, or general voting information.

Fundrace.org lists records filed with the FEC of contributions by all individuals totaling more than $200 (and some totaling less than $200) to a single Republican or Democratic presidential campaign or national committee.

The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of State have compiled lists of frequently asked questions about voting rights and elections.

U.S. Elections Information offers an overview of the American electoral process, while FirstGov is a useful gateway on a wide range of election-related topics such as voter registration, election results, voting records, contacting elected officials, and the electoral college.

For election history, trivia, and statistics the National Election Studies at the University of Michigan, has created time-series studies that encompass 23 biennial elections spanning five decades. The NES site also provides data on a range of issues drawn from the studies.

C-SPAN’s Capitol Questions posts answers about Congress, Presidents, and our spotlighted page on “How did Republicans pick the elephant, and Democrats the donkey, to represent their parties?”.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts for Features offers a special edition page on the 2004 Presidential Election. The Bureau has gathered unique statistical trivia about voter turnout, registration, and more.

Confused by all election jargon? Help is on the way, courtesy of the Election Glossary from PBS.

Election Results

Election results will be posted on the Cincinnati Enquirer website. Official results for Ohio will be available after the polls close from the Secretary of State. The Hamilton County Board of Elections also provides results after the election.

Political Fiction

Politics have always captured the American imagination—even imaginary politics. If you need a break from the day-to-day progress of the elections, pick up a novel and enjoy a lighter look at our political process. Here are a few recent candidates from our fiction collection.

Last, But Certainly Not Least…

Vote!