Guides, explainers, and analysis about how U.S. government works — and how to make yours work for you.
7 articles in "Elections" · Page 1 of 2
Some states let you register the same day you vote. Others cut you off a full month before Election Day. There's no single national deadline — here's why they differ, and how to find the exact date for where you live.
From primaries to the Electoral College, federal elections in the U.S. follow a specific, often confusing sequence. Here's how House, Senate, and presidential races actually work — and why your vote counts differently depending on the race.
Primaries and caucuses both decide who ends up on your ballot, but they work nothing alike — one's a quiet trip to the polls, the other's a public meeting with your neighbors. Here's how each one actually works.
A close national popular vote can still produce a losing candidate as president. Here's how the Electoral College's 538 votes actually work, why the Founders built it that way, and the real arguments on both sides of replacing it.
An overview of how campaign finance works in U.S. federal elections, from contribution limits to Super PACs and the ongoing debate over reform.