The resources you need to exercise your civic duty
By Cathleen Draper
There is no shortage of decisions to make during election season and increasingly, no shortage of logistics to work through. For the upcoming midterm elections on November 3, there are registration deadlines to track, polling places to confirm, and candidates and ballot measures to learn about. All while election law varies from state to state and continues to evolve year after year.
Fortunately, a number of tools exist to help clear up any confusion on, for example, how to register to vote, if your state requires specific identification at the polls, or if that statement made by a candidate is factual. Whether you’re voting for the first time, need to update your registration, or want a refresher before Election Day on November 3, this list of nonpartisan resources is a starting point for showing up to the polls informed and ready to cast your ballot.
U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
The EAC is a bipartisan commission that helps election officials improve election administration and helps all eligible Americans exercise their right to vote. The commission’s site features a Voting 101 guide for new voters, as well as resources on accessibility for voters with disabilities.
Can I Vote
Run by the National Association of Secretaries of State and created by state election officials, this site helps eligible voters determine how and where to vote. Can I Vote links directly to each state’s election website. Check your voter registration status, find your polling place, learn about ID requirements where you live, and more.
Vote.gov
Head to the U.S. government’s official page to register to vote, update your voter registration, and find answers to frequently asked questions about registering and voting. Vote.gov connects voters to state-specific resources.
Vote411
The League of Women Voters-funded site provides information on local, state, and federal elections. Find state-by-state information, including important deadlines, eligibility requirements, information on early voting and Election Day hours, the process for primary elections, and more. Plus, enter your address for a personalized voting guide on the candidates on your ballot.
Voting Rights Lab
U.S. election policy is typically determined at the state level, and every year, lawmakers introduce bills that have the potential to reshape voting and the election process. Voting Rights Lab’s Election Policy Tracker is a database that tracks these bills and provides research and analysis supported by policy experts, researchers, legislators, and voting rights advocates. Filter by your state to view current election laws and proposed legislation that could impact elections.
Fair Elections Center
Check out the Fair Elections Center’s 2026 Election Survival Guide, which details how to make a plan to vote. The guide covers everything from the steps you need to take to ensure your vote counts (including mail-in votes) to your rights at the polls and best practices to follow when voting in person.
BallotReady and Vote Smart
It’s essential to be informed on the candidates up for election, their position on key issues, and if they’ve already held office, how they’ve voted on legislation in the past. Both BallotReady and Vote Smart provide unbiased, factual voting guides covering local, state, and federal candidates and current elected officials. Search by candidate on Vote Smart or enter your address on BallotReady’s site for personalized information for your area.
FactCheck.org or PolitiFact
When deciding who to vote for, it’s important to make sure what candidates say is accurate. FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, applies both journalism and scholarship best practices to monitor and verify claims made by political figures. PolitiFact, operated by The Poynter Institute, a nonprofit school for journalists, has a page dedicated to fact-checking statements made by candidates for election in the 2026 midterms. PolitiFact uses a meter rating, called the Truth-O-Meter, with ratings such as “Mostly True” and “Pants on Fire.”
Your State’s Resources
The most authoritative source on election information is your state’s Secretary of State or election board website. These resources provide the most up-to-date information on voting in your state.
Image: Julia/stock.adobe.com
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