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elections
This guide is an introduction to the research process that, while not
being an exhaustive list of information resources available, should be
helpful in getting started in your research about elections. Below
you will find pointers to suggested research terms about elections,
materials in the library catalog about elections, websites relevant to
elections, and links to library databases that contain information about
elections. Please use our email reference service,
contact us at (310) 434-4254, or visit us in the library at the reference
desk if you need further assistance.
Go to: Suggested
Research Terms Materials
in the Library Catalog Websites
Library
Databases
Suggested Research Terms
One of the really helpful things when searching for information about a
topic is a short list of terms related to a topic. We think the
following terms will help with your research about elections:
- campaign reform
- election reform
- election fraud
- electoral college
- political candidates
- political conventions
- referendum
- woman suffrage
- primaries
- campaign finance
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Materials in the library catalog related to
elections
We have the following materials in the library catalog related to
elections:
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Websites on elections
The following websites will help you with your research on
elections:
California elections
California Voter Foundation( CVF)
CVF is a "nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to... [providing] the public with access to the information needed to participate in public life...", and their site offers data on new district maps, statewide ballot measures, candidates running for office in California, and much more.
League of Women Voters of California
The League, in existence since 1920, "is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization of women and men which never supports or opposes candidates or political parties." There is much information on ballot measures, candidates, how to contact representatives and archival information on past California elections.
Smart Voter by the League of Women Voters
Searches available include locating your polling place, results of past elections, and information about individual candidates. This site also offers information on elections by California county as well as archived information on elections since November 1997.
California Secretary of State: Elections and Voter Information
The Secretary of State of California offers information on upcoming elections. It presents election returns, absentee ballot count, a voter information guide and candidate information.
United States/Nationwide elections
Election Statistics
"Since 1920, the Clerk of the House (of Representatives) has collected and published the official vote counts for federal elections from the official sources among the various states and territories." The statistics, in both HTML and PDF formats, are listed by year, in reverse chronological order.
Electionline.Org
The site, produced by the Election Reform information Project, provides up-to-date information on topics concerned with election reform, including data on election administration procedures, analyses, and reports.
National Institute on Money in State Politics: Follow the Money
The database offers access to information on which persons or entities contributed to which elections, by state. Researchers can also find names of contributors to around 115 interest groups.
Opensecrets.org
OpenSecrets.org is sponsored by the Center for Responsive Politics - a non-partisan, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics, and its effect on elections and public policy.
Election Collection 2000: An Internet Library
The site archives around 1000 websites devoted to covering the controversial Election of 2000. Commissioned by the Library of Congress, the pages in the site cover a time period from August 2000 to January 21, 2001. The directory of the collection includes web sites under such headings as Reform Party sites, Democratic Party sites, Green Party sites; news, vote trading, and even humor sites.
International elections
Elections and Electoral Systems by Country
A listing of websites on many countries, with links to information on current and past elections. There is also a generous roundup of more general websites offering data on the world electoral scene.
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Library Databases relevant to
elections
The following Santa Monica College Library online databases may contain
material relevant to elections. Databases may include magazine,
newspaper and journal articles. Off-campus users, please note: you must be a Santa
Monica College student, faculty or staff member to use these
services.
Academic Search Premier, MasterFile Premier
Academic Search Premier and MasterFile Premier provide
full text for over 6200 periodicals including full text
for more than 3,500 peer-reviewed journals. Coverage spans
virtually every area of academic study and offers information
dating as far back as 1975.
National Newspapers (U.S.)
Searchable index for recent issues of the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and the Christian Science Monitor. Full-text for newer issues and citations for older materials. More information on coverage
Business Source Premier
Business Source Premier provides full text for nearly 8200 serials.
Coverage includes all subject areas related to business.
Encyclopedia Americana
Includes 45,000 articles, plus thousands of hypertext
links to web sites featuring additional data. It is updated quarterly.
Researched and evaluated by:
Daniel Lehman, Librarian, June 2007
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