January: Democracy and Civil Society: U.S. Elections

The United States will hold its presidential election in 2012. President Barack Obama is running for re-election, while the Republican Party is holding primaries and caucuses to decide which candidate will represent them this fall. Here are some resources to help you understand the U.S. electoral process.

This book from IIP sketches the way primary and general elections work, not only the role of political parties, but also the nuts and bolts of voting machines and poll workers, opinion polls and campaign finance.

IIP's YouTube channel includes videos describing the electoral process in the United States.

This calendar shows which U.S. states are holding primaries and caucuses, and the results of completed elections.

This report from the U.S. Congressional Research Services provides an overview of the U.S. presidential election.

This report from the U.S. Congressional Research Services describes the role the Electoral College plays in U.S. presidential elections.

A resource from the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Press Center covering many aspects of this year's U.S. elections.

CQ Researcher, available through eLibraryUSA, discusses key issues that affect U.S. presidential elections. This resource can be accessed at Information Resource Centers, American Corners, and Binational Centers, or by using a password.

Searching General OneFile for "Presidential Candidates" shows a variety of news articles, videos, and radio reports covering the current U.S. presidential election. This resource, available through eLibraryUSA, can be accessed at Information Resource Centers, American Corners, and Binational Centers, or by using a password.

Searching Middle Search Plus for "Presidential Candidates" shows a variety of news articles geared towards youth readers about U.S. presidential elections. This resource, available through eLibraryUSA, can be accessed at Information Resource Centers, American Corners, and Binational Centers, or by using a password.