Elections, Politics, and Voting Resources

Insights for Informed Voters

Access news from local insights to global perspectives with your library card.

Explore current social issues with pro/con viewpoint essays, periodical articles, biographies, images, podcasts and more. Provided by Gale.

Remote access to the San José Mercury News online edition and e-Edition, with limited access to back issues. In-library: www.mercurynews.com

Remote access to the New York Times online. Now includes All Access features. In-library: www.nytimes.com

Magazines and newspapers from around the world, in multiple languages. Titles include The Economist, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian.

Voter Information Guides

Official Voter Information Guide for California – Candidate statements and summaries of state ballot measures with impartial analysis and potential costs, in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.
- Audio Format
- Large Print Format Request Form
Easy Voter Guide - California – Nonpartisan information about why vote, how to vote and what’s on the ballot, in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
Vote411 – Find your polling place, learn about voting procedures.
CalMatters Voting Guide – Nonprofit, nonpartisan information from CalMatters, a news organization with the support of the California State Library. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean.
League of Women Voters – Nonprofit, nonpartisan information about how to vote and what's on the ballot. The Easy Voter Guide is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, opens a new window, Korean, opens a new window, and Vietnamese, opens a new window. An audio version is also available.

Voter Registration

For Santa Clara County Residents – (408-299-8683) Register to vote, find your polling place, learn about candidates and measures, get election results – in English, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese.
For Other California Residents – Register to vote, find your polling place, learn about candidates and measures, get election results – in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.

Elections - History

Elections - Statistics

Political and Campaign Statements

Fact Check – A nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics by monitoring the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players.
PolitiFact – A fact-checking website, run by editors and reporters from the Tampa Bay Times,that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics.

Political Finance and Influence

Politics - News

C-SPAN – Live coverage.
Politics 1 – Campaign and party information for candidates in political races, nationwide.
Rough and Tumble – A snapshot of California public policy and politics based on reporting from multiple publications.
San Jose Inside Blog – Behind-the-scenes coverage of local politics in Silicon Valley.
San Jose Spotlight - San José Spotlight is the city’s first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization.