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Campaign Issues and Finances
Congress.org's Issues and Calls to Actions
Makes available issues of importance to organizations with a wide range of varied ideas and beliefs. Tracks bills and votes in Congress on current issues.
FactCheck.org: Annenberg Political Fact Check
from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
A nonpartisan, nonprofit advocate for voters that monitors "the factual accuracy of what is said by major United States political players in the form of television ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases." The site analyze and comment on political claims and statements, providing summaries and the facts.
Federal Election Commission
An independent regulatory agency whose duty is to disclose campaign finance information, to enforce the provisions of the law such as the limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee the public funding of Presidential elections. Responsible for the administration and enforcement of campaign finance laws.
Follow the Money: National Institute on Money in State Politics
The Institute is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to accurate, comprehensive and unbiased documentation and research on campaign finance at the state level. The Institute develops searchable databases, makes them available to the public online, and analyzes the information to determine the role campaign money plays in public policy debates in the states.
Law, Government and Political Science Blogs
Collections of resources compiled by ipl2: Information You Can Trust resulting from the merging of the Internet Public Library and the Librarians' Internet Index websites. ipl2 is a public service organization of students and volunteer library and information science professionals with experience in answering reference questions.
Maryland Public Policy Institute 
A neutral group that focuses on state policy issues.
Maryland State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Database
All campaign committees that are filed with the State Board of Elections are required to submit detailed reports disclosing all of their financial activity. This information has been compiled into a database that is searchable by contributions received, expenditures made, and summary information by candidate name or account. There is also a Summary Guide to Candidacy and Campaign Finance Laws.
On the Issues
A non-partisan group providing information for voters about candidates for President, Senate and House of Representatives.
OpenCRS
Congressional Research Service provides reports to Congress on many topics. This site by the Center for Democracy and Technology provides you access to many of these public documents. Enter search term in search box.
OpenSecrets.org
Information from 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. Tracks who's giving, who's getting, the major issues before Congress, and who's trying to influence the decisions.
Project Vote Smart
A citizen's organization that presents federal and state candidates' and officials' views on issues, biographies, voting records, and finances.
Political Science Resources
Covers political science in general, provides links to politics, think tanks, political parties and their positions, people and places. Provided by ipl2: : Information You Can Trust resulting from the merging of the Internet Public Library and the Librarians' Internet Index websites. ipl2 is a public service organization of students and volunteer library and information science professionals with experience in answering reference questions.
Public Agenda
A non-profit, non-partisan organization, that highlights key public issues and hot topics gathering public opinion data from a wide variety of sources including surveys conducted by most major opinion research organizations and by conducted extensive research itself.
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Election Agencies and Organizations
Baltimore County Board of Elections
List of filed candidates, election schedules, voter registration, election results, district maps, and a polling place locator. Also includes information about running for office.
Federal Election Commission
Takes legal action based on federal campaign finance law and makes known who funded federal election campaigns. Has reporting forms, and filing information.
League of Women Voters of Baltimore County
Educates Baltimore County citizens about candidates and issues through forums, debates, candidate nights, printed Voter's Guides and an online Voters' Guide, conducts voter registration drives and can be contacted for various election information.
League of Women Voters of Maryland
Source of information about elections and candidates in Maryland. Studies issues that impact state and local governments and urges changes. The LWV creates position papers and articles on many issues, which can be found in their E-Library.
Maryland State Board of Elections ( S B E )
Makes sure that the requirements of Maryland and federal election laws are met by all persons involved in the Maryland election process. Petition information, filing requirements, election procedures and forms, past and recent state election results, campaign finances database, candidate lists are available.
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Election District Maps and Redistricting
2002-2010 Maryland Congressional Election Districts Maps
Shows boundary of each district as well as state and county districts for United States Congress. Use Zoom In tool to get more detail.
2002 Maryland State and County Legislative Election District Maps
Includes statewide and county districts for Maryland General Assembly representation.
Baltimore County Congressional, Legislative and Councilmanic Election Districts
These maps have more detail for all Baltimore County election districts. Use Zoom In tool to find out what streets are in each district. They can be downloaded and printed.
Census 2010 Redistricting Data
Every ten years the boundaries are redrawn for the United States Congress and state legislatures' election districts. The Census Bureau will deliver geographic products and population totals to the governor and majority and minority leaders of each state, no later than April 1, 2011, as mandated by Public Law 94-171. After the Census Bureau provides the data, the states will begin their redistricting. States are responsible for draw their own congressional and legislative boundaries and their election districts.
Maryland Election Districts
Maps of various districts including Commissioner, Congressional, Councilmanic and Legislative districts. Also includes information about independent agencies, committees, and commissions.
Maryland Redistricting and Reapportionment
The Maryland General Assembly provided information, documents, new district maps resulting from Maryland's redistricting following Census 2000. Following each decennial Census of the United States, Maryland, like all states, must draw new Congressional districts (United States Constitution Article I, Section 2) and State Legislative districts (Maryland Constitution Article III, Section 5) based on the principal of one-person one-vote.
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Election Laws and the Election Process
Kids' Guide to the Election Process
by the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office.
Learn how the election process for federal officials works. For students grades 6 to 12 and for grades 3 to 5. Information about specific candidates and their campaigns or political parties and their platforms will not be found here.
Maryland Election Law
An online version of the Election Law Article, from the Code of Maryland.
Maryland Presidential Primary
Explains the two ways that a candidate for the Presidency of the United States may get his or her name on the Maryland primary ballot.
Maryland State Board of Elections
The state's gateway to information on election laws, rules, election results; how, where and when to vote.
Politics1.com Maryland
Complete directory of Maryland candidates for Governor, State Cabinet, United State Senator and Congress in the current election cycle, plus links to state political parties, the official state election office, and a variety of state news sources. Includes links to candidates' websites.
Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates
Dates, places and transcripts of 2008 debates by the candidates. Gives information on many historic debates and transcripts for many years of the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates.
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Election Results
Baltimore County Election Results
from Baltimore County Board of Elections
Baltimore County results from the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 Primaries and 2004, 2006 and 2008 General elections.
Dave Leip's Atlas of United States Presidential Elections
Voting results from the Presidential general election of 1789-2008 and the 2000-2008 Presidential primaries. Gives electoral votes, popular vote totals for major party and top 2 to 3 third party nominees in each race. Also some historical data on the vote in Presidential primaries and general elections by state.
Federal Election Commission
Voter registration and turnout statistics for federal elections 1960-1996. Federal election results from 1996-2008.
Federal Election Statistics 1920 +
provided by the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
The official vote counts for federal elections from the official sources among the states and territories.
Maryland Election Results
from Maryland State Board of Elections
Results of Presidential, Gubernatorial, and Baltimore City elections by office, by county, and Legislative or Congressional district from 1983 to present. Total votes on ballot questions available. Voter turnout and voter registration numbers (2000 to present) by county and by party.
Maryland Presidential Primary Results (1912-2008)
from the Maryland Office of the Secretary of State.
Statewide number of votes cast for each Presidential candidate,
Maryland Presidential General Elections (1948-2004)
from Maryland State Board of Elections.
Number of votes per candidate for all Presidential General Elections from 1948 to 2004 in the State of Maryland. Write-in candidates are not listed.
Maryland Voter Registration Statistics 2000 to present
from the Maryland State Board of Elections
Voter registration figures by county, congressional districts as well as legislative districts and sub districts at the time of the last day of registration prior to an election. Monthly changes in registration figures for current year available as well and projections by age and party.
Presidential Election Results for 2008
from CNN
United States Voting and Registration Statistics
Covers the level of voting and registration in past federal elections, characteristics of those people who indicated that they voted or were registered to vote, and reasons given why they did not vote. Not all reports cover figures for individual states. Best location for information by sex, age or race.
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Electoral College
Electoral Votes by State for 2004 and 2008
Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the number of its United States Senators (always 2) plus the number of its United States Representatives. The members in the House of Representatives who represent the state is determined by the state's population. The state's population is based on the 2000 Census.
Maryland Electoral College
When it is held, how number of Electors is determined and how they are selected.
United States Electoral College
Answers to frequently asked questions, historical election results, how the electors voted, teaching resources, an electoral college calculator, and voting resources.
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Government Officials and Contact Information
Current Government Officials
Locate names, mailing addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mail, websites, and photos for Baltimore County and Baltimore City, Maryland state officials, United States and foreign officials.
Find Your Representative
Find your Baltimore County Council member, Maryland Legislative (General Assembly) and Congressional district number and federal and state officials' name. This site will also give you a Baltimore City Council district number and Council member for a Baltimore City address.
How to Address Officials
General guide for addressing official correspondence to local, state and national officials.
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Political Parties
Directory of United States Political Parties
Two major political parties and third parties listed.
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Voter Information for Baltimore County Residents
Absentee Voting
Instructions and application to request an absentee ballot [ P D F ], for Maryland residents. Applications [ P D F ]and instructions [ P D F ] also available in Spanish. Application forms for absentee ballots are not available at Baltimore County Public libraries.
Baltimore County Polling Place Locator, Where Do I Vote?
Use this tool to quickly find your Baltimore County polling place, your Councilmanic (for Baltimore County Council), Legislative (for Maryland General Assembly) and Congressional (for United States Congress) district numbers.
Casting Your Ballot in Baltimore County
Polling place hours and accessibility information for elderly and persons with disabilities, final date for requesting absentee ballots and for filing absentee ballots, and information on the Touch screen voting system. When is the next election and what offices are up for election?
Check Your Voter Registration
If you are a registered voter, you can use this site to verify your voter registration information including your Congressional and State Legislative Districts, your polling place location (including driving directions and a map), and view your sample ballot (as soon as it is available).
Early Voting in Maryland
Early voting starts the 2nd Friday before election day and runs through Thursday before the election, except for the Sunday during this time period. Each early voting center will be open continuously from 10 am to 8 pm each day.There are five locations for early voting in Baltimore County.
How To Vote in Maryland
Most everything you want to know about voting and casting your ballot in Maryland and registering to vote. Covers how to restore your voting rights, to register if living overseas, to change one's address, change parties, and more.
Maryland Voter Registration Application
Download Voter Registration Application in English or Spanish [ P D F ]. Paper Voter Registration Applications (in English only) are available at all Baltimore County Public libraries.
Notice of Election and Location of Baltimore County Polling Places
As required under Section 8 - 102 of Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Baltimore County Board of Elections is required to publish notice to the qualified voters of Baltimore County when an election will be held and the location of polling places within the precincts of the Election Districts of Baltimore County.
Participation in Voter Registration Activity
Any individual or group wishing to distribute voter registration applications and/or assist others in the completion of these forms must be certified as a Voter Registration Volunteer. You may apply at your County Board of Elections or the State Board of Elections for Voter Registration Volunteer training.
Voter Registration in Baltimore County
Eligibility requirements, how and when to register, how to change party affiliation or name/address, etc. Voter registration applications (in English) are also available at all Baltimore County Public libraries. Download an online voter registration application form in English [ P D F ] or en Español [ P D F ] con instrucciones.
Voting for People with Disabilities or Inability to Read or Write English
If your polling place is not accessible, you may request reassignment to an accessible polling place or request an absentee ballot. You must make the request for reassignment no later than the close of registration for any election. Voting in Maryland voting is accessible as described in this online brochure in English [ P D F ] and Spanish [ P D F ].
Voting System in Maryland
Overview of Maryland's touch screen voting system, plus links to frequently asked questions, and brochures in English [ P D F ] and Spanish [ P D F ] on the accessibility features available.
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