John E. Riley Library: Elections FAQ: Getting Started

Why Voting Matters

Does voting really matter? Does your vote really matter? According to Election Guide, only 66.72% of registered voters in the United States voted in the 2020 Presidential election. While a lot of variables come into play when you talk about low voter participation in elections the resources below provide some insight and information that relates to and will help to address these questions.

Barriers to Student Registration & Voting
Why don't more students register to vote? This document defines a few of the barriers facing students who may wish to vote, including, not being aware of the process or deadlines involved with registering to vote in any state.
Do Christians Fit in a Two-Party System? [opinion piece]
Pastor and author Tim Keller offers some insight on Christians and political parties.
Five Reasons to Vote in Every Election
"Policies shaped by elected officials affect your life" (Kinlaw, 2024). This short article created by The Southern Poverty Law Center provides insight into the role voting plays in a democratic society.
Getting More Young People Involved
A TedTalk on encouraging young people to get involved in the democratic process.
Sitting on the Sidelines of Democracy: Exploring Why So Many Americans Don't Vote
A part of a multi-part series in understanding the voting behavior of Americans.
Why Student Voters Matter
This demographic of voters is fairly new to the democratic process. Their voice matters. Elected officials make policy decisions on such topics as, student debt, funding for higher education, and the economy.
Why Voting Matters -- Motivating Facts
Provides seven reasons on the importance of voting.

Early Republican Elephant Depiction

REPUBLICAN ELEPHANT, 1874. - The first appearance of the elephant as the symbol of the Republican party: an 1874 cartoon by Thomas Nast denying that President U.S. Grant was seeking a third term.. Fine Art. Britannica ImageQuest. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 25 May 2016.
http://quest.eb.com/search/140_1639119/1/140_1639119/cite. Accessed 12 Sep 2016.

Elections FAQ

Information about Political Parties and Groups

Why a Donkey and an Elephant?

Why Voting Matters

Early Republican Elephant Depiction