Voting in U.S. Elections: an Electoral Action & Civic Participation Guide
Student support navigating the electoral process in one convenient place
UConn Library’s Voting in U.S. Elections student guide is a reference tool to navigate the electoral process and become a more informed and engaged civic participant. Whether first-time voters, living on, off, or at a regional campus, or registered in their home states, the guide walks students through the process of registering, the ways they can vote, and finding a sample ballot.
Beyond procedural questions, the guide also offers instruction around developing ballot research questions, evaluating information sources, and deepening their civic engagement beyond elections should they so choose with a civic information literacy framework.
Interactive tools throughout the guide help students move from questions to action in an iterative civic research process: build a ballot question, investigate political claims using the SIFT method, and explore different forms of civic participation based on their interests and goals. The guide also includes election-related mental health and well-being resources for students navigating election-related stress, information overload, or uncertainty.
The guide is strictly an informational resource to make informed judgments; it does not tell the reader what to think, or even which sources are “good” or “trustworthy.” Instead, it invites readers to consider how different sources suit different needs and how their own interpretations and personal values shape electoral decisions.
For more information, contact: Ery Caswell at ery.caswell@uconn.edu