2008 Elections  For more information: Introduction l Election Process l Presidential Candidates l Campaign Finance Issues l Congressional Elections l Polls l Election Analysis l Media l Statistics

What kind of information materials are available?

eJournal USA: The Long Campaign - U.S. Elections 2008 Download print version: English (1.9 MB) Background • America.gov: Guide to the 2008 Elections • PBS: By the People - Election 2008 • NPR: Election 2008 • PBS Online NewsHour: Vote 2008 • Federal Election Commission • VOA: The Road to the 2008 US-Elections • Council on Foreign Relations: Campaign 2008 • Brookings Institute: Campaign Finance • Foreign Press Center: 2008 Elections • The Green Papers: General Election USA 2008 • Outline of U.S. Government: The Role of the Citizen CD • What is Democracy? - Elections CD • Politics1: Presidency 2008 • LoC: Presidential Elections and the Electoral College • NARA: US Electoral College CRS Reports • Elections Reform: Overview and Issues • Presidential Nominating Process: Current Issues • Presidential Elections in the United States: A Primer • The Electoral College: Overview and Analysis of Reform Proposals • The Electoral College: How It Works in Contemporary Presidential Elections Original Documents • U.S. Department of Justice: Voting Rights Laws • LoC: The Proceedings of the Electoral Commission of 1877 Multimedia • Washington Post: Politics Multimedia • C-SPAN: Road to the White House Statistics, Maps & Polls • Dave Leip's Atlas of Presidential Elections • Polling Report: Election 2008 • Office of the Clerk: Election Statistics • U.S. Census Bureau: Voting and Registration Calculators • 270 to Win: Interactive Electoral College Map • WSJ OpinionJournal.com: Electoral College Calculator   The Long Campaign: In a true democracy, people are free to disagree. As we enter the 2008 election cycle, we will see candidates, voters, pollsters, and pundits agree and disagree on just about everything. Do voters choose the president based on issues or leadership qualities? Does the Electoral College work or should the election system be changed? Do political polls mean anything months before an election? In the 2008 elections, U.S. voters will have the opportunity to vote for president and vice president, congressional representatives, state and local officials, and ballot initiatives. There is much at stake. As several writers point out in this journal, this is the first election in 80 years with no incumbent president or vice president running for office. The presidential election is just part of the story. In the U.S. system of divided government, the outcome of congressional elections will determine how successful the next president will be in carrying out his or her agenda. Finally, we take a look at the process. Is the U.S. system of elections perfect? What is the story of the 2008 U.S. election? The election is a fresh start, an opportunity for voters to go to the polls and vote their beliefs. See also: About the USA > Government About the USA > Government > Elections About the USA > Regierung About the USA > Regierung > Wahlen About the USA > Regierung > Wahlen 2008 America.gov > Frequently Asked Questions > German InfoAlert > Elections

Link Lists • Public Agenda: Campaign Reform • Democratic Convention Guide 2008 • America.gov: Guide to the 2008 Elections • Election Reform Information Project • New York Times: Election Guide 2008 & 2006 • Washington Post: Politics - Campaign 2008 • Foreign Press Centers: Elections 2008 & 2004 • University of Michigan: Elections 2008, 2006 & 2004 • Open Secrets.org: Race for the White House • Democracy in Action: Race for the White House 2008 • U.S. Election Assistance Commission • Politics1: Presidency 2008 • FactCheck.org: Holding Politicians Accountable • CNN: Election Center 2008 • Google Web Directory: U.S. > Government > Elections • Yahoo! Full Coverage: Election08 - Presidential Election • Presidential Election.com    Election Calendar National Association of Secretaries of State • Calendar of 2008 State Primaries and Caucuses • NASS Calendar of 2008 State Primary & Caucus Dates (pdf) National Conference of State Legislatures • 2008 Presidential Primary Calendar • 2008 Presidential Primary Calendar – State Order Federal Election Commission • 2008 Presidential Primary Dates and Candidate Filing Deadlines for Ballot Access (pdf) The Green Papers • 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions Chronologically • 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions Alphabetically by State The New York Times • 2008 Republican Primary Schedule, 2008 Democratic Primary Schedule

Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials.

What kind of information materials are available? CD: These documents are available in fulltext format on the About the USA CD-ROM. Teachers: Request a copy for classroom use. L: Selected documents are available in German as well as other languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Persian and Turkish.

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U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany /Public Affairs/ Information Resource Centers  Updated: August 2008