ELECTIONS

Why Are Elections Held on Tuesdays?

There are a few reasons—including a little something to do with the horse and buggy. Find out more about the history of Election Day.

If the Polls Close While You’re Still in Line to Vote, Don’t Leave

What do you do if you’re stuck at the back of the line when your polling place closes? You stay right where you are.

Experience the Past With This Subscription Service That Delivers Replicas of Historical Documents Every Month

With History by Mail, you'll receive recreations of historical documents every month to collect, display, and obsess over.

Courtesy of Orange County Regional History Center

100 Years Later, the Story of Florida’s Ocoee Massacre—an Election Day Attack on Black Citizens—Is Finally Being Told

On November 2, 1920, a Black man attempted to vote in Ocoee, Florida—and sparked the bloodiest Election Day massacre in U.S. history.

Pete Souza/The White House, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Can Presidents Pardon Themselves?

It’s a question that has been debated since the writing of the Constitution: Can Presidents pardon themselves?

A French Bulldog Was Just Elected Mayor of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky in a Landslide Victory

The latest pet to carry on Rabbit Hash, Kentucky's tradition of canine mayors is a French Bulldog named Wilbur Beast.

How the ‘I Voted’ Sticker Came to Be

The idea of flaunting civic pride got more popular in the mid-20th century, when local governments handed out the stickers to encourage voter participation.

A portrait of Horace Greeley engraved by Adam B. Walter.

When Horace Greeley Lost the 1872 Presidential Election—Then Promptly Died

Horace Greeley’s sudden death sent the Electoral College—which had yet to vote—into a state of confusion.

Election Day Used to Be Celebrated With Election Cake—a Boozy, Sugar-Filled Treat That Bakeries Across America Are Reviving

Before women could vote, they contributed to Election Day celebrations the old-fashioned way: by baking fruitcakes.

How to Vote in Person on Election Day if You Requested a Mail-in Ballot

You can still vote in person after requesting a mail-in ballot, but you need to follow your state's protocol to make sure your vote counts.

Astronaut Kate Rubins casts her ballot from space.

How Do Astronauts Vote From Space?

Kate Rubins cast her ballot from the International Space Station with the help of a county clerk and a nifty technology known as the PDF.

Larry David at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009.

Larry David Shared His Favorite Episode of Seinfeld

“I was ready to pack the whole thing in if they didn’t let us do this show … Fortunately, they didn’t say a word. I was shocked,” David said.

President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, leave the White House after President Ronald Reagan's inauguration ceremony in 1981.

When Does a President’s Term Officially End?

Inauguration Day isn’t just a matter of scheduling—presidential term limits are exactly four years, down to the hour.

How to Vote in Person Safely During the Coronavirus Pandemic

How safe is voting in person at your local polling place this Election Day? About as safe as running an errand to the grocery store.

Susan B. Anthony would definitely be voting in this year's election.

Mattel Just Added a Susan B. Anthony Barbie to Its 'Inspiring Women' Series

It’s been a century since the 19th Amendment was ratified. Mattel is celebrating with a suffragist-inspired Barbie.

13 Burning Mail-In Ballot Questions, Answered

From important deadlines to common mistakes, here's what you need to know to make sure your vote gets counted in 2020.

Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan in the White House's Blue Room on Reagan's inauguration day in 1981.

Where Did the Term October Surprise Originate?

Its political legacy began during the Iran hostage crisis, but other kinds of October surprises had been happening for decades.

Samuel L. Jackson Wants to Teach You to Swear in 15 Different Languages

If 2500 people use the voter registration tools on Samuel L. Jackson's HeadCount page, the actor will teach you how to swear in 15 different languages.

Pizza to the Polls Lets You Donate (or Request) a Pizza Delivery to a Polling Place This Election Season

Since 2016, Pizza to the Polls has provided thousands of pizzas to voters waiting in line at their local polling place.

What does it mean when a politician approves of a message in a campaign commercial?

Why Do Politicians Need to Say 'I Approve This Message' in Their Ads?

Anyone running for federal office is required to endorse their own television ads. While it's supposed to make their political statements more honest, it might be having the opposite effect.

Uphold democracy and maybe make a few hundred dollars, too.

There's a Shortage of Poll Workers in 2020. Here's How You Can Become One

Election Day 2020 is less than two months away, and you can help things run smoothly (and probably get paid for it).

Old Navy is encouraging employees to lend a hand on Election Day.

Old Navy Will Pay Its Employees to Work the Polls in November

Old Navy is motivating its more than 50,000 employees to come out in force for Election Day on November 3.

Gracie Allen laughed her way to a presidential run in 1940.

How Gracie Allen and the Surprise Party Got 1940s America Excited to Vote

Although the stunt was obviously a joke, “Vote for Gracie” buttons popped up around the U.S. Harvard students pledged their support for Allen’s campaign.

Looks like these stickers were handed out at a primary, not a caucus.

What’s the Difference Between a Primary and a Caucus?

Primary elections help us decide which presidential candidates will compete in the general election, but the processes vary by state.