If you find yourself frantically searching online for last-minute tips about voting, you are not alone. Many Americans are still researching voter’s information about their local and state candidates and various issues that are important to them.

I took some time to review five seven voting websites that help give voters information about voters’ rights, candidates and their positions on important issues, and Election Day information.

Check out below what I found in my research. Let me know if there’s anything you would add to my list so it can help others. 

last-minute tips about voting

Photo by Casey Robertson 

LAST-MINUTE TIPS ABOUT VOTING 

BALLOTREADY:

This site lists all 50 states plus the District of Columbia where you can get information about who’s running for what office. 

PRO: You can find names of all of the candidates who are running for every position such as Judicial Circuit Court, Judicial Supreme Court, State Legislative Upper and Lower House, State K12 Education Board, State Higher Education Board, State Attorney General, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor,  and more.

CON: BallotReady seems to give more information about the top running candidates than others. I found names of candidates I had never heard of and I couldn’t find what their position was on many issues.

VOTING WHILE BLACK

This website is dedicated to keeping Black Americans informed on important issues facing the African American community and how to become proactive in your local area. The organization launched a website and discusses more social justice issues. Click here to learn more about the podcast.

Voting While Black also features a section on candidates the organization endorses from the president of the United States to local offices throughout the country. I found this section to be helpful because it introduced me to candidates I didn’t know about.

BALLOTPEDIA:

A website that lists candidates that will be on your state’s ballot and includes “comprehensive election information for the largest 100 cities by population, as well as state legislative, statewide, and congressional races across the nation.”

PRO: Ballotpedia looks a little like Wikipedia. It is very detailed, just like an enyclopedia. It lists the Ballot Measures (Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative, and Voting Policies in State Constitutional Initiative) and names of candidates running for office. It also does exactly what it says in giving you comprehensive election information. For instance, you can click on your state and find information about federal politics and local politics. 

Ballotpedia is pretty similar to BallotReady. It gives summarized information about each candidate. It also lists stats on the primary election the candidate was in and lets you know who won and the number of votes the candidate received. Ballotpedia also has a feature to help you find a polling place in your area.

You can also find information on candidates that BallotReady does not list. For instance, when I clicked on U.S. Senate candidate Marcia Squier, I was able to find a campaign statement she wrote explaining why she’s running for U.S. Senate. I was not able to find this on BallotReady.

Another pro to Ballotpedia is that it gives news articles and updates about the election across the U.S. 

CON: The only con I could find was that I had to opt-in with my email address to view my state’s ballot information. Not sure if you can override that, but I’m sure you can opt-out of the email updates once you receive your welcome email.

last-minute tips about voting

Photo by Element5 Digital 

VOTE411.ORG:

Vote 411 features an option to register to vote (for future reference), voting information by state, numbers to call for Election Day problems, and personalized voting information. You can even check the status of your voter registration on Vote 411. 

PROS: I like the personalized voting information. You enter your address and it will tell you important info you need to know such as if you will need an ID for voting, what kind of ID is acceptable, personalized information about candidates and issues for your local area, and where to go to vote based on your address.

When you click on each candidate, Vote 411 gives you a summary of the candidates position on top issues. It is formatted in a Q&A style.

I also like that Vote 411 seems to give more detailed information on candidates I am not very familiar with, such as Keith Butkovich, Michigan governor candidate. I couldn’t find any information bout Butkovich on BallotReady and Ballotpedia, but Vote 411 has six Q&A points on their site.

CON: I couldn’t really find a con on the Vote 411 website. It seems pretty straightforward and user-friendly. I would say the only disadvantage in contrast to the Ballotpedia is that Vote 411 doesn’t have the cool news updates feature. But if you’re just wanting a site to give you information about candidates, then this isn’t really a con. 

TWO OTHER WEBSITES THAT MAY HELP WITH LAST-MINUTE TIPS ABOUT VOTING

USA.gov and Rock the Vote

USA.gov’s Voter Research page may be helpful site in finding lastminute tips about voting. It offers a guide on what to do when you vote in-person on Election day, how to research candidates, sample ballots, and write-in candidates for federal and state elections.

Rock the Vote gives the following information:

  • Understanding Voting Rights
  • Phone numbers to call if you’re experiencing problems at the voting poll
  • State information about the candidates who are running in your area
  • How to find a polling place
  • Voting FAQs 

Of course, there are many more websites that can help you with researching candidates and voting information.

If the above sites I listed are not helpful, I encourage you to find a resource or website that best fits your needs. You should always do your research to help you make a more informed decision on who you vote for.

Remember, voting is our right to let our voice be heard on issues that matter to us! 


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Edited on 10/16/2020. Feature Image Photo by Element5 Digital

Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].