In 2011, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah granted women the right to vote in 2015, but they still face restrictions such as needing male permission to work and travel. Before this, Saudi Arabia was the only country besides Vatican City to not allow women to vote. In 2011, Abdullah, the then King of Saudi Arabia granted […]
Texas allows residents to vote from space. Houston resident David Wolf was the first to vote from space in 1997. Texas county officials work with NASA to prepare ballots and broadcast them to the International Space Station. Other Texan astronauts have also voted from space. Astronauts must exercise daily and earn an annual salary of […]
The Senate website and THOMAS provide information on Senate votes, committees, and representatives. Roll call tables dating back to 1989 are available, as well as the text of bills and historical documents. Researching Senate voting data can reveal voting records, recommended changes, abstentions, and changing ideas. Many Americans are curious about what happens in the […]
Pledged delegates are earned in the US presidential primary election, allocated differently by state and party. Committed delegates may not vote as pledged, creating the possibility of subverting the nomination process. Republican rules are stricter, and dropped-out candidates’ delegates may vote as they wish. Pledged delegates are delegates earned by candidates in the primary election […]
A landslide election is when one candidate wins by a large margin, with definitions varying from 5 to 15 points. They are rare and often reflect frustration with the current government. Politicians like them for the momentum they provide and the elimination of uncertainty. A landslide election is an election in which one candidate wins […]
Plurality voting is when a candidate gets the most votes but not a majority. Majority voting is when a candidate gets at least 51% of the vote. Plurality voting can be criticized for allowing candidates to win without a clear mandate. Different countries use different voting systems, such as party list voting. Some countries use […]
Primary elections vary from closed to open primaries, where voters can cast their ballots for any candidate from any party. It’s important to check with local government before voting to determine the primary system used in your region. In closed primaries, voters must be registered with specific political parties to cast their vote. Semi-closed primaries […]
Women cannot vote in Saudi Arabia and Vatican City, and have limited voting rights in Brunei and the UAE. Bhutan granted women full voting rights in 2008. Low female voter turnout is often due to social conventions or lack of education. As of early 2012, women cannot vote at all in Saudi Arabia and Vatican […]
Early voting is now allowed in 37 US states through mail-in or in-person polls before Election Day. Seven states allow voters to change their early vote, including Wisconsin where you can do so up to three times. Procedures for changing vary by state. Some states only allow mail-in voting. Early voter turnout ranges from 81% […]
New Jersey allowed some single women to vote in 1776, but the law was changed in 1807 to only allow adult white male taxpaying citizens to vote. This made New Jersey unique as the other 12 original states only allowed male voters. Only well-off single women were able to vote in New Jersey, as married […]
Superdelegates and uncommitted delegates may decide close primary elections for the Democratic and Republican parties. Democrats have about 800 superdelegates, while Republicans have just over 100 uncommitted delegates. To influence them, contact local representatives and be respectful. A significant letter-writing campaign from constituents can build influence. Candidates also court these special delegates. Superdelegates and uncommitted […]
A vote of no confidence is a motion introduced by the opposition party to undermine the ruling party and remove people from office. It suggests a lack of confidence in the current government and can lead to special elections. In some countries, a constructive no-confidence vote can streamline the transition process. Impeachment and recall are […]
A voice vote is a decision-making process in which those present make their opinions known orally as a group, without a formal record of who voted for and against. It is often used in small legislative bodies and can be used for controversial measures to provide political cover. The outcome is at the discretion of […]
