The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
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October 2012

Spotlight On…  Election 2012

When, How, and Where

Vote!

Election Day is Tuesday, November 6. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. If you’ve never voted before, read the Tips for Voters in English or Spanish for basic information and helpful suggestions.

Vote early and avoid the lines! Vote by Mail applications are available online, in all library agencies, and at the Board of Elections. Completed ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6.

If you prefer to cast your ballot in person, use the Board of Elections Where Do I Vote? page to locate your neighborhood polling station.

Presidential Election

Pew Research Center website Pew Research Center: Campaign 2012

As always, there is an enormous variety of resources for the latest news about the national election scene. The following special sites offer news and analysis, background information about the candidates and issues, graphics, and videos.

Even websites for kids are covering the presidential election!

Presidential Debates

Three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate will take place in October. You'll find the full schedule of dates and times, debate topics, and the moderators on 2012 Election Central website.

Ad Hawk and Show of Hands

Election Apps

This political season brings election junkies a wide variety of apps to stay connected. Here are a few to get you started:

Ad Hawk, described as the Shazam or Sound Hound for political ads, helps you determine who is paying for TV ads. Use your phone to listen to the ad, then Ad Hawk sends you the name of the organization backing the spot, how much money the sponsor received or spent, and media reports about the political group or ad.
iOS | Android | Free

Show of Hands is a anonymous polling app with topics including politics, ethics, pop culture, sports...anything! New polls are added daily. A Presidential Election showdown allows you to choose your favorite presidential candidate and see how your candidate compares in popularity to the others.
iOS | Android | Free

PollTracker keeps track of the latest polling results and trend charts for the presidential and congressional elections. Choose races you’re interested in, and PollTracker will send push notifications when new poll results are released.
iOS | Free

Campaign Finance, Electoral Process, and More

Secretary of State's website Ohio Secretary of State website

The Federal Election Commission is an excellent resource to learn more about campaign finance and rules and regulations pertaining to the electoral process.

The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has compiled a list of frequently asked questions about voting rights and elections.

FirstGov is a useful gateway on topics such as voter registration, campaign contributions, voting records, and the electoral college.

Gallup is a good resource to consult if you’re interested in tracking the results of the latest public opinion polls.

State and Local Elections

The Secretary of State’s website lists all federal, statewide, General Assembly and county candidates, and local issues. It also contains the 2012 State Issues Report which includes the official ballot language, arguments for and against and the full text of the issues, and the Voter Information Guide, which addresses FAQs about voting in Ohio. A complete list of Hamilton County contests and candidates is available on the LWV of Ohio website. The LWV website also has information about Butler, Clermont, and Warren County issues and candidates.

To help voters with the election of judges, the LWV offers a Voters Guide to Judicial Elections.

Local websites for the Charter Committee, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, Reform, and Republican parties offer endorsements and additional local links.

Election Results

Official results for Ohio are available from the Secretary of State and the Hamilton County Board of Elections after the polls close.

Political Nonfiction: Recent additions to our collection

cover of Selecting a President

Political Fiction: Recent additions to our collection

Last, but Certainly Not Least…

Vote! And don't forget to bring proof of identity if you're heading to the polls! A list of acceptable forms of I.D. is on the Secretary of State’s website.